Earth Summit Approves Implementation Plan on Sustainable Development

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 04, 2002

Earth Summit Approves Implementation Plan on Sustainable Development

The Earth Summit's main committee approved early Wednesday morning a comprehensive implementation plan on sustainable development after tense negotiations over nine months on three continents.

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The Earth Summit's main committee approved early Wednesday morning a comprehensive implementation plan on sustainable development after tense negotiations over nine months on three continents.

The 65-page document entitled "Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development" will be adopted at the 17th plenary meeting here Wednesday afternoon.

In the document, which is composed of 11 chapters, the heads of state and government from more than 190 countries stressed shared responsibility, immediate action to ensure a secure and prosperous future for 6 billion people on the planet.

"This Plan of Implementation provides us with everything we need to make sustainable development happen over the next several years," said Nitin Desai, Johannesburg Summit secretary-general.

A United Nations official told Xinhua that it was the historical moment that the summit's main committee approved the document, thus paving the way for the world leaders to adopt the implementation plan at the summit meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

In the ambitious plan of action, the world leaders committed themselves to undertaking concrete actions and measures at all levels and to enhancing international cooperation.

These efforts will promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development -- economic development, social development and environmental protection -- as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Poverty eradication, 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.

According to the document, the leaders recognize that the implementation of the outcomes of the summit should benefit all, particularly women, youth, children and vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, it says, the implementation should involve all relevant actors through partnerships, especially between governments of the North and South, on the one hand, and between governments and major groups, on the other, to achieve the widely shared goals of sustainable development.

The world leaders also noted in the document that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development.

At the domestic level, sound environmental, social and economic policies, democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, gender equality and an enabling environment for investment are the basis for sustainable development.

As a result of globalization, external factors have become critical in determining the success or failure of developing countries in their national efforts.

The gap between developed and developing countries points to the continued need for a dynamic and enabling international economic environment supportive of international cooperation, particularly in the areas of finance, technology transfer, debt and trade, and full and effective participation of developing countries in global decision-making, if the momentum for global progress towards sustainable development is to be maintained and increased.

The document stresses that peace, security, stability and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, as well as respect for cultural diversity, are essential for achieving sustainable development and ensuring that sustainable development benefit all.

With a theme of people, planet and prosperity, the earth summit was kicked off in the golden city of Johannesburg on Aug. 26, which brought about 60,000 participants, including more than 9,000 government delegates, over 8,000 to major groups and more than 4,000 to media.

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