Background Paper for the Meeting of National Focal Points on Improving Future National Reporting to the Commission on Sustainable Development

Background Paper for the Meeting of National Focal Points on Improving Future National Reporting to the Commission on Sustainable Development New York 12-13 February 2002

A. Introduction The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), at its seventh session (1999), requested the Secretariat to invite Governments to submit proposals on how to improve national reporting and related guidelines, and based on the information received, to prepare a report to be submitted to the Commission as a part of the preparations for the comprehensive review of the implementation of Agenda 21 to be undertaken for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. The objectives of the meeting are to: assess evolution of national reporting since 1993; exchange country experiences in preparing national reports; and developing proposals for future reporting to the CSD. B. Voluntary National Reporting to the Commission on Sustainable Development The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in paragraph 38.38 of Agenda 21, 1/ recommended, that States could consider the preparation of national reports. Since its first session, the CSD has emphasized the need for reliable, accessible and streamlined information both for national-level decision-making and for its own deliberations. As agreed upon in paragraphs 38.13 of Agenda 21, amongst the terms of reference for the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development are: To monitor progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level; To consider information provided by Governments, for example, in the form of periodic communication or national reports regarding the activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the problems they face, such as the problems related to financial resources and technology transfer, and other environment and development issues they find relevant; etc. Over the past years, the number of countries reporting to the CSD has increased, now totaling 124. Moreover, both the coverage and depth of information provided have also been enhanced. In June 1997 (Earth Summit +5), the General Assembly, in paragraph 133 (b) of the annex to its resolution S/19-2, adopted at its nineteenth special session, decided that CSD should continue to provide a forum for the exchange of national experiences and best practices in the areas of sustainable development. It was noted that, voluntary national reporting to the Commission continues to be a high-priority means of exchanging information with other national governments, regional institutions and civil society as a whole. The process raises public awareness by providing transparency and allowing the sharing of experiences. The interest generated by the country profiles, the country presentations to the Commission and, most recently, the increased access to the Sustainable Development Web site (www.un.org/esa/susdev) managed by Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) testifies to the value of national reporting. 2

C. Evolution of National Reporting ((UN Perspective). The national reports received from Governments since 1993 have been largely used for the following purposes: i) inputs for the Secretary-General s substantive reports and relevant background documents on given themes; ii) as inputs to analytical reports on the trends of national implementation of Agenda 21 related to a particular sectoral theme of a given year; iii) Country Profiles prepared for the five- and ten-year reviews; iv) the Sustainable Development Website (www.un.org/esa/susdev) processed and presented on a country-by-country and issueby-issue basis; and v) development of an interactive database. Various uses of national reports are further elaborated in Annex II and III. i) Inputs into substantive reports National reports can be an essential input into the preparation of the reports of the Secretary- General and relevant background documents being provided to the Commission at each session. Quite often, however, national information reaches the Secretariat well beyond the deadline when such information can be incorporated to these reports. ii) Analytical trends reports For the past three sessions of CSD, the Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)/Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) prepared reports on Trends in National Implementation of Agenda 21 on: (i) Oceans and Seas (1999); (ii) Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (2000); and (iii) Sustainable Production, Distribution and Use of Energy (2001). For the WSSD process, a comprehensive national trends report with graphic presentations is being prepared. iii) Country Profiles Country Profiles provide a concise issue-by-issue presentation of latest information on the status of implementation of Agenda 21 at the national level. The CSD Secretariat prepared the Country Profiles for the first-time for the five-year review in 1997. The second Country Profiles guided by the National Focal Points are under preparation for the ten-year review in 2002. The Country Profiles are intended to provide an overview to the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) of the progress made in national implementation of Agenda 21. They also help to share experiences and information among countries and indicate areas of priority, progress and constraints. iv) Sustainable Development Website The national information received is processed and compiled in the Sustainable Development website (www.un.org/esa/sustdev) managed by DESA, where it can be accessed on a country-by country and issue-by-issue basis. The website has links to known relevant government and UN system websites. Expansion of access to national information through the Worldwide Web encourages use of data throughout the year not only when the Commission is in session. In addition, greater access permits use by all interested parties, thus promoting information availability, analysis, awareness-raising and transparency, which are critical in the process of sustainable development. 3

