Countries in accord on UN blueprint to save the planet

By CHARLES CLOVER in Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG - Nearly 200 countries agreed in principle yesterday on a sweeping United Nations plan to cut poverty while saving the environment.

Their governments were expected to formally approve the plan today.

The aim is to halve by 2015 the proportion of people earning less than a dollar a day, an aim set at the United Nations' 2000 Millennium Summit, while preserving the planet's resources for future generations, under a goal dubbed sustainable development.

A political declaration that will accompany the action plan has yet to be adopted, leaving the possibility open of further wrangling.

Key points agreed:

* Sanitation. Agreed to halve proportion of people without access to proper sanitation by 2015, a goal Washington had resisted. Complements previous goal of halving proportion of people without access to clean drinking water by 2015.

* Energy. Agreed to take actions to improve access to affordable energy but failed to agree on specific targets to increase share of world energy produced from renewable "green" sources such as solar or wind power. The European Union was in favour of targets but United States and oil-producing countries refused to budge.

* Fish. Agreed to restore depleted fish stocks by 2015 at the latest, recognising oceans are essential to ecosystem and a critical source of food, especially in poor countries.

* Chemicals. Agreed that by 2020 chemicals will be made and used in ways to minimise severe harmful impact on humans and the environment. Will promote sound management of hazardous waste.

* Health. Agreed a World Trade Organisation accord on patents should not prevent poor countries providing medicines for all, a key issue because they often cannot afford Aids drugs.

* Women. Access to healthcare should be consistent with basic human rights as well as religious and cultural values.

* Aid. Recognises substantial increase in aid needed for poor countries to meet agreed development goals. Urges rich countries to give 0.7 per cent of national income, a target first set in 1970. Only five countries have reached that level.

* Globalisation. Plan acknowledges globalisation has good and bad sides. While it offers great opportunities for growth of the world economy and better living standards, poor countries face special difficulties and should be included.

* Trade. Bolsters trade and environment without saying that World Trade Organisation rules override global environmental treaties. Seen as victory for environmental groups who feared deals such Kyoto Protocol could be undermined. Wealthy countries reaffirmed will to lower trade-distorting subsidies.

* Biological diversity. Agreed to cut significantly by 2010 the rate at which rare animals and plants are becoming extinct.

* Governance. Recognise good governance nationally and internationally is essential for sustainable development. Rich states wanted aid tied to less corruption and more democracy.

* Strategies. Countries agreed to initiate strategies to preserve resources for future generations by 2005.

* Poverty. Agreed to establish a solidarity fund to wipe out poverty, "the greatest global challenge facing the world today". Stressed that contributions to fund are voluntary.

* Precautionary approach. Reaffirmed principle to act to protect the environment even if evidence of potential future damage to Earth's ecosystem is not conclusive.

* Common but differentiated responsibility. Reaffirmed all nations must try to save planet but rich countries are expected to shoulder more of the financial burden than poor nations.

- REUTERS

Johannesburg Summit