Preliminary Comments on the Chairman’s Paper entitled Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development dated 8 May 2002

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides preliminary comments on the 8 May 2002 draft text regarding the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development for the Fourth Session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). CIEL suggests strengthening the framework by integrating human rights, improving coherence between economic and environmental governance, and enhancing the status of UN environmental bodies.

• CIEL argues that the draft text fails to sufficiently acknowledge the role of human rights in sustainable development, noting they are mentioned only once in the context of environmental protection. The organization recommends that human rights be given greater prominence, including in the introductory text and in frameworks for both global and regional sustainable development.
• The document highlights a need for greater coherence between economic governance—specifically trade and investment liberalization by global and regional institutions—and the governance of social and environmental dimensions. CIEL suggests that the framework should include integrated assessments of the impacts of past policies, such as structural adjustment programs and the lending practices of international financial institutions.
• CIEL proposes several structural changes to enhance international institutional capacity for the environment, including upgrading the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to a specialized agency and creating a "UN Environment Group" (UNEG). They also suggest consolidating the secretariats of conventions on climate change, biological diversity, desertification, and ozone depletion under a single administrative framework and redefining the Trusteeship Council to oversee activities affecting the biosphere and global commons.
• Regarding the "type 2" partnerships and initiatives expected from the Johannesburg outcomes, CIEL recommends the establishment of a transparent monitoring system. They suggest that the Commission on Sustainable Development or another international body should serve as a forum for this monitoring via a publicly accessible reporting system.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2002). Preliminary Comments on the Chairman’s Paper entitled Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development dated 8 May 2002. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Comments_8may02_Governance.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Preliminary Comments on the Chairman’s Paper entitled Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development dated 8 May 2002. 2002. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Comments_8may02_Governance.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Preliminary Comments on the Chairman’s Paper entitled Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development dated 8 May 2002 |date=1 May 2002 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Comments_8may02_Governance.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2002preliminary, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Preliminary Comments on the Chairman’s Paper entitled Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development dated 8 May 2002}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2002}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Comments_8may02_Governance.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }