European Union
14th Session of the United Nations Commission on
Sustainable Development
High Level Segment
Statement on behalf of the European Union
Mr. Josef Pröll
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment
and Water Management
of Austria
New York, 10 May 2006
(check against delivery)
Mr. Chairman,
Austria, as Presidency of the EU, has the honour of speaking on behalf of the European
Community and its Member States.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia*
and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and
Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and
Montenegro, as well as Ukraine align themselves with th is declaration.
The Commission on Sustainable Development is a unique opportunity for us, government
representatives, to come together, with all relevant stakeholders to discuss the barriers and
constraints, lessons learned and next steps on our path towards achieving global sustainable
development. The work done during these two weeks should pave the way for CSD15 to
chart an ambitious way forward. Action is needed now because the cost of inaction will not
be bearable for society in the long term.
During the past week we have undertaken an overall review of the implementation of
commitments under Agenda 21 and the JPOI with a particular focus on energy for
sustainable development, air pollution and atmosphere , industrial development and climate
change. Last week?s discussions have clearly demonstrated the need for an integrated and
balanced approach to social, economic, and environmental factors in order to contribute to
poverty eradication . In that regard, a more coherent framework for environmental activities
within the UN System could contribute positively and support the mainstreaming of
environmental concerns into sustainable development strategies.
While for each of the thematic issues barriers and constraints differ widely in their nature,
implementation can be expedited and synergies can be tapped by addressing interlinkages
and cross-cutting issues.
The impacts of climate change are already being felt and threaten to undermine development
efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. CSD can bring about progress in the
area of climate change by addressing interlinkages with other issues and promoting climatefriendly
policies in a cost-effective manner through global response and use of flexible
mechanisms, as provided for under the Kyoto Protocol. To ensure coherence of action, the
Chair?s Summary of CSD 14 should also serve as a contribution to UNFCCC COP 12, which
in turn could respond in time for CSD 15.
The deep interlinkages between the thematic issues of this year?s cycle are again reflected
by the challenge we face in meeting the shared and multiple objectives of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, improving the global environment, enhancing energy security,
and cutting air pollution in conjunction with vigorous efforts to reducing poverty.
Mr. Chairman,
Further action is essential to achieve access to reliable, affordable and environmentally
sound energy services for sustainable development to meet basic human needs for poor
women and men and facilitate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In
particular, access to energy services needs to be included in national development strategies
and poverty reduction strategies. International donor and financial institutions need to
support their implementation.
In the face of constantly rising energy demand and increasingly worrying questions of energy
security, access to energy services, energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable
energies, together with social and environmental issues, feature high up on the agenda.
There is a need to respond to these concerns in national sustainable development strategies,
national development plans or other planning frameworks on access to energy services,
energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energies by 2010.
The EU has adopted a number of targets, for instance on the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions, the increase of the share of renewable energy and on official development aid.
We consider time-bound targets to be a relevant tool to express governments? visions and to
implement efficient policies and measures. Regulatory and market-based frameworks,
instruments and incentives are other tools that we should seek to use more effectively.
We need to ensure meaningful follow-up and review for energy for sustainable development
and we would like to discuss possible arrangements with partners. As CSD13 decided last
year on water and sanitation, energy for sustainable development could be taken up again
twice in the upcoming years, for instance in 2010 and in 2014. CSD15 should also decide on
an efficient mechanism to evaluate available data and review progress on the increase of the
global share of renewable energy sources as mandated in the JPOI and reaffirmed in the
declarations from Bonn and Beijing as well as in the JREC Dubai Declaration.
The global rise in air pollution negatively impacts on human health and causes environmental
degradation, including climate change. The links between energy consumption and
production, transport, urban and land-use planning and air pollution are evident and therefore
calling for an integrated approach . CSD15 will need to address high and increasing transport
and vehicle emissions (including maritime and aviation), heating and housing, and increasing
urbanisation, as well as indoor air pollution, which is taking a particularly heavy toll on human
health in developing countries, especially of women and children.
Sustainable industrial development is vital for breaking the link between economic growth
from environmental degradation, which we can achieve through a change towards more
sustainable consumption and production patterns and lifestyles. The Marrakech Process
already takes important steps in that direction, which CSD15 should reinforce.
Insufficiencies in business capacity, technological innovation and cooperation, in particular of
small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the inefficient use of resources all require
further and stronger measures. Furthermore, existing commitments on corporate social and
environmental responsibility and accountability must be implemented with greater
determination, in particular with regard to decent employment and gender equality.
