Johannesburg Summit 2002

Description

Partners /
Participants

Date
Location

Preparatory Phase

The objective of this meeting was to review cross-sectoral planning experiences in health and sustainable development at global, regional, national, and local levels. Specifically, the meeting aimed to:

1. Elaborate on mechanisms and approaches to cross-sectoral collaboration that have been employed;
2. Assess the involvement of key sectors outside of health;
3. Review the nature of multi-stakeholder collaboration;
4. Report on the use of planning tools such as indicators and health impact assessment methodologies.

Participants came from all regions and included practitioners, academics, researchers, and representatives of various international organizations. The meeting was conducted as a series of plenary sessions and small working groups to maximize the knowledge and information shared, as well as the opportunities for exchange and dialogue.

World Health Organization and South Bank University, UK

21-22 May 2001
London, England

The objective of the meeting was to help identify the key policy issues and action strategies for health in relation to sustainable development. The meeting brought together participants from all regions, representing a wide range of sectors in government, academia and research, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, as well as partners in the United Nations system.

The meeting was organised around a series of panel discussions in plenary, as well as small working groups in thematic areas which included:

1. Poverty and vulnerability;
2. Globalisation, trade, and the global economy;
3. Environmental degradation, resource depletion, unhealthy lifestyles;
4. Intersectoral action for health and sustainable development.

World Health Organization and Government of Norway

29 Nov – 1 Dec 2001
Oslo, Norway

The meeting brought together ministers of health, senior officials, and other representatives from countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), China, India, Indonesia, Norway, and the United States. During the meeting of senior officials, a background paper and a paper outlining ideas for inclusion in a declaration on health and sustainable development were considered. The deliberations were informed by the following presentations: "Poverty, Disease Burden and Development"; "Globalization, Trade, and Health"; "Environment and Health Implications of Urbanization, with Special Reference to Johannesburg"; and "Strengthening the Role of Health in Sustainable Development: from Rio to Johannesburg". 

World Health Organization; Department of Health, South Africa; Southern African Development Community

19-22 Jan 2002
Johannesburg, South Africa

This event consisted of panel presentations touching on key issues in health and sustainable development. Panellists discussed topics such as poverty and equity, nutrition, consumption patterns, and the health threats and benefits of globalization. Panellists also reported on the outcomes of two meetings: the ministerial meeting on "Health and Sustainable Development" in Johannesburg in January 2002, and the Health and Environment Ministers of the Americas Meeting in Ottawa in March 2002.

World Health Organization; Rockefeller Foundation; Others

3 Apr 2002
New York, USA

During the update on the Implementation Conference—which will take place 24-26 August 2002 in Johannesburg—the need for WSSD to address the links between health, environment and poverty alleviation was highlighted. Access to drugs and vaccines, measures to strengthen health systems, improved environmental management, and health education were listed as existing solutions. WHO's priorities in the area of health and environment, which include efforts to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution, ensure food safety, and improve water resources management, sanitation and hygiene were discussed.

Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future; World Health Organization; Others

27 May 2002
Bali, Indonesia

WHO Parallel Event

The parallel event, organized by WHO and the Department of Health, South Africa, includes five plenary sessions, commencing with a ministerial roundtable on the theme "Pushing back the frontiers of poverty", followed by four panel discussions. Sessions on investing in health, children's health and the environment, research partnerships, and intersectoral action in practice will explore key policies and action strategies.

WHO; Department of Health, South Africa; United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Institutes of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services; International Development Research Centre (IDRC); United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF); International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE); Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)

31 Aug 2002, 
9:00 – 19:00
Room G, Gous Blom, Ubuntu Village CC

This side event will highlight the importance of health and environment in the context of sustainable development. It comprises an interactive discussion on topics including linkages between health and environment; the economic burden of ill-health related to environmental degradation; and investing in children and environment. It is expected to result in the identification of key policy actions in health, environment, and sustainable development at national and international levels in the post-WSSD period.

Speakers include:

• Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General, World Health Organization;
• Mrs Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF;
• Mr Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director, UNEP;
• Mr Ian Johnson, Vice President, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development, World Bank;
• Hon. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Minister of Health, South Africa;
• Hon. David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, Canada;
• Dr Robert K. Musil, Executive Director and CEO, Physicians for Social Responsibility;
• Dr Carlos Santos Burgoa, General Director of Environmental Health, Ministry of Health, Mexico;
• Ms Linda Fisher, Deputy Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.

WHO, UNICEF, UNEP, PSR

30 Aug 2002, 
13:15–14:45
Ballroom 3, Sandton Convention Center

The Healthy Environments for Children initiative is an essential component of the efforts of WHO and its partners to implement Agenda 21, reduce global poverty and to reach the Millennium Development Goals. The overall objective of the initiative is to scale up global action to address priority health dangers and risks in the places where children live, are educated, and play. A number of important risk factors will be focused on in differing settings: for example, water (quantity and quality); insect vectors of disease; air (e.g., indoor air pollution through solid fuel use and passive smoking); chemicals (e.g., pesticides, lead); accidents in and around the home; and unhealthy behaviours.

The Initiative will encourage a groundswell of action at the local level, in particular, through many sectors (including health, environment, education, housing, agriculture, energy, water, local government and social protection sectors). It will involve numerous groups (for example, community groups, NGOs, private entities and others with an interest) alongside national governments within the context of national and local plans where they exist. The emphasis will be on getting different groups to work together on agreed strategies, but in ways that reflect their interests and strengths. The initiative will be as inclusive as possible, with emphasis on the stewardship of governments and of a supportive alliance of key organizations and institutions at the global, national, and local levels.

WHO, UNICEF, UNEP, UN Habitat, as well as other institutions of the UN system, governments, and NGOs.

1 Sep 2002, 
18:30–20:30
Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza Hotel

WHO’s exhibit "Strengthening the Role of Health in Sustainable Development" is located at stands 561 and 562 at the Ubuntu Village. It explains the relationship between health and sustainable development and describes WHO’s contributions to WSSD. A variety of documentation will be made available. Visitors may also view videos, WHO’s Web site, and other resource material.

World Health Organization

15 Aug – 8 Sep
Stand 561/562 UBUNTU Village

The Virtual Exhibition showcases sustainable development projects from around the world, including WHO’s Healthy Cities Project, which seeks to put health higher on the agenda of decision-makers in cities, and to develop a local participatory approach to dealing with environmental, social and economic determinants to health. A video showcasing the Healthy Municipality programme of Versalles, Colombia, and interactive sessions complete the exhibition.

Business Action for Sustainable Development; UNDP

WSSD Duration
http://www.virtualexhibit.net/