Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at Johannesburg +1 -Follow up seminar at the House of Estates in Helsinki on 17.9.2003

Implementing the Johannesburg Commitments

At the World Summit in Johannesburg just over a year ago on 4th September 2002, we issued a joint policy declaration and adopted a plan of implementation for sustainable development. The policy declaration sets high targets for our cooperation. As it states: “We commit ourselves to act together, united by a common determination to save our planet, promote human development and achieve universal prosperity and peace."

The declaration goes on to emphasise that the economic, social and ecological targets can not be separated from each other. And they should not be given different levels of priority if our aim is to achieve sustainable development. Responsibility to achieve this goal is shared between all levels, the local, the national, the regional and the global.

The concrete appeal enshrined in the phrase “Making It Happen!” is the foundation for the solemn policies in the declaration. It is for all of us, whatever is our own background, international organisations, governments, the economic sector, the scientific community, consumers, NGOs and individual citizens.

The main challenges facing global sustainable development, as identified in Johannesburg, are the elimination of poverty, safeguarding the natural resources base for future generations and promoting sustainable production and consumption. Thus the goals that the world community adopted in the Millennium Declaration two years earlier were complemented in a way that makes the elimination of poverty, on the one hand, and changing production and consumption patterns, on the other, mutually supportive. It is clear that poverty is not a friend of environment.

The adoption of a ten-year UN programme to change production and consumption patterns was probably the most significant new decision made in Johannesburg. Unless we are prepared to alter the way we produce and consume so that it remains within the carrying capacity of natural resources, we shall not be able to be serious about eliminating poverty, either. We must act in a way that leaves room for also the poor of this world to enjoy a decent life.

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The responsibility that governments bear for promoting sustainable development is central. In Finland this commitment is underscored by the fact that the main thread running right through the government’s programme is the promotion of sustainable development. This is also one of the goals of our foreign and security policy.

In the same spirit, the other sections of the government’s programme define important actions, which were also contained in the Johannesburg implementation plan. Especially important are commitments to increase public development aid as well as to draft a national programme to change production and consumption habits.

The role of the government is crucial in every country, but so is also that of the Parliament. Good governance is needed in order to implement good political decisions. The importance of a rule of law has increased rapidly with the globalisation. So indeed all parts of democratic state - and further all the other sectors of society - are needed to promote sustainable development.

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Is it possible to change production and consumption? Yes it is. We already have good experience of this here in Finland. Our emissions into the air and water have been declining for the past two decades. Greenhouse gas emissions have been stabilised on almost the level that they were during the year 1990, at the same time as our production and economy have grown. By using more efficient and cleaner production methods, we have been able to achieve a partial decoupling of economic growth from its adverse environmental impacts.

In several international comparisons, Finland has been ranked high for her performance with respect to the economy, environmental protection and education as well as for the rarity of corruption in administration. We are at the top of the table when it comes to economic competitiveness and sustainable development as assessed in the light of environmental criteria.

One of the Johannesburg challenges that we have to take seriously is that the industrial countries should take the lead and set an example in changing production and consumption patterns. This will also give a strong foundation for our efforts to promote international cooperation.

The European Union could and should assume a leading role among the industrial countries in the work that lies ahead. The EU can show the way ahead through the example of its own active efforts and it has to be active globally. Sustainable development should be a guiding principle in EU’s relations towards third countries and regions.

The upcoming enlargement provides a good challenge and a possibility for the EU to promote sustainable development on our own continent and neighbourhood. The accession countries have hoped for better life for their citizens: economically and socially but also environmentally. This is particularly important here at the Baltic Sea. All the seashore countries bear responsibility for the devastating shape of the Baltic Sea and all the countries need to do better in order to keep the sea alive. I am confident that Estonia’s, Latvia’s, Lithuania’s and Poland’s membership in the EU provide better possibilities to protect our cherished Baltic Sea.

Our genuine commitment to the sustainable development is the key issue. When the industrial countries shoulder their responsibility, the developing countries can – with support from industrial countries - follow their example. Moving polluting industries and shipping toxic waste into developing countries in order to achieve shortsighted economical gains is absolutely wrong and not even in the self-interest of industrial countries.

I am a firm believer that also developing countries can achieve – with our common commitment – economic growth without exhausting their natural resources and spoiling their environment.

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I have personally learned a lot about the importance of a common will and responsibility during the last 18 months. ILO’s World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, which I co-chair together with President Benjamin William Mkaba of Tanzania, have had a lot of discussion concerning how the developing countries can benefit more from globalisation that they do at present. Our shared view is that globalisation in its present form is not on an ethically acceptable or politically sustainable foundation.

A central challenge in bringing about a fairer form of globalisation relates to aligning national and international measures. Also in a world of globalisation, it is still national governments that bear the primary responsibility for citizens’ wellbeing. Respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law are central to the discharge of this task. It is, however, true that an unfair international system can weaken the ability of national governments to perform their task. Ostensibly equitable international rules do not always guarantee a “level playing field”, much less a just result.

Examples of the work of our commission have included focusing on international trade agreements which are based on regulations of this kind and thus take the interests of industrial countries better into account than those of the developing world. This matter was emphasised at the Cancun WTO negotiations, where several developing countries opposed the expansion of the trade agreements for example in areas of investment and competition.

Free trade is not the same thing as fair trade. The Johannesburg plan of implementation also draws attention to international trade regulations. According to the plan, we must strive for a gradual elimination of subsidies, which hamper sustainable development and are one of the obstacles to developing countries gaining access to markets.

According to a World Bank estimate, increasing the developing countries’ share of global trade by only one percentage point would add $70 billion to their annual income. This is more than the annual sum involved in development cooperation and reveals how important a role restructuring of world trade will play in international development.

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In concluding I would like to say something especially for Finnish participants in this conference. Finland is a good country to live in but it could be even better. Our task is to do it and to feel our global responsibility. The Johannesburg appeal to everyone to make it happen is an incentive for all of us. Finland’s preparations for and work in Johannesburg was based on broad participation. Representatives of both the economic sector and NGOs worked side by side. I hope this good cooperation and sharing of responsibility will continue to gain strength, without losing a critical eye.