Brazil
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset, I wish to congratulate you as the Chair of the Commission on Sustainable
Development during this cycle. I also associate my delegation with the views expressed
yesterday by the distinguished Minister of the Environment of Pakistan, on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China.
Her Excellency Marina Silva, the Minister of the Environment of Brazil, requested me
to convey to you and to her collegues her regret for being unable to participate in this
high-level segment.
Mr. Chairman,
Fifteen years on from the Rio Conference and five years after Johannesburg, Brazil
finds it encouraging that sustainable development issues are being increasingly
discussed and mainstreamed in global and national agendas. It is nonetheless regrettable
that the concept of sustainable development has not yet been fully applied to all
contexts encompassing economic and social dimensions, with some eying exclusively
its environmental angle. As we see it, this focus constitutes a conceptual step backwards
that would jeopardize our achievements since Rio.
Brazil remains firmly committed to combating poverty and promoting sustainable
development, in its three aspects, namely economic, social and environmental.
Developing countries not only have the right to develop; they have an overriding
obligation to take their citizens out of poverty through sustainable development, as
agreed in Agenda 21 and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Coordinated
actions in the areas of energy, climate change, industrial development and air pollution
are critical for achieving this obligation.
We should recall that poverty?s impacts on the environment are mostly local. The poor
are not the main cause of global environmental degradation. Global pollution is first and
foremost caused by unsustainable patterns of production and consumption,
characteristic of the development pathways of developed countries. As Dr. Gro Harlem
Brundtland correctly recalled yesterday, sustainable development must also take into
account the needs of future generations. If this is true for us regarding future
generations, how can it not be true for past pollution and its impact on the present?
In no area is this ethical requirement clearer than in the area of climate change.
Mr. Chairman,
We need a global response to climate change that takes into account the principle of
common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Developed
countries have the historical and ethical responsibility, the legal obligation under the
international framework and the financial and technological capacity to take the lead in
mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases. They should exercise this leadership and
spearhead the transition to a global low-carbon economy. Developing countries, on the
other hand, want to reduce their overall emissions by decoupling economic growth from
emissions growth. Brazil expects a successful outcome at the upcoming Bali Climate
Conference, paving the way for future global action in which all developed countries
commit themselves to stronger cuts in a post-2012 Kyoto commitment period and
developing countries obtain adequate support and recognition for their emissions
reduction efforts in areas such as transport, energy efficiency and reducing emissions
from deforestation.
In the same way that we have not equally contributed to global warming, we are not all
equally victimized by its adverse effects. According to recent scientific data, developing
countries will bear the brunt of the negative impacts of warming. This makes an urgent
case for strong support from developed countries for all activities related to adaptation
in developing countries.
Mr. Chairman,
Brazil is strongly convinced of the strong linkage between climate change and energy.
There are many challenges in the area of energy for sustainable development. One issue
is access to energy, which is a crucial component of poverty eradication and must be
fully supported by the international community. Another is the urgent need for
increasing the share of renewable energies in the global energy mix. As you are aware,
Brazil?s experience with alternatives to fossil fuels is a showcase of success: 45 per cent
of the energy we use comes from renewable sources such as hydro and biofuels. This is
due not only to natural endowments but to political will and targeted policies aimed at
promoting renewable energies.
Liquid biofuels play an important and increasing role. With a view to develop their
sustainable use and production globally, Brazil and other interested parties have recently
launched the International Biofuels Forum. This initiative establishes a dialogue
between the largest producers and consumers of biofuels interested in promoting the
creation of an international market for those products.
Biofuels constitute a viable economic alternative for the immediate partial substitution
of fossil fuels and the diversification of the world´s energy mix. Brazil?s experience
demonstrates that productivity gains over time make it possible to produce biofuels with
growing efficiency minimizing the use of natural resources. If we are serious about the
urgency of increasing the share of renewable globally, we must also be strongly
committed to deploying affordable, cost-effective and environmentally-sound biofuels.
We cannot create barriers to make biofuels less competitive.
Mr. Chairman,
Brazil's record shows that it is possible to combat poverty, advance industrial
development and develop economically and socially while reducing air pollution and
improving air quality. Strong governmental programmes to control vehicle air pollution
coupled with extensive use of biofuels have greatly reduced pollution from carbon
monoxide, lead and sulfate compounds in our cities. At the same time, our industries
have been moving towards more sustainable and cleaner production processes.
Brazil believes that it is not enough to reaffirm our commitments to eradicate poverty
and implement Agenda 21, the JPOI and the MDGs. We must turn commitments into
actions. This demands a concerted and persistent international effort. From the
perspective of a developing country, progress in implementing these commitments does
not depend solely on the design of policies and on compliance and monitoring
mechanisms. It depends on the provision of new and additional financial resources,
technology transfer and support to strengthening our capacities to meet these challenges.
The policy recommendations to be adopted should reflect the practical needs of
developing countries.
Thank you.
