UNEP's 18th Consultative meeting with Industry Associations
Paris, 4 - 5 October, 2001

Preparing for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
A call for partnerships and a proactive approach

PARIS, October 2001 - As a contribution to the preparation process for next year's World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, representatives of some fifty industry associations from different parts of the world met in Paris last week.

The two day event, the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) 18th Consultative Meeting with Industry Associations, was, for the first time, also attended by non-industry civil society representatives such as Rémi Parmentier, Political Director of Greenpeace International and Ricardo Navarro, Chair of Friends of the Earth International.

With discussion often returning to the need for "partnerships" and the greater involvement of business and industry from the developing world, various speakers called for a more pro-active approach by the sector in addressing the complex issues surrounding sustainable development.

Opening the meeting, Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, UNEP's Assistant Executive Director said that business and industry had an important role to play in making the WSSD a success. She then briefed participants on the progress made at workshops held the previous day where industry representatives and related stakeholders met in order to discuss draft "sector reports" for the WSSD. The workshops held in Paris on 3 October focussed on industry reports from the following sector groups: accounting and finance, agri-food, chemicals, mining, pulp and paper, refrigeration, information and telecommunications technology, tourism, waste and water.

UNEP's Division for Technology Industry and Economics (DTIE) is co-ordinating the production of more than twenty industry sector reports for the WSSD, involving 35 industry organisations. This process is running parallel to the regional industry consultations, also being organised by UNEP.

The Industry Associations meeting included a presentation from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs on the status of preparations for the WSSD. JoAnne Disano of the Commission on Sustainable Development described how industry could contribute to the Summit outputs and stressed the forward looking - beyond 2002 - nature of the process.

There was also sessions on specific topics. How to produce more welfare with less use of nature was a key issue in discussions on cleaner production and trends that shape the global market place. A presentation of research from the Wuppertal Institute indicated how the greater part of resources we consume annually results in waste to which no value is attached, the so-called "ecological rucksack."

Participants were also reminded by James Fava of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) of how life cycle analysis (LCA) can help us calculate and anticipate wasted resources. UNEP and SETAC recently launched a Life Cycle Initiative to promote life cycle thinking and application.

Other presentations included speakers from The World Bank, International Energy Agency, International Labour Organisation, Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, International Institute for Sustainable Development, International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development. The meeting concluded with a panel discussion on corporate citizenship and accountability," with a focus on the Global Compact initiative of UN Secretary-General.

Participating organisations at the 4 - 5 October consultative meeting:

Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE)
International Association for Soaps, Detergents & Maintenance Products (AISE)
The Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED), The Netherlands
Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)
Business Council for Sustainable Development (North Sea Region)
Centre for Environment & Development, Sri Lanka
European Cement Association (CEMBUREAU)
Chamber of Mines of South Africa, South Africa
Confederation of International Contractors' Associations (CICA)
CropLife International
E7 (grouping of power utilities)
European Association of Communication Agencies (EACA)
European Construction Industry Federation (ECIF)
European Insulation Manufacturers Association (EURIMA)
European Partners for the Environment (EPE)
Entreprises pour l'Environnement, France
European Telecommunications Network Operators (ETNO)
International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC)
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI)
French Business Confederation (MEDEF)
Friends of the Earth International (FoEI)
Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI), USA
The Green Group, The Philippines
Greenpeace International
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
International Aluminium Institute (IAI)
International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP)
International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF)
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA)
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL)
International Coffee Organisation (ICO)
International Energy Agency (IEA)
Industrial Environmental Forum of Southern Africa (IEF)
International Fertiliser Industry Association (IFA)
International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI)
International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IHRA)
International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR)
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI)
International Labour Office (ILO)
International Organisation of Employers (IOE)
International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA)
International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
International Union of Railways (UIC)
International Water Association (IWA)
French Business Confederation (MEDEF)
Ministry of Agriculture of P.R. China
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)
Natural Resources Canada Minerals & Metals Sector
Nestec Ltd., Switzerland;
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR)
Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP)
Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, P.R. China
Ring Network, UK
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs
United Nations Environment and Development UK Committee (UNED-UK)
United Nations Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG)
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
United States Council for International Business (US CIB)
The World Bank
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
World Coal Institute (WCI)
World LPG Association (WLPGA)
Wuppertal Institute for Climate Change, Environment & Energy