You are on page 1of 27

Context,IssuesandChallengesforBangladesh

Presentationby

DrFahmida DrFahmida Khatun


HeadofResearch,CPD 10April2012

CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE (CPD) BANGLADESH G S acivilsocietythink tank

Contents
1.
2.

TheContext
CommitmentsofRioEarthSummit

3. AchievementsofRioEarthSummit 4. MainThemesofRio+20 5. ControversialIssuesatRio+20 6. NeglectedIssuesatRio+20 7. BangladeshandRio+20

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

1.TheContext
On 2022 June this year (2012), the United Nations p Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) or the Rio Earth Summit will commemorate 20 years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The objective is to report on progress and reassess strategies towards reaching the objectives of the Earth g g j Summit held in in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Rio+20 refers to three pillars of economic, social and environmental. sustainability:

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

2.CommitmentsofRioEarthSummit
The Rio Earth Summit was one of the most significant global environmental gatherings of world leaders to devise actionable agendas for sustainable development by way of putting an end to environmental destruction and social inequality. It was recognised at the Rio Summit that to attain overall social and economic development, the process needs to be sustainable and environment friendly. (UNCED 1992).

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

2.CommitmentsofRioEarthSummit(contd..)
Important documents were produced at the Rio Summit to take a balanced and integrated approach towards environment and development problems facing the world. i t dd l t bl f i th ld Rio Declaration: this contained a set of principles designed to commit governments to environmental protection and responsible development. Agenda 21: this was the blueprint for sustainable development and multilateral agreements on biodiversity biodiversity, desertification and climate change.

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

2.CommitmentsofRioEarthSummit(contd..) d Agenda21
Four themes and 40 chapters Theme 1: Social and Economic: Combating poverty, changing consumption patterns, promoting health, change p p population and sustainable settlement. Theme 2: Management of Resources: Atmospheric protection, combating deforestation, protecting fragile environments, conservation of biodiversity, control of pollution. Theme 3: Strengthening the Role of Major Groups: Strengthening roles of children children, youth youth, women women, NGOs, local authorities, business and workers , indigenous people and their community and farmers. Theme 4: M Th Means of I f Implementation: T h l l i Technology Transfer, Education.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 6

3.AchievementsofRioEarthSummit
An overall Assessment of Agenda 21 was published by the UN in January 2011 based on 2 expert opinions for each chapter. h Most chapters were rated as having only made limited progress to date. Fourchaptersmadenoprogressorwitnesseda regression:
Chapter4:Changingconsumptionpatterns, Chapter7:Promotingsustainablehumansettlement development Chapter9:Protectionoftheatmosphere Chapter29:Workersandtradeunions

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

3.AchievementsofRioEarthSummit(contd..)
Only seven chapters were rated by one or both assessors as having achieved good progress or on target. Chapter 19: Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals Chapter 23: Major Groups preamble Chapter 28: Local Authorities Chapter 31: Science & Technology Chapter 35: Science for sustainable development Chapter38:Internationalinstitutionalarrangements Chapter 39: International legal instruments and mechanisms The rest 29 chapters were rated as having limited progress.

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

3.AchievementsofRioEarthSummit(contd..)
Other assessments Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) published a paper in March 2011. S t i bl D l t bli h d i M h UNCSD noted progress and remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits in the area of sustainable development. d l t Economic indicators were ranked as the most useful indicator in assessing progress. Progress has been recorded in the overall integration of sustainable development principles into economic and social policy development, the development of renewable energy technologies and infrastructure and th i l i d the inclusion and protection of th rights of women and d t ti f the i ht f d indigenous people. Financial and economic crisis caused setbacks to poverty eradication and S b S h d SubSaharan Af i and S th A i still remain f f Africa d South Asia till i far from th 2015 the target.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 9

4.MainThemesofRio+20
The official discussion paper for Rio+20, entitled The Future We Want, also called the Zero Draft has focused on two themes for Rio in order to : secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development . address new and emerging challenges. dd d i h ll Themes of the Conference A green economy in the context of sustainable development g ee eco o y e co e o sus a a e de e op e poverty eradication. Institutional framework for sustainable development. Priority P i it areas id tifi d b UNCSD identified by Decent jobs, Energy, Sustainable cities, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Water, Oceans and Disaster readiness.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 10

4.MainThemesofRio+20(contd.) ( )
Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication
Rio summit plans to reiterate that through green economic

strategies it is possible to attain poverty eradication, food security, sound water management, universal access t it d t t i l to modern energy services, sustainable cities, management of oceans and improving resilience and disaster preparedness, sustained public h lth h t i d bli health, human resource d l development and t d sustained, inclusive and equitable growth that generates employment, including for youth. countryspecific policies for financial challenges faced by developing or least developed countries to be discussed . importance of industrial sector in creating green jobs .
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 11

