United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)

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Summary Report on ICSU participation in the 13th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development
New York, 11 – 22 April 2005

Also for the thirteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-13), ICSU acted as a “co-organising partner”, together with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), arranging for the input by, and participation of, the S&T Community, as one of nine ”Major Groups”. In 2004-2005, the CSD has focused on the issues of freshwater, sanitation and human settlements.

CSD-13 focused on policy recommendations related to freshwater, sanitation and human settlements

While CSD-12 in 2004 had reviewed progress in meeting sustainable development goals in freshwater, sanitation and human settlements, CSD-13 was mandated to formulate policy recommendations aimed at enhancing and accelerating implementation of relevant parts in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, while focusing on related Millennium Development Goals. For CSD-13, ICSU, in cooperation with WFEO, submitted a short document entitled “ Policy recommendations by the Scientific and Technological Community” which was integrated with the submissions by the other Major Groups in the document “Major Groups Priorities for Action in Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements” (available in our resource centre here ).

Over 140 Ministers, heads of UN system agencies and other organizations attend

The S&T community delegation to CSD-13 included representatives of ICSU, the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and WFEO. Among the ICSU representatives, there were one specialist each from the Global Water System Project and the World Climate Research Programme. Members of the S&T Community delegation were able to intervene whenever appropriate during the meeting, alongside the interventions by government delegates. A two-day ministerial-segment during the second week was attended by about 140 ministers. During this segment, a two-hour session was devoted to an interactive dialogue between ministers and Major Groups’ representatives. ICSU spoke on behalf of the S&T Community.

Three side events to promote the role of science

In addition, three side events provided an opportunity to promote the role of science in sustainable development related to the three CSD-13 topics. First, ICSU organised an event with panellists presenting the Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, results of the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment, and information about the Global Water System Project, as well as views on what knowledge is needed by governments (taking South Africa as an example). Second, Major Groups co-organising partners organised a half-day, two-segment seminar, with one segment organised by ICSU around the recommendation from the Advisory Group (referred to above) to start a dialogue with the Major Groups on priority setting in science and technology for sustainable development. The third side event was organised by the United Nations University (UNU), but chaired by ICSU. It addressed needs and best practises in education for sustainable development, in the context of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development and the so-called Ubuntu Alliance.

CSD-13 agrees on policy recommendations to strengthen science and technology

The outcome of CSD-13 was a set of policy recommendations (negotiated by governments only) for enhancing sustainable development in the areas of freshwater, sanitation and human settlements. This included recommendations for enhancing the development and application of appropriate technologies; for strengthening long-term water resources observations at the national, regional, and global levels; and for building relevant S&T capacity, particularly in developing countries. The full text of the CSD-13 outcome can be found on here

Another document relevant for CSD-13 was the document prepared by ICSU and WFEO for CSD-12 “Harnessing Science and Technology for Sustainable Development: Freshwater, Sanitation and Human Settlements”, available on the ICSU website and in all UN conference languages on http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd12.

CSD-14 on energy, air pollution/atmosphere, climate change and industrial development

CSD-14 in May 2006 will review progress in meeting sustainable development goals in the above four areas. ICSU and WFEO have started to prepare for the input by the S&T Community. A circular note has been sent to all National and Scientific Union Members, as well as Interdisciplinary Bodies, to submit to the ICSU Secretariat information and perspectives relevant to a better harnessing of science and technology with regard to the four CSD-14 areas.