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<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <meta name="DATE" content="4/14/1997"> <title>MR. AXWORTHY - ADDRESS ONSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INCANADIAN FOREIGN POLICY - VANCOUVER, BRITISH- COLUMBIA</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> 97/21 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE LLOYD AXWORTHY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CANADIAN FOREIGN POLICY VANCOUVER, British Columbia April 17, 1997 This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca President Strangway, ladies and gentleman: It is a great pleasure to address an audience that includes so many who are at the cutting edge of work on the environment and sustainable development in Canada. I would like to thank the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria for organizing this event and providing this opportunity to discuss with you where sustainable development fits in Canadian foreign policy. In the days of the old Cold War certainties, international issues were compartmentalized. The world was divided into massive, opposing blocks, and the line between national and international concerns was clearly drawn. In the same way, human rights and military security were considered separate and unrelated issues. Economic and social development and environmental protection were considered not only separate but in some instances diametrically opposed. In the last decade, all the old certainties have been swept away, and with them these artificial divisions. A new international landscape has emerged: new countries, new democracy and freedoms, but also new forms of conflict and threat. If there is one characteristic that defines this new landscape, it is integration. We have realized that the issues we once dealt with separately are in fact interlinked. Out of this realization came a set of new concepts: globalization, human security, sustainable development. Professor Ivan Head and others present here today have done pioneering work in raising awareness of this latter concept in Canada. Human Security and Sustainable Development The notions of human security and sustainable development are, in my view, closely linked. They are based on the recognition that what happens in our own backyard can have global implications and, conversely, that global trends can affect our everyday lives. And they point us ultimately in the same policy directions. The basic premise behind "human security" is that human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, good governance and social equity are as important to global peace as are arms control and disarmament. In other words, that security should be measured in terms of the ultimate outcome for individuals and for peoples, rather than in terms of the number of arms control agreements signed. Sustainable development also focusses on the ultimate impact on human communities and on breaking down artificial barriers between areas of expertise to develop holistic solutions. Solutions that recognize the vital interplay and interdependence of social, ecological and economic activities. Recently I met with representatives of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. They described the collaborative project that they hope to undertake with tribal groups in Nicaragua. If the Nicaraguan authorities approve the project, they will work with the Miskito Indians to develop forestry, mining and tourism opportunities in a sustainable manner in the Atlantic Coast region of Nicaragua. In parallel to this, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council hopes to assist with de-mining efforts in this region, and CIDA [the Canadian International Development Agency] has offered to provide development assistance. This is an excellent example of the sort of integration I am talking about: an international project that embraces aspects of environment, human rights, disarmament and humanitarian concerns. A project in which the main players are not national governments or their representatives, but groups of citizens. Progress Since Rio To see projects of this kind under way is heartening. But we must also recognize that the challenges posed by an increasingly integrated world, and by growing demands on our natural environment, are unprecedented. Five years ago, at the Rio Conference, Canada took a stand with other nations in agreeing to a set of environmental and developmental measures without parallel in the international arena. As my colleague Sergio Marchi pointed out last week at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development [CSD] meeting in New York, we have made significant progress since then. But he also noted how much remains to be done. One of the Government's most significant achievements, I believe, is in opening up environmental processes to bring together stakeholders in productive discussions. We have recognized that the involvement of civil society is crucial if we are to reach our sustainable development goals. Canada played a key role, for example, in setting up the Arctic Council last year. This body brings together the representatives of not only eight circumpolar nations, but also of northern indigenous peoples to promote sustainable development in the North. The Council is unique among international bodies in involving in its work, on a permanent, integral basis, the people who live in the Arctic region. Along with my colleagues the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Minister of Environment, I had the pleasure of hosting the inauguration of the Arctic Council last September in Ottawa. Canada is chairing the Council process until 1998. As Chair, we intend to develop and focus the work of the Council, in order to lay the groundwork for a co-ordinated approach to addressing the unique challenges facing the circumpolar North. This will include agenda setting and concrete work on such issues as abating