Meeting with HMG 28 October 2005

Present:
Jo Phillips, (Meeting Chair), RSPB
Stuart Coupe, Practical Action
Chris Tydeman, Consultant/Practical Action
Nicola Saltman, WWF-UK
Rachel Roach, TearFund
Nicholas Watts, Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC)
Zena Daysh, CHEC
Anthony Miles, Stakeholder Forum
Catherine Budgett-Meakin, Population and Sustainability Network
Roy Hathaway, Divisional Head, Environment and Sustainable Development International (ESDI), DEFRA
Andrew Randall, Team leader, UN Strategy Team, ESDI, DEFRA
Amal-Lee Amin, Team Leader, Developing Countries and Climate Change Team, International Climate Change, DEFRA
Steven Daniels, Policy Advisor, International Team, Sustainable Energy Policy, DEFRA
Susie Allsop, Team Leader, WSSD Implementation Team, ESDI, DEFRA
Robin Carter, Policy Advisor, ESDI, DEFRA
Helen O'Connor, Environment Advisor, SD Team, DFID
Daniel Wilson, Desk Officer, International SD Governance, SD and Commonwealth Group, FCO

1. Preparations for CSD-14
a. Thematic Issues

Lead country groups have been set up in Brussels to address CSD-14 issues:
Energy (biggest group) led by Denmark
Industrial Development led by Sweden
Air Pollution and atmosphere led by Commission
Inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues led by UK

Action 1: DEFRA to supply contact details for NGO correspondence with lead countries.

Action 2: DEG member views and ideas for CSD outcomes should be sent to lead countries as soon as possible.

UK have agreed with Austria (who will have Presidency for CSD-15) to continue leading on inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues for CSD-14 as well. Climate change is being addressed as an inter-linking and cross-cutting issue. Other cross cutting issues include education (noting the Decade for ESD) and sustainable production and consumption (SPC).

First drafts of EU position positions papers currently being prepared.

Nothing yet available to table or share - energy paper will come out after Beijing RE meeting.

Will be some NGO consultation on review papers - linked to RIF. Robin Carter is key NGO contact for HMG led stakeholder meeting in Geneva ahead of the RIF.

DEG felt there was need for better communication on added value of CSD, particularly to encourage further stakeholder engagement from colleagues focused on other processes such as UNFCCC, 'Up in Smoke' and 'Stop Climate Chaos'.

Action 3: DEFRA to forward 'exam questions' set for MemberState colleagues to help progress thinking on CSD. DEG to circulate these to network and other NGO colleagues involved with issues.

DEFRA see CSD as an opportunity for multilateral outcomes advancing implementation of JPOI commitments under the thematic focus headings. Opportunities include encouraging the World Bank to engage and see CSD as an important forum for delivery. Clear that CSD must not undermine other multilateral commitments and processes such as UNFCCC, but offers scope to mainstream climate change issues through wider issues such as industrial development (both North and South). CSD is also valuable as it is the only multilateral process that deals with energy policy per se. In this sense, issues such as large scale dams, climate change and water scarcity can be addressed coherently.

The approach of the UK within the EU preparations will be to push for mainstreaming of climate change in energy development. DFID are working closely with DEFRA on energy and climate change (DFID leads are Jos Wheatley and Jessica Troni on climate change and Peter Davis on energy)

All agreed its important to learn from CSD-12 and -13. EU process is aiming to do this. DEG suggested this is especially pertinent in relation to the EU Energy Initiative and Facility, learning lessons from the EUWI and Facility. Stakeholders have begun searching for ways to engage in the EU Energy processes and are concerned that key decisions on resource allocation may be passing them by.

Action 4: DEFRA to look into need for better NGO engagement and transparency with EU Energy Initiative and Facility.

'Partnerships' are likely to have high profile at CSD-14.

b. Forthcoming events, including the UNECE RIF
EU Stakeholder meeting will take place on 15 December (9am-11am), Geneva at EU Council Secretariat Building. Robin Carter is key NGO contact for HMG led stakeholder meeting in Geneva ahead of the RIF.

2. Follow up to Millennium Summit Review - sustainable development

DEFRA believe we are in a slightly stronger position with regards to climate change as now have wider coalition signed up to Gleneagles outcome. On stronger system wide coherence and environmental activities, there is a call for better integration of environmental activities at strategic and operational level in UN. The EU, led by the UK through its Presidency, hope to get a process agreed through the UN General Assembly to take strategic discussions forward.

There is also a strong message calling for sustainable development in PRSPs. This is challenge for all institutions to take forward, including the need to address natural resource protection for development. Head of Governments collectively agreeing relevance of this is significant. No single process to take this forward. New DFID White Paper to be published next year which could offer some opportunities for mainstreaming messages.

3. UK Sustainable Development Strategy update on implementation and progress (international focus)
Efforts have been made to integrate international aspects throughout UK SDS.

Table at back of Strategy (Chapter 7 Ensuring it happen, pages 176-182) give the UK's international priorities for sustainable development. It gives lead departments and other involved, high levels targets and aims, as well as information sources for delivery.

Government departments are all working towards the target of December 2005 for their SD action plans with the expectation of delivery then or soon after. DEG is meeting with DFID to discuss their draft Action Plan in January.

UK Sustainable Development Commission is leading on assessment of progress

HMG have a new WSSD implementation fund for HMG activities. This is targeting:

SD dialogues with India, China, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico. Taking forward partnerships (plugging gaps recognised by DEFRA).

There will be decision in the New Year about the future of the Secretary of State, Mrs Beckett's High Level Task force on sustainable development that several NGOs, including WWF and RSPB were invited to attend.

4. AOB
DEFRA felt it would be useful to follow up on the suggestion of having small meeting involving stakeholders who have been delegation to learn from experiences and find ways for the HMG stakeholder relationship to be more effective.

Action 5: DEFRA to liaise with DEG and other stakeholder about convening meeting to discuss delegation participation and effectiveness.

DEFRA stated that for RIF there would be places for 2 stakeholders on the UK delegation, one from the NGO community and one from business. DEG stressed the importance of both development and environment NGO being represented at the CSD itself and hoped that the practice of having both represented on delegation could be continued.

EU Lead Country Group - Thought Starters (from DEFRA)

1. What are the key JPOI commitments where the EU wants to see progress (in UNECE region and globally)?

What are the keys areas where progress has not been made?
What are the challenges and constraints impeding progress in these areas?
Are there areas where progress has not been made because of lack of action rather than obstacles to action?

What are the key areas where progress has been made?
What are the reasons for this?
Are there example of best practice?
What are the opportunities for expanding or replicating best practice?

4. What policies and actions might we be looking towards at CSD15, and what can different kinds of actors contribute to improve implementation?