Finland
MEETING OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
5-9 MAY, 2014
Statement of Finland by Ms Kirsti Aarnio, Ambassador, Post-2015
Finland supports a stand-alone goal on natural resources, ecosystem services and biodiversity.
Degradation of nature and ecosystems has severe implications to economy and human well-being in any
country, and the most vulnerable are the poor. We would like to see the future goal be formulated as:
”Ensure sustainable management of natural resources and productive, healthy and resilient ecosystems and
biodiversity”.
The biodiversity and resilience as well as sustainable natural resource management as a tool for sustainable
development are closely linked with several focus areas, particularly in focus areas on food security, water,
energy, gender, economic growth and employment, and the mainstreamed actions against climate change.
In general we are supportive for elements under this focus area. We support addressing natural resource
management also under focus area 11 a) on SCP, which was discussed earlier today. The governance,
including clear ownership and tenure rights, are keys to sustainable management of natural resources.
Therefore, we suggest adding a target under focus area 14 “by 2030, determine ownership and/or tenure
rights of natural resources”.
Ecosystem-based adaptation, provided through healthy and resilient ecosystems, offers a cost-effective
way to achieve mitigation and adaptation to climate change as well as to reduce risks from natural
disasters. We propose adding the following target into focus area 14: “by 2030 nature-based mitigation
and adaptation to climate change and to disaster risk reduction are integrated to the relevant national
strategies and plans of all countries”.
We highlight wider importance of forests for sustainable development and support inclusion of forests
into targets. Therefore, in further developing the sub-item 14 d), it should be divided into separate
targets on (i) ensuring sustainable management of all forests, (ii) ensuring sustainable management of
mountain ecosystems, and (iii) halting deforestation. We also support developing close linkages with subitem
14e) on achieving land degradation neutral world and with focus areas on poverty, sustainable
agriculture and food security, and peaceful and inclusive societies and capable institutions.
Countries that know their ecological assets, while managing, protecting, investing in them and using them
resource-wisely, will be better off. We also note the strong links that transparent and sustainable
management and use of natural resources - and equal benefit sharing - has for maintaining peaceful and
non-violent inclusive societies. Finland proposes that a target along these lines will be formulated under
focus area 16.
And finally, Mr Co-Chair,
any targets to be formulated on biodiversity and ecosystems should support and be consistent with the
implementation of the existing commitments of the Strategic plan on biodiversity and the Convention on
Biological Diversity Aichi targets including its Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources.
5-9 MAY, 2014
Statement of Finland by Ms Kirsti Aarnio, Ambassador, Post-2015
Finland supports a stand-alone goal on natural resources, ecosystem services and biodiversity.
Degradation of nature and ecosystems has severe implications to economy and human well-being in any
country, and the most vulnerable are the poor. We would like to see the future goal be formulated as:
”Ensure sustainable management of natural resources and productive, healthy and resilient ecosystems and
biodiversity”.
The biodiversity and resilience as well as sustainable natural resource management as a tool for sustainable
development are closely linked with several focus areas, particularly in focus areas on food security, water,
energy, gender, economic growth and employment, and the mainstreamed actions against climate change.
In general we are supportive for elements under this focus area. We support addressing natural resource
management also under focus area 11 a) on SCP, which was discussed earlier today. The governance,
including clear ownership and tenure rights, are keys to sustainable management of natural resources.
Therefore, we suggest adding a target under focus area 14 “by 2030, determine ownership and/or tenure
rights of natural resources”.
Ecosystem-based adaptation, provided through healthy and resilient ecosystems, offers a cost-effective
way to achieve mitigation and adaptation to climate change as well as to reduce risks from natural
disasters. We propose adding the following target into focus area 14: “by 2030 nature-based mitigation
and adaptation to climate change and to disaster risk reduction are integrated to the relevant national
strategies and plans of all countries”.
We highlight wider importance of forests for sustainable development and support inclusion of forests
into targets. Therefore, in further developing the sub-item 14 d), it should be divided into separate
targets on (i) ensuring sustainable management of all forests, (ii) ensuring sustainable management of
mountain ecosystems, and (iii) halting deforestation. We also support developing close linkages with subitem
14e) on achieving land degradation neutral world and with focus areas on poverty, sustainable
agriculture and food security, and peaceful and inclusive societies and capable institutions.
Countries that know their ecological assets, while managing, protecting, investing in them and using them
resource-wisely, will be better off. We also note the strong links that transparent and sustainable
management and use of natural resources - and equal benefit sharing - has for maintaining peaceful and
non-violent inclusive societies. Finland proposes that a target along these lines will be formulated under
focus area 16.
And finally, Mr Co-Chair,
any targets to be formulated on biodiversity and ecosystems should support and be consistent with the
implementation of the existing commitments of the Strategic plan on biodiversity and the Convention on
Biological Diversity Aichi targets including its Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources.
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