June 23, 1997
921 DAYS UNTIL YEAR 2000
NEW YORK, UNITED NATIONS-- Praising local initiatives that implement the commitments made at the 1992 Rio Summit, WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature today expressed disappointment at the general failure of governments to take meaningful action towards delivering on promises made five years ago.
Addressing a press conference at the United Nations on the first day of Earth Summit 2, Dr Claude Martin, Director General of WWF, called for some "immediate government pledges to action. It is not enough for them to come here just to restate their commitment to sustainable development and the Rio agreements."
He pointed out that some of the most dynamic and progressive action has come at the local level, for example Local Agenda 21 in Denmark, Bioregional Charcoal Production in the UK and Energy Efficient Lighting in Poland. Eight case studies are profiled in a new WWF report "A People's Agenda."
"These local initiatives need official endorsement, as well as legislative and financial support from national governments, otherwise they will remain islands in a sea of unsustainability," he added.
WWF's '7 in 97' action plan for governments focuses on essential priority actions. These cover forests, climate, freshwater, toxics, trade, investment, and local initiatives.
In the area of forests, WWF wants governments to commit to establishing networks of ecologically representative protected areas covering at least ten per cent of each of the world's forest types by 2000. The Summit of the Eight has already expressed support for the creation of international networks of protected forest areas - but this needs to be transformed into a promise with a timeline for action by the G8 and other governments.
"Currently the world's forests are in crisis, with tropical forests disappearing at approximately one per cent every year, and temperate and boreal forests suffering loss of quality," Dr Martin continued. "In short, we are chopping down the global air conditioner."
Dr Martin applauded the recent EU proposal that governments in New York agree to negotiate a protocol to the Climate Change Convention at Kyoto in December 1997, with a specific target for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. WWF urged them to promote the industrialized countries target of reducing emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2005.
WWF is also concerned that negotiations on the OECD Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), aimed at liberalizing direct foreign investment flows of $320 billion annually, will lead to an agreement that accelerates environmental degradation, particularly global warming. WWF is therefore looking to the OECD countries to ensure that environmental protection and sustainable development are fully integrated into the MAI to prevent it conflicting with the Rio agreements.
As the world's largest nature conservation organization, WWF has launched The Living Planet Campaign with a special focus on climate change, forests, and oceans targets. The campaign also aims to save sensitive eco-regions via 'Gifts to the Earth' which demonstrate the commitment of governments, business and individuals to protecting and preserving the world's natural treasures.
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Contact: Elizabeth Foley or Someshwar Singh at +1 212 986 8800 or mobile +1 917 853 2761.