1
Check against delivery
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Statement by
H.E. Mr. Neven Mimica
Deputy Prime Minister for
Home, Foreign and European Affairs,
of the Republic of Croatia
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
22 June 2012
2
Madame/Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Croatia would like at the outset to express its deep gratitude to its Brazilian
hosts for organizing this significant gathering. We appreciate the leadership
of the UN Secretary-General in making sustainability his top priority in the
work of the UN. The continual support of the Conference Secretary-
General and his dedicated secretariat throughout the preparatory process is
deeply appreciated.
Croatia fully aligns itself to the earlier EU statement delivered by President
Barroso.
Turning to the Rio+20 Conference itself, this is also a historic point for
Croatia, who recently celebrated its 20thanniversary of UN membership.
As the first UN international conference that Croatia attended as an
independent country, Rio 1992 set an incredible first benchmark for
Croatia’s commitment to multilateralism. Croatia continues to fully
subscribe itself to Agenda 21 and subsequent important outcomes in the
area of sustainable development, and will strive to further improve its
efforts post Rio+20.
Twenty years on, Rio+20 and its preparatory process has again presented
the international community with the greatest opportunity and challenge
in contemporary policy making. Progress has been achieved in a number
areas in the sustainable development agenda. However, today the
international community still faces considerable challenges towards
3
eradicating poverty and in ensuring the full integration of economic, social
and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Ongoing impacts of global crises in all three areas of sustainable
development, and the fact that some of the time-bound Millennium
Development Goals remain off-track, makes the outcome of Rio+20 more
critical.The renewed political commitment made here, will underscore
thegreater importance of multilateralism, as the best asset to mobilize intergenerational
solidarity and responsibility at all levels.
Madame/Mr. President,
The Rio+20 Conference provides us with a unique opportunity to
safeguard the needs of future generations, by shaping a new common
vision andagenda for change. This must be underpinned by
sustainable growth, poverty reduction, enhanced social equity and
preservation of our limited natural resources.
The outcome to be adopted by this Conference - while not meeting all our
expectations -contains valuable elements that will serve as strategic policy
tools for translating Croatia’s political commitment into concrete action at
all levels.
However the story does not end in Rio. The real job lies ahead of us. We
must not repeat history, but maximize our efforts in using this outcometo
accelerate implementation in a wide range of actions.
Croatia’s take back from this conference will be to further develop more
sustainable economic and inclusive growth, decent jobs creation based on
agreed principles. For Croatia, these are the central tenants for a Green
Economy and the model of growth that will achieve sustainable
development, as well as achieve poverty eradication.
4
More importantly, recognition of the Green Economy for the first time by
this Conference will set the course for the right kind of growth - that if fully
committed to – should shore up a more sustainable management of our
natural resources. Important achievement in this direction will be the
imminent adoption the 10 Year Framework of Programmes for
Sustainable Consumption and Production, which Croatia warmly
welcomes.
Madame/Mr. President,
Croatia has already embarked on this journey nationally, by implementing
a Green Growth Strategy adopted last year.This has allowed Croatia to
initiate concrete cross-sectoral activities driving gradual reform fromdoing
business as usual, towards a greener future for its citizens. Amongst
others, this calls for utilizing clean technologies, renewable energy and
sustainable transport, water and waste management, sustainable
agriculture and tourism.
Furthermore, Croatia will nurture an enabling environment for
mainstreaming affordable green innovations and investments that boost
employment and job creation, whilst preserving our natural capital. A good
case in point is the adoption of an ambitious plan to achieve 100%
sustainable forest management of state-owned forests. As the initiating
country of the UN International Year on Forests for 2011, Croatia
fully understands the social, economic and environmental benefits this
can bring to Croatian citizens and to the forestry sector.
Croatia has also recognized the importance of the "Blue Economy",
which extends the principles of the Green Economy to the conservation and
sustainable use of marine resources. As the Mediterranean Country with
more than 1.000 islands on the Adriatic Sea, Croatia endorses the
5
recognition at Rio+20 of the importance healthy oceans, seas and
coastal areas as well as their sustainable use and their resources.The
commitment made here to take a decision under the UN Convention on
Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) is another important step for marine
biodiversity protection.
Furthermore, Croatia has fully subscribed to EU priorities for
developing clear and concrete global commitments in the
remaining priority areas of sustainable energy, water, sustainable
land management and ecosystems, and resource efficiency in
particular waste. While specific and quantifiable goals would have
made the outcome more action-oriented, Croatia will nevertheless treat
these issues as a policy priority.
Croatia underscored that the achievement of sustainable development
has to be entrenched in the values of democracy, human rights,
rule of law, governance, gender equality and empowerment.
Madame/Mr. President,
An optimal mix of concrete and time-bound measures for long-term
solutions will be an important contribution to the overarching post-
2015framework. This framework should encompass the three dimensions
of sustainable development in a holistic and coherent way. In this regard,
we welcome the process to establish Sustainable Development Goals,
which we view as being fully complimentary with the Millennium
Development Goals.Furthermore, the agreement we will make here, to
be guided by the outcome document when defining future SDGs, is one
Croatia fully endorses especially when dealing with the five priority
areas.
6
Madame/Mr. President,
Croatia welcomes our collective efforts to improve theinstitutional
governance the global level. The establishment of a new High Level
Forum for Sustainable Development should strive to ensure high
political engagement in reviewing implementation. It should also serve
as a catalyst for promoting more coordinated and more coherent action at
the regional, national, and local level.
These institutional reforms if implemented correctly, should improve
synergies between existing processes and overcome duplication and
unnecessary overlaps. We should strive to maximize effective use of
financial resources and reduce administrative burdens by building on
existing arrangements.
Croatia joins others in welcoming the agreement to reinforce
international environmental governance by strengthening and
upgrading UNEP, with a common base in Nairobi. Its strengthened
mandate and universal membership, supported by stable and adequate
financial contributions are important steps in the right direction. However,
given the urgency environmental protection demands,we will continue
to argue for the creation of a UN Environment Organization.
Madame/Mr. President,
In our opinion, all relevant stakeholders alongside governments will have
critical roles in translating this Conference into concrete action. The
decisions we make from global to local levels will ultimately affect us all.
This will require at times, leadership and fully-informed actors. Education
and awareness-raising will be indispensable if we are to be successful in
our efforts. By involving all stakeholders including governments, the
private sector – especially small and medium enterprises, the academic
7
community and civil society as a whole, we can create a win-win
situation for everyone.
Rio+20 represents an important turning point for a better future. Given the
greater sense of urgency Croatia on its part, will heed the clarion call for
action made by many at this Conference.Rio+20 has provided us with a
vital second chance and it is incumbent on us to make a real difference.
Speaking also as a father, the legacy we leave our children and their
children is now in our hands.
Thank you.
