BALI, Indonesia, June 4, 2002 (ENS) - Government representatives worked in informal groups today on a political statement and plan of action for sustainable development at the last preparatory conference in advance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development coming up at the end of August.

Greenpeace demonstrators hold up images of environmental abuse as delegates arrive at PrepCom IV. (Photo courtesy Greenpeace)

The posters and a renewable energy side event called "Power to Tackle Poverty," at the conference today are part of a dedicated push by nongovernmental organizations to move corporations towards a stronger position of social responsibility.

At the side event, Greenpeace and the Body Shop chain of bath and beauty shops promoted their Choose Positive Energy campaign. Launched in January, the campaign's goal is to secure a commitment at the Summit to bring renewable energy to two billion of the world's poorest people within 10 years.

Former Shell executive, Sir Mark Moody Stuart, who co-chaired the G8 Task Force on Renewable Energy and is chair of Business Action for Sustainable Development, is a strong supporter of the Choose Positive Energy Campaign. At the side event, he presented the G8 Task Force's report, which points to the need to create a level playing field for renewable energy.

At the event, European Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, explained EU policies to enhance energy efficiency and internalize the costs of fossil fuels so that renewable energy technologies can be successful in the marketplace.

Wallstorm said the European Union is committed to encouraging renewable energy use in developing countries by building partnerships and institutional capacity, and by providing technical assistance.

Steve Sawyer of Greenpeace and European Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom at the renewable energy side event (Photo courtesy Earth Negotiations Bulletin)

At the event, UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett said her government wants to engage in partnerships with the business sector to promote renewable energy. She wants to ensure that the poor will be provided with access to sustainable and affordable energy by generating high-level political commitment, a clear program of action and a global target at the Summit.

At a news conference, nongovernmental organizations urged governments to commit to an international agreement on corporate accountability and liability to limit corporate abuses of the environment and human health by endorsing the Bhopal Principles on Corporate Accountability and Liability. By endorsing these principles, corporations would agree to protect human rights, food sovereignty and promote clean and sustainable development, said NGOs Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Third World Network and Groundwork.

The Principles are named for the 1984 Bhopal disaster, the world's worst chemical incident. It destroyed the lives of thousands of people who were exposed to lethal gases that leaked out of a Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India.

"Governments have allowed, and continue to allow, big business to wreak havoc," said Marcelo Furtado of Greenpeace. The international environmental organization released a report, "Corporate Crimes," which compiles 37 cases of corporate crime from the chemical, forest, mining, genetic engineering, nuclear and oil industries around the world. The report supports the NGOs' call for a legally binding international agreement on corporate accountability and liability.

Bhopal Principles: http://www.greenpeace.org/earthsummit/bhopalprinciples.html