ENB @ WSSD - Johannesburg, 26 August



Plenary:
Partnerships: Agriculture
M.S. Swaminathan, (M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation), highlighted agricultureï¿½s role in guarding against poverty and the polarization of agribusiness and small-scale farming cultures.	Pedro Sanchez, (Millennium Development Goals Hunger Task Force), stated that declining soil fertility is a leading cause of underproduction and hunger, and recommended that small farmers grow high-value crops and that large-scale farmers grow lower-value crops such as grains.

Vandana Shiva, (Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy), noted that most farmers are women and said that they are key to solving problems such as the elimination of privatised water, genetic pollution and land tenure.

Cross-sectoral:




Joji Cariï¿½o, Indigenous Peoples emphasized the complementarity of science and traditional knowledge, but added that many research and education institutions are ill-equipped to deal with such diversity of information.	Adnan Amin, UNEP (left) stressed the link between science and policymaking, noting the successful linkage that resulted in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.


Main Committee:

In the afternoon delegates convened again in the Vienna setting where they held considerable deliberations regarding outstanding language on energy and renewables. Key points of contention include: a target to increase global use of renewables to 15% by 2010, and use within industrialized countries by 2% by 2010; the adoption of national policies with timetables for phasing out energy subsidies; and more specific language on future actions for implementation. The group also reviewed language on Africa and sanitation. In the evening the Main Committee convened to review work to date.

An afternoon session of the contact group on institutional arrangements addressed issues including: the rule of law, strengthening institutions and human rights; the social dimension of sustainable development and the ILO Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work; and good governance. The contact group along with the one on means of implementation continued to meet in the evening.

Tuesday, 27 August 2002 as of 4:00 pm (GMT +2)
Plenary: Delegates considered the issue of agriculture in a lively Partnership Plenary, consisting of expert presentations, commentaries of resource persons and discussion from the floor. Participants addressed a number of issues including small- vs. large-scale farming, the role of women, subsidies and market access. An afternoon Partnership Plenary is scheduled to address cross-sectoral issues, including finance, trade, technology transfer, consumption, education and capacity building.

Negotiations: As the WSSD entered its second day of official discussions, negotiations on the draft Plan of Implementation proceeded slowly. The ï¿½Vienna settingï¿½ continued to revisit a number of outstanding paragraphs with a small step forward on language regarding fisheries and the rights, duties and requirements accorded to coastal and developing states. Informal discussions on energy and climate change had yet to bear fruit. Meanwhile, the contact group on institutional arrangements met in the morning and the contact group on means of implementation will convene in the afternoon.

Around Sandton: With tight security and a limited seating capacity for the Sandton Convention Centre, access has become a key concern for government and NGO delegates alike (left photo). Many Ministers have already arrived in Johannesburg and with Heads of State coming next week, participation concerns will be even higher especially as a multi-tiered security system for access will soon go into effect.




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