The third Preparatory Committee (PrepComm III) in New York for the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) concluded on 5 April with little movement on key agenda items (see BRIDGES Weekly, 3 April). This setback has forced participants to start PrepComm IV -- a ministerial-level event originally scheduled for 27 May to 7 June in Bali, Indonesia -- 3 days earlier, in hopes of making up some of the lost ground.

The preparatory meeting was organised by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) with the intention of negotiating a draft text on an action plan for the 24 August - 4 September 'Rio + 10' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This 'chairman's paper' was then to be transmitted to PrepComm IV. However, after two weeks of negotiations, a succinct 21-page document emanating from PrepComm II is now a 100+ page "compilation text" with little in the way of agreement.

According to Emil Salim, Chairperson of the preparatory committee, the goal was to have this chair's paper serve as the basis for two consensus documents on commitments that countries were willing to make and on how to implement those commitments. However, as of the morning of 5 April, two of the three working groups (dealing with oceans, energy, the needs of small island states and Africa) had failed to complete their work.

Charges of blame abound

With such a setback so close to the main event, a great deal of blame has been laid on the numerous parties involved. Many of the criticisms put forth focus on the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and the OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, and Indonesia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait) countries of the G-77. These countries, according to critics, aim to derail the summit by blocking the achievement of any kind of meaningful targets and/or timetables. On the whole, many critics pointed to a general lack of preparedness on behalf of government delegations, especially in light of the aims of the meeting. One key charge laid against the UN itself was that of poor management of the negotiating process over the course of the meeting.

For further information on the proceedings and outcomes of PrepComm III, visit http://www.iisd.ca/linkages/2002/pc3/.

"Johannesburg Summit Preparations Bog Down," ENS, 8 April 2002; "Consensus Eludes Preparatory Meeting," UN WIRE, 5 April 2002; "Prep Meeting Nears End Without Agreement," UN WIRE, 4 April 2002.