The Rio + 10 International Workshop was held at the Canberra Convention Centre, April 12-13th 2001 in Canberra, Australia. It was an inspiring and successful event with over 200 participants from 54 countries representing many thousands of environmental and social change activists worldwide.

In an era where corporations dominate globalisation debates, the Workshop presented a welcome window of people-led globalisation, with many delegates sharing their experiences of struggle for change  in the UN, under repressive military regimes, in shanty towns, by setting up alternative technology enterprises or pushing for national environmental legislation.

The Workshop was a key plank in the organisation of NGO's leading up to the World Summit on Environment and Development, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002.

Sarojini Krishnapillai

Workshop Coordinato

Rio+10 International Workshop

12 & 13^th April 2001

Canberra, AUSTRALIA

RESOLUTION – World Summit on Environment & Development

The participants of the Rio+10 International Workshop, held in Canberra from April 12-13 2001 representing Green movements from over 54 countries announced the following resolution:

The upcoming World Summit on Environment and Development will play a decisive role for the future of our planet. It will create a unique opportunity to develop a new global alliance for sustainable development that must not be missed. If the outcome is nothing other than paperwork and lipservice, we will lose another decade in our race with time to stop the ruin of indigenous cultures, ecosystems and the social degradation of a growing number of poor people.

We demand joint efforts to overcome this environmental crisis and to support the poor, help improve the quality of life of all human beings to enable them to live in dignity. So the World Summit in Johannesburg must address all three dimensions of sustainable development: the environment as well as the social and economic challenges, including the issues of financing for development, diminishing the debilitating debt burden on most developing countries and improving the access of people to resources and economic decisions.

We demand that the unresolved issues of the Rio Conference in 1992 must be brought to concrete, binding resolution at the latest by the Johannesburg Summit. This includes the Kyoto Protocol and the Conventions on Biological Diversity and Desertification, as well as a joint effort to protect forests as a fundamental issue for biodiversity, desertification and the climate.

We demand that the legal and administrative capacities of supranational bodies like the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) be reinforced to strengthen international sustainable governance.

The success of Rio + 10 will depend to a large extent on the quality of the process that takes place prior to the summit. It is therefore necessary to develop a preparatory process on a broad, participatory basis, involving all stakeholders – not only big government and official institutions - but also civil society, the media and the business sector. Civil society has to be encouraged to participate through broad information and a transparent preparatory process.

Recognizing that there are three main processes through which the agenda for the World Summit on Sustainable development will be developed  - namely:

i) UN Secretary Generals Report

ii) Intergovernmental processes

iii) Expert Regional Panels

This Conference requests that the Director of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development ensures that the Expert Regional Panels chosen to report to the World Summit are truly independent of governments, representative, and broadly-based taking into account age, gender and culture. The Expert Regional Panels should be requested to report on the diverse social, economic and environmental concerns of civil society.

RESOLUTION – Climate Change

We, the participants of the Rio+10 International Workshop, held in Canberra from April 12 – 13, 2001 representing Green movements from over 54 countries:

Taking serious note of the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirming the grave impacts of human induced climate change on the international community and environment (such as displacement of human populations due to sea level rise; threats to food and water security, human health and ecosystems; natural disasters, etc);

Acknowledging our duty to protect all living beings;

Recognising the greater vulnerability of developing (majority) nations who have contributed the least to global warming; in particular the small island states; and that the refusal to act now would represent a crime against present and future generations;

Recognising the need to change production and consumption patterns and the role of transnational corporations in impeding such changes;

Appalled that only a few nations have taken relevant steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions despite being aware that the impacts of their actions will be most severe on poor countries and indigenous peoples;

Noting that the 1997 Kyoto Protocol is an important, if insufficient, first step in the direction of implementing the principle of sustainability in climate policy with the aim of reducing and reversing the general trend towards global warming;

Affirming that future climate negotiations should be based on the principles of equal rights of all human beings (in enriched and impoverished countries) to the Earth's atmosphere, which is a global commons;

Concerned by the urgency with which the world must stop its dependence on fossil fuel energy, and the lack of sufficient pressure on nations to encourage sustainable renewable sources;

Recognising that strong economic and employment opportunities are offered by the renewable energy sector;

Strongly condemn the US administration for its decision, against scientific evidence and ignoring international agreements, to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol, especially as the US is responsible for a fourth of the world's greenhouse gas emissions; thus shifting the burden of climate change onto the world's poor majority;

Affirm the need for an international campaign to "Save the Climate to Save Humanity";

Call upon the Green Political Parties of the Globe, social and environment movements, and other forces of civil society, the UN Secretary-General and national governments to use their political influence:

