Global Policy Forum

By Paul Waugh

A United Nations summit held in an exotic hotspot, British ministers accused of "junketing" at the taxpayers' expense, even President Bush hinting that he won't attend.

For those who remember the welter of criticisms of the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, the events of the past week must have brought on a strange sense of déjí  vu.

As the world counts down to the UN's Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg later this month, many will be hoping that, unlike most sequels, "Rio-plus 10" is better than the original.

But if a combination of pessimistic environmentalists and excitable newspapers are to be believed, it could be much, much worse. From the expensive hotel rooms to the number of officials attending, not to mention the expected absence of George Bush, the summit has attracted bad press.

The very future of the planet, from the plight of its poorest people to the state of its rainforests, will be at stake when representatives of 180 nations convene in downtown Johannesburg. Terrified of tabloid headlines, Alastair Campbell, the Prime Minister's director of communications and strategy, ordered the delegation of ministers and officials to be slimmed from 100 to 70. The first that civil servants knew was when Number 10 demanded the return of air tickets from those whose flights had been booked.

The Environment minister Michael Meacher was at first told he couldn't attend but, after an unseemly bout of bad publicity, was reinstated.

Britain is not alone in being worried over the coverage of the summit, as shown by a memo sent by a senior UN official last week warning against "excessive" hospitality.

A leaked memo from Kofi Annan's chief of staff said: "We must keep in mind this conference is taking place in the midst of a major food crisis in southern Africa, affecting 13 million people. It would be wise to refrain from excessive levels of hospitality, and any event sponsored by the United Nations should be of modest, even frugal, dimensions."

Some 60,000 delegates from nearly 180 countries will meet at 39 venues over 10 days. The total cost of the gathering is estimated at some £22m.

But for most countries, the cost of the conference is tiny in comparison with the potential damage inflicted on their economies and environments if progress cannot be made on combating global degradation and poverty.

The 70-strong British delegation will be led by Tony Blair, John Prescott, Mr Meacher, Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, and Clare Short, the International Development Secretary. The team is among the smallest of the big countries. Even the United States, contrary to recent reports, plans to send about 170 delegates.

To help the South African government with the cost of hosting the event, several nations have contributed cash, including Finland, Norway and the Netherlands. The Dutch donated £1.2m last month.

More importantly, multinationals are sponsoring the event from 26 August to 4 September. Hewlett Packard has given all the IT equipment free. The cost to the UN is slightly more than $1m.

One of the main criticisms of green groups has been that the event will generate 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, mainly in air flights, the same amount as generated by half a million Africans in a year.

But even this can be countered. The Johannesburg Climate Legacy will offset the emissions by investing $5m in energy-saving projects in Africa. Britain announced yesterday that it would contribute £10,000 to the scheme.

SUMMIT FACTS

• The 70-strong UK delegation includes five ministers, 45 policy and press officers, 15 administrative staff and five security officers

• The Japanese are taking 200 delegates, the French 160, Germany 170. The United States is taking150.

• It has been estimated that CO2 emissions associated with the event will total 500,000 tonnes. Countries will offset the emissions by contributing to a $5m scheme to invest in energy-saving technology in Africa.

• 60,000 delegates will attend from more than 170 countries – other groups, campaigners and businesses will attend "side events".

• The total cost of services and equipment bought is £22m. The UN will pay £700,000 to the organisers.

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