4.MainThemesofRio+20(contd.)
Institutional Framework
Suggestions to be made at Rio+20: The General Assembly acting as the highest policy making body. policymaking The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOS) will be promoted as the central body of coordination and supervision between the UN and its specialized agencies and between governments of different countries. UNEP to fulfill the universal membership in its Governing Council . Establishing a specialized agency such as a world environment g p g y organization. The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is proposed to be replaced b a Sustainable Development Council to serve as the h h l d by bl l l h high body to promote integration of three pillars. Strengthening of l l mechanisms S h i f local h i making bodies at national levels.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

through hi h l l d i i h h highlevel decision


12

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20
BiofuelFood Security
) g Biofuel ( (Ethanol) derived from sugarcane raises food prices, consequently deteriorating food security One percent increase in food prices means 16 million more people would be undernourished around the world (Ziegler 2007). This claim is dismissed by biofuel producing Brazil and the th USA b t endorsed i th report on Th St t of but d d in the t The State f Food Security 2011 by the FAO. Debate continues over the use of farmland for the production of biofuel, which affects food security worldwide, specially LDCs.

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

13

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20(contd.)
Green Economy
Conceptual criticisms: UNEPs concept on green economy no link has been established between green economy and sustainable development (Br, Jacob & Werland, 2011). Green economy definition has been done in a purely environmental manner without considering fully the development and equity dimensions and without consideration of the international dimension, especially its negative effects on developing countries(Khor 2011). Developing countries insist the result of emission is felt by them more than the developed countries and hence developed countries should cut down emission and bear the costs. costs
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 14

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20(contd.)
GreenEconomy(Contd.) p y p Tradeprotectionismbydevelopedcountries
Oneexampleistheproposaltoimposeacarbontariffas proposedbyItalyandFrancetoimposetaxonproductsthat wereproducedincountriesundernolegalobligationfor p g g emittinggreenhousegas(i.e.China)orborderadjustment taxon goodsmanufacturedinnoncarbontaxingcountries. Whilethiswillpressurise thenoncompliantcountries,itmay penalizedevelopingcountriesthatdonothavefinancial resourcesoraccesstolow emissiontechnologies,andthus resourcesoraccesstolowemissiontechnologies,andthus violatetheprincipleofcommonbutdifferentiated responsibilities.

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

15

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20(contd.)
GreenEconomy(Contd.) g Environmentalgoods
MandateofDohanegotiationsallowsreductionor eliminationoftariffonenvironmentalgoods.Butnoproper definitionofsuchproductsisavailable. p Developedcountriesaretakingadvantageofthisbyincluding theirproductofinterestonthelist. e p oduc o e es o e s. Environmentalgoodsriskdestroyinginfantgreentechnology industriesindevelopingcountrieswithoutbenefitingthe environment(RobertoAzevedo,BrazilsWTOenvoy,March 2011,atthespecialnegotiating sessionoftheCommitteeon TradeandEnvironment). )
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

16

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20(contd.)
GreenEconomy(contd.)
Conditionality
Green economy has been identified as conditionality on developing and least developed countries for accessing aid and loans and availing debt relief loans, debtrelief.

Subsidy
Developed countries provide major subsidies for the research p p j and development (R&D) of environmentally sound technologies. A new green growth model proposed (UN, EC) to be floated at g g p p ( , ) Rio will be difficult to be followed by developing and least developed countries as they may not be able to accommodate q p consequent policies for lack of resources.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

17

5.ControversialissuesatRio+20(contd.)
Institutional reform
UNEP has been unable to combine the finance, aut o ty a d sta authority and staffing in a comprehensive manner. g co p e e s ve a e . The institutional reform of UN may be a key issue for debate as multiple attempts at discussing restructure has failed in 2009 (Rome), 2010 (Helsinki) and 2011(Governing Council of UNEP).

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

18

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20(contd.)
Unenvironmentalisation
ThetopicClimateChangehasbeenprovencontentiouson previousCOPmeetingsoftheUNFCCC,speciallyCOP15,16 and17. Canada,Russia,Japan,ChinabackingoutofKyotoProtocol addstothesensitivityofthetopic. Rio+20islikelytofocusontrademorethanenvironmental issuesbecauseclimatechangewastoocontroversialandthat g sustainabledevelopmentofferedmoreinternationalsolutions tomultipleglobalissues(AndrCorra doLago,thechief negotiatorfor BrazilandfortheG77+ChinaUNgroupingof g 77 g p g developingcountries).
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 19

5.ControversialIssuesatRio+20(contd.)
Lackofpoliticalcommitmentfromdeveloped countries
HeadsofstatesoftheUSAandtheUKamongkey participantsmissingthesummit. UNdeclarationclarifiesnolegallybindingdocumentsto besignedatRioinJune2012. besignedatRioinJune2012 IncompilingtheZeroDraftmemberstateshasmade p g only15%submissionstoanastonishing73%fromcivil societyandstakeholders(ZeroDraftAnalysisby StakeholderForum,January2011). StakeholderForum January2011)
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 20