v) National Information Database An Interactive Database on National Information is being developed to facilitate information access/queries by government and other users worldwide as well as data management by DESA/DSD. The database is also intended to eventually facilitate preparation of national reports to future sessions of CSD by allowing direct entries by national focal points through the internet. The Carnegie Mellon University in partnership with DESA/DSD initially designed this database, and it is expected to become operational in the near future. A demonstration of this database will be made at the meeting. D. Formulation of Guidelines At its first session in 1993, the Commission agreed that, in order to allow the Secretary-General to ensure a more focused and coherent analysis of information and data received from governments, there was a need to prepare reports using a standardized format, which Governments may wish to follow, taking into account the format of Agenda 21. For this purpose, the CSD Secretariat formulated and provided guidelines for national reporting on an annual basis, in consultation with UN task managers for specific issues concerned. After few trial years, a standardized format was designed in 1997 for the comprehensive country profiles that were being prepared for the five-year review. This format which has been retained and applied to national reporting since then for three reasons: (i) permits some comparison from year-to-year; (ii) provides consistency in the presentation of national information on the Website; and (iii) it has an internal logic in that it attempts to view the relevant cross-sectoral issues not only by themselves but also within the context of the sectoral. Letters were sent in December 1999 and again in June 2000 to all national focal points and the Permanent Missions, inviting views and suggestions for improving guidelines for national reporting in the future. The responses received from 24 countries are synthesized in Annex I attached. E. Streamlining of National Reporting Requirements At its fourth session, in April 1996, the Commission noted that, in the period following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, States were being confronted with a growing number of reporting requirements in the field of sustainable development, and it requested the Secretary-General to make proposals at the fifth session of the Commission for streamlining national reporting related to sustainable development. In response to this request, the former Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development (IACD) conducted an in-depth review of the issue. In addition, consultations were undertaken across the UN system. There was a proposal to formulate a single format for requesting information from Governments. However, this was not possible due to the following reasons: mandatory vs. voluntary nature of reporting; mandated requests for information vary in timing, periodicity and scope; and the kind of information varies from statistical to qualitative 4

assessment. In the end, there was no single solution to streamlining. However, it was recommended that, the streamlining process should be linked to the parallel exercise of ensuring common access to the Sustainable Development Website, information relevant to Agenda 21 should be shared by requesting organizations before requests go out and organizations should review what is available in house, specifically on the Sustainable Development Website to ensure that their requests to the Governments add value. F. Indicators The 1997 Special Session of the General Assembly (Earth Summit + 5) expressed strong support for the development of indicators of sustainable development in national decision-making. Indicators for monitoring progress towards sustainable development are needed in order to assist decision-makers and policy-makers at all levels. The Commission on Sustainable Development has now published a revised set of 58 indicators of sustainable development in thematic framework that can be used as a convenient starting point for developing a set of national indicators. Other indicator sets are also available that can be used as additional resource information in developing a national indicator set. 5

Notes a. See E/CN.17/1998/8 b. See E/CN.17/1998/9 c. The Sustainable Development Website is located at the following internet address: www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/ d. See E/CN.17/1997/5 e. E/CN.17/1996/38 f. E/1996/28 g. See E/1993/25/Add.1 E/CN.17/1993/3/Add.1 6

