Five years after nearly 120 heads-of-state and 172 governments gathered in Brazil for the Earth Summit, the largest environmental gathering ever, the UNGA's 23-27 June 1997 Special Session (UNGASS) serves as the first formal review of that event.

The Earth Summit was very important, focusing attention on issues linked with evolving concepts of "sustainable development." It also provided exciting opportunities for 18,000 NGOs from around the world to come together to share experiences, network and plan for the future.

Nonetheless, Greenpeace hung a banner in Rio at the end of that Summit, with "SOLD" stamped over the planet. In our view, governments had failed to come to grips with critical matters facing decision makers in 1992, e.g., transnational corporations, financial institutions, states' abuse of "sovereignty" rights, non-binding promises and other issues affecting humankind's relationship with the planet.

Now, five years later, the "big picture" assessment of Earth Summit implementation strongly indicates that those and other problems still have not been remedied. On issues such as climate, forests, toxics, fisheries, nuclear power and nuclear wastes, the key environmental indicators show that we are still going in the wrong direction - away from, not toward, sustainability.

Globally, there have been some positive steps forward - e.g., the Basel Convention ban on transboundary shipments of hazardous waste, commitments to curb the use of ozone depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol, the London Convention ban on ocean dumping of radioactive and hazardous wastes, the new global fisheries agreement on straddling and highly migratory fish stocks, and UNEP's recent decision to convene the negotiation of a new global treaty on persistent organic pollutants.

However, most of the "successes" have been little more than "paper victories," overshadowed by growing real world evidence of troubling developments that are not being dealt with adequately.

The recent United Nations Environment Program's (UNEP) Global Environment Outlook (GEO) and UN Secretary-General's Earth Summit-related overview and trends reports, inter alia, provide revealing, comprehensive accounts of the challenges facing all of us. They also make for disturbing reading, as is the case with the following excerpt from UNEP's GEO (page 3):

from a global perspective the environment has continued to degrade during the past decade, and significant environmental problems remain deeply embedded in the socio-economic fabric of nations in all regions. Progress towards a global sustainable future is just too slow. A sense of urgency is lacking. Internationally and nationally, the funds and political will are insufficient to halt further global environmental degradation and to address the most pressing environmental problems - even though technology and knowledge are available to do so. As a result, the gap between what has been done thus far and what is realistically needed is widening.

Given the critical decision making roles that governments and the private sector have, much though by no means all of the blame for grim findings, such as the above, lies at their door. With few exceptions, too many governments and too many businesses have been far too willing to sacrifice the environment for the sake of short-term financial gain and special interests. There are some success stories and heroes, but they are way too few, given what is needed. Moreover, the record shows that NGOs have been largely on target in their warnings over the decades. The denials of big industry and some governments of the existence or severity of various environmental problems should now be seen in perspective. Overall, NGOs have a solid record of accuracy. Rather than allow debates again to become polarized, industry and governments should welcome NGO inputs, however uncomfortable those may be.

UNGASS/ES2 must be seen as a real WAKE UP CALL! The results of the Special Session must include a strong message that "business as usual," which has contributed signficantly to the current, unacceptable state of affairs, will end. To be realistic, we realize that the likelihood of that happening is not good. The drafts of the two official documents - the political statement, and detailed program of Agenda 21 implementation - are little more than restatements of Earth Summit words, promises layered on top of promises, rhetoric without real action. Moreover, the endless stream of 7-minute speeches by heads-of-state and other dignitaries in the UN General Assembly Hall, while occasions for individual leaders to commit to bold initiatives, offer limited opportunities for real dialogue and collective steps forward.

In Greenpeace's view, governments, as well as UN/international agencies and the private sector, need to agree four changes if UNGASS/ES2 is to have any chance of succeeding. First, they need to accept the urgency of the situation. Denial, finding fault with the details of various grim reports, or wishing the problems would just go away won't get the job done. Second, they need to very clearly recognize that nowhere near enough is being done to chart development along a sustainable course. Third, they need to ensure that UNGASS/ES2 comes together around a set of concrete, inspirational actions and targets that directly and adequately respond to the nature of the threats. This includes bold directional policy shifts, such as the beginning of the phase-out of fossil fuels. Fourth, they need to agree a package of substantial first steps that are measurable, allowing for accountability.