6.NeglectedIssuesatRio+20 g
Population UN projects earths population for 2050 to be between 8.1 and 10.6 billion. LDCs are projected to have almost 1 billion people amongst themselves with literally half of them living under 1 dollar a day. The second biggest share of the LDCs is in the Asia Pacific region. To achieve any kind of sustainable future it is most vital to spread family planning and womens education and empowerment and awareness programs in developing and least developed countries. Finance: Mi i i vs. Ad Fi Mitigation Adaptation f d pledges vs. di b i funds, l d disbursements, adequacy and additionality of funds, management and governance of funds both at national and global level. Technology Transfer: Fulfillment of TRIPS agreement, article 66.2 Role of Civil Society: minimal involvement of NGOs in the formal process. process
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

21

7. Bangladesh and Rio+20 7.BangladeshandRio+20


Majorenvironmentalconcerns: Ensuringlivelihoodsecurity includingfood,water,energy Ensuringlivelihoodsecurity includingfood water energy andincomesecurity. Combatingenvironmentaldisasters Preventingindustrialpollution Managingurbanization Conservingbiodiversity One of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects. g Along with poverty, population pressure, depletion of natural resources, policy and institutional shortcomings.

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

22

7. Bangladesh and Rio+20 (contd..) 7.BangladeshandRio+20(contd..)


Bangladeshsresponsetoclimatechangeisappreciatedat g nationalandgloballevels. Importantnationalstrategiesinclude:National ConservationStrategy(NCS);NationalEnvironmental ManagementActionPlan(NEMAP);NationalBiodiversity StrategyandActionPlan(NBSAP);NationalAction Programme(NAP)forCombating;Desertificationin Bangladesh;BiosafetyGuidelineforBangladesh;National Bangladesh;Bio safetyGuidelineforBangladesh;National AdaptationProgrammeofAction(NAPA)toaddressclimate change;NationalCapacitySelfAssessment(NCSA); BangladeshClimateChangeStrategyandActionPlan. BangladeshClimateChangeStrategyandActionPlan Bangladeshhasbeenakeyplayeratvariousglobalforumson g yp y g environmentalandclimatechangeissues.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 23

7. Bangladesh and Rio+20 (contd..) 7.BangladeshandRio+20(contd..)


AsanLDCandvictimofclimatechangeimpactswitha massivepopulation,Rio+20isofvitalimportanceto massivepopulation Rio+20isofvitalimportanceto Bangladesh. TheoutcomeoftheRio+20summitwillhaveimplicationsfor p Bangladeshinanumberofways: i.Greeneconomy primarilyfocusesontheintersectionbetweenenvironment i il f h i i b i andeconomywithsocialgoalslargelyignored. itmayfosterinappropriatetechnologies. termedascommodificationorfinancialisationsofnature; greencapitalism.

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

24

7. Bangladesh and Rio+20 (contd..) 7.BangladeshandRio+20(contd..)


Institutional framework for sustainable development
Current sustainable development institutions are too weak and fragmented. Fragmentation of treaties, financing, and overall authority for environmental and sustainable development governance has resulted in lack f li i a l k of policy coherence (UNEP 2011; Bi h Biermann et al. 2009; I t l Inomata t 2008; Bernstein and Ivanova 2007). The three pillars of sustainability lack integration in the UN system and g oba , eg o a , a d a o a po c es. in global, regional, and national policies. At the UN system and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the environmental pillar is weak in authority, priority and profile, and capacity relative to the economic pillar. UNEP f d funding is on a voluntary b l basis and suffers f d ff from inadequacy of d f funds The Commission on Sustainable Development, the main UN body mandated to review progress towards SD lacks an adequate mandate to address emerging issues, and implementation mechanism.
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 25

7. Bangladesh and Rio+20 (contd..) 7.BangladeshandRio+20(contd..)


Wayforward Rio+20isabouteconomic,socialandenvironmentalsustainability; Rio+20isabouteconomic socialandenvironmentalsustainability; interministerialcoordinationnecessary. Asgreeneconomyandgreengrowthwillbethemajorfocus,ideas shouldbedissectedatexpertleveltodevisethepositionof Bangladesh. ThemajorfocusofBangladeshistoachieveasustainable developmentthroughemploymentcreationandpovertyreduction. developmentthroughemploymentcreationandpovertyreduction Financialandtechnologicalsupportisrequiredtoachieve sustainabledevelopment. Developedcountriescommitted0.7%oftheirgrossnational Developedcountriescommitted0 7%oftheirgrossnational producttoofficialdevelopmentassistanceforthepoorcountries. Transparencyingovernance,accesstoinformation,andavenuesfor participationofstakeholdersshouldbeenhanced. participationofstakeholdersshouldbeenhanced
CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012 26

Thank Y Th k You

CPDDialogueonRio+20:10April2012

27

You might also like