Distinguished Delegates,
On behalf of the delegation of Cape Verde, I wish to express appreciation to
H.E. Mr. Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, for his able chairmanship of this
Fifteenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-
15). We reiterate our full cooperation to you Mr. Chairman and to the
Bureau for a successful outcome of the current cycle.
We fully support the statements delivered by the honorable Minister of
State for Environment of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the distinguished
Permanent Representative of Grenada, on behalf of G77 and China and
AOSIS respectively.
On our national capacity we would like to make the following remarks:
If the issues on our agenda at this 15th CSD are of relevance for all nations, it
is all the more so for developing countries and, in particular, Africa, LDCs,
LLDs and SIDS. As we deliberate, we have therefore to bear in mind the
special challenges and the special needs of these groups of countries.
Moreover and concerning SIDS, it?s our profound conviction that in view
of the mandate conferred to CSD, as the primary intergovernmental body
responsible for the implementation of, and follow-up to, the commitments
related to Small Island developing States, the BPoA and MSI should be
considered both at the review and policy years.
Last year?s review session revealed that, in spite of progress achieved,
concrete actions should be taken to expedite implementation of
commitments on sustainable development in the areas of energy, industrial
development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change.
Those areas are interlinked and impact each other. Therefore, only
integrated and balanced policies, as well as effective partnerships, on the
basis of common but differentiated responsibilities, can accelerate
implementation. In defining policy guidance and actions, all major actors
should be involved, through an inclusive and flexible process. At the same
time and without loosing sight of the need to set action oriented and
tangible results, we need to be ambitious to live up to commitments taken
in Johannesburg, Rio, Monterrey and Bali, among others.
On energy sector,
We have to promote development and dissemination of renewable energy
technologies and increase the share of renewables in the global energy mix
as agreed to in JPOI and MSI. In this context, we welcome targets
established by Member States and support EU proposals for policy decisions
to increase energy efficiency, access to energy and the share of renewables
(and, in particular, voluntary targets setting).
In the specific case of Cape Verde, only 3% of the total energy produced
comes from renewable sources, in spite of its large potential for renewables
development, in particular wind and solar. To inflect this situation, a
strategy has been adopted, which addresses the legal, technical, economic
and financial constraints to development of renewables. Studies on
renewable potentials, training, and acquisition of equipments for wind and
solar are, among others, elements of that strategy. Targets have been also
established for wind (25%) and solar (3%) expansion in the energy mix for
2011. Yet, financial means are still insufficient to achieve those targets.
While expanding electrification projects to improve living conditions in the
rural areas, Cape Verde is seeking partnerships to replace biomass (firewood
and coal) by more efficient and clean energy in order to reduce vulnerability
for most affected populations at the environmental, economic and social
levels.
On Industrial Development,
Industrial development is a driving tool for economic growth and
eradication of poverty. Concrete actions should therefore be taken to
promote technology transfer on favorable terms and mobilize financial
resources for sustainable industrial development, including in developing
countries, Africa, SIDS, LDC?S and LLDC?S.
On Climate change and Air Pollution
We welcome the leadership of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in placing
Climate Change high in his agenda and appointing three Special Envoys to
assist him in addressing this issue, in preparation for the High Level
Summit. We pledge our support to the Secretary General and his Special
Envoys and urge him to also nominate a representative from SIDS as a
Special Envoy, since this group of countries are the most affected by climate
changes, although they contribute the least to that phenomenon.
Like other SIDS, Cape Verde is very vulnerable to climate change, a
situation which is aggravated by insularity. A study is being undertaken to
identify the main root causes of vulnerability in each sector of economic
activity and to collect data for public policies on mitigation and adaptation.
This process will lead to the adoption of a National Plan of Action for
Adaptation to Climate changes.
Mitigation goes hand in hand with adaptation. Mitigation and adaptation
should therefore be streamlined not only in national development strategies
but also in international assistance programs. Urgent action is needed to
fully operationalize the adaptation funds established under the UNFCCC
and the Kyoto Protocol, including the CDM, and simplify developing
countries access to them.
Countries, which contribute the most to greenhouse gas emissions, should
set broader reduction targets. Agreement should be thought on a broad and
ambitious post 2012 Commitment Period.
Means of implementation
Enhanced accessibility to existing funds and innovative financing
mechanisms is paramount in assisting developing countries, particularly
SIDS, research development and dissemination of renewable energy, setting
up of cleaner production centers and implementation of mitigation and
adaptation strategies.
Adequate technical assistance will facilitate transfer of technology and
capacity building to enable them to cope with the serious challenges they
are facing and implement the policy options included in JPOI, BPOA and
Mauritius Strategy.
While welcoming existing partnerships for regional risk insurance facilities
for SIDS, we call for a more comprehensive implementation of such risk
management initiatives. Is it worth considering their extension to other
regions and groups in the framework of disseminating best practices, on the
basis of voluntary commitments.
The early and successful conclusion of the Doha Round of Trade
negotiations, investments scaling up, increasing ODA and other financing
flows, as well as access to technology for the developing countries have to
be considered in the framework of global partnerships, as important assets
in implementing the three pillars of sustainable development, i.e. economic
development, social development and environment development.
Thank you for your attention.
