After 2 1/2 years of tedious negotiations, Earth Summit delegates have approved a new United Nations body to monitor compliance with environmental treaties and gauge progress toward the summit's goals.
Environmentalists praised the establishment Monday of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development, calling it one of the summit's major accomplishments.In a joint news release, four environmental groups said the commission will provide a way to hold governments accountable for their actions on the environment. It also will be a forum for the continuation of negotiations begun at the Earth Summit, they said.
"I think it's one of the most significant accomplishments" of the gathering, said Kathy Sessions of the United Nations Association of the United States.
Although the commission's regulations will not be legally binding, they will create what Sessions called "soft law" that can lead to legally binding treaties.
Scott Hajost of the Environmental Defense Fund was more circumspect about the commission. "The proof is going to be in the follow-up by governments," he said.
Hajost, a former State Department attorney, praised the United States for its role in the negotiations establishing the commission: "The United States was fairly constructive on this issue."
The United States did receive criticism for pressing some of its European allies not to split with it over the issue of global warming.
U.S. officials sent letters to Austria, Switzerland and Britain urging them not to support the so-called "like-minded countries" declaration, drafted by the Austrians, Swiss and Dutch, according to European officials.
Michael Young, deputy head of the U.S. summit delegation, was asked about the pressure tactics at a news briefing. He drew peals of derisive laughter when he said, "The United States never puts pressure on anybody."