By Janos Zlinszky Although a wide variety of stakeholders can be expected at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development beginning in August, it seems likely that the debate will fall into a familiar pattern: rich versus poor, or the West versus the rest. The developing countries and countries in transition, like those in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), cannot expect to control talks with developed countries. At the previous Earth Summit, held 10 years ago in Rio, intensive debate over the respective roles of developing and developed nations led delegates to add Principle 7 on "common but differentiated responsibilities" to the Rio Declaration, which was meant to help outline the future course of global sustainable development. In Bali, Indonesia, between May 27 and June 7, during the last official preparatory meeting for the Johannesburg summit, the issue again came to the fore. According to reports, there was disagreement between the most developed nations and the "G-77" group of developing countries on the exact meaning of "common but differentiated responsibilities. "Conflict between the haves and have-nots led to stalemates in negotiations. According to Kumi Naidoo, from Ecivicus: "Both the G-77 and environmental stakeholders are calling for coherence between economic and environmental governance, so that trade policies become more supportive of sustainable development." Meanwhile, the countries that are in a stronger economic position have reason to want to reserve the status quo. It will be difficult for developing countries, and transition countries like those in CEE, to set the agenda of the summit. In truth, the decisions made in Johannesburg will be heavily influenced and controlled by the group of wealthier countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD countries bear most of the responsibility for the success of the summit. Indeed they bear most of the responsibility for what will become the history of the 21st century. It is largely up to the OECD countries to lead the world on the path to sustainability. Western ideas and a western-style economy have helped to create the world we live in today. It is a world where democracy is revered and scientific advances have improved our standard of living. But it is also a world built upon materialism and exploitation - a world that is driven by non-renewable energy and a world where consumption is king. Other western ideas have been created in an attempt to counter these excesses. Books like "Silent Spring" and the "Limits to Growth" have helped to shape the modern environmental movement. In fact, the World Commission on Environment and Development, chaired by the then prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, first put the concept of sustainability on the world agenda in 1987. Among many "progressive" western thinkers, there are now clear links between the concepts of social justice, peace and the integrity of nature. Slowly, the concept of improvements in the quality of life is becoming de-coupled with material consumption and ownership of status symbols. Renewed importance is being given to culture, nature and human relationships. But to achieve and maintain any credibility for its ideas, however brilliant they may be, the West will have to lead by example. It will have to start the changes at home, while also at the same time putting an end to the aggressive export and promotion of the suicidal model of a constantly expanding consumer society. Sustainability must become something that people want. Ideally, it should become as "fashionable" as consumption is now. Janos Zlinszky is senior adviser to the executive director of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe.

"Because CEE, and other developing regions, will have difficulty influencing the agenda, the OECD countries bear much responsibility for the summit’s success." Top