10 April 2002

The World Summit on Sustainable Development:
Beginning a New Chapter in Sustainable Development History

By Paula J. Dobriansky
Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs

In a landmark foreign policy address at the Inter-American Development Bank on March 14, President Bush announced substantial increases in U.S. development assistance programs and confirmed the United States' commitment to a new vision for helping the developing world. He underscored that the "advance of development is a central commitment of American foreign policy. As a nation founded on the dignity and value of every life, America's heart breaks because of the suffering and senseless death we see in our world. We work for prosperity and opportunity because they're right. It's the right thing to do."

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held August 26 to September 4 in Johannesburg is an historic opportunity to re-energize and re-focus the international community's pursuit of sustainable development.

The 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development and the 10 years since have established much of the framework for our pursuit of sustainable development. Now, to fulfill the promise of the Rio decade -- to truly achieve sustainable development -- the Johannesburg Summit must usher in a new chapter in which we focus on implementation and concrete results. To do so, we must work together to ensure that all countries have the robust institutions and sound policies that are essential to building a prosperous future for their people and our planet. We must forge partnerships with other governments, with businesses, and with civil society groups that ensure successful on-the-ground implementation.

The Rio Legacy: All Development Must Be Sustainable

The Rio decade has elevated the world's understanding that development must be sustainable, that the three "pillars" of sustainable development -- environmental protection, economic development, and social development -- must go hand-in-hand. Because each pillar is integrally linked to the others, effective pursuit of sustainable development requires a balanced approach that integrates all three components.

Rio and the post-Rio era have also established a framework for addressing sustainable development. The Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 provide us with guiding principles and a roadmap for fulfilling those principles. Multilateral environmental agreements that effectively balance the three pillars of sustainable development as well as voluntary mechanisms such as the International Coral Reefs Initiative and the Arctic Council provide avenues for addressing environmental problems. Further, the international development goals in the United Nations Millennium Declaration help to outline a path that fosters economic and social development.

Guiding Principles for the Johannesburg Decade

As we head to Johannesburg, we must now turn our attention from building the framework to implementing sustainable development on the ground.

For all countries -- developed and developing -- sustainable development must begin at home. Environmental protection, economic development, and social development all depend on a foundation of good governance in which free markets, sound institutions, and the rule of law are the norm. Sustainable development cannot be achieved in an atmosphere where corruption runs deep, private property is unprotected, markets are closed, and private contracts are unenforceable.

In his March 14 address, President Bush stressed the importance of good governance, pledging a $5,000 million increase in development assistance as part of a "new compact for global development." In return for this additional commitment, the United States seeks developing country actions on the reforms and policies that make sustainable development effective and lasting.

Sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people, and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication, and employment creation. Freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights -- including the right to development -- the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies, and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing. Operationally, five of the key elements that are critical to creating an enabling domestic architecture that makes sustainable development possible are: effective institutions; education, science, and technology for decision-making; access to information; stakeholder participation; and access to justice.

Building a solid foundation for sustainable development is a responsibility shared by developed and developing countries. In the United States, we often take these elements for granted, even while we strive to improve our efforts in this arena. Many developing countries, however, recognize the fundamental importance of these issues to sustainable development, but are just beginning to explore how to operationalize them.

Implementation through Partnerships

Another major theme we and other countries bring to the WSSD is a belief that public/private partnerships -- involving governments at all levels, as well as NGOs, businesses, and other stakeholders -- are critical to achieving sustainable development. Within the United States, concrete action on sustainable development takes place not just at the national level, but at the state and local levels as well. Furthermore, it rarely involves only the government; much more often, it happens in partnerships involving business and civil society.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development should be a launching point for these partnerships. The United States will lead by example, seeking to work in partnership with stakeholders and other governments in key sectors such as the following:

• Health
• Energy
• Water
• Education
• Oceans and Coasts
• Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, and Rural Development
• Forests

A New Chapter

The World Summit on Sustainable Development is a tremendous opportunity to turn a new corner on sustainable development. President Bush has clearly articulated that the United States will "lead by example." We have a destination. To get there, we need to turn our attention towards implementation. By working together to strengthen the foundation of domestic good governance that is essential to the realization of sustainable development and by forging partnerships that achieve concrete results, we can make Johannesburg a success.