Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 1 • 22nd January 2004
REGIONS DIFFER IN PRIORITISING ENVIRONMENT
REGIONS DIFFER IN PRIORITISING ENVIRONMENT
On 6 January, seven countries from the South Asian region agreed on a free trade agreement. Among other things, the agreement recognises the need for regional cooperation on environmental issues, including for the countries’ coastal zones. In contrast, the Summit of the Americas on 12-13 January left environment aside as a marginal issue, instead focusing on security, free trade and democratic governance.
South Asian countries include environment
The foreign ministers of the seven countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) signed the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) on 6 January at their 12th summit in Islamabad, Pakistan. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka thereby hope to improve economic cooperation and development in the region that is populated by 1.4 billion people of which 40 percent live on less than a dollar per day. In the Islamabad declaration adopted at the meeting, ministers recognised the need to "undertake and reinforce regional cooperation in the conservation of our water resources, environment, pollution prevention and control as well as our preparedness to deal with natural calamities". Ministers also encouraged the establishment of a Coastal Zone Management Centre in the Maldives. Five out of seven SAARC members have long coastal zones and this management centre would study the nature of problems such as tidal surges, cyclones and the greenhouse effect. Ministers furthermore "stressed the early submission of the State of the Environment reports to expedite the preparation of SAARC State of Environment report and the commissioning of the work on drafting a Regional Environment Treaty". In a statement, the Director-General of WWF Pakistan, Ali Hassan Habib congratulated Pakistan for recognising the need for a sound regional "environmental protection regime".
Americas Summit short on environment
Democratic governance, free trade and combating terrorism topped the agenda of the Special Summit of the Americas, which took place from 12-13 January 2004 in Monterrey, Mexico. Environment issues took a backseat at the meeting and only found passing mention in the final declaration when leaders expressed their commitment to: increase cooperation and strengthen the institutions responsible for coordinating and implementing measures to reduce the impact of natural disasters on people; and belief that ensuring environmental health for the people was an investment for long-term well-being and prosperity. Ministers were also "encouraged by the new alliance between our Ministers of Health and Environment in the Americas and we instruct them to develop a cooperation agenda to prevent and minimise the negative impacts to the environment and human health". The fourth summit of the Americas will be held in Argentina in 2005.
The Summit of the Americas brings together the Heads of State and Government of the Western Hemisphere to discuss common concerns, seek solutions and develop a shared vision for their future development of the region, be it economic, social or political in nature. During the first Summit meeting held in Miami in 1994 governments embraced the concept of sustainable development, consisting of social progress, economic prosperity and sound environmental management, as well as they committed to protecting the natural environment for future generations.
ICTSD reporting; "SAARC eco agenda earns pat from WWF", THE HINDU, 10 January 2004; "Summit of Americas has little time for environment", ENS, 16 January 2004.