Mr. Chairman,
Barriers and constraints differ for all of the thematic issues, as highlighted before. However,
promoting means of implementation ? financing, capacity building, transfer of technology,
research and education , good governance ? as well as gender equality are fundamental for
development that is sound environmentally, socially and economically. The EU views the Bali
Strategic Plan on Capacity Building and Technology Support as a key instrument to that end.
In this respect promoting sound partnership and cooperation between the public and the
private sectors plays a vital role. The EU is active in a number of partnerships and initiatives
delivering improvements on the ground: notably REEEP, GVEP, REN21, JREC and the
MEDREP, as well as the recently launched EU-China and EU-India Partnership on Climate
Change.
The EU considers that the primary responsibility for policy and decision making lies with
governments and public authorities. It is for governments to address global policy issues
through an inclusive multilateral dialogue.
Financial barriers hamper progress. The engagement of the private sector and financial
institutions is therefore needed. Together with them we must focus on win-win solutions and
exploit synergies, while simultaneously inducing measures to strengthen the investment
climate in developing countries.
The need for concrete and ambitious next steps to expedite implementation clearly emerged
from discussions in the first week. As part of an action -orientated outcome, we need to adopt
an integrated approach to energy, air pollution, industrial development and climate change
as well as to interlinkages between those issues. Secondly, it is essential to build capacity
and promote technology transfer in order to increase knowledge and skills at the local and
national levels. Thirdly, financing must become more innovative and effective to ensure that
resources are channelled to those areas where they are most needed.
We are committed to engage constructively for ensuring an action-orientated outcome at
CSD15 and to deliver once we have agreed on policy decisions. The EU furthermore
believes that for CSD15 to bring about lasting progress, it is of high relevance to agree
effective and meaningful review and follow-up arrangements.
In the further elaboration of modalities for follow-up and review, starting already in the
interval between CSD14 and CSD15, we should seek input from governments, major groups,
and relevant international institutions, initiatives and networks, such as the IEA, the World
Bank, JREC, REN21, UNDP, UNEP, UN Energy, UNIDO, ILO and others.
In this regard, it will be vital to use the time in the intersessional period and, on the basis of
the outcome of CSD14, to advance our thinking. We are open to ideas and suggestions and
willing to talk with all interested partners.
*****
Sustainable Development
High Level Segment
Statement on behalf of the European Union
Mr. Josef Pröll
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment
and Water Management
of Austria
New York, 10 May 2006
(check against delivery)
Mr. Chairman,
Austria, as Presidency of the EU, has the honour of speaking on behalf of the European
Community and its Member States.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia*
and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and
Association Process and potential candidates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and
Montenegro, as well as Ukraine align themselves with th is declaration.
The Commission on Sustainable Development is a unique opportunity for us, government
representatives, to come together, with all relevant stakeholders to discuss the barriers and
constraints, lessons learned and next steps on our path towards achieving global sustainable
development. The work done during these two weeks should pave the way for CSD15 to
chart an ambitious way forward. Action is needed now because the cost of inaction will not
be bearable for society in the long term.
During the past week we have undertaken an overall review of the implementation of
commitments under Agenda 21 and the JPOI with a particular focus on energy for
sustainable development, air pollution and atmosphere , industrial development and climate
change. Last week?s discussions have clearly demonstrated the need for an integrated and
balanced approach to social, economic, and environmental factors in order to contribute to
poverty eradication . In that regard, a more coherent framework for environmental activities
within the UN System could contribute positively and support the mainstreaming of
environmental concerns into sustainable development strategies.
While for each of the thematic issues barriers and constraints differ widely in their nature,
implementation can be expedited and synergies can be tapped by addressing interlinkages
and cross-cutting issues.
The impacts of climate change are already being felt and threaten to undermine development
efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. CSD can bring about progress in the
area of climate change by addressing interlinkages with other issues and promoting climatefriendly
policies in a cost-effective manner through global response and use of flexible
mechanisms, as provided for under the Kyoto Protocol. To ensure coherence of action, the
Chair?s Summary of CSD 14 should also serve as a contribution to UNFCCC COP 12, which
in turn could respond in time for CSD 15.
The deep interlinkages between the thematic issues of this year?s cycle are again reflected
by the challenge we face in meeting the shared and multiple objectives of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, improving the global environment, enhancing energy security,
and cutting air pollution in conjunction with vigorous efforts to reducing poverty.
