Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
STATEMENT
BY
HER EXCELLENCY MRS. JANINE COYE-FELSON
AMBASSADOR, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
OF BELIZE
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON BEHALF OF
THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)
AT THE
INFORMAL MEETINGS OF THE PLENARY ON THE PROCESS OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE POST-2015
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 69/244
AND
DECISIONS 69/550 AND 69/555
17 FEBRUARY 2015 PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERYMr. Co-Facilitator,
On behalf of the fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community, thank you for the useful
elements you have provided and around which we can structure our interactions this week.
CARICOM Member States associate with the statements delivered on behalf of the Alliance of
Small Island States and on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We wish to respond to the
questions you have raised specifically on vision and challenges. We consider that in addressing
these we can better understand transformation.
On Vision
Drawing on the various inputs to the post-2015 process, there has been a consistent narrative
that can inform the challenges we face and the opportunities we seek to realize in 2030.
Those inputs speak to the paradox of our development exercise - of progress and at the same time
unevenness or regress; of increasing opportunities for some but limited opportunities or worse,
none, for others; of economic growth at the expense of environmental degradation; and of the need
for greater global solidarity and enhanced cooperation to tackle fundamental challenges to our
common humanity.
They also speak to transformation – making a difference in the lives of billions and instilling hope
for future generations; harnessing economic opportunities and realizing economic growth; and
stewarding the environment for our children.
The inputs we have had from this development exercise, from the various intergovernmental
processes and expert advice, and from our people themselves, tell us that this transformation is
possible only through a people-centred, planet-sensitive and inclusive approach to
development, grounded in the common values and principles we espouse as a United
Nations, based on the realignment and coherence of our economic, social and
environmental goals and the necessary means through which we can achieve those goals.
They also tell us that this transformation is possible only through a universal agenda that can
accommodate the diversity of approaches to the diversity of needs at the national and regional
levels.
If we take this narrative to its logical conclusion, our vision for 2030 at the core would reflect the
very vision enshrined in the Charter for a world free from fear and want and for a people free to
live in dignity. It would also reflect the unfulfilled promises of the Millennium Declaration for
freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility.
On Challenges
You have asked in your letter what challenges we will need to overcome to make this vision a
reality.
The easy answer to this question is means of implementation and a renewed global
partnership. These are indisputably critical to support sustainable development. Presently we are revisiting the policy framework for financing for development that will be an essential component of
the post-2015 development agenda.
At the same time there are other challenges that will not necessarily be overcome by financing.
These challenges are structural as highlighted in the case of the Least Developed Countries. They
are also inherentas in the case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – a group of countries
that have been recognized as a special case for sustainable development. To overcome such
challenges, we need a robust development agenda that can specifically differentiate global
responses for these particular cases. To this end, CARICOM Member States have advocated for
the globally agreed outcomes of the international conferences on the countries in special situations
to form and be incorporated in the Declaration as an integral part of the whole post-2015
development agenda.
The other challenges CARICOM wishes to highlight relate to the global enabling environment
and climate change.
As SIDS, our countries are inherently vulnerable to external crises and shocks that have
persistently constrained our development. Moreover climate change, the volatility of the global
economy and our own limited fiscal space due to high debt burdens further exacerbate these
inherent vulnerabilities. Our sustainable development will therefore depend on building economic,
environmental and social resilience.
In addition, given our size and vulnerabilities, we will require a strong regional and international
enabling environment. At the global level this will necessitateglobal trade reforms including
enhanced financial and technical assistance, the extension of trade preferences, more flexible
rules of origin and other forms of special and differential treatment; it will require global financial
system reforms to improve the flow of finance to the Caribbean and to reduce volatility; as well as,
mechanisms for international collaboration on technology and capacity building; new
approaches to measuring development progress; a more democratic and coherent
international development cooperation system; and improved institutions including
strengthened data and monitoring systems for evidence-based decision making, accountability and
transparency. The CARICOM proffers that beyond the transformational shifts that will be required
at the national levels which the sustainable development goals are intended to catalyze, there must
similarly be a transformational shift at the global level that will mutually reinforce those goals
and our noble ambitions.
Finally, a fundamental challenge that we will have to overcome to realize our vision of sustainable
development is climate change. The SIDS have been the proverbial canary in the coal mine on
this issue. We have seen years of development rolled back with the passing of one storm. We are
seeing drivers of our economic development – our already limited natural resources – being
steadily depleted. Despite our best endeavours, our physical size itself limits our adaptation
options. And our high susceptibility to natural hazards coupled with limited human and financial
resources, constrain our ability to cope. If scientific projections for a 1m SLR are met in 2100,
some small islands will become uninhabitable. Moreover, the cost to combat sea level rise would
be extremely high relative to the size of our economies. It is for this reason that together with the
need for an international enabling environment, the CARICOM calls for a strong and rapid
international response to climate change. It is an inescapable fact that combatting climate change and fostering sustainable development are mutually reinforcing agendas. Our
Declaration must be unequivocal on this fact.
Mr. Co-facilitator,
We look forward to the exchange of views during this session with the hope that we can define a
common outline for a communication strategy that the Declaration will articulate.
CARICOM Member States agree with the view that how we communicate our vision and our goals
can be used to leverage political will and commitment across a wide range of stakeholders
necessary for catalyzing action and ensuring the success of this new agenda.
We have a lot of common ground amongst us and we hope to use this as a basis for building
consensus.