Annex I Synthesis of Views received from National Focal Points On Improving Future Guidelines for National Reporting General - Responses were received from a total of 24 countries. In general, the governments expressed the common view that National Reports remain an important instrument that helps governments assess and stimulate progress towards sustainable development and provide a valuable medium for sharing information about national experiences at both regional and international levels. National reporting is seen as a useful exercise in starting the national preparations for the next planning cycle, in strengthening team building of experts and in enhancing consultation and cooperation among different stakeholders, both government and nongovernmental. The proposals received are categorized as follows: Format - should be simplified with enough flexibility to allow country specific submissions particularly regarding statistical figures. Focus - Questions should be precise and focused on the identified themes related to Agenda 21 to be considered by the CSD at the respective sessions. Reporting during 2003-2007 period should be based on the priority areas determined by the national, regional and international processes for 2002. Linkages between the environmental questions and poverty or national strategies to combat poverty should be strengthened. Countries should use data and statistics based on indicators of sustainable development Coverage The guidelines encourage reporting on national experience, progress made, lessons learned, challenges and obstacles faced in the implementation of Agenda 21. This exercise will help countries to learn from each other. The Division for Sustainable Development should request information on strategies relating to implementation of agreements set out in Agenda 21, capacity-building efforts to support community approaches to sustainable development, and governments' successes in empowering major groups in the implementation of Agenda 21. Data given in the reports should be comparable in nature in terms of: making use of indicators of sustainable development; and allowing statistical and qualitative comparisons. Reports should provide action-oriented examples; new and emerging issues identified by the CSD should be reported including the role international organizations. Usage of National Reports - CSD Website should include electronic links to reports to other sites (e.g. links to national websites which already exist). National reports should be used more extensively in planning for conferences; studies and analysis; and determining programmes by the UN system and in exploring options by various policy-makers. Timing - Annual reports should be provided by governments in spring instead of autumn so as to be fully taken into account in the preparation of Secretary General s (SG) reports and background documents for the CSD generally held in the spring. Guidelines for reporting, which would give more scope for comprehensive and quality coverage, should be provided early, giving more time to countries for preparation. 7

Other suggestions - Creating a mechanism of feedback would be useful; i.e. providing comments by the UN on submitted reports, which would be helpful for future preparation of reports. National Focal Points should receive assistance (training, equipment, financial resources, etc.) from the secretariat of CSD or United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) including its capacity 21 programmes to enable them in preparing their reports. There is a need to develop methodological guidelines in order to facilitate preparation of the reports for both developing countries and countries with transitional economies. Create an opportunity for sharing experiences (best practices and obstacles) and ideas from different countries/regions on the process of national reporting within the country. Develop synergy among National Focal Points. 8

Annex II Processing National Reports by the CSD Secretariat Preparation of Guidelines for National Reporting The Division for Sustainable Development s (DSD) National Information Analysis Unit has prepared guidelines for national reporting for each theme considered by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), in consultation with relevant UN Task Managers/Focal Points. Submission of Guidelines to Governments Guidelines in three languages (English, French and Spanish) are usually sent out in May-June of the year before the themes come up at the CSD, together with the Report Format both in hard and electronic versions. The Guidelines are sent to both Permanent Missions in New York and National Focal Points in the capitals. A deadline of three to four months from date of request is usually given for the preparation of national reports. Processing of National Reports The National Reports received by the National Information Analysis Unit, serve five main purposes: a) inputs to Secretary General s (SG) substantive reports and relevant background documents on given themes; b) a comprehensive trends analysis for 2002; c) Country Profiles prepared for five-year and ten-year reviews; d) processed and presented on the Sustainable Development Website (www.un.org/esa/susdev) on a country-by-country and issue-by-issue basis; and e) development of an interactive database. When reports are submitted in languages other than the three used on the Sustainable Development Website, the processing of information is delayed due to translation requirements. a) Inputs to SG s substantive reports and relevant background documents on given themes In general, the national reports are received well past the deadline and therefore by the time the SG reports are finalized around the end of the year, an average of 30 to 40 national reports get reflected in the documentation. A large number of national reports are received just before or during the CSD session and therefore those reports can only be used for updating the Website. b) Comprehensive trends analysis for 2002 This report will consist of a graphic analysis of progress made in the national implementation of Agenda 21. It will focus on key implementation areas under each issue. c) Country Profiles prepared for five-year and ten-year review The National Information Analysis Unit is preparing Country Profiles as an input to the planned review and assessment of the implementation of Agenda 21 in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development planned in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2002. The 9

Country Profiles will provide a summarized version of the latest information on national implementation of Agenda 21, on a chapter-by-chapter and country-by-country basis. The draft Country Profiles prepared on the basis of the latest information available to DESA/DSD are being sent back to the National Focal Points for revision and updates. They will be published in time for the global preparatory process for the Johannesburg Summit. d) Sustainable Development Website National Reports received are updated on the website on a country-by-country and issue-by-issue basis. The format for presenting the information has been standardized since 1997 (please refer to an Information Note entitled Web Site Format ). The DSD site provides links to relevant government and UN system websites under each issue. Due to financial and technical constraints, the information has been posted only in one of the three languages (English, Spanish or French). e) Interactive Database on National Information An interactive Database on National Information is being developed by DESA/DSD with the following objectives: (1) to facilitate the work of the National Focal Points in the preparation and coordination of their national reports by eventually enabling direct entries via internet; (2) to better manage the information by DESA/DSD; and (3) to provide query functions by users world-wide. The database will be completed and web-enabled in a near future to replace the current national information website. 10

