The
Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development
From
our Origins to the Future
1.
We, the representatives of the peoples of the world,
assembled at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
in Johannesburg, South Africa from 2-4 September 2002,
reaffirm our commitment to sustainable development.
2.
We commit ourselves to build a humane, equitable and
caring global society cognizant of the need for human
dignity for all.
3.
At the beginning of this Summit, the children of the
world spoke to us in a simple yet clear voice that the
future belongs to them, and accordingly challenged all
of us to ensure that through our actions they will inherit
a world free of the indignity and indecency occasioned
by poverty, environmental degradation and patterns of
unsustainable development.
4.
As part of our response to these children, who represent
our collective future, all of us, coming from every
corner of the world, informed by different life experiences,
are united and moved by a deeply-felt sense that we
urgently need to create a new and brighter world of
hope.
5.
Accordingly, we assume a collective responsibility to
advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually
reinforcing pillars of sustainable development ? economic
development, social development and environmental protection
? at local, national, regional and global levels.
6.
From this Continent, the Cradle of Humanity we declare,
through the Plan of Implementation and this Declaration,
our responsibility to one another, to the greater community
of life and to our children.
7.
Recognizing that humankind is at a crossroad, we have
united in a common resolve to make a determined effort
to respond positively to the need to produce a practical
and visible plan that should bring about poverty eradication
and human development.
From
Stockholm to Rio de Janeiro to Johannesburg
8.
Thirty years ago, in Stockholm, we agreed on the urgent
need to respond to the problem of environmental deterioration.
Ten years ago, at the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, we agreed that
the protection of the environment, and social and economic
development are fundamental to sustainable development,
based on the Rio Principles. To achieve such development,
we adopted the global programme, Agenda 21, and the
Rio Declaration, to which we reaffirm our commitment.
The Rio Summit was a significant milestone that set
a new agenda for sustainable development.
9.
Between Rio and Johannesburg the world¡¯s nations met
in several major conferences under the guidance of the
United Nations, including the Monterrey Conference on
Finance for Development, as well as the Doha Ministerial
Conference. These conferences defined for the
world a comprehensive vision for the future of humanity.
10.
At the Johannesburg Summit we achieved much in bringing
together a rich tapestry of peoples and views in a constructive
search for a common path, towards a world that respects
and implements the vision of sustainable development.
Johannesburg also confirmed that significant progress
has been made towards achieving a global consensus and
partnership amongst all the people of our planet.
The
Challenges we Face
11.
We recognize that poverty eradication, changing consumption
and production patterns, and protecting and managing
the natural resource base for economic and social development
are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements
for sustainable development.
12.
The deep fault line that divides human society between
the rich and the poor and the ever-increasing gap between
the developed and developing worlds pose a major threat
to global prosperity, security and stability.
13.
The global environment continues to suffer. Loss of
biodiversity continues, fish stocks continue to be depleted,
desertification claims more and more fertile land, the
adverse effects of climate change are already evident,
natural disasters are more frequent and more devastating
and developing countries more vulnerable, and air, water
and marine pollution continue to rob millions of a decent
life.
14.
Globalization has added a new dimension to these challenges.
The rapid integration of markets, mobility of capital
and significant increases in investment flows around
the world have opened new challenges and opportunities
for the pursuit of sustainable development. But the
benefits and costs of globalization are unevenly distributed,
with developing countries facing special difficulties
in meeting this challenge.
15.
We risk the entrenchment of these global disparities
and unless we act in a manner that fundamentally changes
their lives, the poor of the world may lose confidence
in their representatives and the democratic systems
to which we remain committed, seeing their representatives
as nothing more than sounding brass or tinkling cymbals.
Our
Commitment to Sustainable Development
16.
We are determined to ensure that our rich diversity,
which is our collective strength, will be used for constructive
partnership for change and for the achievement of the
common goal of sustainable development.
17.
Recognizing the importance of building human solidarity,
we urge the promotion of dialogue and cooperation among
the world¡¯s civilizations and peoples, irrespective
of race, disabilities, religion, language, culture and
tradition.