Greenpeace remains committed to helping implement strong commitments, wherever we can. Not only will we continue to let government and corporate leaders know our views on what they are and are not doing right, but we also will help show that paradigm shifts are possible in habits and ways of thinking. We will point to behaviours, policies and technologies (some even commissioned by Greenpeace!) which prove that faster, positive change is possible, now. With regard to the need for concrete, inspirational actions and targets that are measurable, we call upon heads-of-state and other government leaders, at UNGASS/ES2, to take bold decisions in relation to the following twelve (12) issues, among others:

1. SAVE THE CLIMATE:

The planet's weather system, and the entire web of life based on it, face potentially massive long term disruption from climate change. Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are the main sources of "greenhouse gases." A clear political commitment is urgently required to shift global energy dependence from polluting fossil fuels to abundant clean, renewable energy sources such as solar power. As a first step, industrialized countries should commit themselves at the "Climate Summit" in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997, to legally binding CO2 emission cuts of 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2005. In parallel, there should be a halt to development in these countries of new oil fields, and a removal of taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuels, as soon as possible;

2. SAVE THE FORESTS:

Land clearing and "clearcut" type forestry are devastating the remaining ancient forests, among the richest reservoirs of biological and social diversity on the planet. As forests are degraded and disappear, soil erosion, flooding, desertification and species extinction follow. Climate change is expected to add to forest loss in the next century. Beginning in the industrialized countries, governments must pledge to stop destruction by 2000 of all remaining primary, old growth forests, and to restore degraded forest lands. As part of these efforts, governments should closely monitor the ecological impact of forest companies, promote ecologically responsible forest use, ensure maximum reuse and recycling of wood and wood products, and provide for the full participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in decisions on forest use. In parallel, governments need to commit to tripling, by 2002, the total global area of protected forest areas. On critical issues, the intergovernmental policy dialogue on forests, under CSD auspices, should continue. However, rather than enter into the lengthy negotiation of a likely "chainsaw" convention that risks deferring or delaying needed action, leaders should, in addition to carrying out the above-listed actions, implement the 130-plus "actions" agreed in the recent global forest policy dialogue (IPF/CSD);

3. BAN TOXIC CHEMICALS:

The long-term health and environmental effects of the estimated 70,000 different synthetic chemicals currently in use are largely unknown and untested. About 1,000 new chemicals enter the market every year. Many of these are toxic, are spread globally and concentrate in the food chain, ending up on our dinner plates. In particular, the group of chlorine-based chemicals are known to damage the immune and reproductive system in animals and humans, and pose major risks to developing foetuses. An urgent commitment is necessary to move towards a global system of `clean production', within a generation. As a first step, governments should conclude by 2000 at the latest, a legally binding international treaty banning persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In addition, the export of all hazardous chemical wastes from industrialised to developing countries should be halted through universal ratification of the Basel Convention ban by the end of 1997;

4. RESPONSIBLE FISHING:

The capacity of the world's fishing fleet greatly exceeds the amount of fish that can be caught on a sustainable basis. In the last 40 years alone, the world fish catch has increased four-fold. As a result, most of the world's major fisheries are now either depleted, over-exploited or fully-exploited. Too many boats, especially big ones, are chasing too few fish, often using subsidies paid from tax dollars.

Governments must commit themselves to protect remaining fish stocks through urgent national, regional and global measures. As a first step, OECD governments must reduce total fishing capacity, particularly by large-scale industrialized fishing vessels, by at least a quarter by 2000. In parallel, there should be a global moratorium by 1998 on any further intensive shrimp aquaculture unless it is both ecologically sound and socially equitable;

5. END NUCLEAR POWER/NUCLEAR WASTE:

The nuclear industry is arguing for a major expansion, supposedly to combat climate change and meet the increasing worldwide demands for electricity. However, such an expansion would entail massive economic costs, while dramatically increasing the risks of Chernobyl-type nuclear accidents resulting in potential radioactive contamination of tens of thousands of people over many years. As a first step, governments must halt further investments in and subsidies to nuclear power and initiate phase-outs of the existing nuclear power plants. In parallel, they must greatly increase investment in improving energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy such as solar power.

With regard to radioactive waste, after more than 50 years of nuclear power, the waste produced at every stage of nuclear operations has contaminated the planet's oceans, rivers, land and air - threatening the environment and human health. Over 400 nuclear power reactors in about 30 countries continue to produce ever larger amounts of radioactive waste. Reprocessing plants discharge radioactive waste directly into the oceans adding to the radioactive waste problem.

Much of this waste will be radioactive for many thousands of years, with no safe solution for its long-term management. In addition to the above-stated urgent need for halting reactor construction and phasing-out of nuclear power, the highest possible standard of care must be applied in the management of existing wastes, including a ban on all discharges, and application of the "proximity principle" that wastes should be stored as close as possible to their source;

6. DISARM/MILITARY WEAPONS:

Conventional and nuclear weapons continue to offer no security against the threat of global pollution and environmental destruction - the real enemies of the planet in the next century. In spite of some positive trends in areas to reduce military budgets and weapon numbers, they still command far too high a share of national budgets. Leaders must commit to concluding an agreement by 2000 that would ban the production and use of weapons-usable fissile material immediately, and nuclear weapons between 2000-2010. In the nearer term, governments should adopt a global, legally binding ban on anti-personnel land mines by 1998 - applicable both within and between countries;

7. BIOLOGICAL POLLUTION/GMOS:

Molecular biology has started to reveal the basic code of life. Applied as genetic engineering technology, this enables genes to be transferred between completely unrelated species and the creation of artificial organisms. However science is still far from understanding and predicting the consequences of their release into the natural environment. Any genetic mistakes or adverse effects encoded into the engineered organisms, can result in "biological pollution", which could spread quickly - and irreversibly - through the natural environment.

