European Union
Intervention on behalf of the European Union
By
Ms. Mª Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho
Director General of Environmental Quality and Assessment
Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs.
First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-1) for the
UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
- Check Upon Delivery -
Delegation of the European Union
Permanent Mission of Spain
to the United Nations
- SESSION 3 –
Institutional framework for sustainable development
New York
18 May, 2010
3
Mr Chairman, your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Spain has the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.
We are very pleased to have the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
as a theme for UNCSD. We are committed to continuing our support for strengthening
the United Nations´ authority and capability in the field of environment and sustainable
development.
The Conference should result in a strengthened institutional architecture for global
environmental and sustainable development governance. Better coherence is also
needed at regional, national and sub national levels. The emphasis should be on better
and more efficient implementation of already agreed targets.
The three pillars of sustainable development are interdependent and mutually
reinforcing. During the last year we achieved important results in our discussions on
International Environmental Governance. Any broader institutional reform aimed at
improving the convergence between the environment pillar and the economic and social
pillars contributes to sustainable development at large. Thus, improved international
environmental governance is a crucial element in our UNCSD discussions on
Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development.
Mr. Chairman,
In preparing for the discussions on the Institutional Framework for Sustainable
Development, we should start from existing structures and processes as much as
possible. As we know, the UNEP Governing Council at its 11th special session in 2010
established a consultative group of ministers or high level representatives to consider
the different options on broader reform of the IEG system. The results from this group
will be presented to the 26th UNEP GC which in turn will provide input to the preparatory
process of UNCSD, in time for the Prepcom 2, and to the 65th session of UNGA. The
input from UNEP GC 26th will be important when further discussing the institutional
framework for sustainable development.
Also other relevant UN processes which address IEG and issues of Sustainable
Development governance should be adequately considered. The recent successful
outcome of the simultaneous ExCOPs on chemicals and wastes can be seen as a real
concrete step towards strengthened international environmental governance. This could
also stimulate our work on the International Framework for Sustainable Development.
4
The theme on Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development offers a good
opportunity to reflect on the role and working methods of CSD. We could look beyond
the CSD work programme. This could also give us an opportunity to discuss the
strengthening of the roles of other relevant UN institutions related to sustainable
development.
To conclude,
The UNCSD enables us to reflect on the efficiency and coherence within the United
Nations System. This should be done with a view to securing political commitment and
combining environmental challenges with new economic opportunities. The possible
interlinkages between the theme "A Green Economy in the context of Sustainable
Development and Poverty Eradication" and the theme "Institutional Framework for
Sustainable Development" could be further explored. An increased political profile of the
environmental dimension within sustainable development can contribute to achieving
economic development and poverty eradication.
Thank you very much for your attention.
By
Ms. Mª Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho
Director General of Environmental Quality and Assessment
Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs.
First Meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-1) for the
UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
- Check Upon Delivery -
Delegation of the European Union
Permanent Mission of Spain
to the United Nations
- SESSION 3 –
Institutional framework for sustainable development
New York
18 May, 2010
3
Mr Chairman, your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Spain has the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.
We are very pleased to have the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development
as a theme for UNCSD. We are committed to continuing our support for strengthening
the United Nations´ authority and capability in the field of environment and sustainable
development.
The Conference should result in a strengthened institutional architecture for global
environmental and sustainable development governance. Better coherence is also
needed at regional, national and sub national levels. The emphasis should be on better
and more efficient implementation of already agreed targets.
The three pillars of sustainable development are interdependent and mutually
reinforcing. During the last year we achieved important results in our discussions on
International Environmental Governance. Any broader institutional reform aimed at
improving the convergence between the environment pillar and the economic and social
pillars contributes to sustainable development at large. Thus, improved international
environmental governance is a crucial element in our UNCSD discussions on
Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development.
Mr. Chairman,
In preparing for the discussions on the Institutional Framework for Sustainable
Development, we should start from existing structures and processes as much as
possible. As we know, the UNEP Governing Council at its 11th special session in 2010
established a consultative group of ministers or high level representatives to consider
the different options on broader reform of the IEG system. The results from this group
will be presented to the 26th UNEP GC which in turn will provide input to the preparatory
process of UNCSD, in time for the Prepcom 2, and to the 65th session of UNGA. The
input from UNEP GC 26th will be important when further discussing the institutional
framework for sustainable development.
Also other relevant UN processes which address IEG and issues of Sustainable
Development governance should be adequately considered. The recent successful
outcome of the simultaneous ExCOPs on chemicals and wastes can be seen as a real
concrete step towards strengthened international environmental governance. This could
also stimulate our work on the International Framework for Sustainable Development.
4
The theme on Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development offers a good
opportunity to reflect on the role and working methods of CSD. We could look beyond
the CSD work programme. This could also give us an opportunity to discuss the
strengthening of the roles of other relevant UN institutions related to sustainable
development.
To conclude,
The UNCSD enables us to reflect on the efficiency and coherence within the United
Nations System. This should be done with a view to securing political commitment and
combining environmental challenges with new economic opportunities. The possible
interlinkages between the theme "A Green Economy in the context of Sustainable
Development and Poverty Eradication" and the theme "Institutional Framework for
Sustainable Development" could be further explored. An increased political profile of the
environmental dimension within sustainable development can contribute to achieving
economic development and poverty eradication.
Thank you very much for your attention.
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