sustainable development 20 years on from the ... - José Eli da Veiga

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Additionally, environmental challenges, such as land degradation, waste and pollution, natural
disasters and biodiversity management issues, among others, have further hindered implementation of the
Mauritius Strategy and further hinder progress towards <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> goals..
The risk of disasters is very high in the <strong>development</strong> and environment agenda of Caribbean
countries. The recognition of the vulnerability of the region led to several initiatives at both national and
regional levels designed to reduce this vulnerability. These date back to the 1980s and include the
establishment of regional and national institutional and legislative frameworks as well as the <strong>development</strong>
of programmes.
The Hyogo Framework for Action <strong>20</strong>05-<strong>20</strong>15 (HFA) provided a platform for the regional
Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) strategy, to link <strong>development</strong> decision-making and
planning initiatives to comprehensive disaster risk management within the context of <strong>sustainable</strong>
<strong>development</strong>. In line with this, the sixth Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management,
December <strong>20</strong>11, in Trinidad and Tobago, reflected on the achievements and lessons learned and the
commitment of Caribbean countries that will nurture an Enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management
Strategy beyond <strong>20</strong>12.
The following paragraphs outline the key aspects of implementation by Caribbean SIDS of the
international commitments on <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> which emanated from the Earth Summit in 1992.
1. National <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> strategies (NSDS)
In order to integrate environment and <strong>development</strong> at the policy, planning and management levels,
Chapter 8 of Agenda 21 calls on countries to conduct national reviews and adopt national <strong>sustainable</strong>
<strong>development</strong> strategies, aimed at harmonizing sectoral economic, social and environmental policies and
plans in each country. Caribbean SIDS have developed strategies in line with these goals, as well as other
integrated policies and planning tools for <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong>.
Barbados has formally submitted its National Sustainable Development Strategy, which
comprises the National Sustainable Development Policy (ratified by the Parliament in <strong>20</strong>04) and Action
Plan (UNDESA, <strong>20</strong>10b). The Policy includes <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> principles to orient a national
framework for decision-making and focuses on quality of life, conservation of resources and economic
efficiency and equity (Government of Barbados, <strong>20</strong>09). Other countries have created strategies that can be
considered a national <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> strategy, such as national environmental management
strategies or the adoption of integrated <strong>development</strong> planning. Examples of implementation of national
<strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong> strategies include those of Antigua and Barbuda (National Environmental
Management Strategy), Cuba (National Environmental Strategy), Dominica (Growth and Poverty
Strategy), Guyana (Low Carbon Development Strategy), Jamaica (National Development Plan, Vision
<strong>20</strong>30-Jamaica), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (National Economic and Social Development Plan) and
Trinidad and Tobago (National Strategic Development Plan, Vision <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong>). Among the thematic areas of
the Mauritius Strategy that are also consistently included in these strategies, plans and programmes are
climate change, sea level rise, natural and environmental disasters, waste management, and energy and
renewable energy sources (ECLAC, <strong>20</strong>10b).
In general, the Caribbean SIDS face financial and technical challenges in implementing both the
Mauritius Strategy and their national <strong>development</strong> strategies. Specific challenges include the need to
intensify national efforts by giving greater priority to the use of national <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong>