| 1. | We recognise the difficulties associated with an international event of the scale of the Summit. However, in the context of the scale of the global challenges we face and the potential which the Summit presented, we find it impossible not to feel a sense of missed opportunity. Nevertheless, the Summit achieved more than many expected. The outcomes were solid if somewhat limited and it is essential the UK Government rigorously pushes for their implementation. (Paragraph 26)
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| 2. | The outcomes of WSSD could provide a helpful step along the path to sustainable development, if implemented effectively. However, like many, we are disappointed that participating nations could only agree a handful of specific targets and timetables amongst the range of commitments which they made. (Paragraph 27)
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| 3. | We welcome the extensive range of Partnerships for Sustainable Development which have been established to support the commitments made at the Summit. It is important that these Partnerships are effectively monitored to ensure that they amount to more than a re-branding of existing initiatives. (Paragraph 28)
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| 4. | We are encouraged that the UN Commission on Sustainable Development has introduced measures to monitor the progress of Partnerships against UN guidelines and has required them to report regularly on their progress. This monitoring process will be crucial in maintaining the credibility of these projects. It is important that the UK Government maintains pressure at UN level to ensure that this process is sufficiently resourced and rigorously followed-up. (Paragraph 29)
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| 5. | We believe that the UK delegation took a realistic and sensible approach to negotiations at the World Summit, and performed well despite the limitations of negotiating through EU channels. (Paragraph 43)
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| 6. | The Government was slow to capitalise on the sustainable development communications opportunity offered by the Summit. The confusion surrounding Michael Meacher's attendance was an appalling own-goal, serving only to detract media coverage further from the Summit's purpose. However, we congratulate the Government for its effective media briefing at the Summit. It is essential that the Government's sustainable development communications review evaluates Summit experience to inform future sustainable development communication strategies. (Paragraph 49)
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| 7. | We strongly support DEFRA's efforts to ensure that the Johannesburg commitments are incorporated into the mainstream of existing departmental work programmes. It is important that the commitments are swiftly embedded. (Paragraph 57)
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| 8. | In the absence of a separate implementation mechanism, it is essential that the Government ensures that the key Johannesburg commitments are fully reflected in Spending Round 2004 as specific targets and objectives in Public Service Agreements and Service Delivery Agreements. (Paragraph 60)
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| 9. | As part of their bids for Spending Round 2004, departments will be required to submit a sustainable development strategy. We recommend that HM Treasury ensures that these strategies set out how each department is intending to implement any identified Johannesburg commitments even if these are not reflected in formal targets. (Paragraph 61)
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| 10. | If the UK takes an enthusiastic approach to the development of a sustainable consumption and production strategy, it could pave the way for a radical review of the use of resources in the UK. The preparation of such a strategy offers a key opportunity to weave together strands of existing energy, waste and procurement policy and ensure that each reinforces sustainable resource use. We look to the Government to produce a clear vision for sustainable resource use which avoids merely cobbling together existing policies into a strategy for business as usual. (Paragraph 77)
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| 11. | The Government has been promising resource productivity indicators since 1999. We recommend that their development is made a priority and that the UK pushes for their development at EU level to support the EU Sustainable Development Strategy as called for by the EU Environment Council. (Paragraph 78)
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| 12. | The wording of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation is too vague and the commitments too indirect to enable effective auditing. We recommend that the Government develops and publishes a specific action plan for the implementation of its Johannesburg commitments which would form the basis of subsequent audits. (Paragraph 81)
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| 13. | We welcome INTOSAI's initiative to seek to develop guidance for audit institutions world wide on the effective audit of national performance against the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. We also congratulate the UK National Audit Office for taking a lead in this work. (Paragraph 85)
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| 14. | We recommend that the National Audit Office initiates discussions with DEFRA and the Sustainable Development Commission to explore how they could work together to report UK progress against the Johannesburg commitments. Any such arrangements should take account of the need to keep Parliament informed, preferably through regular reporting to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. (Paragraph 86)
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| 15. | The World Summit commitments have led to renewed calls by the EU Environment Council to ensure that sustainable development is at the heart of EU policies and policy-making processes. We urge the UK to maintain its efforts to ensure that sustainable development permeates beyond the realms of the EU Environment Commissioner and Environment Council and is effectively integrated across the full range of EU governance. (Paragraph 92)
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| 16. | We welcome the UK's role in pressing for the reform of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) and welcome the new monitoring and review arrangements which the CSD has adopted to assess progress against the Johannesburg commitments and sustainable development principles in general. (Paragraph 96)
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| 17. | We believe that the status of UNEP should be enhanced to reflect its important role as the key UN facility relating to environmental protection and sustainable development. We would like to see the UK Government actively support and progress such reform. (Paragraph 99)
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