Sixty-second session Agenda item 54 (a) Sustainable development: implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development Report of the Second Committee* Rapporteur: Ms. Tamar Tchitanava (Georgia) I. Introduction 1. The Second Committee held a substantive debate on agenda item 54 (see A/62/419, para. 2). Action on sub-item (a) was taken at the 21st, 30th and 34th meetings, on 5 and 30 November and 11 December 2007. An account of the Committee’s consideration of the sub-item is contained in the relevant summary records (A/C.2/62/SR.21, 30 and 34). II. Consideration of proposals A. Draft resolutions A/C.2/62/L.13 and A/C.2/62/L.40 2. At the 21st meeting, on 5 November, the representative of Pakistan, on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development” (A/C.2/62/L.13), which read: “The General Assembly, “Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, and its resolution 61/195 of 20 December 2006, “Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (‘Johannesburg Plan of Implementation’), as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, “Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, “Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, “Reaffirming the decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, “Reiterating that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, and reaffirming the continuing need to ensure a balance among economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, “Reaffirming that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development, “Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, “Reaffirming the role of productive employment and decent work for all as essential for eradicating poverty, sustained economic growth and a foundation for sustainable development, “Recalling that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation designated the Commission to serve as the focal point for discussion on partnerships that promote sustainable development and contribute to the implementation of intergovernmental commitments in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, “Recalling also that the Economic and Social Council should increase its role in overseeing system-wide coordination and the balanced integration of economic, social and environmental aspects of United Nations policies and programmes aimed at promoting sustainable development, and reaffirming that the Commission on Sustainable Development should continue to be the high-level commission on sustainable development within the United Nations system and serve as a forum for consideration of issues related to integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, “Recalling further the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that the Commission, during review years, should discuss the contribution of partnerships towards supporting the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation with a view to sharing lessons learned and best practices, identifying and addressing problems, gaps and constraints, and providing further guidance, including on reporting, during policy years, as necessary, “1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; “2. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and those contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; “3. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; “4. Calls for the effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; “5. Reiterates that the Commission on Sustainable Development is the high-level body responsible for sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as a forum for the consideration of issues related to the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, and calls upon Governments to support the work of the Commission; “6. Emphasizes the importance of a consensus outcome to the policy sessions in accordance with the decision taken at the eleventh session of the Commission; “7. Encourages Governments to ensure high-level participation in the sixteenth session of the Commission with representatives from the relevant departments and organizations working in the areas of agriculture, rural development, land, drought, and desertification, as well as finance and development cooperation; “8. Recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that activities during Commission meetings should provide for the balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance; “9. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of representatives from the developing countries in the sixteenth session of the Commission; “10. Reaffirms the objective of strengthening the implementation of Agenda 21, including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-building programmes, in particular for developing countries; “11. Requests the Secretariat to coordinate the participation of the relevant major groups in the thematic discussions at the sixteenth session of the Commission and their reporting on the fulfilment of their environmental and social corporate accountability and responsibilities in respect of the thematic cluster of issues; “12. Reaffirms the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability as envisaged by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; “13. Also reaffirms the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skill enhancement, with a special focus on agroindustry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; “14. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to make arrangements to facilitate the balanced representation of major groups from developed and developing countries in the sessions of the Commission; “15. Welcomes the organization of regional implementation meetings and other regional events as well as country-led initiatives for the purpose of contributing to the sixteenth session of the Commission; “16. Invites the relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations system, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations funds and programmes, the Global Environment Facility and international and regional financial and trade institutions, as well as the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, and other relevant bodies, to actively participate, within their mandates, in the work of the Commission; “17. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; “18. Underlines the importance of the review of the implementation of the decisions on water and sanitation taken at the thirteenth session of the Commission; “19. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its sixteenth session, to submit thematic reports on each of the issues contained in the thematic cluster, on the basis of appropriate inputs from all levels, including national information made available by Governments and taking into account their interlinkages, while addressing the cross-cutting issues, including means of implementation identified by the Commission at its eleventh session; “20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled ‘Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development’, and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution.” 3. At its 30th meeting, on 30 November, the Committee had before it a draft resolution entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development” (A/C.2/62/L.40), submitted by the Vice-Chairperson, Melanie Santizo-Sandoval (Guatemala), on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.13. 