Environment and sustainable development: Johannesburg World Summit 2002, 10 years after Rio

The Council adopted the conclusions on the external dimension of the sustainable development Strategy with a view to the preparation of the World Summit on sustainable development which shall take place 26 August to 4 September 2002 in Johannesburg in South Africa. The Council considers that integration and coherence of internal and external policies are indispensable to ensure that the EU's economic, social and environmental objectives are mutually supportive and that the EU effectively contributes to sustainable development at all levels. To this end, and in accordance with the conclusions of the G·teburg European Council, a sustainability impact assessment should be carried out for all major internal and external policy proposal, analysing their economic, social and environmental consequences. It notes that in the run-up to Johannesburg and beyond, the EU commitment to sustainable development will require that important actions be taken, such as inter alia: - promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns by decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, taking into account the carrying capacities of ecosystems. This will require an adequate policy framework promoting eco-efficiency as well as capacity building; - integrating developing countries into the world economic system notably through the implementation of the Doha Development Agenda,a nd helping to ensure that trade policies and investment flows contribute to sustainable development. Environmentally and socially responsible investments and business practices should be promoted. Sustainable foreign direct investments (FDI) in developing countries and export credits consistent with sustainable development should be encouraged; - promoting partnerships for sustainable development with international organisations, governments, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders. European non governmental actors, business organisations and public, including local, authorities should be encouraged to contribute to the emergence of such partnerships by sharing their own experiences and promoting joint action with their counterparts in other regions; - in particular, launching, among others, EU initiatives on: 1) a strategic partnership with the participation of governments and other stakeholders for access to safe drinking water and sanitation and sustainable water resource management based on the principle of integrated river basin management; 2) energy for poverty eradication and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on access to sustainable sources of energy, improved energy efficiency, clean technologies and renewable energy; 3) ways of giving special attention to Africa, including through the support of its own initiatives such as NEPAD, 4) the early ratification of several international instruments (in particular on climate, biosafety, POPs and PIC).