Canada
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Delivered by: Greg Filyk / Canada
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Canada?s Statement
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development ? 19th Session
Waste Management Theme
New York, 2 March 2011, 9:00 am
The Government of Canada welcomes the Secretary General?s report on ?Policy
options and actions for expediting progress in implementation: Waste
Management.? In our view, the report is comprehensive and is a good, concise
examination of the issues related to different waste streams in developed and
developing countries. Canada would like to take the opportunity to share our
general and strategic comments on the policy paper.
· The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)?s
role should be one of coordinating and facilitating work on overall
sustainability with various governments and organizations. Specific to
waste management, the CSD provides a forum for discussion while at the
same time facilitating a strategic direction for individual countries on waste
management issues globally.
· As an overarching comment, the report does not always clearly state
which agency will be responsible for implementing or directing the
proposed work on policy options and actions, whether it would be CSD or
UNEP, or whether it would be the responsibility of countries. For example,
paragraph 14 of section two refers to capacity building and knowledge
development, which could be interpreted as both a responsibility of the
United Nations and of national governments.
· Canada supports efforts to recognize and raise awareness that waste is a
valuable resource with economic opportunities; and that environmentally
sound management of waste contributes directly to achieving the
Millenium Development Goals.
· In order to develop more sustainable waste management practices, it is
important to strengthen the foundations of waste management systems,
which include: 1) a strong regulatory system to ensure the environmentally
sound management of waste and recyclables; 2) sustainable national and
/ or municipal financing for waste management; in order to develop
infrastructure and maintain regular operations; and 3) collecting data on
the quantities and type of wastes found in the waste stream and future
projections for planning purposes.
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· With respect to agricultural waste issues dealt with in section 51 of the
report, Canada suggests that crop residues and biomass should not be
considered as waste. If agricultural crop residues are considered as
waste, they are more likely to be burned or sent to landfill. Promoting
reuse of crop residues recognizes that these by-products are valuable
resources that can provide soil conservation inputs into other agricultural
production systems (e.g. livestock) as well as renewable bio-materials and
energy.
In summary, Canada generally supports the policy options and actions for waste
management included in the Secretary General?s report and looks forward to the
upcoming nineteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in
May 2011.
Delivered by: Greg Filyk / Canada
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Canada?s Statement
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development ? 19th Session
Waste Management Theme
New York, 2 March 2011, 9:00 am
The Government of Canada welcomes the Secretary General?s report on ?Policy
options and actions for expediting progress in implementation: Waste
Management.? In our view, the report is comprehensive and is a good, concise
examination of the issues related to different waste streams in developed and
developing countries. Canada would like to take the opportunity to share our
general and strategic comments on the policy paper.
· The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)?s
role should be one of coordinating and facilitating work on overall
sustainability with various governments and organizations. Specific to
waste management, the CSD provides a forum for discussion while at the
same time facilitating a strategic direction for individual countries on waste
management issues globally.
· As an overarching comment, the report does not always clearly state
which agency will be responsible for implementing or directing the
proposed work on policy options and actions, whether it would be CSD or
UNEP, or whether it would be the responsibility of countries. For example,
paragraph 14 of section two refers to capacity building and knowledge
development, which could be interpreted as both a responsibility of the
United Nations and of national governments.
· Canada supports efforts to recognize and raise awareness that waste is a
valuable resource with economic opportunities; and that environmentally
sound management of waste contributes directly to achieving the
Millenium Development Goals.
· In order to develop more sustainable waste management practices, it is
important to strengthen the foundations of waste management systems,
which include: 1) a strong regulatory system to ensure the environmentally
sound management of waste and recyclables; 2) sustainable national and
/ or municipal financing for waste management; in order to develop
infrastructure and maintain regular operations; and 3) collecting data on
the quantities and type of wastes found in the waste stream and future
projections for planning purposes.
- 2 -
· With respect to agricultural waste issues dealt with in section 51 of the
report, Canada suggests that crop residues and biomass should not be
considered as waste. If agricultural crop residues are considered as
waste, they are more likely to be burned or sent to landfill. Promoting
reuse of crop residues recognizes that these by-products are valuable
resources that can provide soil conservation inputs into other agricultural
production systems (e.g. livestock) as well as renewable bio-materials and
energy.
In summary, Canada generally supports the policy options and actions for waste
management included in the Secretary General?s report and looks forward to the
upcoming nineteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in
May 2011.
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