Mr. Chairman,
Further action is essential to achieve access to reliable, affordable and environmentally
sound energy services for sustainable development to meet basic human needs for poor
women and men and facilitate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In
particular, access to energy services needs to be included in national development strategies
and poverty reduction strategies. International donor and financial institutions need to
support their implementation.
In the face of constantly rising energy demand and increasingly worrying questions of energy
security, access to energy services, energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable
energies, together with social and environmental issues, feature high up on the agenda.
There is a need to respond to these concerns in national sustainable development strategies,
national development plans or other planning frameworks on access to energy services,
energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energies by 2010.
The EU has adopted a number of targets, for instance on the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions, the increase of the share of renewable energy and on official development aid.
We consider time-bound targets to be a relevant tool to express governments? visions and to
implement efficient policies and measures. Regulatory and market-based frameworks,
instruments and incentives are other tools that we should seek to use more effectively.
We need to ensure meaningful follow-up and review for energy for sustainable development
and we would like to discuss possible arrangements with partners. As CSD13 decided last
year on water and sanitation, energy for sustainable development could be taken up again
twice in the upcoming years, for instance in 2010 and in 2014. CSD15 should also decide on
an efficient mechanism to evaluate available data and review progress on the increase of the
global share of renewable energy sources as mandated in the JPOI and reaffirmed in the
declarations from Bonn and Beijing as well as in the JREC Dubai Declaration.
The global rise in air pollution negatively impacts on human health and causes environmental
degradation, including climate change. The links between energy consumption and
production, transport, urban and land-use planning and air pollution are evident and therefore
calling for an integrated approach . CSD15 will need to address high and increasing transport
and vehicle emissions (including maritime and aviation), heating and housing, and increasing
urbanisation, as well as indoor air pollution, which is taking a particularly heavy toll on human
health in developing countries, especially of women and children.
Sustainable industrial development is vital for breaking the link between economic growth
from environmental degradation, which we can achieve through a change towards more
sustainable consumption and production patterns and lifestyles. The Marrakech Process
already takes important steps in that direction, which CSD15 should reinforce.
Insufficiencies in business capacity, technological innovation and cooperation, in particular of
small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the inefficient use of resources all require
further and stronger measures. Furthermore, existing commitments on corporate social and
environmental responsibility and accountability must be implemented with greater
determination, in particular with regard to decent employment and gender equality.
Mr. Chairman,
Barriers and constraints differ for all of the thematic issues, as highlighted before. However,
promoting means of implementation ? financing, capacity building, transfer of technology,
research and education , good governance ? as well as gender equality are fundamental for
development that is sound environmentally, socially and economically. The EU views the Bali
Strategic Plan on Capacity Building and Technology Support as a key instrument to that end.
In this respect promoting sound partnership and cooperation between the public and the
private sectors plays a vital role. The EU is active in a number of partnerships and initiatives
delivering improvements on the ground: notably REEEP, GVEP, REN21, JREC and the
MEDREP, as well as the recently launched EU-China and EU-India Partnership on Climate
Change.
The EU considers that the primary responsibility for policy and decision making lies with
governments and public authorities. It is for governments to address global policy issues
through an inclusive multilateral dialogue.
Financial barriers hamper progress. The engagement of the private sector and financial
institutions is therefore needed. Together with them we must focus on win-win solutions and
exploit synergies, while simultaneously inducing measures to strengthen the investment
climate in developing countries.
The need for concrete and ambitious next steps to expedite implementation clearly emerged
from discussions in the first week. As part of an action -orientated outcome, we need to adopt
an integrated approach to energy, air pollution, industrial development and climate change
as well as to interlinkages between those issues. Secondly, it is essential to build capacity
and promote technology transfer in order to increase knowledge and skills at the local and
national levels. Thirdly, financing must become more innovative and effective to ensure that
resources are channelled to those areas where they are most needed.
We are committed to engage constructively for ensuring an action-orientated outcome at
CSD15 and to deliver once we have agreed on policy decisions. The EU furthermore
believes that for CSD15 to bring about lasting progress, it is of high relevance to agree
effective and meaningful review and follow-up arrangements.
In the further elaboration of modalities for follow-up and review, starting already in the
interval between CSD14 and CSD15, we should seek input from governments, major groups,
and relevant international institutions, initiatives and networks, such as the IEA, the World
Bank, JREC, REN21, UNDP, UNEP, UN Energy, UNIDO, ILO and others.
In this regard, it will be vital to use the time in the intersessional period and, on the basis of
the outcome of CSD14, to advance our thinking. We are open to ideas and suggestions and
willing to talk with all interested partners.
*****