General Assembly - UN Documents

A/CONF.216/PC/7
I. Introduction
1. Recalling General Assembly resolution 64/236, the present report provides a
perspective on the objective of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development — to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable
development, reviewing progress and remaining implementation gaps and assessing
new and emerging challenges — as well as the two themes stated therein, namely, a
green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication
and the institutional framework for sustainable development.
2. The report should be read in conjunction with the synthesis report
(A/CONF.216/PC/8), based on questionnaire responses received from Member
States, major groups and United Nations system agencies, which elaborates on the
objective of the Conference, progress and gaps, and new and emerging challenges as
well as the two themes.
3. The perspective taken in the present report is to look at the objective of the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development through the lenses of the
two themes. The question posed is as follows: how can a focus on the two themes
help us to accelerate progress on each of the three pillars, and towards convergence
among the three pillars, of sustainable development? How can it advance the
objective of renewed political commitment to sustainable development?
II. How can a green economy contribute to sustainable
development and poverty eradication?
A. Context and concept
4. Sustainable development emphasizes a holistic, equitable and far-sighted
approach to decision-making at all levels. It emphasizes not just strong economic
performance but intragenerational and intergenerational equity. It rests on
integration and a balanced consideration of social, economic and environmental
goals and objectives in both public and private decision-making.
5. The concept of green economy focuses primarily on the intersection between
environment and economy. This recalls the 1992 Rio Conference: the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Prior to the Conference, the
predominant discourse was one of trade-offs between economic and environmental
goals. The Conference was a major step towards recognizing the importance of
synergies. The World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg,
South Africa, in 2002, stressed the social pillar, with a reminder that, while
economic progress often fosters social progress, the link is not automatic, and that
ultimately economic development is a means to improving human well-being. Both
the Rio Conference and the Johannesburg Summit enhanced appreciation of the
importance of healthy ecosystems and a healthy environment to such improvements
for present and future generations.
6. Despite progress since Rio, it has become apparent that a global economy
based on current patterns of consumption and production is placing heavy stresses
on many ecosystems and on critical life-support systems. At the same time, extreme
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