European Union
Mister Chairman, Mister Under-Secretary General,
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* and
Montenegro*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, as well as the Republic of Moldova, Armenia, and
Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
Let me first congratulate you, Mister Chair, Minister Borbély and your distinguished vice -chairs for
the effective manner in which you have been leading the CSD-19 negotiations. We are convinced
that under your leadership, we will reach a meaningful agreement on a complete set of policy
options and actions on the thematic issues of the current CSD cycle.
This being said, in terms of further process the EU and its Member States would like to request that
major groups get the same speaking rights they have in other environment -related fora that are less
restrictive in this regard than the CSD , and in particular more minutes to speak. We should preserve
the spirit and legacy of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, which relied very much on civil society
contributions.
Let me also underline that while all the themes are equally important to our common undertaking,
our key objective for this cycle is the adoption of an ambitious 10-year framework of programmes
(10 YFP) that will pave the way for a paradigm shift leading to a more sustainable world.
During the two years, and in particular during these last days we have been working hard in order to
reach agreement on policy measures and possible actions on all the themes of the current cycle. The
decisions the CSD 19 will take on SCP, transport, chemicals, waste, mining and cross-cutting issues
should contribute to address many challenges, in particular the transition towards a green economy
in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, which is one of the themes of the
UNCSD 2012.
Mr Chairman
Our current consumption and production patterns have exceeded the carrying capacity of
ecosystems in various geographic areas. To meet the basic needs of a growing population within the
Earth?s finite resources, we have to rethink the concept of further growth and to come up with a
more sustainable model for our production, consumption and the economy as a whole; a model that
could also deliver important social benefits.
To accelerate the shift towards Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), the EU and its
Members States strongly support the development of an ambitious 10 YFP and they are fully
committed to its implementation. The 10 YFP could also be a major response to the current political
demand for greening our economies.
* Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro continue to be part of the Stabilisation and
Association Process.
The 10 YFP should be supported by an efficient institutional structure deriving from existing UN
structures, promoting inter -agency collaboration and involving major stakeholders, in particular the
private sector.
Furthermore, we need to strengthen the coordination and cooperation amongst the key actors. In
particular, businesses, including both large and small companies, must be involved in the further
development of the framework over the next decade through their corporate social and
environmental responsibility activities.
Our understanding of quality of life is a system in which SCP have strong linkages with the four
other thematic issues of the 4th implementation cycle, which all have potentially serious
implications for human health, decent work, natural resources, ecosystems or biodiversity.
Mr Chairman,
On transport, we would like to highlight that sustainable mobility is an essential condition for
sustainable development in a globalized world and plays a crucial role in achieving an inclusive
society, especially in terms of increasing living standards, international trade and tourism.
However, transport can cause significant environmental and health problems. Moreover, since
transport is still largely dependent on fossil fuels, it significantly contributes to climate change.
We are looking forward to agree on measures to address these issues, with a focus on managing
demand, while establishing sustainable transport systems , providing opportunities to change
mobility habits, improving transport energy efficiency and promoting clean and low-carbon
transport in general.
Mr Chairman,
We would like to recall that waste is linked to many of the Chapters of Agenda 21 - either as a cause
of a number of environmental problems, or as a result/output of human activities. There are clear
links between waste management issues and the need to change unsustainable patterns of
consumption and production, as well as to protect and manage the natural resource base of economic
and social development.
The EU and its Members States aim to achieve, both internally and internationally, a decoupling of
waste generation and environmental degradation from economic growth.
This can be done by promoting the waste hierarchy , ie by favouring waste prevention over its reuse,
followed by recycling, recovery of energy embedded in waste, and with disposal as the last
resort, while ensuring the safe and environmentally sound management of waste.
In addition, it is also our priority to continue combating illegal shipments of waste and encourage all
Parties to the ratify the ban amendment under the Basel Convention.
Mr Chairman,
The EU and its Members States see mining as the most telling example of addressing economic,
environmental and social challenges while seizing positive opportunities. The EU and its Member
States put great emphasis in its mining-related policies, to finding new solutions - ?to do more with
less? -, to increase the wealth and welfare of all people and to lower pressure on eco-systems.
