Brazil
Thank you.
Bianca Abreu.
Ministry of External Relations.
Thank you Madam Chairperson.
Brazil aligns itself with the statement made by Sudan on behalf of the
G-77 and China.
Madam Chairperson,
When most people think of Brazil, they usually visualize a vast
territory covered with dense tropical forests and infinite plentiful
rivers. Regrettably, this picture is not fully valid. Brazil has the
most populous semi-arid region of the world.
Desertification is hence a key concern of Brazil. It is closely linked
to poverty eradication and to sustainable development. While referring
to desertification in this CSD session, we would like to highlight
three points that we request be included in the policy options.
First, the implementation of the Convention must be strengthened for
the well-being of the populations of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid
regions, which remain the focus of the UNCCD?s work under its 10-year
Strategic Action Plan. Brazil supports the UNCCD Secretariat in
achivieing the objectives of the 10-year Strategic Action Plan and
supports greater coordination with the Global Mechanism.
Access to the necessary means of implementation are essential to
tackle desertification. Priority should be given to mobilizing new and
additional resources and transferring technology to countries affected
by drought and desertification. In this sense, there is a need for
strengthening the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD through new and
additional financial resources and improved accountability.
Madam Chairperson,
The second point is the impact of global warming caused by
historically accumulated emissions from developed countries. According
to the IPCC, climate change will increase the areas affected by
drought. The current climate change scenarios point to the spread of
desertification, with severe impacts on agriculture and, consequently,
on the life of the poorer populations, the most vulnerable to this
hazard. The eastern part of the Amazon region is especially
vulnerable.
In this context, the implementation of the commitments under the UNCCD
and the implementation of the National Action Programs are important
instruments for adapting to this specific aspect of the impact of
climate change. We must keep in mind, however, that climate change is
one of the factors that lead to desertification and drought. When
addressing the issue, we should guarantee that we point to a balanced
set of causes, including physical and social ones.
As we are discussing the links between the UNCCD and the UNFCCC, we
would like to highlight that cooperation between these two Conventions
is important, but that their integrity should always be respected, as
well as their operational independence, since they have different
mandates and compositions. As we acknowledge the complementarity of
national policies to treat with both issues. and support the
cooperation of the UNCCD with other Rio Conventions, we must bear in
mind that the UNCCD remains as the only universal legally binding
instrument to comprehensively address desertification.
Third and final point we request be included in the policy options.,
Madam Chairperson, is the importance or regional and South-South
cooperation for the implementation of actions to tackle
desertification and the implementation of the UNCCD, in line with
Chapter 9 of the JPOI. Brazil actively engages in regional
initiatives through greater exchange and cooperation between the
countries of the Union of South American Countries and the Arab
League, transfer of water storage technologies to Central American
countries and cooperation with the Community of Portuguese Speaking
Countries as well as with the MERCOSUL.
Thank you
Bianca Abreu.
Ministry of External Relations.
Thank you Madam Chairperson.
Brazil aligns itself with the statement made by Sudan on behalf of the
G-77 and China.
Madam Chairperson,
When most people think of Brazil, they usually visualize a vast
territory covered with dense tropical forests and infinite plentiful
rivers. Regrettably, this picture is not fully valid. Brazil has the
most populous semi-arid region of the world.
Desertification is hence a key concern of Brazil. It is closely linked
to poverty eradication and to sustainable development. While referring
to desertification in this CSD session, we would like to highlight
three points that we request be included in the policy options.
First, the implementation of the Convention must be strengthened for
the well-being of the populations of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid
regions, which remain the focus of the UNCCD?s work under its 10-year
Strategic Action Plan. Brazil supports the UNCCD Secretariat in
achivieing the objectives of the 10-year Strategic Action Plan and
supports greater coordination with the Global Mechanism.
Access to the necessary means of implementation are essential to
tackle desertification. Priority should be given to mobilizing new and
additional resources and transferring technology to countries affected
by drought and desertification. In this sense, there is a need for
strengthening the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD through new and
additional financial resources and improved accountability.
Madam Chairperson,
The second point is the impact of global warming caused by
historically accumulated emissions from developed countries. According
to the IPCC, climate change will increase the areas affected by
drought. The current climate change scenarios point to the spread of
desertification, with severe impacts on agriculture and, consequently,
on the life of the poorer populations, the most vulnerable to this
hazard. The eastern part of the Amazon region is especially
vulnerable.
In this context, the implementation of the commitments under the UNCCD
and the implementation of the National Action Programs are important
instruments for adapting to this specific aspect of the impact of
climate change. We must keep in mind, however, that climate change is
one of the factors that lead to desertification and drought. When
addressing the issue, we should guarantee that we point to a balanced
set of causes, including physical and social ones.
As we are discussing the links between the UNCCD and the UNFCCC, we
would like to highlight that cooperation between these two Conventions
is important, but that their integrity should always be respected, as
well as their operational independence, since they have different
mandates and compositions. As we acknowledge the complementarity of
national policies to treat with both issues. and support the
cooperation of the UNCCD with other Rio Conventions, we must bear in
mind that the UNCCD remains as the only universal legally binding
instrument to comprehensively address desertification.
Third and final point we request be included in the policy options.,
Madam Chairperson, is the importance or regional and South-South
cooperation for the implementation of actions to tackle
desertification and the implementation of the UNCCD, in line with
Chapter 9 of the JPOI. Brazil actively engages in regional
initiatives through greater exchange and cooperation between the
countries of the Union of South American Countries and the Arab
League, transfer of water storage technologies to Central American
countries and cooperation with the Community of Portuguese Speaking
Countries as well as with the MERCOSUL.
Thank you
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