The Policy Year of the First "Implementation Cycle" was convened from the 11-22 April 2005 and was preceded by an Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, 28 February - 4 March 2005.

Both meetings be at UN HQ, New York. CSD 13 constituted the first policy year in the CSD's new programme of work, during which the Commission build on the outcomes of the CSD 12 Review Year in the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

CSD 13 - A daunting challenge
Water, sanitation and human settlements – in itself a daunting agenda. The outcome of CSD 13 will in all probability have an effect on national development policies in most countries in the world. Its outcome may also carry some importance to the MDG five-year review to be held in September this year.

CSD 13 and its mandate:
The task is expressed in the mandate set for this year’s CSD, and to quote the information note from the Chairman of CSD-13: ”The mandate of CSD-13 is to build on the progress made during the “review session” at CSD- 12 and to adopt policy decisions that would enable the implementation of practical measures and options related to the three thematic areas (water, sanitation and human settlements). The main aim of CSD-13 therefore is to mobilize action by all stakeholders at all levels for the further implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI). (extract from Jan Gustav Strandenaes' paper on UN CSD 13)