Roundtable "Rio + 10" in Almaty, Kazakhstan

At the Earth Summit on Environment and Development (Rio-de-Janeiro, 1992) all countries adopted obligations to implement the Global Agenda- 21. During the Ministerial Conference of Asian-Pacific region (Japan, September, 2000) the Central Asian states declared about participation for the preparation to forthcoming Earth Summit – "RIO+10" (Johannesburg, 2002), which will make the review of progress.

In April 2001 the Inter-State Commission for Sustainable Development (ISCSD) of Central Asia decide to establish sub-regional Committee on preparation to Rio+10. The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CA REC), created by the Governments of Central Asian governments, European Commission and UNDP, according to the decision of UNECE ministerial conference, was proposed to render assistance in providing of information and involvement of interested parties in the process of RIO+10 preparation.

At May 16, 2001 the CA REC held the Round Table with the aim to organize broad discussion among all interested parties on the most comprehensive issues of development of Central Asian region. Such discussions on problems of development, causes of failures and possible ways to eliminate them, as well as preparation of National reviews are leaded in all countries. The 10^th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (May 2001) considered the frames of Earth Summit 2002.

In 1997 year the countries recognized that there is no a progress: decisions and documents of RIO-92 are not executed. At present there are experts’ conclusions about key cases of such situation, as follows: dis-balance of systems for management by economy and protection of environment; between short-term and long-term interests; transboundary, national and local programs. It is necessary to solve the task on development of the program of coordinated actions and reforming of management structures on all levels.

On Round Table there were invited specialists from different sectors, public and natural sciences, experts in the area of sustainable development, representatives from NGO, mass media. Discussion’ participants expressed their opinion on the issues of perfecting of management institutes, alternative models for the development of society, about cases and ways to eliminate the gap between private and public interests, integration of ecological, economic and social aspects of development and etc.

As a result of discussions there were produced proposals, which should be defined in order to go to Summit with constructive position of the countries and region. Final document – Proposals to RIO+10, will be developed and accorded with all process participants – representatives of power, NGO, scientists, business. All imaginations will be concentrated and accorded positions of public will be reflected on the problem of sustainable development of the world community and CAR.

Results of Round Table:

   To develop in mass media and Internet broad discussion on issues of RIO+10. To place in the web page of CA REC (www.neapsd.kz/carec) materials of RIO+10 and open discussion Internet-Forum. Collect, generalize and present for the discussion the most important issues

   Support proposals about participation of NGO in the preparation of official review for evaluation of the progress on Central Asian countries and region as a whole

   To held in the framework of the Initiative "101 ways to Sustainable Development" the tender on the best project experience in CAR countries in the field of sustainable development. Generalize the examples of successful actions, identify new approaches and distribute the information in the region

   To discus proposed by the experts models of balanced management by the resources at the local, national and global levels wit the aim to present them in the preparatory meetings and distribution among the participants of RIO+10 process

   To make more active the participation of public in international campaign of Earth Charter. To place in the web page of CA REC relevant materials

The results of discussion will be presented at the forthcoming meeting of Central Asian countries, Caucasus, Turkey and Iran, organized by UN DESA, UNEP, ESCAP and ADB in Almaty, June 28-30, 2001.

Almaty city

The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia
40, Orbita-1, Almaty, 480043, Republic of Kazakhstan
Tel.: +3272-292619, 296646, 206534
Tel./fax: +3272-292619, 296646
E-mail: rec.centralasia@itte.kz
http://www.neapsd.kz/carec