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Status
of Sustainable Development Visions in the Region
Before
further examining the results of ESCAP studies,
let's look at an overview
of the status of National Visions in the region.
Visions
in the region:
- are
prevalent,
- vary
in type,
- lack
implementation, and
- face
common
problems.
The
Project's studies show 5 stages of Vision development in the region:
| Stages
of Vision Development in the Asia Pacific Region |
| Stage
I |
No
formal national vision |
| Stage
II |
Development
vision without environmental considerations |
| Stage
III |
Sustainable
development vision formed but not formally approved by the government
(e.g. Cabinet approval) |
| Stage
IV |
Sustainable
development vision formed and approved but no action followed |
| Stage
V |
Sustainable
development vision formed, approved and enacted and working well |
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Example:
PICs:
The constitutions and later development plans of the newly independent
Pacific Island countries list the same basic resource use projects
that pre-independence plans had with a codicil - how to harvest
and sell fish, timber, agricultural products, minerals, labour sustainably,
and without harming the environment. (More…)
Existing
Problems and Issues
- Vertical decision-making
structures exacerbate the problems integration and lack of action.
National planning
offices and other economic ministries are more influential in the decision
making process, since economic development is often given the highest
priority by far. Meanwhile environment ministries or departments treat
issues in terms of policy suggestions and implementation, but in reality
final policy decisions are often made by politicians, not civil servants.
And politicians often have their own political priorities or may simply
be unaware of the implications of certain economic policies on environment,
and implications of environment policies on the economy.
- Environmental policies
in the region were normally designed and promoted through specialized
Environment units or ministries. See a list of
National
Visions for Sustainable Development from the region. This can add
to the process of polarization.
- The creation of
an environmental strategy such as a national Agenda 21, unless linked
integrally to development strategy (or unless actively implemented),
did not necessarily contribute to fostering sustainable development.
- The links between
the existence of a strategy and approval and actual action (implementation)
were often tenuous.
Examples
from the project's reports include:
Fiji: Sustainable
Development Act was drafted in 1996 but as of 1998, has not been before
the Cabinet.
Tonga: A framework
Environment Act was drafted in 1992 but as of 1998 has not been approved
by Cabinet.
Malaysia: National
Policy on the Environment was drafted as early as 1993. Although it was
mentioned in the Malaysia Plan 7 (1996-2000), it is yet to be approved
by Cabinet. Now given the economic downturn it is not even likely to be
on the agenda for some years. (More)
However,
the project's studies further revealed that:
- 'sustainable'
development is being given more attention in recent development
strategies or national plans.
- This may be due
to international processes and a growing awareness of the need
to preserve and protect the environment, or a movement towards better planning
practices.
Click the Next
button to read an overview of how environmental issues fit into planning.
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