Brussels, 30/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The backing of EU27 development ministers for a new over-arching approach to development post-2015 to eradicate poverty and introduce sustainable development has been welcomed by WWF, but it says that the words must be put into action and there is often a gap when it comes to environmental protection. WWF calls on the EU member states to provide resources to put the ideas into action.
WWF welcomes the desire by the European Commission and the EU Foreign Affairs Council to promote at the United Nations a single solution to eradicating poverty and encouraging sustainable development by putting environmental sustainability at the forefront of development and poverty eradication (see EUROPE 10854). WWF also hails the key principles laid down by the Council for the future of the sustainable development strategy post-2015 but, behind the words, it is awaiting details of how this laudable ambition will be financed because, explains WWF, it is cash that shows whether member states are genuinely serious about their commitments.
Genuine measures rather than a dusting of green. Sally Nicholson, development and financing policy director at WWF, says that WWF welcomes the announcements, but is aware that the success of the strategy, if it gets United Nations' approval, will be measured in terms of results. The objective must not be solely action in development countries, she added, but also action closer to home. She explained that, at the moment, the European Union is deciding on policy for the common agricultural policy (CAP) and biodiversity, which are far from being models of sustainable development. On the CAP, ministers are keener, she said, to give a dusting of green to the policy rather than take the often painful measures needed to genuinely achieve a healthier and sustainable environment. It is time for ministers to turn their words into action, added Nicholson.
WWF asks the EU environment ministers, who will be meeting on 18 June and the General Affairs Council that will formally adopt the conclusions document for the three Council formations, that the EU negotiating position for the United Nations should include the following:
A single framework for the MDG and drawing up sustainable development objectives;
Integration of the three areas of sustainable development and recognition of the need to take account of the planet's limits when it comes to development;
The framework should tackle the causes of poverty, deterioration of the environment and unsustainable current manufacturing and consumer models, and stress the need to separate off economic development from degradation of the environment;
Development and well-being indicators are needed that move beyond GDP;
The overall targets, of universal application, should recognise various levels of development, the situation in different countries and promotion of ownership of the objectives at national level;
Policy coherence for development will be a key factor in the new development framework and a precondition for achieving long-term sustainable development;
Recognition of the substantial contribution that can be made to the future development framework by full implementation of existing multilateral environment agreements. (AN/transl.fl)