Raw materials are crucial for the functioning of modern societies; they can provide new job
opportunities and wealth. But, when not managed sustainably, they provide wealth only to the few,
cause environmental degradation, poverty and, in the case of limited resources, can even raise
tensions and conf lict. Good governance of the mining sector at all levels, a fair sharing of benefits
and the promotion of transparency are therefore key elements.
Access to raw materials could be increasingly limited in the future and it will become ever more
necessary to minimise the generated waste, increase recycling and reuse of water and other
resources, and minimize the energy used to produce raw materials and products.
Mr Chairman,
In order to achieve 2020 goal on sound management of chemicals, the international policy and legal
framework for chemicals should be strengthened.
As part of our daily life, chemicals provide us with both great benefits but also raise important
challenges. Chemicals contribute to improved living standards, but their production often makes
unsustainable demands on consumption of natural resources and their use implies severe impacts in
our ecosystems. If chemicals are not managed soundly over their whole life-cycle, they can
negatively influence human health and the environment.
We believe that the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
constitutes an important global framework for strengthening capacities for sound chemicals
management and narrowing the capacity gap between the developing and the developed world, at
international level. All countries should implement SAICM process actively, in order to achieve the
2020 goal of ensuring that chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimise adverse effects
on the environment and human health.
In addition, we should bear in mind the importance of all international instruments on chemicals
management, includin g the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions within this process, as well as
the need to further enhance the cooperation between the Chemicals and Waste conventions.
In order to achieve the goals of the CSD 18 and 19 sessions, it is crucial that we take this
opportunity to share the best practices and information of the CSD cycle themes among us, and we
are convinced that a strong participation of the private sector and the major groups in the work of
the CSD is one of the main added values to our common work.
Mr Chairman,
The EU and its Member States are looking forward to an ambitious and successful outcome of this
CSD cycle that will accurately reflect the core of sustainable development in relation to all these
important topics and we would like to express our commitment in cooperating with all our partners
in achieving a successful outcome.
Thank you for your attention.
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* and
Montenegro*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, as well as the Republic of Moldova, Armenia, and
Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
Let me first congratulate you, Mister Chair, Minister Borbély and your distinguished vice -chairs for
the effective manner in which you have been leading the CSD-19 negotiations. We are convinced
that under your leadership, we will reach a meaningful agreement on a complete set of policy
options and actions on the thematic issues of the current CSD cycle.
This being said, in terms of further process the EU and its Member States would like to request that
major groups get the same speaking rights they have in other environment -related fora that are less
restrictive in this regard than the CSD , and in particular more minutes to speak. We should preserve
the spirit and legacy of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, which relied very much on civil society
contributions.
Let me also underline that while all the themes are equally important to our common undertaking,
our key objective for this cycle is the adoption of an ambitious 10-year framework of programmes
(10 YFP) that will pave the way for a paradigm shift leading to a more sustainable world.
During the two years, and in particular during these last days we have been working hard in order to
reach agreement on policy measures and possible actions on all the themes of the current cycle. The
decisions the CSD 19 will take on SCP, transport, chemicals, waste, mining and cross-cutting issues
should contribute to address many challenges, in particular the transition towards a green economy
in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, which is one of the themes of the
UNCSD 2012.
Mr Chairman
Our current consumption and production patterns have exceeded the carrying capacity of
ecosystems in various geographic areas. To meet the basic needs of a growing population within the
Earth?s finite resources, we have to rethink the concept of further growth and to come up with a
more sustainable model for our production, consumption and the economy as a whole; a model that
could also deliver important social benefits.
To accelerate the shift towards Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), the EU and its
Members States strongly support the development of an ambitious 10 YFP and they are fully
committed to its implementation. The 10 YFP could also be a major response to the current political
demand for greening our economies.
* Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro continue to be part of the Stabilisation and
Association Process.
The 10 YFP should be supported by an efficient institutional structure deriving from existing UN
structures, promoting inter -agency collaboration and involving major stakeholders, in particular the
private sector.
