Note to Correspondents

Note No. 211
5 September 2002

HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMITMENTS AND
IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVE

4 September 2002

The following is a list of some of the agreements reached and initiatives announced during the Johannesburg Summit. This list is not exhaustive, but reflects some key highlights of the Summit process. The commitments shown are those agreed in the Implementation Plan adopted by Governments at the close of the Summit.

Water & Sanitation

Commitments

  • Commitment to halve the proportion of people without access to sanitation by 2015; this matches the goal of halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015.

Initiatives

  • The United States announced $970 million in investments over the next three years on water and sanitation projects.
  • The European Union announced the "Water for Life" initiative that seeks to engage partners to meet goals for water and sanitation, primarily in Africa and Central Asia. The Asia Development Bank provided a $5 million grant to UN Habitat and $500 million in fast-track credit for the Water for Asian Cities Programme.
  • The UN has received 21 other water and sanitation initiatives with at least $20 million in extra resources.

Energy

Commitments

  • Commitment to increase access to modern energy services increase energy efficiency and to increase the use of renewable energy.
  • To phase out, where appropriate, energy subsidies.
  • To support the NEPAD objective of ensuring access to energy for at least 35% of the African population within 20 years.

Initiatives

  • The nine major electricity companies of the E7 signed a range of agreements with the UN to facilitate technical cooperation for sustainable energy projects in developing countries.
  • The European Union announced a $700 million partnership initiative on energy and the United States announced that it would invest up to $43 million in 2003.
  • The South African energy utility Eskom announced a partnership to extend modern energy services to neighboring countries.
  • The UN has received 32 partnership submissions for energy project with at least $26 million in resources.

Health

Commitments

  • Commitment that by 2020, chemicals should be used and produced in ways that do not harm human health and the environment.
  • To enhance cooperation to reduce air pollution.
  • To improve developing countries’ access to environmentally sound alternatives to ozone depleting chemicals by 2010.

Initiatives

  • United States announced commitment to spend $2.3 billion through 2003 on health, some of which was earmarked earlier for the Global Fund.
  • The UN has received 16 partnership submissions for health projects with $3 million in resources.

Agriculture

Commitments

  • The GEF will consider inclusion of the Convention to Combat Desertification as a focal area for funding.
  • In Africa, development of food security strategies by 2005.

Initiatives

  • The United States will invest $90 million in 2003 for sustainable agriculture programmes.
  • The UN has received 17 partnership submissions with at least $2 million in additional resources. 

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management

Commitments

  • Commitment to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010.
  • Commitment to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation.
  • Commitment to restore fisheries to their maximum sustainable yields by 2015.
  • Commitment to establish a representative network of marine protected areas by 2012.
  • Commitment to improve developing countries’ access to environmentally-sound alternatives to ozone depleting chemicals by 2010.
  • Undertake initiatives by 2004 to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Sources of Pollution.

Initiatives

  • The UN has received 32 partnership initiatives with $100 million in resources.
  • The United States has announced $53 million for forests in 2002-2005.

Cross-Cutting Issues

Commitments

  • Recognition that opening up access to markets is a key to development for many countries.
  • Support the phase out of all forms of export subsidies.
  • Commitment to establish a 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production.
  • Commitment to actively promote corporate responsibility and accountability.
  • Commitments to develop and strengthen a range of activities to improve natural disaster preparedness and response.

Initiatives

  • Agreement to the replenishment of the Global Environment Facility – $2.9 billion.

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Issued by the United Nations Department of Public Information