Record of Sustainable Development Conference Call

8 May 2002

Contributors:

Auckland

Jim Salinger(Chair); Jane Harman (Recorder), Davie Bruer, Klaus Bosselmann, Gael Ogilvie, Carol Boyle, Annette Lusk, Rachael Brown

Wellington

Steve Thompson, James Newell, Kerry Griffiths

Christchurch

John Peet, George Hooper (Observers John Lumsden, Mihi Blizzard)

Agenda

1. - Terms of Reference for Sustainable Development Steering Group

Discussion:

Jim: T of R for Steering Group need to be determined. Important to note that the steering group was set up by the Forum to represent them, it is not a committee of the Royal Society.

Christchurch :

Forum has met & decided wanted to continue activities

o Terms of Reference - Develop programme of action for endorsement by Forum and identify priorities for sustainable development in New Zealand.

Wellington:

Steve - Forum decided it wanted a National Forum.

Kerry - Terms of Reference - as identified in agenda were identified as areas for development

• Steering Group to advise on way forward
• Identifying gaps & prioritise as per the Forum recommendations..
• How do we act as Convenor?
• How do we provide reposit of knowledge?
• Strategic Planning of Sustainable Development & Policy
• Steering group to develop recommendations to Forum.

Auckland:

Klaus - Concerned with structures/ principles especially over advice to Government. Need to define group and its status re advice to Government.

• National Forum could make a difference. 80% OECD - have structures for Sustainable Development policy and strategy advice - Independent Advisory Boards with mandate from government.
• Can use examples/models from overseas e.g. Germany
• How do we define independence of such an Advisory group.
• Must consider overseas examples.

Gael - Support Kerry

- Should focus on a way forward

Carol - 2 issues

a) Terms of Reference

b) How do we form ourselves as a group - structure, mode of operation

c)

Wellington:

James Newell

Sustainable Development Forum - two needs - one an immediate to respond to Kyoto - other long term - strategy

What are the immediate issues/gaps we need to focus on.

Steve - Main group want to meet again. Need Agenda/Time for meeting.

Christchurch:

John Peet:

• Need to have a body advising Government - Current policy documents are waffle.
• Have a task now to provide strong scientific in put into Government document.

Auckland:

Gael - Have been briefed recently on Sustainable Development strategy. It has been on hold until recently; but now reactivated. Expect to have draft - a subset of Growth & Innovation Initiative - not otherway around.

Jim - Summary so far:

Terms of Reference:

1. Act as convener of National Forum
2. Group which is independent of Government to provide advice to policy.

James - Need also to respond to group that meet in February.

• Independent view developed to advise government
• Does the Forum constitute that "advice body" or do we need another group.

Agreement

1. Sustainable Development Steering Group is needed
2. Independent Group
3. James's point

Sustainable Development Steering Group

Terms of Reference:

Steve - organise another meeting and set agenda

James - Need to provide ideas for National Forum

- Small group to provide draft ideas for policy advice for ratification by Forum

John P - Need to agree on subgroup to move forward. Doesn't have to be perfect.

Auckland:

Klaus

We need:

• small group to draft response to National 'SMT'
• group to organise meeting for Forum
• Terms of Reference for future forum or Independent Advisory Body.

Rachael - Suggest Working Groups within Steering Group.

• Forum meeting
• Advisory role

Gael - Need to plan way forward

Jim - Summary

• Terms of Reference are in the Agenda
  • Planning way forward on key priorities
  • Meeting to endorse the way forward
  • Short term - provide advice to government

Wellington /Christchurch in agreement

Klaus: Concept of independent group

- possible working group to provide comment now

3 groups:

• WSSD response
• Draft Terms of Reference for Independent Group
• Prepare next meeting

Kerry - need one on repository of knowledge possibly combine with next meeting group.

Klaus - Steering Group will need to meet again to discuss recommendations from working groups.

Christchurch - Go for it!

Wellington - O.K!

Look at 3 groups

- Debate on whether it was too late for input on WSSD Response. Gael thought thee would be opportunity for input. Klaus - felt we should take a strong view on WSSD even if we couldn't influence Government.

(1) WSSD Group

• Klaus
• John - Leader
• AEBN provide information Annette/ Rachael
• Gael
• Wendy McGuninness

Suggest mode of operation: Use email with copies to Steve T & Jim Salinger.

(2) Organise next meeting & plan forward

• Jim
• George Hooper (visits Auckland)
• Jane
• Dave B
• Carol
• AEBN - Rachael/ Annette
• Sustainable Business Conference, Auckland Oct, AEBN possible.

Jane/Jim leaders

Mode of operation: Auckland meetings at NIWA.

(3) Terms of Reference for Independent Group

• Klaus
• Carol
• Kerry Griffiths
• James Newell
• John Peet
• Jim Salinger

Mode of operation: Email with Klaus as leader/co-ordinator. Klaus to send draft Terms of Reference for comment.

Christchurch - Good achievement for initial meeting

Wellington - In agreement with outcomes

Auckland - Agree, but need to set next Steering Committee meeting

Wellington - In agreement with outcomes

Auckland - Agree, but need to set next Steering Committee meeting

John Peet, Jane, Jim, Klaus - communicate for co-ordination purposes for next meeting. Steering Group - Teleconference.

Suggest - Working Groups report drafts and recommendations to Steering Committee prior to Teleconference.

Suggest - Teleconference meeting in 31st July 2.00pm. Agreed.

Steve - Suggest frequent updates to Sustainable Talk to involve all other forum members.

Kerry - Need to inform whole forum of submission to government to be clearly representative of the Sustainable Development Forum.

Jim - suggest that we develop a summary of this meeting for Sustainable Talk - Action Jim/Jane.

1. WSSD group - Draft to Sustainable Talk
2. Sustainable Group - organise agenda/meeting for 31st July and Forum meeting later in year.
3. Group 3 - organise

Steve Thompson - email notes to.

Congratulations and thanks to Jim for organising and chairing the meeting.