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MALMÖ MINISTERIAL DECLARATION |
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We,
Ministers of Environment and heads of delegation meeting in Malmö, Sweden
from 29 to 31 May 2000, on the occasion of the First Global Ministerial
Environment Forum, held in pursuance of United Nations General Assembly
resolution 53/242 of 28 July 1999 to enable the world’s environment
ministers to gather to review important and emerging environmental issues and
to chart the course for the future,
Deeply concerned that, despite the many successful and continuing efforts of the international community since the Stockholm Conference, and some progress having been achieved, the environment and the natural resource base that supports life on Earth continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate,
Conscious
that the root causes of global environmental degradation are embedded in
social and economic problems such as pervasive poverty, unsustainable
production and consumption patterns, inequity in distribution of wealth, and
the debt burden, Also conscious that success in combating environmental degradation is dependent on the full participation of all actors in society, an aware and educated population, respect for ethical and spiritual values and cultural diversity, and protection of indigenous knowledge Aware
that the
10-year review and appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21 to be
conducted in 2002 will provide a further opportunity for the international
community to take action to implement its commitments and to strengthen
international cooperation urgently required to address the challenges of
sustainable development in the twenty-first century, Convinced
that the Millennium Summit of the fifty-fifth session of the United Nations
General Assembly provides a unique opportunity to address at the highest
level the role of the United Nations in the field of sustainable development,
and noting in this regard the proposals of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations as contained in his report "We the peoples: the role of
the United Nations in the twenty-first century”, which will serve as the
basis of discussion at the Summit, Determined
to contribute to this historic endeavour from an environmental perspective,
and having requested the President of the Governing Council to bring the
following matters to the attention of the fifty-fifth session of the General
Assembly, the Millennium Assembly,
Declare
that:
1. The year 2000 marks a defining moment in the efforts of the international community to ensure that the growing trends of environmental degradation that threaten the sustainability of the planet are arrested and reversed. Hence there is an urgent need for reinvigorated international cooperation based on common concerns and a spirit of international partnership and solidarity. 2. There is an alarming discrepancy between commitments and action. Goals and targets agreed by the international community in relation to sustainable development, such as the adoption of national sustainable development strategies and increased support to developing countries, must be implemented in a timely fashion. The mobilization of domestic and international resources, including development assistance, far beyond current levels is vital to the success of this endeavour.
3. The evolving framework of international environmental law and the
development of national law provide a sound basis for addressing the major
environmental threats of the day. It must be underpinned by a more coherent
and coordinated approach among international environmental instruments. We must also
recognize the central importance of environmental compliance, enforcement and
liability, and promote the observation of the precautionary approach as
contained in the Rio Principles, and other important policy tools, as well as
capacity-building.
4. The
Global Environment Outlook 2000 of the United Nations Environment Programme
provides a compelling assessment of the serious nature of the environmental
threats faced by the international community. Special attention should be
paid to unsustainable consumption patterns among the richer segments in all
countries, particularly developed countries. Environmental stewardship is
lagging behind economic and social development, and a rapidly growing
population is placing increased pressures on the environment.
5. Environmental
threats resulting from the accelerating trends of urbanization and the
development of megacities, the tremendous risk of climate change, the
freshwater crisis and its consequences for food security and the environment,
the unsustainable exploitation and depletion of biological resources, drought
and desertification, and uncontrolled deforestation, increasing environmental
emergencies, the risk to human health and the environment from hazardous
chemicals, and land-based sources of pollution, are all issues that need to
be addressed.
6. Opportunities
however exist that can redress this situation. Technological innovation and
the emergence of new resource-efficient technologies, in which the private
sector plays a major role, provide a source of great hope and increased
opportunities to avoid the environmentally destructive practices of the past
including through clean technologies. 7. To confront the underlying causes of environmental degradation and poverty, we must integrate environmental considerations in the mainstream of decision-making. We must also intensify our efforts in developing preventive action and a concerted response, including national environmental governance and the international rule of law, awareness-raising and education, and harness the power of information technology to this end. All actors involved must work together in the interest of a sustainable future.
8. It is necessary that the environmental perspective is taken into
account in both the design and the assessment of macro-economic
policy-making, as well as practices of government and multilateral lending
and credit institutions such as export credit agencies.