the contamination of the Arctic food chain caused by long-range transportation of pollutants, analyzing and mitigating the possible impact of global climate change on the Arctic, and ensuring that future marine transportation of oil and natural gas is environmentally safe and socially beneficial. I want to pay special attention to the needs of children in the circumpolar North, as part of a wider strategy to build on the human dimension of sustainable development. Canada will be organizing an Arctic sustainable development conference in the first half of 1998. I look forward, as well, to hosting the first Arctic Council Ministerial meeting later that year, at which we can demonstrate progress in all these areas and more. The Pacific Salmon Negotiations In the same spirit of involving those directly affected, have started negotiations that involve the stakeholders on both the U.S. and Canadian sides on the Pacific salmon dispute. Although there has been some progress in the negotiations, there is no final outcome as yet. But stakeholders have until May 9 to reach an agreement. The federal government is working hard to ensure that a solution acceptable to all parties is in place in time for this year's fishing season. I raised Pacific salmon with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, as did Prime Minister Chrétien with U.S. President Clinton, in Washington last week. We stressed how important this issue is to Canada and to British Columbia. Mr. Clinton agreed that it is important to make real progress and that this dispute should be resolved before the start of the fishing season. While I do not want to prejudge its outcome at this point, I think the nature of the process itself is noteworthy. This is a process with local "buy-in" by Canadians and Americans who make their living from the salmon fishery. It is supported by the governments of the various U.S. states involved and the province of British Columbia. It is a process that recognizes that the days when all international issues could be settled by national governments alone are over. If stakeholders fail to find a solution, however, it will be the federal government's responsibility to take action to resolve this dispute. Forestry Issues Another area where Canada has been active both domestically and internationally is forestry management. We have a National Forest Strategy in place and are implementing domestic criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. We are active in the International Model Forest program -- Canada has 10 model forests in operation -- and the new International Model Forest Secretariat is being set up within the IDRC [International Development Research Centre] in Ottawa. We are also active in the Montreal Process to develop international sustainable forest criteria and indicators. At the latest CSD meeting in New York, my colleagues Sergio Marchi and Anne McLellan called for negotiations towards an international forest convention. In this area too, the Government is convinced of the importance of including all stakeholders. We are working with provincial and territorial governments, the Aboriginal community and other interested groups to develop a strategic agenda for forest science and technology. Canada and the United States: Preventive Policy Making Our efforts have not taken place in a vacuum. Environmental concerns by their very nature are international in scope. Neither natural resources nor environmental pollution respect national borders. And that means, for Canada, that these concerns are, inevitably, transboundary in scope. It is increasingly urgent that we work together with the United States to manage and protect the ecological footprint that we share. The west coasts of Canada and the United States share many environmental concerns: global warming, the depletion of forests, and management of shared water resources and fish stocks. We need to be creative in our relations with the United States in responding to these concerns. On the environment, as on other issues, we have scores of bilateral agreements and mechanisms for dispute settlement. But virtually no processes exist to foster forward-looking dialogue and policy exchanges. We should not simply be waiting until things go wrong, and then discussing our disagreements in the litigious atmosphere of a dispute panel or a negotiation. In my two recent meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, we discussed what I call preventive policy making: how we anticipate and manage environmental issues before they become disputes. I proposed to her that we look at ways to revitalize the International Joint Commission [IJC], to improve its capacity for preventive policy making on shared environmental concerns. We have agreed to charge the IJC with proposing ways in which the Commission might best assist the partners to meet the environmental challenges of the next century. Another key element of this approach is participation by stakeholders. The ongoing stakeholders' discussions on Pacific salmon are blazing the trail for what will, I hope, be a whole new way of addressing environmental issues with our neighbours to the south. Looking Ahead As you can see, we are starting to sketch out a new approach on international environmental issues: one that is anticipatory, inclusive and integrated. One that focusses on sustainable development as a core value. But it would be unrealistic not to admit that we are only at the beginning of a long road. This June at the UN Special Session on Environment and Development, leaders from around the world will gather to review how they are doing on the commitments made five years ago at Rio. Canada will be represented at a senior level at the special session, to ensure that our voice is heard as the leaders chart a course for global sustainable development into the next century. Political action and expressions of political will at the highest level are vitally important. But governments can not -- and