Kathmandu Declaration on the Implementation of Rio+20 Outcomes Document

Asia – Pacific Major Groups and Stakeholders Regional Consultation Meeting

Kathmandu Declaration on the Implementation of Rio+20 Outcomes Document

51 participants from 27 countries in Asia and the Pacific attended the Asia – Pacific Major Group and Stakeholder Regional Consultation Meeting held at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, Nepal from 22 – 23 November 2012. The participants adopted this declaration as an important input to the Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum to be held in Nairobi 16-17 February 2013. Happy to be a part of such a productive meeting representing Major Group of Children and youth .

Regional priority issues

The Asia-Pacific region faces some common challenges to achieving sustainable development, such as land-grabbing and the adverse impacts of climate change, air pollution and extractive industries. Others like marine pollution and over-fishing are specific to the subregions of Pacific and South Asia. To overcome these challenges, it is vital to facilitate (i) public access to information, decision-making and justice, (ii) greater equity in wealth, resources and power between and within countries, rich and poor, and men and women, (iii) development and implementation of free prior-informed consent procedures, (iv) increased sub-regional and regional collaboration on sustainable management of natural resources; (v) stronger accountability and transparency mechanisms for the private sector, particularly in extractive industries, (vi) methods to halt land-grabbing and forced evictions by both the private sector and governments, and (vii) wider engagement of MGSs and non-state actors in sustainable development governance and implementation.

Role of MGS in Rio+20 outcome implementation

Civil society organisations (CSOs) will play an increasingly important role in facilitating Rio+20 outcomes. It is vital to advance and enhance the institutionalization of MGSs engagement in the Rio+20 follow up processes such as the planned High level Political Forum, Open Working Groups, the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) and other current and emerging mechanisms.

Sustainable Development Goals and the Post 2015 Development Agenda

In devising Sustainable Development Goals beyond 2015, a comprehensive approach is needed that shifts global policy-making from existing models to the incorporation of all four pillars of development: environmental, economic, cultural and social rights. Efforts should be made to achieve coherence and synergy between the post-2015 and SDG processes as well as other multilateral processes that have a major bearing on sustainable development. It is particularly important to utilise a human- rights based approach by fully recognizing and integrating international standards on equality and non discrimination while addressing root causes of poverty. Peace, security, democracy and justice are essential foundations for achieving sustainable development and must be a core part of the post-2015 framework

Institutional framework for sustainable development

While Asia and Pacific States have developed an increasing number of laws and become party to relevant international agreements, compliance with such laws, norms and standards is still lacking. A time-bound implementation plan needs to be developed and reinforced. Periodic review mechanisms on compliance should be introduced. The establishment of an independent ombudsman for future generations must be pursued along with additional steps to strengthen international environmental governance as reflected in the Rio+20 outcome document paragraph 88 including sub-paragraphs a-h.

Green economies in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication

Green economies in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication must ensure gender equality; human well-being; environmental risk reduction; ecosystem and biodiversity conservation; human rights protection; opportunities of decent work; safeguards for the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups including indigenous peoples; food and energy security and animal welfare.

Any disguised and distorting trading measures under the pretext of green economies should not be permitted. Green economies should become synergistic with pursuit of sustainable development goals and utilize UN mechanisms, including the future high level political forum, to track country level progress.

Sustainable consumption and production

The 10 Year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production must be implemented with enhanced involvement of MGSs. Countries must become parties to all the international agreements on chemical and waste management while implementing UNEP’s guidelines on safe chemical and waste management. UNEP should develop and facililtate guidelines on zero waste. UNEP must reinforce the implementation of guidelines on agrichemicals throughout their whole life cycle. Further strengthening UNEP’s work on the Bali Guidelines, which are voluntary, would lead to more transparent implementation of the 10YFP.

Public participation and access to information

Access to information, decision- making and justice is essential for achieving sustainable development and thus must be a core principle of the Sustainable Development Goals. In compliance with Paragraph 99 of the Rio+20 outcome document, we call for the establishment of an adequately-funded Asia–Pacific Convention on Principle 10 to ensure that the needs of all MGs are met. Such a proposed regional convention should balance fairly the needs and interests of the various vulnerable groups, and include commitments fromr governments and private sectors. The appropriate agency to initiate this Principle 10 Regional Convention would be the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP-ROAP), in collaboration with other relevant organisations, partners and regions.

Financing

Both conventional and innovative approaches must be more vigorously pursued to generate incentives and mobilise funds for achieving sustainable development. Perverse incentives such as fossil fuels subsidies, subsidies for commercial fishing vessels and agribusiness should be eliminated with due consideration to their impact on low-income groups. Other measures should be put in place such as taxes on international financial transactions, on arms trade, on shipping and carbon emissions designed in a progressive manner.

Asia – Pacific CSO mechanism

Civil society requires more institutionalized and regularized policy dialogue forums. Regional and subregional CSO mechanisms should be refined and strengthened with more transparent, inclusive, democratic and effective operational modalities. To enable MGS to conduct more effective and substantive policy dialogues and implementation support, it is vital to seek more financial support and capacity building from UNEP Headquarters and donor countries/agencies We also call for dialogues with ministers and government decision makers as well as business executives to discuss and pursue strategies and forge effective partnerships for truly sustainable development.