SA outlines outcome expectations from World Summit

THE director general of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr Crispian Olver, says the economic dynamics of the past decade of globalisation has excluded many developing African countries, from the world economy. Olver was speaking in New York last Friday at the second preparatory meeting in the run up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in August/September in Johannesburg. "Despite an unprecedented period of growing productivity and capital accumulation, the last decade has seen an extra ten million people each year joining the ranks of the very poor, many of these people are in Africa. For over one billion people, our agreements in Rio (Earth Summit held there in 1992) on Agenda 21 have meant little, and sustainable development remains a distant dream. It is clear that at this point, poverty and inequality are the greatest threats to sustainable global development," he said. Olver said despite empowering the third world economically, social development programmes which emerge from Johannesburg must address the need for increased access to safe water, sanitation and energy for the poor, increased global food security, action to ensure universal literacy and improved health care. "We as the South African government also believe that the environment agenda from Johannesburg must ensure a renewed focus on the environmental rights of the poor and the implementation of conventions and agreements that are of particular concern to developing countries, such as the Convention to Combat Desertification which has a particular relevance on the African continent," he added. Olver noted that the above will have to be achieved in order for the World Summit in Johannesburg to be deemed a success. "The outcome of Johannesburg therefore is much more that just a series of voluntary partnerships, but a real commitment and guarantee for implementation that overcomes the obstacles of non-delivery since Rio," concluded Olver. (Miguel de Sousa)