9. The
trends of globalization in the world economy, with the attendant
environmental risks and opportunities, require international institutions to
adopt new approaches and to engage the major actors involved in globalization
in new ways. We should encourage
a balanced and integrated approach to trade and environment policies in
pursuit of sustainable development, in accordance with the decision of the
Commission on Sustainable Development at its eighth session. 10. The role and responsibility of nations based on the Rio Principles, as well as the role and responsibility of the main actors including Governments, the private sector and civil society, must be emphasized in addressing the environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. Governments are the primary agents in this process, whose actions are vital in implementing United Nations environment-related instruments since Stockholm, institutional capacity-building and strengthened international cooperation. The private sector and the environment
11. The
private sector has emerged as a global actor that has a significant impact on
environmental trends through its investment and technology decisions. In this
regard, Governments have a crucial role in creating an enabling environment.
The institutional and regulatory capacities of Governments to interact with
the private sector should be enhanced. A
greater commitment by the private sector should be pursued to engender a new
culture of environmental accountability through the application of the
polluter-pays principle, environmental performance indicators and reporting,
and the establishment of a precautionary approach in investment and
technology decisions. This approach must be linked to the development of
cleaner and more resource efficient technologies for a life-cycle economy and
efforts to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound technologies.
12. The
potential of the new economy to contribute to sustainable development should
be further pursued, particularly in the areas of information technology,
biology and biotechnology. The ethical and social implications must be
carefully considered. There must be recognition of the public interest in
knowledge related to biodiversity, including the interest of indigenous and
local communities. A corporate ethic guided by public interest should be
promoted.
13. The
Global Compact established by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
with the private sector provides an excellent vehicle for the development of
a constructive engagement with the private sector. UNEP should continue to
enhance its engagement and collaboration with the private sector and consider
the relation between foreign direct investment and the environment, with a
view to minimizing negative environmental implications. Civil society and the environment 14. Civil society plays a critically important role in addressing environmental issues. The role, capabilities and involvement of civil society organizations has seen a substantial increase over recent years, which highlights the need for national Governments and for UNEP and international organizations to enhance the engagement of these organizations in their work on environmental matters.
15. Civil society has found new and effective modes of expression of popular sentiments and concerns. It provides a powerful agent for promoting shared environmental purpose and values. Civil society plays an important role in bringing emerging environmental issues to the attention of policy makers, raising public awareness, promoting innovative ideas and approaches, and promoting transparency as well as non-corrupt activities in environmental decision-making. 17. Science provides the basis for environmental decision-making. There is a need for intensified research, fuller engagement of the scientific community and increased scientific cooperation on emerging environmental issues, as well as improved avenues for communication between the scientific community, decision makers and other stakeholders. 19. Greater emphasis must be given to the gender perspective in decision-making concerning the management of the environment and natural resources. The
2002 review of UNCED
21. The
2002 review of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) should be undertaken by an
international conference at the summit level. The objective should not be to
renegotiate Agenda 21, which remains valid, but to inject a new spirit of
cooperation and urgency based on agreed actions in the common quest for
sustainable development. In this regard, the ratification of all
environmental conventions and protocols, in particular those related to
climate, desertification, biosafety and chemicals, should be urgently pursued
by Governments.
22. Governments
and UNEP have to play a major role in the preparation for the 2002 review of
UNCED at the regional and global levels and ensure that the environmental
dimension of sustainable development is fully considered on the basis of a
broad assessment of the state of the global environment. The preparations for
the conference should be accelerated.
23. The
2002 conference should aim at addressing the major challenges to sustainable
development, and in particular the pervasive effects of the burden of poverty
on a large proportion of the Earth’s inhabitants, counterposed against
excessive and wasteful consumption and inefficient resource use that
perpetuate the vicious circle of environmental degradation and increasing
poverty. 24. The 2002 conference should review the requirements for a greatly strengthened institutional structure for international environmental governance based on an assessment of future needs for an institutional architecture that has the capacity to effectively address wide-ranging environmental threats in a globalizing world. UNEP’s role in this regard should be strengthened and its financial base broadened and made more predictable.
Conclusion
25. At the dawn of this new century, we have at our disposal the human and material resources to achieve sustainable development, not as an abstract concept but as a concrete reality. The unprecedented developments in production and information technologies, the emergence of a younger generation with a clear sense of optimism, solidarity and values, women increasingly aware and with an enhanced and active role in society - all point to the emergence of a new consciousness. We can decrease poverty by half by 2015 without degrading the environment, we can ensure environmental security through early warning, we can better integrate environmental consideration in economic policy, we can better coordinate legal instruments and we can realize a vision of a world without slums. We commit ourselves to realizing this common vision Adopted
by the Global Ministerial Environment Forum - Sixth
Special Session of the Governing Council of the United
Nations Environment Programme Fifth
plenary meeting 31
May 2000 |
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