November 28/29, 2002 Forum on Sustainable Development

To Parties interested in sustainable development

From: Jim Salinger, Sustainable Development Steering Group

Re: November 28/29, 2002 Forum on Sustainable Development

23 September 2002

On 14 February a very successful forum occurred on Sustainable Development. Since then the Sustainable Development Steering Group has met twice to advance a number of activities. These can be viewed on sustainable-talk@rsnz.org. Three main activities have been occurring:

A subgroup planning the next Sustainable Development forum
A subgroup examining the terms of reference of an advisory body to government and others on sustainable development; and
A subgroup which considered input to government and others on WSSD and beyond.

This is to advise all groups interested in sustainable development to alert them of the next Sustainable Development Forum to be held at the University of Auckland's School of Engineering in Symonds Street, Auckland on THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28/29. To allow people to arrive in day one, we'll likely begin at 9:45am, and finish around 3:30-3:45pm.

A planning group is working on the agenda for the day. Details are being worked through, but the likely agenda includes:

Introductions
Focus Groups - collate updates on National and International Activities
Presentations from Government Departments
Dinner (self funded)
Strategies for Action
Terms of Reference of Advisory Group
Workshops

The purpose of the meeting is to provide a forum for continued networking. More importantly government strategy papers on SD are unlikely to be produced until next year. However it is important to keep momentum from WSSD and follow government activities to encourage SD initiatives, thus another important purpose of the meeting should be to question government departments and politicians on their processes for consultation and strategies for action.

The main target of the invitation is to groups (not individuals), which are active in sustainable development, to represent a constituency which is able to undertake concerted actions, either as a group, or together with other groups. Thus we are looking for representatives from each group.

CAN YOU PLEASE INDICATE AT THIS STAGE WHETHER YOU WILL ATTEND, AND WHICH ORGANISATION YOU WILL REPRESENT. Please e-mail back to: Kath.evans@rsnz.org

The group organising the meeting will be providing the rooms and the Royal Society of New Zealand is sponsoring tea and buffet lunches, but will not be able to offer any other financial input. Participants will be expected to self fund themselves for travel etc. However there will be no registration fees for the two days.

Can you please let us know by e-mail to Kath Evans:

1. Whether you or others from your organisation will attend

2. Any suggestions for workshops

Later in October/early November we will circulate a detailed agenda for the second Sustainable Development Forum.