Thank you.
BY
HER EXCELLENCY MRS. JANINE COYE-FELSON
AMBASSADOR, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
OF BELIZE
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON BEHALF OF
THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)
AT THE
INFORMAL MEETINGS OF THE PLENARY ON THE PROCESS OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE POST-2015
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 69/244
AND
DECISIONS 69/550 AND 69/555
17 FEBRUARY 2015 PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERYMr. Co-Facilitator,
On behalf of the fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community, thank you for the useful
elements you have provided and around which we can structure our interactions this week.
CARICOM Member States associate with the statements delivered on behalf of the Alliance of
Small Island States and on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We wish to respond to the
questions you have raised specifically on vision and challenges. We consider that in addressing
these we can better understand transformation.
On Vision
Drawing on the various inputs to the post-2015 process, there has been a consistent narrative
that can inform the challenges we face and the opportunities we seek to realize in 2030.
Those inputs speak to the paradox of our development exercise - of progress and at the same time
unevenness or regress; of increasing opportunities for some but limited opportunities or worse,
none, for others; of economic growth at the expense of environmental degradation; and of the need
for greater global solidarity and enhanced cooperation to tackle fundamental challenges to our
common humanity.
They also speak to transformation – making a difference in the lives of billions and instilling hope
for future generations; harnessing economic opportunities and realizing economic growth; and
stewarding the environment for our children.
The inputs we have had from this development exercise, from the various intergovernmental
processes and expert advice, and from our people themselves, tell us that this transformation is
possible only through a people-centred, planet-sensitive and inclusive approach to
development, grounded in the common values and principles we espouse as a United
Nations, based on the realignment and coherence of our economic, social and
environmental goals and the necessary means through which we can achieve those goals.
They also tell us that this transformation is possible only through a universal agenda that can
accommodate the diversity of approaches to the diversity of needs at the national and regional
levels.
If we take this narrative to its logical conclusion, our vision for 2030 at the core would reflect the
very vision enshrined in the Charter for a world free from fear and want and for a people free to
live in dignity. It would also reflect the unfulfilled promises of the Millennium Declaration for
freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility.
On Challenges
You have asked in your letter what challenges we will need to overcome to make this vision a
reality.
The easy answer to this question is means of implementation and a renewed global
partnership. These are indisputably critical to support sustainable development. Presently we are revisiting the policy framework for financing for development that will be an essential component of
the post-2015 development agenda.
At the same time there are other challenges that will not necessarily be overcome by financing.
These challenges are structural as highlighted in the case of the Least Developed Countries. They
are also inherentas in the case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – a group of countries
that have been recognized as a special case for sustainable development. To overcome such
challenges, we need a robust development agenda that can specifically differentiate global
responses for these particular cases. To this end, CARICOM Member States have advocated for
the globally agreed outcomes of the international conferences on the countries in special situations
to form and be incorporated in the Declaration as an integral part of the whole post-2015
development agenda.
The other challenges CARICOM wishes to highlight relate to the global enabling environment
and climate change.
As SIDS, our countries are inherently vulnerable to external crises and shocks that have
persistently constrained our development. Moreover climate change, the volatility of the global
economy and our own limited fiscal space due to high debt burdens further exacerbate these
inherent vulnerabilities. Our sustainable development will therefore depend on building economic,
environmental and social resilience.
In addition, given our size and vulnerabilities, we will require a strong regional and international
enabling environment. At the global level this will necessitateglobal trade reforms including
enhanced financial and technical assistance, the extension of trade preferences, more flexible
rules of origin and other forms of special and differential treatment; it will require global financial
system reforms to improve the flow of finance to the Caribbean and to reduce volatility; as well as,
mechanisms for international collaboration on technology and capacity building; new
approaches to measuring development progress; a more democratic and coherent
international development cooperation system; and improved institutions including
strengthened data and monitoring systems for evidence-based decision making, accountability and
transparency. The CARICOM proffers that beyond the transformational shifts that will be required
at the national levels which the sustainable development goals are intended to catalyze, there must
similarly be a transformational shift at the global level that will mutually reinforce those goals
and our noble ambitions.
Finally, a fundamental challenge that we will have to overcome to realize our vision of sustainable
development is climate change. The SIDS have been the proverbial canary in the coal mine on
this issue. We have seen years of development rolled back with the passing of one storm. We are
seeing drivers of our economic development – our already limited natural resources – being
steadily depleted. Despite our best endeavours, our physical size itself limits our adaptation
options. And our high susceptibility to natural hazards coupled with limited human and financial
resources, constrain our ability to cope. If scientific projections for a 1m SLR are met in 2100,
some small islands will become uninhabitable. Moreover, the cost to combat sea level rise would
be extremely high relative to the size of our economies. It is for this reason that together with the
need for an international enabling environment, the CARICOM calls for a strong and rapid
international response to climate change. It is an inescapable fact that combatting climate change and fostering sustainable development are mutually reinforcing agendas. Our
Declaration must be unequivocal on this fact.
Mr. Co-facilitator,
We look forward to the exchange of views during this session with the hope that we can define a
common outline for a communication strategy that the Declaration will articulate.
CARICOM Member States agree with the view that how we communicate our vision and our goals
can be used to leverage political will and commitment across a wide range of stakeholders
necessary for catalyzing action and ensuring the success of this new agenda.
We have a lot of common ground amongst us and we hope to use this as a basis for building
consensus.
Thank you.
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