--- Michael Halder <mhalder@...> wrote:
> INFORMATION SOCIETY AND SUSTAIANABLE DEVELOPMENT:
> EXPLORING THE LINKAGES
>
> Now Online at:
> http://www.iisd.org/networks/issd_scoping_study.asp
>
> The two phases of the World Summit on the
> Information
> Society (WSIS) provide an excellent opportunity to
> integrate sustainable development principles and
> practices
> into the institutions and policy frameworks that are
>
> shaping the information society. Similar to earlier
> United
> Nations' summit processes, the WSIS has sparked
> wide-
> ranging multi-stakeholder dialogues at the regional,
>
> national, and sectoral levels. In some instances,
> these
> civil society groups are introducing national WSIS
> delegations to the policy development processes and
> priorities that have resulted from the World Summit
> on
> Sustainable Development and the Millennium
> Development
> Goals negotiations. While this helped to ensure
> that the
> WSIS Declaration and Action Plan, released in
> December
> 2003, addressed previously negotiated development
> priorities, the national level policy outcomes may,
> in the
> long run, be even more profound.
>
> In December 2003, the International Institute for
> Sustainable Development (IISD), with support from
> the
> International Development Research Centre, launched
> the
> "Information Society and Sustainable Development:
> Exploring
> the Linkages" Background Paper to guide future
> research on
> increasing national policy coherence on issues
> related to
> sustainable development and the information society.
>
>
> The paper identifies six analytical frameworks
> within which
> greater policy coherence must be sought:
>
> * Legislation and standards regulating the
> development and
> control of environmental information systems;
> * Promotion of the contributions of Information and
> Communication Technologies (ICTs) to eco-efficiency
> and
> innovation;
> * Measures to reduce and mitigate the potential
> negative
> environmental consequences of the information
> society;
> * Modifying consumer demand and values for resource-
> intensive goods and services;
> * Promoting public rights to access to information
> and
> public participation; and
> * Reducing poverty as an important goal of both the
> information society and sustainable development
> initiatives.
>
> The paper also discusses the policy arenas in which
> it is
> essential to raise these issues including:
>
> * National sectoral policies: With the fragmented
> nature
> of government ministries, efforts are needed for an
> integrative policy approach in order to achieve
> sustainable
> development.
> * National development plans: Many nations are
> guided in
> one form or another by development plans, which need
> to
> clearly and strongly articulate the role of ICTs in
> development and poverty reduction plans.
> * National positions in international policy
> dialogues:
> With recent global emphasis on poverty reduction and
>
> sustainable development, the opportunity is ripe for
> making
> meaningful progress in the information society and
> sustainable development dialogue.
>
> To download the Information Society and Sustainable
> Development: Next Generation Policy Directions
> Background
> Paper in its entirety, please visit:
> http://www.iisd.org/networks/issd_scoping_study.asp
>
>
> ABOUT IISD:
>
> IISD is a Canadian-based non-profit research
> organization
> that seeks to address the challenge of achieving
> sustainable societies through advancing policy
> recommendations in the areas of: international trade
> and
> investment, natural resources management, climate
> change,
> economic policy and sustainability indicators. For
> more
> information on IISD, please visit: www.iisd.org.
>
>
> PROJECT CONTACT DETAILS:
>
> Ms. Terri Willard
> Project Manager, IISD
> 161 Portage Avenue East, 7th Floor
> Winnipeg, MB
> R3B 0Y4
> Canada
> Tel: + 204 958 7727
> Fax: + 204 958 7710
> twillard@...
>
> Mr. Michael Halder
> Project Assistant, IISD
> 161 Portage Avenue East, 7th Floor
> Winnipeg, MB
> R3B 0Y4
> Canada
> Tel: + 204 958 7729
> Fax: + 204 958 7710
> mhalder@...
>
>