Posted 2nd August 2001

Sustainable Development Sus
From Steve Thompson, Chief Executive, Royal Society of New Zealand

In recent weeks a number of groups have contacted the Royal Society of New Zealand to express initial interest in the idea of setting up some sort of national forum on sustainable development questions. In response, the Council of the Royal Society debated the issue on July 20, and instructed me to take steps to explore the concept of, report back on, and (if a positive response is received) invite stakeholders to a meeting to examine the pros and cons of setting up of a New Zealand Forum for Sustainable Development (as a working title). Below is background paper derived from the Council's discussion.

My purpose in writing is to invite response to the idea. There are of course, many SD initiatives under way at present, not least a government strategy and Rio+10. Any forum as outlined here would have to add value to that which already exists.

DISCUSSION PAPER

Recent discussions have seen the possibility emerge for a national forum for sustainable development to take a central and senior coordinating role in New Zealand. Currently many important initiatives are under way, but lack the one essential of sustainable development - that of a holistic view at a national level.

Memberships of the forum could be drawn from all the current major bodies involved in sustainable development, such as the Business Council for Sustainable Development, Royal Society of New Zealand, IPENZ, Sustainable Cities Trust, Sustainable Communities Trust, MAF, Ecologic, Landcare, MED, Forest & Bird, Maori groups, PRISM, DOC, MfE, NZ Centre for Environmental Law and more......

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment has expressed support for such an idea. Shell New Zealand has been active in sustainable development, and has expressed similar views. The government is stepping up its focus on this area and may well be receptive to a proposal. Last December a PRISM report on "Sustainable Development in NZ" proposed a number of different models, including an independent Commission for Sustainable Development. During the researcher's interviews for the report, "the Royal Society was frequently mentioned as having a key role to play...the Royal Society should take a lead role in a national sustainable development programme".

Such a forum could take on a national perspective. A prime task would be to take a general overview of all New Zealand activities from the standpoint of sustainable development, exchange information, encourage collaboration, and initiate new combined initiatives in sustainable development. The Royal Society is one organization in New Zealand that has been suggested for a convening role in such a forum, but is by no means the only available body.

One aim, from the Royal Society's point of view, would be to ensure that scientific and social questions surrounding sustainability were well addressed, and that the best and most up to date information is available for placing before the community. It would be necessary to provide a staff secretariat for the forum, and possibly supply a facilitator if one were needed by the group. The stakeholders would draw up an operational budget for approval by the forum as a whole The secretariat would likely require co-sponsorship by other groups as a condition of its providing a secretariat role. The budget might not be restricted to travel for meetings, but could be projected to grow over time to encompass implementation of projects agreed by the forum. One potential project could an audit on the state of New Zealand's sustainable environment, using indicators of sustainability.

Several options present themselves for the operation of such a body:

1. Advice to Government: The forum may convey the advice of members to the Government in periodic meetings and in briefing papers.

2. Advice to Parliament: The forum could provide an independent annual report to parliament and/or the parliamentary commissioner on issues and progress towards sustainable development.

3. Strategic Planning: The forum could commission a strategic plan for sustainable development in New Zealand, and recommend on joint government and private sector policies and programmes.

4. Social Action: The forum could organize citizens' action groups and community round tables to encourage grassroots action. Or, it could engage a wide variety of established interest groups in New Zealand in developing ways to make sustainability a way of life.

5. An Evangelist: Following debate amongst themselves, forum members could spread the word by speeches, articles and projects within their own spheres of influence.

6. A Convener: The forum could use its convening power to initiate a number of working groups and conferences on issues where sustainability is at risk.

7. A Catalyst: Beyond its convening power, the forum could use an operating budget to initiate projects which will catalyse further actions by industry and NGOs. It may also commission research studies and discussion papers.

8. Develop Indicators for Sustainability: Merge the current sets of environmental, social and economic indicators into a single set against which progress to sustainability could be measured, and set goals for attainment.

9. Monitoring: Measure progress towards the goals set above, and publish the results.

None of these roles is mutually exclusive and the forum could choose to follow several simultaneously, or evolve through them. The challenge will be to harness the capacities of the forum in the best interests of New Zealand as a whole. The forum could perhaps take on a role which is in the main a mixture of catalyst and convener, as described above. In addition, the forum might take on the task of monitoring indicators of sustainable development. A schedule of three meetings a year would enable optimum in effectiveness. The forum should publicise its meetings, reports, and recommendations. A Web site could contain reports and working papers, as well as meeting agendÊ and minutes. Funding in the region of $30,000 should assist in the implementation of its catalytic and convening roles. Responsibility for raising this would be rest with every member.

Dr. Steve Thompson, Chief Executive, The Royal Society of New Zealand, PO Box 598, Wellington, NZ. e-mail: Thompson.s@rsnz.govt.nz Ph: +64 4 472 7421 Fax: +64 4 473 1841 The gateway to New Zealand science: www.rsnz.govt.nz ..