Johannesburg: your lonely planet guide

Finally, the all-important fax from the Prime Minister’s Office flowed in, naming Environment minister T R Baalu as head of the ministerial delegation and External Affairs minister Yashwant Sinha as head of state.

Top-of-the-mind at Johannesburg—which will be thronged by nearly 80,000 delegates from 172 countries—is the long-standing tussle between developed and developing countries over the use of depleting natural resources. At stake: Official Development Aid—as much as 0.7% of the GNP of developed countries—and clean technologies promised by them. Here’s a ready reckoner for the summit and answers to questions about India’s role and agenda:

De-jargonising Johannesburg

• Rio+10: Marks ten years after the pathbreaking Rio summit, when the term ‘‘sustainable development’’ first entered official lexicons across the world.

• Agenda 21: Adopted after Rio, represents a global consensus and political commitment on socio-economic development and environmental cooperation. Each country, in partnership with international organisations, was to have designed national strategies.

• Multilateralism: All action to be taken with the cooperation of all countries rather then bilaterally, between two countries.

• Technology transfer: Developing countries will need clean technologies from the West if they have to develop without harming the environment.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is representing the US. Why isn’t the PM going?

The Rio conference delegation was headed by the then PM Narasimha Rao as was the one at Stockholm by Indira Gandhi. But this year, it’s feared the summit could turn out a wasted trip if the Developed World Vs Developing World debate is deadlocked as usual.

What’s the central theme?

Something that should cheer India: developed countries have already gobbled up a sizable chunk of limited natural resources. Countries now have to put their heads together and decide how best to use what’s left. That countries like China and India must be allowed to develop before they reach the emission levels of developed countries will have to be factored in.

Which are the main lobbies?

On one side is the power-packed JUSCAN group (Japan, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). On the other, the G 77 which represents the developing world. It’s chaired by Venezuela at present. The influential European Union is considered more JUSCAN-friendly.

Their agenda, our agenda

• THEM: Developed countries haven’t paid up 0.7% of Gross National Product as Official Development Aid.

US: India will stress the fact that apart from a few Nordic countries, none of the biggies has complied.

• THEM: Developing countries must buy clean technologies from us, at market rates.

• US: Instead of pushing third generation technologies to developing countries, give us concessions for the best know-how available.

• THEM: Trade and development can’t be separated.

• US: ‘‘Disguised trade barriers’’ like eco-labelling and a ban on child labour won’t work. Trade and economy should only be discussed at WTO.

• THEM: Developed countries not responsible for poverty, poor health. Our only concern: environment pollution.

• US: We need help in meeting our social, economic and environmental goals, as specified in Agenda 21.

• THEM: Have introduced the element of good governance as a pre-requisite to aid.

• US: This is unfair, interferes with internal government policies. Who defines what is good governance?