11 ANNEX III List of Documents prepared on the basis of National Reports The following SG s reports and background documents have been prepared based on the national reporting since the beginning: 1994 Report of the Secretary-General on National Information (E/CN.17/1994/9) 1995 Report of the Secretary-General on National Information (E/CN.17/1995/24) 1996 Report of the Secretary-General on National Information (E/CN.17/1996/19) 1997 Report of the Secretary-General on Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of Agenda 21 at the National Level (E/CN.17/1997/5) Country Profiles Series 1998 Report of the Secretary-General on National Reporting to the CSD (E/CN.17/1998/8) Modalities for the Exchange of National Experiences at the Regional Level (E/CN.17/1998/9) Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of Agenda 21 at the National Level: Summary Tables and Graphs (Background document #23) Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of Agenda 21 at the National Level: Table of Key Coordination Mechanisms and Actions (Background document #24) Directory of Official National Sustainable Development Contacts (Background document #25) List of World Wide Websites identified by Governments (Background document #26) 1999 Addendum to the SG Report on Oceans and Seas: Trends in National Implementation (E/CN.17/1999/4/Add.1) Report of the Secretary-General on National Reporting to the CSD (E/CN.17.1999/10) Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of Agenda 21 at the National Level: Table of Key Coordination of Mechanisms and Actions (Background Paper #12). Lists of Official National Sustainable Development Contacts (Background document #13)

2000 Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development: Trends in National Implementation National Reporting to the CSD Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of Agenda 21 at the National Level: Table of Key Coordination of Mechanisms and Actions (Background Paper #12). Lists of Official National Sustainable Development Contacts (Background document #13) 2001 Report of the Secretary-General on Sustainable Production, Distribution and Use of Energy: Trends in National Implementation (E/CN.17/2002/12) Report of the Secretary-General on National Reporting to the CSD (E/CN.17.2001/14) Assessment of Progress in the Implementation of Agenda 21 at the National Level: Table of Key Coordination of Mechanisms and Actions (Background Paper #17). Lists of Official National Sustainable Development Contacts (Background document #16) 2002 Country Profiles Series Trends on National Implementation of Agenda 21 12

INFORMATION NOTE: WEB SITE FORMAT Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies Toma de Decisiones: Mecanismo(s) de Coordinación Prise de decision: Méchanisme(s) de Coordination Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations Toma de Decisiones: Legislación y Reglamentos de Política Prise de decision: Législation et réglements Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans Toma de Decisiones: Estrategias, Políticas y Planes Prise de decision: Stratégies, politiques et plans Decision-Making: Major Group Involvement Toma de Decisiones: Participación de Grupos Principales Prise de decision: Participation des Groupes Principaux Programmes and Projects Programas y Proyectos Programmes et Projets Status Situación General Situation Challenges Desafíos Défis Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising Capacitación, Educación, Formación y Toma de Conciencia Capacitation, Education, Formation et Prise de conscience Information Información Information Research and Technologies Investigación y Tecnologías Recherche et Technologies Financing Financiación Financement Cooperation Cooperación Coopération 13

COUNTRY PROFILE FORMAT 2002 Decision-Making (includes: coordinating bodies; legislation and regulations; strategies, policies and plans, major group involvement) Toma de Decisiones: (incluye: mecanismo(s) de coordinación; legislación y reglamentos de política; estrategias, políticas y planes; participación de grupos principales) Prise de decisions (y compris: mécanisme(s) de coordination; legislation et réglements; strategies, politiques et plans; participation des groupes principaux) Programmes and Projects Programas y Proyectos Programmes et projets Status (includes: challenges) Situación General (incluye: desafíos) Situation Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising Capacitación, Educación, Formación y Toma de Conciencia Capacitation, Education, Training et Prise de conscience Information Información Information Research and Technologies Investigación y Tecnologías Recherche et Technologies Financing Financiación Financement Cooperation Cooperación Coopération 14