Introduction

From 06 to 09 of December the World Family Organization and the Chinese Government in partnership with the United Nations will hold the World Family Summit in Sanya, Hainan Province, China. The main purpose of the World Family Summit is to promote the Family’s contribution to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals following a multi-stakeholder approach and a better and common understanding of the MDGs and the role of Family in contributing to their implementation through an enhanced learning, dialogue and action process.

In order to prepare WFO members and participants in general, to the discussions and the outcome recomendations, the background papers positions based on the work of the Millennium Project is available for consultation and download as well as comments to the Millennium Project Task Forces as well as to WFO.

The Millennium Project is the independent advisory body to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan that is commissioned with recommending, by June 2005, operational strategies for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This includes reviewing current innovative practices, prioritizing policy reforms, identifying frameworks for policy implementation, and evaluating financing options. The Project’s ultimate objective is to help ensure that all developing countries meet the MDGs.

As a United Nations-sponsored initiative, the Millennium Project proceeds under the overall guidance of the Secretary-General and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Mark Malloch Brown in his capacity as chair of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG). Professor Jeffrey Sachs directs the Project, which brings together the expertise of world-class scholars in both developed and developing countries, United Nations agencies, and public, non-governmental, and private-sector institutions. Ten Task Forces carry out the bulk of the Millennium Project’s analytical work with support from a small secretariat based at UNDP headquarters in New York.

Additional information on the Millennium Project is available on its website at
www.unmillenniumproject.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 1

1.1 The environment we seek to sustain ............................................................ 5

1.1.1 Abiotic components................................................................................ 6
1.1.2 Biotic components ................................................................................. 9

1.2 Environmental Sustainability and the Other MDGs ........................................... 11

2 Causes and drivers of environmental change..................................................... 21

2.1 Indirect Drivers ........................................................................................ 21
2.1.1 Demographic change .............................................................................. 21
2.1.2 Markets and Trade ................................................................................. 23
2.1.3 Techn ...................................................................................................24
2.1.4 Knowledge Gaps...................................................................................... 25
2.1.5 Institutional frameworks............................................................................ 26

2.2 Direct drivers ........................................................................................... 27
2.2.1 Habitat degradation ................................................................................ 27
2.2.2 Overexploitation ..................................................................................... 27
2.2.3 Invasive alien species .............................................................................. 28
2.2.4 Pollution ................................................................................................ 29
2.2.5 Climate change ....................................................................................... 31

3 PRESCRIPTION FOR THE FUTURE ..................................................................... 33

3.1 Knowledge for Decisions............................................................................... 39
3.1.1 Filling the Knowledge Gaps ........................................................................ 39
3.1.2 Environmental information management ....................................................... 40
3.1.3 Using environmental indicators to assess progress.......................................... 40

3.2 Ensuring Capacity for Environmental Sustainability............................................. 41
3.2.1 Capacity building and Technology Transfer ................................................... 41
3.2.2 Stengthening Institutions .......................................................................... 42
3.2.3 Public Awareness and Education ................................................................. 44

3.3 Market-related solutions .............................................................................. 45
3.3.1 Remove perverse subsidies in forestry, fisheries and agriculture ........................ 45
3.3.2 Environmental tax reform ........................................................................... 46
3.3.3 Internalise the true costs of ecosystem goods and services .............................. 47
3.3.4 Support and strengthen existing and emerging markets .................................... 48

3.4 Improving Environmental Management and Governance at the International level ..... 49
3.4.1 Integrate environmental sustainability in all development strategies .................... 49
3.4.2 Link PRSP process to environmental funding.................................................... 50
3.4.3 Protect the Earth’s climate system............................................................... 51

3.5 Improving Environmental Management at the Landscape Level ............................ 53
3.5.1 Increase the amount of fully protected intact land and sea ecosystem coverage . 54
3.5.2 Employ adaptive management practices for all ecosystems .............................. 55
3.5.3 Promote management at the landscape scale ................................................ 56

4 RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTATION .................................................................. 58

4.1 Financing the Actions.................................................................................. 58
4.2 Engaging Responsible Actors.......................................................................... 61

5 Literature cited............................................................................................. 66

6 Appendices................................................................................................... 71

6.1 The Mission of Millennium Project Task Force 6 Mission........................................ 71
6.2 Glossary .................................................................................................... 73
6.3 Task Force 6 Members ................................................................................. 74
6.4 Commissioned Issue Papers ........................................................................... 75

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