Hopes and Aspirations in Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development PDF

Keywords

Sustainable development, implementation plan, political declaration, Johannesburg summit, institutional frameworks for sustainable development

Abstract

After two years of extensive preparations, the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, South Africa 26th August to 4th September 2002. The summit addressed several topics including: water, energy, health, agriculture, biodiversity, crosscutting issues and the implementation plan. The summit adopted at the end of its deliberations a political declaration and an implementation plan. The latter contained principles and directions in the major areas of work, which included more than 30 goals. In its context, the implementation plan reaffirmed the importance of sustainable development as an approach and program of work to achieve sustainability. It renewed the international commitments aiming at poverty eradication and environmental conservation. Additionally, it strengthened and broadened the concept of sustainable development. It gave special attention to the development needs of Africa and welcomed other regional initiatives. The views of civil society were given high stand in recognition of the key role that it can play in the implementation of the outcomes of the summit, and in building and promoting partnerships. The most prominent achievement of the summit were setting goals to alleviate poverty, secure safe drinking water and basic sanitation needs, use and produce environmentally safe chemicals, develop integrated water resources management, and improve access to environmentally sound energy services. Other targets included conservation of oceans fish stocks, enhancement of health education, reducing percentages of children and mother deaths, and reducing the spread of HIV virus. The plan addressed the means of implementation and elaborated on institutional frameworks for sustainable development. Views were different on the outcomes of the summit among stakeholders according to their stands.