4. At the same meeting, the Committee was informed that the draft resolution had no programme budget implications (see A/C.2/62/SR.30). 5. Also at the 30th meeting, the representative of Egypt, in his capacity as Facilitator, orally corrected the draft resolution. 6. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.40, as orally corrected (see para. 13, draft resolution I). 7. In the light of the adoption of draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.40, draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.13 was withdrawn by its sponsors. B. Draft resolutions A/C.2/62/L.23 and Rev.2 8. At the 21st meeting, on 5 November, the representative of Israel, on behalf of Brazil, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Madagascar, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Nepal, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda and the United States of America, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Agricultural technology for development” (A/C.2/62/L.23), which read: “The General Assembly, “Recalling its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003, 59/227 of 22 December 2004, 60/193 of 22 December 2005 and 61/195 of 20 December 2006, “Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (‘Johannesburg Plan of Implementation’), as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, “Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, “Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, “Reaffirming the goals set in paragraph 19 of the Millennium Declaration, to halve poverty and hunger by 2015, and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled “In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all”, especially paragraph 27 of the report, “Noting the preparatory work being carried out by the Commission on Sustainable Development for its next two-year cycle, with the thematic focus on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa, “Concerned by the relatively slow progress so far in achieving the above-mentioned goals, especially the hunger target, and recognizing the need to redouble the efforts of the international community in its attempt to reach those goals, “Considering the increasing need to innovate in agriculture and food production to adapt, inter alia, to climate change, urbanization and globalization, “Cognizant of the fact that technological methods to advance these goals could be sustainable, accessible and of benefit to poor people, “Recognizing that appropriate, affordable and sustainable agricultural technologies can play an important role in helping Member States alleviate poverty and eradicate hunger, “1. Encourages Member States and United Nations organizations to make greater efforts to develop and transfer appropriate agricultural technologies, foster utilization of local know-how and technologies, promote agricultural research and technologies and enable poor rural men and women to increase agricultural productivity and enhance food security; “2. Underlines the need for Member States to make their knowledge and know-how in the field of agricultural technology more accessible, subject to appropriate arrangements; “3. Notes with satisfaction the contribution made by the ‘Technology for Agriculture’ initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and its contribution in supporting the transfer and use of appropriate technology aimed at the sustainable intensification of production systems; “4. Urges the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to include elements of agricultural technology, research and development in efforts to achieve relevant Millennium Development Goals, specifically alleviation of poverty and hunger; “5. Calls on public and private institutions to further develop improved varieties of crops that are appropriate for various regions, especially those worst affected by climate change, and also calls for further efforts by all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that improved crop varieties are distributed to smallholder farmers; “6. Recognizes the importance of institutions providing effective extension, financial and market services to farmers, in particular smallholder farmers, so that the benefits of new knowledge and improved technology may reach them and be used by them; “7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution.” 9. At its 34th meeting, on 11 December, the Committee had before it a revised draft resolution (A/C.2/62/L.23/Rev.2), submitted by the representative of Israel, on behalf of Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay. 10. At the same meeting, the Committee was informed that the draft resolution had no programme budget implications (see A/C.2/62/SR.34). 11. Also at the 34th meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.23/Rev.2 by a recorded vote of 118 to 0, with 29 abstentions (see para. 13, draft resolution II). The voting was as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States Of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam. Against: None. Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. 12. At the same meeting, statements were made before the vote by the representatives of Tunisia (on behalf of the Group of Arab States) and Indonesia; statements were made after the vote by the representatives of Portugal (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union and Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as Iceland and Norway, and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova), the United States of America and Israel (see A/C.2/62/SR.34). III. Recommendations of the Second Committee 13. The Second Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolutions: Draft resolution I Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, and its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003, 59/227 of 22 December 2004, 60/193 of 22 December 2005 and 61/195 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (“Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”), as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, Reaffirming the decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, Reiterating that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, and reaffirming the continuing need to ensure a balance among economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Noting that challenges remain in achieving the goals of the three pillars of sustainable development, Reaffirming that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development, Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Reaffirming the role of full and productive employment and decent work for all as one of the key elements in ensuring the eradication of poverty, the improvement of economic and social well-being for all, and the achievement of sustained economic growth and sustainable development of all nations, Recognizing that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, Recalling that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation designated the Commission to serve as the focal point for discussion on partnerships that promote sustainable development and contribute to the implementation of intergovernmental commitments