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Water and Environmentally Sustainable Development

Main International Instruments

Rio de Janeiro Declaration on Environment and Development (Agenda 21)

Johannesburg Implementation Plan

Millennium  Development Goals

ASEAN 2020 Vision

“… clean and green ASEAN with fully established mechanisms for sustainable development to ensure the protection of the region's environment, the sustainability of its natural resources, and the high quality of life of its peoples.”

Agenda 21 Principles

Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature

Countries have the right to use their own natural resources and the responsibility that they do not cause damage to others

The right to development must also equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations

Environmental protection is an integral part of the development and cannot be considered in isolation

Cooperate in eradicating poverty to decrease disparities and better meet the needs of the majority

In the cooperation to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the ecosystem, countries have common but differentiated responsibilities

Countries should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies

Stakeholders have the right to information  on environmental issues

The polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution

The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth should be mobilized for a global partnership to achieve sustainable development

Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible  

Sustainable Development

Development that gives everyone – including the future generations of human beings – a fair chance at living a productive and meaningful life in harmony with nature

SEA accounted for 8.6 percent of the world’s population in 2000, total population: 522 million

3 megacities are in the region: Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta

Wide diversity in economic development, with per capita incomes ranging from US$260 to US$30,200

People earning < US$1 per day: 11 percent in 1998  Those earning < US$2 per day 45 percent

Between 1990 and 2000, the region lost an average of 23,260 km2 of forests per year

Rate of deforestation of 1.04 %/yr is 4 times more the world average of 0.23 %/yr

Great biodiversity, 3 megadiversity sites in the region: Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines  

2 of the largest archipelagos in the world: Indonesia and the Philippines are  in SEA

Attitude Triggers

Economy – Paying the environmental cost

      Cleaning up one’s act

Social Concerns – What other people say

       My needs are also important

Government and others – It is their responsibility

Technology – Solutions will eventually be found

There is still time