should not -- act alone on sustainable development. If we are to achieve our goals, it will only be with the active involvement of all sectors of society. That is why we have made inclusion of stakeholders a key feature of the Canadian approach. The work of academic and non-governmental organizations is also key. The report Connecting to the World, produced by a task force formed by the North South Institute, the International Development Research Centre and the International Institute for Sustainable Development [IISD], and chaired by Maurice Strong, is a good example. It explores exciting new directions in development policy. In particular, it looks at how information technology could be used to deliver our international assistance more effectively. Connecting the World argues that access to knowledge is crucial to sustainable development. The task force recommended that the provision of know-how and information through knowledge-based networks become a significant focus of our development assistance efforts. The Government is acting on this recommendation, through our work to develop a Canadian International Information Strategy. We will also be co-hosting, with the World Bank, the Global Knowledge '97 Conference, June 22-25, in Toronto. This conference will focus on using knowledge for development in the information age. Bodies like the North South Institute, the IDRC and the IISD are engaged not only in important work of reflection, but also in practical projects to advance sustainable development. For example, just yesterday in Winnipeg I announced funding of $500 000 from the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Works Program for the expansion of the IISD Information Network. In this way, Manitoba will become the home base for a worldwide sustainable development information service network. Through this network, Canadian environmental businesses and enterprises will be able to promote their products and services internationally. A key element in the future will be to ensure co-ordination and co-operation in the work of these and similar bodies, so that they work collectively to further Canada's sustainable development goals. By bringing together those who are on the cutting edge of thinking on sustainable development, we can extend our reach towards ever more innovative solutions. In this context, I want to welcome the initiative that the University of British Columbia has taken in establishing a Centre for the Study of Global Issues, which will work co-operatively with the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University. My congratulations go to Ivan Head and Stephen Owen, who will head this initiative at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, respectively. Through their work, they have put sustainable development issues at the forefront of the policy agenda. I look forward to the very rich input that I am sure the new Centre will provide, as we work to develop Canadian answers to the questions that their work has raised. A Sustainable Development Strategy The Government has already started working on developing some answers, by charting a new way of doing business. In the document Creating Opportunity, we recognized that sustainable development has to be integrated into the operation of government. As part of its commitment to greening the federal government, the Government created a Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. At the same time it required all federal government departments to table a sustainable development strategy in Parliament before the end of this year. This new process will profoundly affect the way that the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade [DFAIT] and other federal departments conduct their business. Today I am pleased to announce the release of Agenda 2000, a draft of the DFAIT Sustainable Development Strategy, for a second and final round of public consultations. One of DFAIT's strengths is its international advocacy on sustainable development issues. Now it is time for us to practise what we preach internationally. Our aim in this document is to outline a strategy for integrating sustainable development considerations into all aspects of our operations and decision making. In other words, to make sustainable development an over-arching theme for the conduct and practice of Canadian foreign policy and international trade. I understand that consultations on Agenda 2000, hosted by the University of British Columbia, will begin immediately after our breakfast today. This is your opportunity to contribute to setting the issues, goals and action plan for sustainable development for which the Department will be held to account. Conclusion With the tremendous changes to other aspects of the international landscape in the last few years, there is a real danger that environmental concerns have slipped off the international agenda since Rio. We cannot afford to allow this to happen. Pragmatic, workable follow-up is critical. To do this, we will have to work in new ways: through co-operative, win-win approaches based internationally on partnership and domestically on stakeholder involvement; through preventive policy making rather than after-the-fact wrangling; through firm political commitment combined with realistic goals; and, finally, through a willingness to practise what we preach. Environmental degradation and resource scarcity are the underside of globalization. They are threats to human security that respect no boundaries. Faced with this kind of threat, the old approaches will not be sufficient. And finding new approaches will not be easy or non-controversial. But we have substantial assets and skills to bring to bear on the problem -- including those gathered here in this room today. And we have the strongest reasons possible to get our answers right: the future of our children, and of our children's children. Thank you. </body> </html>

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