Furthermore, we need to strengthen the coordination and cooperation amongst the key actors. In
particular, businesses, including both large and small companies, must be involved in the further
development of the framework over the next decade through their corporate social and
environmental responsibility activities.
Our understanding of quality of life is a system in which SCP have strong linkages with the four
other thematic issues of the 4th implementation cycle, which all have potentially serious
implications for human health, decent work, natural resources, ecosystems or biodiversity.
Mr Chairman,
On transport, we would like to highlight that sustainable mobility is an essential condition for
sustainable development in a globalized world and plays a crucial role in achieving an inclusive
society, especially in terms of increasing living standards, international trade and tourism.
However, transport can cause significant environmental and health problems. Moreover, since
transport is still largely dependent on fossil fuels, it significantly contributes to climate change.
We are looking forward to agree on measures to address these issues, with a focus on managing
demand, while establishing sustainable transport systems , providing opportunities to change
mobility habits, improving transport energy efficiency and promoting clean and low-carbon
transport in general.
Mr Chairman,
We would like to recall that waste is linked to many of the Chapters of Agenda 21 - either as a cause
of a number of environmental problems, or as a result/output of human activities. There are clear
links between waste management issues and the need to change unsustainable patterns of
consumption and production, as well as to protect and manage the natural resource base of economic
and social development.
The EU and its Members States aim to achieve, both internally and internationally, a decoupling of
waste generation and environmental degradation from economic growth.
This can be done by promoting the waste hierarchy , ie by favouring waste prevention over its reuse,
followed by recycling, recovery of energy embedded in waste, and with disposal as the last
resort, while ensuring the safe and environmentally sound management of waste.
In addition, it is also our priority to continue combating illegal shipments of waste and encourage all
Parties to the ratify the ban amendment under the Basel Convention.
Mr Chairman,
The EU and its Members States see mining as the most telling example of addressing economic,
environmental and social challenges while seizing positive opportunities. The EU and its Member
States put great emphasis in its mining-related policies, to finding new solutions - ?to do more with
less? -, to increase the wealth and welfare of all people and to lower pressure on eco-systems.
Raw materials are crucial for the functioning of modern societies; they can provide new job
opportunities and wealth. But, when not managed sustainably, they provide wealth only to the few,
cause environmental degradation, poverty and, in the case of limited resources, can even raise
tensions and conf lict. Good governance of the mining sector at all levels, a fair sharing of benefits
and the promotion of transparency are therefore key elements.
Access to raw materials could be increasingly limited in the future and it will become ever more
necessary to minimise the generated waste, increase recycling and reuse of water and other
resources, and minimize the energy used to produce raw materials and products.
Mr Chairman,
In order to achieve 2020 goal on sound management of chemicals, the international policy and legal
framework for chemicals should be strengthened.
As part of our daily life, chemicals provide us with both great benefits but also raise important
challenges. Chemicals contribute to improved living standards, but their production often makes
unsustainable demands on consumption of natural resources and their use implies severe impacts in
our ecosystems. If chemicals are not managed soundly over their whole life-cycle, they can
negatively influence human health and the environment.
We believe that the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
constitutes an important global framework for strengthening capacities for sound chemicals
management and narrowing the capacity gap between the developing and the developed world, at
international level. All countries should implement SAICM process actively, in order to achieve the
2020 goal of ensuring that chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimise adverse effects
on the environment and human health.
In addition, we should bear in mind the importance of all international instruments on chemicals
management, includin g the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions within this process, as well as
the need to further enhance the cooperation between the Chemicals and Waste conventions.
In order to achieve the goals of the CSD 18 and 19 sessions, it is crucial that we take this
opportunity to share the best practices and information of the CSD cycle themes among us, and we
are convinced that a strong participation of the private sector and the major groups in the work of
the CSD is one of the main added values to our common work.
Mr Chairman,
The EU and its Member States are looking forward to an ambitious and successful outcome of this
CSD cycle that will accurately reflect the core of sustainable development in relation to all these
important topics and we would like to express our commitment in cooperating with all our partners
in achieving a successful outcome.
Thank you for your attention.