in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Recalling also that the Economic and Social Council should increase its role in overseeing system-wide coordination and the balanced integration of economic, social and environmental aspects of United Nations policies and programmes aimed at promoting sustainable development, and reaffirming that the Commission on Sustainable Development should continue to be the high-level commission on sustainable development within the United Nations system and serve as a forum for consideration of issues related to integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, Recalling further the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that the Commission, during review years, should discuss the contribution of partnerships towards supporting the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation with a view to sharing lessons learned and best practices, identifying and addressing problems, gaps and constraints, and providing further guidance, including on reporting, during policy years, as necessary, Recalling that agriculture, rural development, land, drought and desertification are interlinked and should be addressed in an integrated manner, taking into account economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, related sectoral policies and cross-cutting issues including means of implementation, as identified at the eleventh session of the Commission, Recognizing the problems and constraints that African countries are facing in the areas of agriculture, rural development, land, drought and desertification and emphasizing that those problems and constraints should be adequately addressed during the sixteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 2. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and those contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;5 3. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; 4. Calls for the effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 5. Reiterates that the Commission on Sustainable Development is the high-level body responsible for sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as a forum for the consideration of issues related to the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development; 6. Encourages countries to present, on a voluntary basis, in particular to the Commission’s review sessions, national reports focusing on concrete progress in implementation, including achievements, constraints, challenges and opportunities; 7. Emphasizes the importance of a consensus outcome and action-oriented policy sessions; 8. Encourages Governments to participate at the appropriate level with representatives, including ministers, from the relevant departments and organizations working in the areas of agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa, as well as finance, in the sixteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 9. Recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that activities during Commission meetings should provide for the balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance; 10. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of representatives from the developing countries in the sixteenth session of the Commission; 11. Reaffirms the objective of strengthening the implementation of Agenda 21,2 including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-building programmes, in particular for developing countries; 12. Also reaffirms the objective of enhancing the participation and effective involvement of civil society and other relevant stakeholders, as well as promoting transparency and broad public participation, in the implementation of Agenda 21; 13. Requests the secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable Development to coordinate the participation of the relevant major groups in the thematic discussions at the sixteenth session of the Commission and the reporting on the fulfilment of corporate accountability and responsibility with respect to the thematic cluster of issues, in accordance with the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 14. Reaffirms the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability as envisaged by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 15. Also reaffirms the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skill enhancement, with a special focus on agro-industry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; 16. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to make arrangements to facilitate the balanced representation of major groups from developed and developing countries in the sessions of the Commission; 17. Encourages contributions by the regional implementation meetings and other regional events to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixteenth session; 18. Invites the relevant specialized agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations funds and programmes, the Global Environment Facility and international and regional financial and trade institutions, as well as the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, and other relevant bodies, to actively participate, within their mandates, in the work of the Commission; 19. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 213 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; 20. Underlines the importance of the review of the implementation of the decisions of the thirteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development on water and sanitation; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its sixteenth session, on the basis of appropriate inputs from all levels, to submit thematic reports on each of the six issues contained in the thematic cluster of issues on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa, taking into account their interlinkages, while addressing the cross-cutting issues, including means of implementation identified by the Commission at its eleventh session, and also takes into account the relevant provisions of paragraphs 10, 14 and 15 of resolution I of the eleventh session of the Commission; 22. Notes the convening of the Third International Expert Meeting on the Ten-Year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production under the Marrakech Process in Stockholm from 26 to 29 June 2007; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development”, and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. Draft resolution II Agricultural technology for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003, 59/227 of 22 December 2004, 60/193 of 22 December 2005 and 61/195 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (“Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”), as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming also the goals set in paragraph 19 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, to halve poverty and hunger by 2015, Reaffirming further that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, particularly for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, Recalling also its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006, Recognizing that the achievement of many of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in many countries is currently off track, and emphasizing that vigorous implementation of all