Ashok Khosla, Chair of the IIED International Workshop, stated that Equity for a Small Planet carries connotations about issues the poor strive to get on the global agenda.  Mentioning that “equity” strives to be inclusive, while working to create sustainable jobs for all, he asked how to bring about mechanisms, which create sustainable livelihoods.  He emphasized that the planet is smaller because of globalization, which brings about a need for a global economy that plays a role in the lives of all. He stated there should be a two point agenda going into Johannesburg, which would include how to establish mechanisms for eradicating poverty and sustainable livelihoods and how to ensure accountability in the international system

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Ashok Khosla

Hilary Benn

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Robert Rochon, Deputy High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission, London, welcomed participants to the workshop, highlighted Canada’s association with IIED and praised their work in fostering international consensus on environment and development. He stated that this workshop would continue the tradition of enhancing issues and enabling the international community to work together

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Robert Rochon

Nigel Cross

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In the morning, the Plenary heard introductory and keynote speakers, and allowed time for a brief discussion before breaking into the Working Groups. In the afternoon, the Plenary heard presentations on local and global governance, resumed discussions in the Working Groups, and then reported the results of their discussions back to Plenary

Images from the Working Groups

Sean Southey of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) explained that the world has made significant progress towards sustainable development at the local level
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Arif Hasan, Orangi Pilot Project, Pakistan, elaborated on the disparity between local governance and the way people live, using the city of Karachi as an example
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Camilla Toulmin, IIED, discussed the need to redesign global architecture so it can address all equitably. She argued that strong local structures provide clear and simple models for global governance
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A brief discussion followed during which participants highlighted, inter alia: community-level operations as the most successful mechanisms for sustainable development; lack of representation and involvement by developing country ministries of finance, trade and industry in environmental negotiations; debt relief and management for poor countries; how WSSD could further the agenda of poverty eradication; climate change; and practical initiatives to rectify timber and diamonds as commodities that promote conflict in Africa. 
 
One participant emphasized that the Secretariats of many UN conferences should collaborate. Hilary Benn agreed, acknowledging the overlap that exists within the “UN family.” Chair Khosla said that people should not rely on aid but on fulfillment of agreements and promises, so that the international community does not suffer from lack of credibility and confidence, and advocated restructuring the global economy so that communities could take care of themselves without relying on aid with strings attached

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Lael Bethlehem

Johannah Bernstein

Tony Fairclough, a participant in the discussion on the pros and cons of standards and certification

Standards and Certification: a leap forward or a step back for sustainable development?
Facilitator Danielson reported on the group’s discussions, noting that in addressing potential applicability of a certification process the overall conclusion was that no one formula would cover all situations or companies, and that a certification process should address contexts in which products and services are different. He noted that most drivers for certification come from developed countries and are imposed on domestic industries; suggested examining whose values are being reflected; and stressed the role of government and the issue of capacity; and questioned whether a certification system would support government or act as a substitute for a system that is not working. He also noted that certification is a tool and its utility may depend on what other tools are being used. He added that certification is often driven by consumer preference but sometimes can be weak, noted over 100 different certification schemes for consumers, and supported education of consumers to help drive the process

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Silver Bullet or Fool's Gold: Can Markets for Environmental Services Help Conserve Forests and Reduce Poverty? 
Natasha Landell-Mills of the IIED presented on markets as solutions to environmental problems, market versus non-market approaches, with a focus on forestry and its importance around the world. She emphasized the role of Agenda 21 as a framework for market instruments, expressing that government should play a complimentary role with market-oriented approaches
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Regoverning Markets: Market Access for Small Producers
The group noted three key issues: similarity of experiences among the small agricultural producers from both the North and South; the need to ask whether small producers should survive; and, in light of the significance of economic concentration in the local and global markets, the need for balance through regulation to deal with corporate power
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Corporate Community Partnerships: Fair Deals or Public Relations?
Noting that many of the aspects referred to as partnerships are merely relationships, the group reported an absence of consensus on the definition of partnerships. and highlighted, inter alia, that: governance is critical at both national and local levels; balance of power is an essential component of governance; and commercial viability is essential in partnerships
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Andrew Simms

Richard Ballhorn

David Anderson