While natural species are being made extinct at an unprecedented rate as a result of human activities, multinational chemical companies are investing in the creation and patenting of new crops, animals and micro-organisms to make them pesticide resistant or toxic, or simply grow faster or bigger. Apart from the ecological risks of this development, there are commercial and cultural disadvantages for farmers and consumers, who will have reduced crop diversity. Also, the ethical and social implications of increasingly placing the world's food supply in the hands of a few multinationals owning the patents needs to be addressed. International standards are urgently required to apply the precautionary principle to regulate strictly the use of all genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs). The release of all GMOs into the environment should be prohibited in a new Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Property rights on natural organisms and their genes must be banned under international patent law;

8. PROTECT FRESHWATER:

Currently, 1/5th of the world's population lacks access to safe water, 1/2 of the population lacks access to safe sanitation, and over 5 million people die annually from waterborne-related diseases. Studies show that if these trends continue, as many as 70% of the world's population will suffer water shortages in the next 25 years. Freshwater reserves are a significant sink for the dumping of wastes from urban and industrial sources, agricultural chemicals and other human activities. At the global and regional levels, effective international agreements need to be negotiated by no later than 2002. In addition, governments sharing common watersheds/airsheds should take the necessary steps, nationally and regionally, to make freshwater quality, conservation and supply a priority - including shifts to clean production in relation to industrial, municipal and agricultural sector uses of toxic substances and wastes - as part of sustainable freshwater management;

9. FINANCING CHANGE:

Sustainability requires fundamental structural changes in society. While many changes can be made at a net economic saving (e.g., energy and processing efficiency), many will require the injection of large amounts of private and public finance. Leaders should pledge at UNGASS/ES2 to establish an Intergovernmental Finance Panel with the achievement of ecologically sound and socially just development as its central, guiding tenet. Given the dominant role of private capitol as a source of development and international project financing, among other tasks, the Panel should propose mechanisms to enable a global environmental audit of private sector finance in relation to the goal of sustainable development. Simultaneously, OECD countries should meet the 0.7% of GNP target for aid by 2002, and achieve half (0.35%) of that target by 1999, including a 50% increase in the current Global Environmental Facility (GEF) replenishment, and targeted debt reductions in the most indebted, least developed countries (in return for initiatives to further sustainable development);

10. SUSTAINABLE TRADE:

The role of international trade in contributing to sustainable development remains unclear. Currently, the World Trade Organisation is not accountable to the UN General Assembly, nor are its activities audited in relation to potential environmental impact. Moreover, there is a disturbing trend in the WTO to overrule national and international laws that limit trade, with little or no regard for sustainable development. Leaders must commit to ensuring that environmental laws will not be set aside, and follow that up, e.g., with a formal understanding by 1998 that multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) shall not be bound by WTO-imposed requirements or restrictions. On related fronts, a trade and environment Ministerial Summit should be convened before the next WTO Ministerial in Geneva (May 1998), and transparency and effective opportunities for NGO participation within the WTO and its Committee on Trade and Environment needs to be ensured;

11. CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY:

The globalization of the economy has meant that corporations have benefited most from the ability to shift finance and production around the planet. While it is a governmental prerogative to set and implement local production and investment standards, multinational corporations and host governments must acknowledge a responsibility to ensure that regulations and corporate behaviour add to, rather than set back, efforts to achieve global sustainability. As a matter of principle, "double standards," e.g., observing one level of conduct in one place and a lower level in another, must be rejected. In this respect, governments should commit to full and transparent environmental audits of corporate operations. With that objective in mind, leaders should agree at UNGASS/ES2 to create a permanent Corporate Accountability Subcommission of the CSD, with a mandate to develop internationally agreed mechanisms ensuring far greater accountability of multinational corporations; and

12. NGO ACCESS/PARTICIPATION:

Consistent with transparency and participation measures that have evolved as part of Earth Summit follow-up, especially activities under the auspices of Commission on Sustainable Development , as well as the important contribution, more generally, of NGOs in UN decision making processes, Governments need to take appropriate steps to ensure effective strengthening of NGO access to and participation in the UN General Assembly, its Main Committees and subsidiary bodies, as well subsequent Special Sessions - based, at minimum, on the revised Arrangements for Consultation with Non-Governmental Organizations - Part VII of Resolution 1996/31.

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For further information please contact:

Greenpeace International in Amsterdam (Siubhan Leslie, tel: 31.20.523.6228, fax: 31.20.523.6200; e-mail: )

Washington, D.C. (Clif Curtis, tel: 1.202.319.2473, fax: 1.202.462.4507, e-mail: )

or via the nearest Greenpeace office.