development commitments will be needed without delay if the Goals are to be achieved, Remaining concerned that Africa is the only continent currently not on track to achieve any of the goals of the Millennium Declaration by 2015, and in this regard emphasizing that concerted efforts and continued support are required to fulfil the commitments to address the special needs of Africa, Noting the preparatory work being carried out by the Commission on Sustainable Development for its next two-year cycle, with the thematic focus on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa, Concerned by the relatively slow progress so far in achieving the above-mentioned goals, especially the hunger target and goals, and recognizing the need to redouble the efforts of the international community in its attempt to reach the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming that agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of a growing global population and is inextricably linked to poverty eradication, especially in developing countries, and that enhancing the role of women at all levels and in all aspects of rural development, agriculture, nutrition and food security is imperative and that sustainable agriculture and rural development are essential to the implementation of an integrated approach to increasing food production and enhancing food security and food safety in an environmentally sustainable way, Considering the increasing need to innovate in agriculture and food production to adapt, inter alia, to climate change, urbanization and globalization, Cognizant that technological methods to advance these goals should be sustainable, accessible and of benefit to poor people, taking into account relevant international instruments and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing that appropriate, affordable and sustainable agricultural technologies can play an important role in helping Member States alleviate poverty and eradicate hunger, 1. Calls upon Member States, especially those in a position to do so, and relevant United Nations organizations to make greater efforts to promote the development and transfer of appropriate technologies in and to developing countries under fair, transparent and mutually agreed terms, as well as to support national efforts to foster the effective utilization of local know-how and technology and promote agricultural research and technologies to enable poor rural men and women to increase agricultural productivity and enhanced food security; 2. Underlines the need for Member States to make their knowledge and know-how in the field of agricultural technology and agricultural innovation systems more accessible, in particular to poor people, subject to appropriate arrangements; 3. Reiterates that the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, in particular as they affect children, is crucial for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and that rural and agricultural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies, calls for increased productive investment in rural and agricultural development to achieve food security, in this regard calls for enhanced support for agricultural development and trade capacity-building in the agricultural sector in developing countries, including by the international community and the United Nations system, and encourages support for commodity development projects, especially market-based projects, and for their preparation under the Second Account of the Common Fund for Commodities; 4. Notes with satisfaction the contribution made by the “Technology for Agriculture” initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 5. Urges the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to support the efforts of Member States, in particular developing countries, to take full advantage of new knowledge in agricultural technology, agricultural innovation, research and development to achieve relevant Millennium Development Goals, specifically the eradication of poverty and hunger; 6. Calls upon public and private institutions to further develop improved varieties of crops that are appropriate for various regions, especially those challenged by environmental factors, including climate change, and to develop and manage these crops in a sustainable manner, and calls for further efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that improved crop varieties are made available and affordable to smallholder farmers in a manner consistent with national regulations and relevant international agreements; 7. Underscores the importance of support to agricultural research, and calls for continued support to international agricultural research systems, including the International Agricultural Research Centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, as well as other relevant international organizations; 8. Recognizes the importance of relevant institutions providing effective mechanisms for public-private agricultural advisory services, as well as extension, financial and market services to farmers, in particular smallholder farmers, so that the benefits of new knowledge, agricultural innovation systems and improved technology may reach them and be used by them; 9. Invites Member States, especially those in a position to do so, and relevant regional and international organizations to allocate financial and technical resources to support the development of efficient, productive and environmentally sound technologies for sustainable agriculture in developing countries; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. * The report of the Committee on this item will be issued in 11 parts, under the symbol A/62/419 (Parts I and II) and Add.1-9. The delegations of Togo, the Dominican Republic, the United Republic of Tanzania and Bangladesh subsequently indicated that, had they been present, they would have voted in favour. Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 314 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Ibid., annex II. Resolution S-19/2, annex. Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 1822 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. See resolution 60/1. See resolution 55/2. See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 23 (e). A/62/262. Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 2 (j). United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 314 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Ibid., annex II. Resolution S-19/2, annex. Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 1822 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. See resolution 55/2. See Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, para. 7. See resolution 60/1. See Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, para. 40. __________________ __________________  sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/419/Add.1 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/419/Add.1 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-64108 \* MERGEFORMAT 16 \* MERGEFORMAT 15 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-64108 United Nations A/62/419/Add.1 General Assembly Distr.: General 12 December 2007 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 07-64108 (E) 141207 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0764108*