Agenda of Roundtables

The GA55 Resolution on the World Summit on Sustainable Development indicates that a prime source for the Summit agenda will be the outcomes of the national and regional preparatory processes.

Inherent in the GA resolution is that the 2002 conference should not result in a comprehensive negotiated Agenda 21 type of document but should focus on key measures for the further implementation of Agenda 21 and other outcomes of UNCED as well as the Program for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session in 1997.

IThe regional roundtables as part of the regional preparatory process should be closely linked with the Regional Intergovernmental meetings.

The regional prepcoms will undertake two main tasks:

I. Undertake regional assessments of progress, including:

Main achievements in the region since UNCED in the implementation of Agenda 21, including any major regional, sub-regional and national initiatives towards sustainable development;

Prospective outlooks and main constraints faced by the region and, and by countries in the region;

New initiatives and commitments within regions and sub-regions towards overcoming constraints and fostering further progress.

II. Formulate regional platforms which would outline key policy issues, priorities and follow up actions including for example actions at the global level or in terms of international institutions or actions at the regional level or where international cooperation is required to support regions.

The roundtable agendas will be broadly similar to that of the regional prepcoms but with a particular focus on concrete actions to implement Agenda 21 and to further global and regional sustainable development, including inspiration for new partnerships and community approaches.

Given the nature of the roundtables i.e. a non intergovernmental meeting and that the participants will have outstanding expertise in wide range of diverse fields it would not be expected that the meeting would produce an outcome which would necessarily be agreed by all participants. However where possible it would be desirable to have a consensus view on measure required to address regional sustainable development problems.

back to Regional Roundtables page

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Division for Sustainable Development
Comments and suggestions
24 August 2006