UNESCO FUTURE UNESCO FUTURE FORUM FORUM 8 July 2010 8 July 2010 ADDRESSI NG ENVI RONMENTAL ADDRESSI NG ENVI RONMENTAL AND CLI MATE CHANGE AND CLI MATE CHANGE CHALLENGES FACED BY SI DS, CHALLENGES FACED BY SI DS, ESPECI ALLY I N THE CARI BBEAN ESPECI ALLY I N THE CARI BBEAN 1 1
Concept of sustainable Concept of sustainable development development • In 1972, the Brundtland Commission noted that • In 1972, the Brundtland Commission noted that economic growth, social equity, and the economic growth, social equity, and the protection of the environment are three principal protection of the environment are three principal components of sustainable development. components of sustainable development. • We are very familiar with the concept of the • We are very familiar with the concept of the three pillars of SD. Today I propose to you that three pillars of SD. Today I propose to you that environment is the foundation pillar by which we environment is the foundation pillar by which we achieve social progress through employing achieve social progress through employing economic measures and tools. economic measures and tools. 2 2
MAI NSTREAMI NG MAI NSTREAMI NG • For SI DS we have to adopt an integrated • For SI DS we have to adopt an integrated Approach Approach • We • We have to mainstream sustainable have to mainstream sustainable development concerns into local and development concerns into local and national planning , into our institutional national planning , into our institutional and human capital development, our and human capital development, our finance for development, and political and finance for development, and political and operational management. operational management. 3 3
Process of Mainstreaming Process of Mainstreaming • It • It requires a shift in our thinking about requires a shift in our thinking about development development • At the practical level in the context of national • At the practical level in the context of national development mainstreaming is about integrating development mainstreaming is about integrating core values and principles into national vision, into core values and principles into national vision, into national development as well as using them to national development as well as using them to quide sectoral and thematic strategies. quide sectoral and thematic strategies. • In many cases, mainstreaming is a slow and • In many cases, mainstreaming is a slow and difficult process. difficult process. • It means shifting our modus operandi from simple • It means shifting our modus operandi from simple oversight of a series of isolated government oversight of a series of isolated government endorsed projects to promoting the integrated endorsed projects to promoting the integrated 4 4 management of SD. management of SD.
I n what areas I n what areas • Mainstreaming has to be done across the • Mainstreaming has to be done across the whole range of activities of the public and whole range of activities of the public and private sector, of civil society, of private sector, of civil society, of community action and private and community action and private and individual modes of lifestyle and individual modes of lifestyle and livelihoods. livelihoods. 5 5
Participation Participation • The entire society has to participate in • The entire society has to participate in sustainable devel opment. sustainable devel opment. • Genuine participation has to involve sharing of • Genuine participation has to involve sharing of information, consultation dialogues, involvement information, consultation dialogues, involvement and empowerment at all levels of the planning and empowerment at all levels of the planning and management of the entire process. and management of the entire process. • The implementation of NSDS requires stakeholder • The implementation of NSDS requires stakeholder consultation and involvement of public and private consultation and involvement of public and private sectors and civil society actors sectors and civil society actors 6 6
Principle issues confronting Principle issues confronting SI DS SI DS • The principle issues confronting SIDS in the • The principle issues confronting SIDS in the pursuit of SD includes: pursuit of SD includes: • The state of the environment and its carrying • The state of the environment and its carrying capacity capacity • Demographic changes especially growth in total • Demographic changes especially growth in total population population • Unsustainable patterns of consumption and • Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production production • Equity in the distribution of costs and benefits of • Equity in the distribution of costs and benefits of development development • The impacts and implications of climate change • The impacts and implications of climate change 7 7
Most critical issue Most critical issue • Out of all the environmental challenges of SIDS, • Out of all the environmental challenges of SIDS, climate change is the most critical and climate change is the most critical and potentially devastating concern. potentially devastating concern. This is a global threat that SIDS contribute very This is a global threat that SIDS contribute very little too but will be the first set of casualties to little too but will be the first set of casualties to suffer from its effects. suffer from its effects. Other priority environmental issues for Caribbean Other priority environmental issues for Caribbean SIDS are Energy, Water resource management, SIDS are Energy, Water resource management, Waste management, Biodiversity and Disaster Waste management, Biodiversity and Disaster Management Management 8 8
Adapting development tools Adapting development tools for SI DS for SI DS • The special and peculiar circumstances of • The special and peculiar circumstances of SIDS many of the global development SIDS many of the global development tools need to be adapted before use in tools need to be adapted before use in SIDS SIDS 9 9
Pre- -requisites for requisites for Pre addressing Environmental addressing Environmental and Climate Change in SI DS and Climate Change in SI DS • SIDS require coherent national sustainable • SIDS require coherent national sustainable development strategies (NSDS) supported development strategies (NSDS) supported by standards, laws and regulations and by standards, laws and regulations and comprehensive implementation framework. comprehensive implementation framework. • SIDS require special financing mechanisms • SIDS require special financing mechanisms particularly to cope with the absence of particularly to cope with the absence of economies of scale. economies of scale. 10 10
Pre- -requisite cont requisite cont’ ’d d Pre • Caribbean SIDS require the promotion of a • Caribbean SIDS require the promotion of a regional approach to overcome some regional approach to overcome some challenges as it relates to their small size. challenges as it relates to their small size. E.g CSME E.g CSME • SIDS require basic data and statistics to • SIDS require basic data and statistics to inform decision making and to review inform decision making and to review progress in SD. progress in SD. • SIDS also need to develop indicators for • SIDS also need to develop indicators for SD SD 11 11
Mainstreaming in the Mainstreaming in the Caribbean Caribbean • Mainstreaming is being pursued in SIDS through • Mainstreaming is being pursued in SIDS through various ways : various ways : • Some • Some have established national councils of have established national councils of sustainable development e.g Barbados. Some have sustainable development e.g Barbados. Some have established sustainable development commissions established sustainable development commissions e.g Bahamas . The sustainable development unit in e.g Bahamas . The sustainable development unit in CARICOM. CARICOM. • Those vehicles are mandated to integrate ecosystem • Those vehicles are mandated to integrate ecosystem concerns into social and economic planning at the concerns into social and economic planning at the national and regional level. national and regional level. • Those national and regional vehicles facilitate the • Those national and regional vehicles facilitate the channeling of technical assistance, along with channeling of technical assistance, along with international aid and investment. international aid and investment. 12 12
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