General Assembly - UN Documents

A/CONF.216/PC/8
development in national institutions; achieving a balanced distribution of financial
resources; ensuring coordination between local and national institutions; and
inefficient and wasteful patterns of consumption and production.
D. Risks
111. The main risks to a successful outcome at the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development relate to insufficient political will to reform the existing
institutional framework, North-South and other divisions, and overall lack of
commitment to cooperate at the international level.
112. For some, it is too early to state clearly what decision should be taken at the
Conference on the overarching sustainable development framework, but most agree
that the Conference will provide an opportunity for agreement on an
intergovernmental environmental governance reform package. Others proposed
decisions involving restoring the institutional balance among the three pillars and
strengthening capacities to ensure effective implementation; providing a strong and
predictable financial basis for action; ensuring effective participation by civil
society in decision-making functions; and aiming to reach agreement on elevating
the lead responsibility for sustainable development at the international level to the
highest decision-making levels of the multilateral system.
113. Some noted that the leading role of the regional commissions in coordinating
regional and subregional activities towards sustainable development, in accordance
with chapter 38 of Agenda 21, must be preserved and strengthened within the
context of reforms to the international institutional framework for sustainable
development. Opportunities provided by existing regional and subregional
institutions should be leveraged.
VII. The way forward
114. The questionnaire responses contain a number of useful suggestions and
recommendations for consideration in the preparatory process for the United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which are summarized in a
separate document posted at www.uncsd2010.org. In the present report, areas of
apparent convergence are noted, as well as those where further discussion is needed
to narrow differences at the second session of the Preparatory Committee.
Renewed political commitment for sustainable development
115. The intersessional meeting of the Preparatory Committee reaffirmed political
commitment to the Rio Principles and ensuring their more consistent and effective
application. Further discussion is required on how the United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development will:
(a) Foster integrated decision-making based on sustainable development
principles as a whole-of-government undertaking;
(b) Support a post-2015 Millennium Development Goals framework focused
on sustainable development;
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