• 1. To have the Kyoto Protocol come into force as soon as possible, and certainly by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
• 2. To put pressure on their own governments to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which can become binding international law if at least 55 states ratify, and if the emissions of these states add up to at least 55 per cent of the emissions of Annex I countries.
• 3. To guarantee the underlying ecological integrity of the Protocol by overcoming the separation of the UNFCCC and the UN conventions on Desertification, Biodiversity, and Wetlands; and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• 4. To work actively towards a global moratorium on the destruction of native forests and to develop strategies for the restoration of indigenous forests.
• 5. To ensure that climate negotiations explicitly recognise the equal right of all human beings to the earth's atmosphere.
• 6. To ensure that negotiations reflect the urgency of moving from fossil fuel dependency and from the use of nuclear energy to sustainable renewable sources and put pressure on governments to implement policies to bring about this change.
• 7. To make sure that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) promotes the transfer of sustainable energy technologies from industrialised to developing countries.
• 8. To ensure that climate negotiations go beyond the first commitment period agreed to in Kyoto, and that additional long-range targets and timetables are developed.
• 9. To use whatever peaceful means, including boycott strategies to put pressure on the US, other countries and corporations that block climate policies.
• 10. To demand that the EU and the international community continue with the international process of developing sustainable climate policy and make particular use of the Bonn climate change conference in July to advance this issue.

For more detailed information click on the links below:

• Green Alliance for Sustainable Development 
• Programme Thursday 
• Programme Friday 
   
• The workshop was organised by HEINRICH BOLL FOUNDATION, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH (FOE) AUSTRALIA, THE GREEN INSTITUTE 

In 1992, many people held high hopes that the Rio Earth Summit would mark a turning point for the environment and sustainability.  As we approach the tenth anniversary in 2002, this Rio+10 Workshop will analyse what happened and plan for Earth Summit 2002 and beyond.  It is part of a broader process which will

• analyse the outcomes of Earth Summit 1992 and why its goals have largely failed to be achieved, e.g. the lack of effective action to halt climate change or loss of biodiversity
   
• analyse what is needed to bridge the gap between the goal of sustainability and reality, and how globalisation can be steered towards sustainability
   
• identify our demands for the outcome of Earth Summit 2002
   
• work out strategies and actions for community groups and the green movement in the lead up to Earth Summit 2002 and beyond
   
• develop effective networks among community groups and the green movement
   
• encourage and motivate participants to continue working for sustainability
   

The Workshop will feature outstanding speakers and over 100 international participants from all continents and regions, plus a similar number of observers.

FORMAT

Participants

The organisers will invite groups and individuals from each country to participate in the Workshop, taking an active role in plenary sessions and workshops.  For fairness, the number of participants will be limited to three per country.

Observers

Individuals and community groups are invited to come as observers.  As an observer, you can attend all plenary sessions and most workshops.  You can also participate in selected workshops and will have plenty of opportunity to meet participants over coffee and lunch.

Venue

The Workshop will be held at the National Convention Centre, overlooking Glebe Park, in the centre of Canberra, close to public transport and accommodation.

Language

The Workshop language is English.  Simultaneous translation will be provided at least into French and Spanish.

Proceedings

All observers and participants will receive a report of the Workshop, including the papers presented and a summary of the outcomes.

COSTS

The registration fee varies depending whether you are from Australia or overseas, waged or unwaged.  Members of the Greens and Friends of the Earth get a special discount if they register early.  If you are attending the Global Greens 2001 conference as well as the Rio+10 International Workshop a special reduced price applies.

The fees are –

• Unwaged   $66 AUD
• Visitors to Australia   $90 AUD
• Greens/FOE members who register before 31 March   $90 AUD
• Individuals and community groups   $120 AUD
• Institutions (by arrangement only)   $180 AUD

A special reduced fee of $70 AUD ($50 AUD unwaged) for the Rio+10 International Workshop applies for visitors to Australia, and members of the Greens and FOE who also attend the Global Greens 2001 conference.

Help with costs

A small fund is available to help with costs for those who cannot otherwise afford to come.  Please contact us for more information.

ACCOMMODATION

You should book accommodation early to ensure you don't miss out.

Space has been reserved at hotels with a range of prices.  We will also try to arrange billets (free home stay) for those who prefer. 

OTHER THINGS

Cancellation

A fee of $15 will be charged for cancellations received in writing before 6 April. No refunds can be given after that date.

Visas

Don't forget that you may need a visa.  Apply early.

THE ORGANISERS

Heinrich Böll Foundation.  A German foundation with a primary focus on political education, promoting informed democratic opinion and mutual understanding.  Rio+10 is a major focus.

Green Institute.  A newly formed non-profit association which aims to play a major role in promoting ecological sustainability in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Friends of the Earth Australia.  A national federation and member of FoE International;  current campaigns include Indigenous solidarity, climate change, sustainable consumption.

Workshop Co-ordinator.  Saro Krishnapillai

MORE INFORMATION

Rio+10 International Workshop

C/- GPO Box 1108, Canberra City, ACT 2601, Australia

Email.  riocanberra10@effect.net.au

Ph.  +61 2 6247 6305    Fax +61 2 6247 6455

TO REGISTER

Email riocanberra10@effect.net.au now!  We'll send you the registration form.