18.
We welcome the Johannesburg Summit focus on the indivisibility
of human dignity and are resolved through decisions
on targets, timetables and partnerships to speedily
increase access to basic requirements such as clean
water, sanitation, adequate shelter, energy, health
care, food security and the protection of bio-diversity.
At the same time, we will work together to assist one
another to have access to financial resources, benefit
from the opening of markets, ensure capacity building,
use modern technology to bring about development, and
make sure that there is technology transfer, human resource
development, education and training to banish forever
underdevelopment.
19.
We reaffirm our pledge to place particular focus on,
and give priority attention to, the fight against the
worldwide conditions that pose severe threats to the
sustainable development of our people. Among these
conditions are: chronic hunger; malnutrition;
foreign occupation; armed conflicts; illicit drug problems;
organized crime; corruption; natural disasters; illicit
arms trafficking; trafficking in persons; terrorism;
intolerance and incitement to racial, ethnic, religious
and other hatreds; xenophobia; and endemic, communicable
and chronic diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria
and tuberculosis.
20.
We are committed to ensure that women¡¯s empowerment
and emancipation, and gender equality are integrated
in all activities encompassed within Agenda 21, the
Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation.
21.
We recognize the reality that global society has the
means and is endowed with the resources to address the
challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development
confronting all humanity. Together we will take extra
steps to ensure that these available resources are used
to the benefit of humanity.
22.
In this regard, to contribute to the achievement of
our development goals and targets, we urge developed
countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts
towards the internationally agreed levels of Official
Development Assistance.
23.
We welcome and support the emergence of stronger regional
groupings and alliances, such as the New Partnership
for Africa¡¯s Development (NEPAD), to promote regional
cooperation, improved international co-operation and
promote sustainable development.
24.
We shall continue to pay special attention to the developmental
needs of Small Island Developing States and the Least
Developed Countries.
25.
We reaffirm the vital role of the indigenous peoples
in sustainable development.
26.
We recognize sustainable development requires a long-term
perspective and broad-based participation in policy
formulation, decision-making and implementation at all
levels. As social partners we will continue to work
for stable partnerships with all major groups respecting
the independent, important roles of each of these.
27.
We agree that in pursuit of their legitimate activities
the private sector, both large and small companies,
have a duty to contribute to the evolution of equitable
and sustainable communities and societies.
28.
We also agree to provide assistance to increase income
generating employment opportunities, taking into account
the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration
of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
29.
We agree that there is a need for private sector corporations
to enforce corporate accountability. This should take
place within a transparent and stable regulatory environment.
30.
We undertake to strengthen and improve governance at
all levels, for the effective implementation of Agenda
21, the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation.
Multilateralism
is the Future
31.
To achieve our goals of sustainable development, we
need more effective, democratic and accountable international
and multilateral institutions.
32.
We reaffirm our commitment to the principles and purposes
of the UN Charter and international law as well as the
strengthening of multi-lateralism. We support the leadership
role of the United Nations as the most universal and
representative organization in the world, which is best
placed to promote sustainable development.
33.
We further commit ourselves to monitor progress at regular
intervals towards the achievement of our sustainable
development goals and objectives.
Making
it Happen!
34.
We are in agreement that this must be an inclusive process,
involving all the major groups and governments that
participated in the historic Johannesburg Summit.
35.
We commit ourselves to act together, united by a common
determination to save our planet, promote human development
and achieve universal prosperity and peace.
36.
We commit ourselves to the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
and to expedite the achievement of the time-bound, socio-economic
and environmental targets contained therein.
37.
From the African continent, the Cradle of Humankind,
we solemnly pledge to the peoples of the world, and
the generations that will surely inherit this earth,
that we are determined to ensure that our collective
hope for sustainable development is realized.
We
express our deepest gratitude to the people and the
Government of South Africa for their generous hospitality
and excellent arrangements made for the World Summit
on Sustainable Development.
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