Wallström welcomes outcome of UN-ECE meeting on sustainable development
EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström has welcomed the outcome of the United Nations-Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) ministerial meeting in preparation for the 2002 summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speaking at the ministerial meeting, which met in Geneva from 24 to 25 September 2001, Commissioner Wallström said: 'I am happy that all countries in Europe and North America have agreed on a platform for the World Summit on Sustainable Development next year that is forward-looking and action-orientated. This gives us a good basis to continue preparations for a summit that will yield results.' She added: 'I feel particularly pleased that there is an agreement to consider targets on eco-efficiency and resources productivity.' At the meeting, ministers agreed to use the Johannesburg meeting to set in motion the means to carry forward a shared objective on sustainable development. The delegates also set priorities for regional and global action, including sustainable management and conservation of the natural resource base, making globalisation work for sustainable development, and education, science and technology for decision-making. The declaration emphasises the need for further efforts to integrate environmental and health issues and to ensure that pressures on renewable and non-renewable resources do not exceed the carrying capacity of the environment. Ministers have also agreed to work towards the de-coupling of economic growth from pressure on the environment, through, for example, improvements in energy efficiency.