UN Economic and Social Development
Division for Sustainable Development

CSD-18

Message from the Chair: H.E. Dr. Luis Alberto Ferraté Felice
Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources of Guatemala

• pdf version of the message from the Chair in English and in Spanish

Sustainable development allows the humanity to protect and improve life in all its forms and expressions. Therefore, our fundamental purpose should be to recognize the right of all people to a healthy environment that satisfies basic human needs and is consistent with international norms on human rights. Sustainable development also requires a transformation of values and principles that directly influence development strategies and lifestyles. These broader principles will guide our deliberations when we review the implementation of sustainable development agenda that will be considered during the current cycle of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), covering: transport, chemicals, waste management, mining, and ten-year programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Transport has an impact on sustainable development due to its intensive use on the mobilization of persons, goods, and services at different levels. Thus, transportation results in emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, as well as noise and impacts on the quality of life, human health, and the environment. Addressing these challenges require development and implementation of policies, strategies and programs aimed at:

1. promoting public transportation, thereby reducing costs and enabling energy savings,
2. promoting cleaner means of transportation such as maritime, rail and rivers,
3. increasing research and development of engines and machines that use energy more efficiently and reduce greenhouse gases, and
4. preventing and reducing socio-environmental impacts arising from increased traffic, transport and physical infrastructure. Raising awareness among transport users require effective education policies, strategies and programs that will encourage demand for more efficient transportation systems and infrastructure for land, sea, and air.

The management of chemicals should take into account all the different stages of the life cycle of chemical products, and establishing from the very beginning which chemicals are hazardous and pose risk to human health, ecosystems, biodiversity and other natural goods and services. Effective management of chemicals will require incentives and disincentives to achieve cleaner production of chemical products and create the institutional, operational and social evaluation mechanisms to prevent and/or minimize risks. This will include, among others:

1. substituting hazardous and radioactive chemicals by other less dangerous and toxic ones,
2. evaluating and monitoring of risks to health and ecosystems
3. standardizing the classification, labeling and application of chemicals,
4. establishing mechanisms and institutional systems to reduce risks of chemical products,
5. promoting research, monitoring and exchange of information on hazardous, toxic, and radioactive chemicals as well as precautionary measures to minimize risks, and
6. preventing the production and illegal trafficking of hazardous, toxic, and radioactive chemicals.

The waste management, and in particular solid waste, for sustainable development must focus on reducing waste to a minimum, maximizing the re-use of waste that represents a risk to health and ecosystem integrity, and recycling waste at a cost that is below the cost of its production. Subject to proper treatment, non-hazardous and non-radioactive waste and solid waste should be considered for productive purposes. It is clear that responsibility for establishing policies, plans and programs for the management of waste and solid waste rests with the national and local governments. However, due support from international community in terms of providing necessary financial resources and clean production technologies, as well as support to capacity building efforts will be needed to realize the intended benefits and objectives.

Mining activity in a country has the potential to create a wide range of social and economic benefits. On the other hand, mining operations and exploration may encounter social and environmental issues that are both complex and challenging to the industry and host governments. It is important that the mining sector structure its activities within the context of a more sustainable development framework. Towards this aim, the governments should implement a broad set of policies, laws, regulations and guidelines as well as having the relevant institutional capacity for approving of mining environmental and socio-economic corporate plans and to meet the ongoing need for monitoring and enforcement.

There is agreement on the major components of the Marrakech Process for supporting the implementation of regional and national strategies for cleaner and more sustainable production and consumption patterns. This process encourages the development of strategies and mechanisms, the preparation and execution of programs, and the piloting of projects that implement national and international policies for sustainable development. The process specifically calls for promoting changes in attitudes and behavior at different levels leading to cleaner and fairer trade as well as better informed producers and consumers, which will make sustainable production and consumption possible. Such changes are especially important in the areas of agriculture, industry, transport and mining, to say the least.

CSD-18 will provide us with a timely and valuable opportunity for reviewing and analysing the challenges and constraints impeding the implementation of sustainable development agenda in the areas of transport, chemicals, waste management, mining and ten year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns. This review will serve as the basis for mobilizing political will for identifying concrete policy actions and measures as well as partnerships to accelerate the implementation.

As Chairperson of CSD-18, I commit myself to work with you, the Member States as well as the Major Groups, the UN system and other international and regional organizations to make CSD-18 a successful session. With the valuable support and collaboration of the Bureau, I will develop a balanced programme of activities, building on the innovations already introduced during the previous session, to further enhance the Commission’s strengths, interactivity, effectiveness and unique leadership in the field of sustainable development.

Dr. Luis Alberto Ferraté, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Guatemala