EU fails to challenge polluting and poisoning mining corporations at UN Commission on Sustainable Development

The opening session of the UN Commision on Sustainable Development in New York saw the EU input totally ignoring the pollution, poisoning and impoverishment caused by many mining corporations.

Dr. Istvan Teplan, Senor Advisor of the Hungarian Secretary of State for the Environment, speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Members States, made a bland presentation in which he ignored the substantial evidence that illustrates the downside of much mining activity. 

Social Justice Ireland believes this is a totally inadequate position for the EU to take at such an important conference and calls on the European Commission to ensure these issues are addressed and discussed honestly in this UN Commission meeting.

The 19th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development opened on May 2, 2011 and will continue until May 13th 2011. This website will carry regular reflections and updates from this session written by Sean McDonagh, a Columban missionary and well known author on sustainable development issues. 

The Commission on Sustainable Development emerged from Agenda 21, the programme for action for sustainable development adopted in June 1992 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) also known as the “Rio Earth Summit.” Agenda 21 called for the creation of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), to ensure an effective follow-up of the UNCED. The CSD has 53 member states.

This session of the Commission is very important as it prepares for Rio+20 - the Conference that will take place in Brazil on 4-6 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 conference in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. Reo+20 is envisaged as a Conference at the highest possible level, including Heads of State and Government or other representatives. The Conference will result in a focused political document.

Sean McDonagh's observations on Day 1, May 2nd, 2011 can be downloaded below