Resolution adopted by the ELDR Party Congress in Bath (UK), on 18 October 2002

-Recognising the need to ensure sustainable development as one of the key challenges facing developed and developing countries
-Recognising that implementing sustainable development requires a balance between economic, social and environmental components
-Recognising that environmental, public health and development objectives are not mutually exclusive, but can be combined together constructively

Noting the importance of the principles, framework, objectives reached at the Rio Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992), though noting with concern the inadequate lack of implementation of a number of objectives set, and a worsening of a number of problems since the Earth Summit,

Welcomes the opportunity provided by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002, in particular the adopted plan of implementation including:

• The commitment to reduce by half the number of people suffering from extreme povery and hunger by the target deadline of 2015;
• The commitment to reduce by half the number of people without access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation by the target deadline of 2015;
• The commitment to the production and use of chemicals in a way that minimises significant adverse effects on human health and the environment, by 2020
• The commitment to restore stocks of fisheries to sustainable levels by 2015
• The commitment to improve health education and to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and HIV prevalance

Welcomes in particular the lead taken by the European Union in promoting goals and actions to achieve sustainable development through reduction of poverty and protection of the environment.

Calls upon member parties to work towards abolishing all tariff and non-tariff barriers for agricultural imports from least developed countries in accordance with WTO commitments, thus enabling these countries to fully benefit from opportunities of globalisation.

The Congress notes with concern

• The lack of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, which as a result is still not in force
• The failure to agree on measurable and quantified targets to increase the share of renewable energy sources as a sustainable approach to global energy use;
• Notes the lack of specific measurable dates and targets set for many plans, including with regard to use of natural resources and preservation of biodiversity;
• The lack of agreement reached by European countries regarding reduction of agricultural export subsidies and barriers to the import of food from developing countries The insufficiently strong commitment regarding decreasing biodiversity and the reduction in the current rate of decrease by 2010
• The reluctance of the United States in establishing new targets and timetables, their preference for 'type 2' partnership agreements and the resulting obstacles to reaching common agreement on shared objectives, the failure of the United States to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the failure of President Bush to attend the Conference,

Notes the need for monitoring, implementation of the plan of implementation and partnership agreements with a view to achieving the objectives and targets set, and the potential effectiveness of sanctions where appropriate

Notes the need for further agreement on substantive agreements to promote and realise the goal of sustainable development

• The Congress calls therefore on all member parties and parliamentarians to commit words and promises into effective action, and as part of this to campaign for and commit to:
• Monitoring and implementation of the plan of implementation and partnership agreements
• Reforming international institutions, including a substantial strengthening of the resources and status of UNEP, and the incorporation of environmental and sustainability objectives fully into the operation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other development banks
• The establishment of new frameworks and network, involving Governments, industry and civil society, for taking on these commitments following the summit, and an ongoing campaign to promote sustainable development throughout all societies within and across each country;
• Greater emphasis on the effective implementation of environmental conventions, including support for a global framework for data reporting, verification and compliance monitoring