At the outset, I wish to congratulate you as the Chair of the Commission on Sustainable
Development during this cycle. I also associate my delegation with the views expressed
yesterday by the distinguished Minister of the Environment of Pakistan, on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China.
Her Excellency Marina Silva, the Minister of the Environment of Brazil, requested me
to convey to you and to her collegues her regret for being unable to participate in this
high-level segment.
Mr. Chairman,
Fifteen years on from the Rio Conference and five years after Johannesburg, Brazil
finds it encouraging that sustainable development issues are being increasingly
discussed and mainstreamed in global and national agendas. It is nonetheless regrettable
that the concept of sustainable development has not yet been fully applied to all
contexts encompassing economic and social dimensions, with some eying exclusively
its environmental angle. As we see it, this focus constitutes a conceptual step backwards
that would jeopardize our achievements since Rio.
Brazil remains firmly committed to combating poverty and promoting sustainable
development, in its three aspects, namely economic, social and environmental.
Developing countries not only have the right to develop; they have an overriding
obligation to take their citizens out of poverty through sustainable development, as
agreed in Agenda 21 and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Coordinated
actions in the areas of energy, climate change, industrial development and air pollution
are critical for achieving this obligation.
We should recall that poverty?s impacts on the environment are mostly local. The poor
are not the main cause of global environmental degradation. Global pollution is first and
foremost caused by unsustainable patterns of production and consumption,
characteristic of the development pathways of developed countries. As Dr. Gro Harlem
Brundtland correctly recalled yesterday, sustainable development must also take into
account the needs of future generations. If this is true for us regarding future
generations, how can it not be true for past pollution and its impact on the present?
In no area is this ethical requirement clearer than in the area of climate change.
Mr. Chairman,
We need a global response to climate change that takes into account the principle of
common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Developed
countries have the historical and ethical responsibility, the legal obligation under the
international framework and the financial and technological capacity to take the lead in
mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases. They should exercise this leadership and
spearhead the transition to a global low-carbon economy. Developing countries, on the
other hand, want to reduce their overall emissions by decoupling economic growth from
emissions growth. Brazil expects a successful outcome at the upcoming Bali Climate
Conference, paving the way for future global action in which all developed countries
commit themselves to stronger cuts in a post-2012 Kyoto commitment period and
developing countries obtain adequate support and recognition for their emissions
reduction efforts in areas such as transport, energy efficiency and reducing emissions
from deforestation.
In the same way that we have not equally contributed to global warming, we are not all
equally victimized by its adverse effects. According to recent scientific data, developing
countries will bear the brunt of the negative impacts of warming. This makes an urgent
case for strong support from developed countries for all activities related to adaptation
in developing countries.
Mr. Chairman,
Brazil is strongly convinced of the strong linkage between climate change and energy.
There are many challenges in the area of energy for sustainable development. One issue
is access to energy, which is a crucial component of poverty eradication and must be
fully supported by the international community. Another is the urgent need for
increasing the share of renewable energies in the global energy mix. As you are aware,
Brazil?s experience with alternatives to fossil fuels is a showcase of success: 45 per cent
of the energy we use comes from renewable sources such as hydro and biofuels. This is
due not only to natural endowments but to political will and targeted policies aimed at
promoting renewable energies.
Liquid biofuels play an important and increasing role. With a view to develop their
sustainable use and production globally, Brazil and other interested parties have recently
launched the International Biofuels Forum. This initiative establishes a dialogue
between the largest producers and consumers of biofuels interested in promoting the
creation of an international market for those products.
Biofuels constitute a viable economic alternative for the immediate partial substitution
of fossil fuels and the diversification of the world´s energy mix. Brazil?s experience
demonstrates that productivity gains over time make it possible to produce biofuels with
growing efficiency minimizing the use of natural resources. If we are serious about the
urgency of increasing the share of renewable globally, we must also be strongly
committed to deploying affordable, cost-effective and environmentally-sound biofuels.
We cannot create barriers to make biofuels less competitive.
Mr. Chairman,
Brazil's record shows that it is possible to combat poverty, advance industrial
development and develop economically and socially while reducing air pollution and
improving air quality. Strong governmental programmes to control vehicle air pollution
coupled with extensive use of biofuels have greatly reduced pollution from carbon
monoxide, lead and sulfate compounds in our cities. At the same time, our industries
have been moving towards more sustainable and cleaner production processes.
Brazil believes that it is not enough to reaffirm our commitments to eradicate poverty
and implement Agenda 21, the JPOI and the MDGs. We must turn commitments into
actions. This demands a concerted and persistent international effort. From the
perspective of a developing country, progress in implementing these commitments does
not depend solely on the design of policies and on compliance and monitoring
mechanisms. It depends on the provision of new and additional financial resources,
technology transfer and support to strengthening our capacities to meet these challenges.
The policy recommendations to be adopted should reflect the practical needs of
developing countries.
Thank you.
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