Johannesburg — The following agreements were reached and initiatives announced at the World Summit. The commitments are agreed upon in the Johannesburg Implementation Plan, which was adopted by governments at the close of the summit.

Water and sanitation: A commitment to halve the proportion of people without access to sanitation and safe drinking water by 2015.

- The United States announced $970-million in investments over the next three years on water and sanitation projects.

- The European Union announced a Water for Life initiative that seeks to engage partners to meet goals for water and sanitation. The Asia Development Bank provided a $5-million grant to United Nations Habitat and $500-million in fast-track credit for the Water for Asian Cities Programme.

- The UN has received 21 other water and sanitation initiatives, with $20-million in extra resources.

Energy: A commitment to increase access to energy services, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. It was also agreed to phase out, where appropriate, energy subsidies and to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development objective of ensuring access to energy for at least 35% of the African population within 20 years.

- Nine major electricity companies signed a range of agreements with the UN to facilitate technical cooperation for sustainable energy projects in developing countries.

- The EU announced a $700-million partnership initiative on energy and the US said it would invest up to $43-million next year.

- Eskom announced a partnership to extend modern energy services to neighbouring countries.

- The UN has received 32 partnership submissions for energy projects, with $26-million in resources.

Health: A commitment that by 2020 chemicals should be used and produced in ways that do not harm human health and the environment. Also, to enhance cooperation to reduce air pollution and to improve developing countries' access to environmentally sound alternatives to ozone-depleting chemicals by 2010.

- The US announced it would spend $2,3-billion next year on health.

- The UN has received 16 partnership submissions for health projects, with $3-million in resources.

Agriculture: The Global Environment Fund will consider the inclusion of the Convention to Combat Desertification as a focal area for funding. There is a commitment to develop food security strategies in Africa by 2005.

- The US will invest $90-million next year for sustainable agriculture programmes.

- The UN has received 17 partnership submissions, with at least $2-million in additional resources.

Biodiversity and ecosystem management: A commitment to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010. Also to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation, to restore fisheries to their maximum sustainable yields by 2015, to establish a representative network of marine-protected areas by 2012 and to improve developing countries access to environmentally sound alternatives to ozone-depleting chemicals by 2010. To undertake initiatives by 2004 to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Sources of Pollution.

- The UN has received 32 partnership initiatives, with $100-million in resources.

- The US announced $53-million for forests from 2002 to 2005.

Cross-cutting issues: A recognition that opening up access to markets is a key to development for many countries, and support for the phase-out of all forms of export subsidies. Also, commitments to establish a 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, to actively promote corporate responsibility and accountability, and to develop and strengthen a range of activities to improve natural-disaster preparedness and response.

- Agreement to the replenishment of the Global Environment Facility with $2,9-billion.