Lebanon

The World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg 2002

The purpose of the WSSD is to bring together world governments, UN agencies, concerned citizens, multilateral financial institutions and other major actors to assess global progress, since the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio in 1992 and to develop an implementation plan detailing the priorities and actions which countries should pursue after Johannesburg. The summit will also serves as a platform for the launching of new partnerships between governments, non-governmental organizations and business to tackle significant problems and achieve sustainable development at the national, regional and international level.

Just like the Rio summit and after ten years, the Johannesburg summit is committed to eradicate poverty, raise the educational and health standards, fight HIV and other diseases, fight pollution, properly manage environmental and natural resources. These objectives cannot be split nor can they be disconnected from the need to create an enabling global and national environment to achieve these goals in a coherent way. 

UNDP and National Preparations for the WSSD:

UNDP Lebanon has assisted the government and civil society people prepare for the WSSD. UNDP secured technical and financial support for the preparation of the national assessment report to be presented at the summit, and facilitated maximum participation in the run up to the summit and in its event. A national facilitator and a team of national experts were recruited in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment to conduct the national assessment of progress since, Rio and draft the national report. UNDP managed report preparation process- led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment ensuring full participation, this through consultation workshop to discuss report structure and content with the main stakeholders.

National Assessment Report 22 August 2002:

A press conference held to launch the National Assessment Report at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Environment, the UNDP resident representative, the media and representative of government organizations and NGOs.

NGO Shadow Report 6 August 2002:

This event was organized by several environmental and social NGOs, facilitated by the UNDP and attended by 53 participants with representatives from 33 NGOs. The workshop provided an opportunity for discussion of the NGO shadow report.

Future global outlook:

In order to assist countries in meeting the sustainable development challenges of the 21st century, a new platform- Capacity 2015- will be launched at Johannesburg.

Capacity 2015 will help communities to develop their capacities and to encourage and empower people to take ownership of the process and decisions affecting their lives. The Capacity 2015 programme will support governments in localizing sustainable development planning and management, while promoting a regional approach to economic integration and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.