PARALLEL EVENTS

The World Summit on Sustainable Development– the Johannesburg Summit– is the United Nations sponsored meeting that will be held at the highest political level in the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002. In addition to governments, representatives from all of the Major Groups identified in Agenda 21 will participate in the Summit, namely: farmers, local authorities, women, business, science and technologists, youth, workers, indigenous people and NGOs.

Around the time of the Summit, a number of additional events– known as parallel events– will take place in the Johannesburg area. These events are being convened and managed by organisations or groups that are independent of the United Nations. The Johannesburg World Summit Company (JOWSCO) – a non-profit company that is wholly owned by the South African government and which is managing logistical operations on behalf of the Summit's host nation – is coordinating logistics for these parallel events.

The following list summarises those parallel events associated with the Summit that have been brought to the attention of the Summit Secretariat.

Civil Society Global Forum
A Civil Society Global Forum will be held from 19 August to 4 September at the Expo Centre (NASREC) located to the south of Johannesburg. This event will be open to representatives of all of the Major Groups identified in Agenda 21. It is being managed by the Civil Society Secretariat operating independently of both the UN and JOWSCO.

Business Forum
Lekgotla, a business day, will be held at the Hilton Hotel, near to the Sandton Convention Centre on Sunday 1 September. This is being organised by Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD). Between 800 and 1,000 business leaders from all over the world will gather to discuss issues surrounding sustainable development and provide business's articulation of the core themes that will shape the Summit agenda.

Local Government Session - Local Action Moves the World
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is co-ordinating local government input to the Johannesburg Summit. With the support of the United Nations and major international associations of local government authorities, it will be convening a Forum centered around the unique ability of local government to achieve tangible improvements in global environmental and sustainable development conditions through cumulative local action. Local Action Moves the World will provide an opportunity for local government leaders and their partners to present the key messages from the Local Government Dialogue Paper, the official representation of the local government position, to the Summit and the world. These messages will be illustrated by best strategy case examples and supported by commitments for the future. Between 500 and 800 representatives from around the world will be attending this forum at the Sandton Crowne Plaza from 27-30 August.

Ubuntu Village and Exhibition
This will serve as the cultural and infrastructure hub for all people in Johannesburg for the Summit and the parallel events. It will provide the opportunity for people from diverse cultures around the world to interact, share and showcase their unique cultural heritage and its impacts on sustainable development through entertainment and exhibition activities. In terms of logistics, the Ubuntu Village will provide a central information and service venue, which can be accessed by all delegates on a 24-hour basis. It will be located at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg's Innesfree Park. The central focus point of this village will be Tensile 1, the largest moveable event venue in the world. With 11,000 square metres of covered space, it will provide a home to the International Best Practice Exhibition and many leisure and entertainment facilities.

Aspiration and Reality: Building Sustainability
Global research charity the RICS Foundation, in partnership with the Global Alliance for Building Sustainability, is organising a major conference parallel to the Johannesburg Summit for the land, property, construction and development sectors. This conference will take place in Johannesburg from 28-30 August 2002. The objective of the conference programme is to set an agenda that brings about greater opportunities for sustainable developmetnt in these sectors in the future.