Statement on behalf of Group of 77 and China by Ms. Farhat Ayesha of
Pakistan Mission on Chairman?s Draft Negotiating Document during
the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM) of
Fifteenth Session of Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD-15)
New York, March 2, 2007 (morning session)
Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The Group of 77 and China would like to thank the Chairman for
circulating Chairman?s draft negotiating document on Policy options and
possible actions to expedite implementation on the themes of Energy for
Sustainable Development, Industrial Development, Air/Atmosphere
Pollution and Climate Change. The Group of 77 and China would like to
offer our preliminary comments on the structure and substance of the
Chairman?s draft.
On the structure, the Group of 77 and China would like to see the draft to
have a clearer format in terms of stating/outlining policies and actions
proposed, and clearly identifying the actors both at the international and
national level, taking into account the Rio Principles, particularly the
principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities. Such a format
would have been in line with the Group of 77 and China?s expectations,
repeatedly expressed in our statements during this week, that the IPM should
lead to a set of action-based and development-oriented policy options with
an inbuilt mechanism for their implementation.
Mr. Chairman,
We have also noted that there is lack of any reference to the internationally
agreed umbrella of commitments contained in Agenda 21, Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation (JPOI), Bali Strategic Plan for Capacity Building
and Technology Transfer, Mauritius Strategy and Barbados Plan of Action,
which, we believe, should be the starting point of our deliberations. Another
conspicuous omission in the draft is lack of emphasis on dealing with the
three pillars of sustainable development in a coordinated integrated and
comprehensive manner.
Moreover, we see the text as providing elements for the draft negotiating
document and this is how we would have liked this to be described
henceforth.
We would have also liked to see the references to developing countries and
their sub-categories follow the generally agreed/accepted format i.e.
developing countries particularly those in Africa, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDs.
We also take note of the omission of reference to the needs of countries
emerging from conflict as well as disaster prone countries.
Similarly, we have also noted with some degree of concern the lack of
balance in the draft-negotiating document in its treatment of North-South,
South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
We would have liked to see a more inclusive and encompassing document
reflecting the views and concerns expressed by the Group of 77 and China
on behalf of 130 countries.
Mr. Chairman,
On the substance, the Group of 77 and China would like to point out that a
number of elements that we deem as critical and important have not been
reflected in the draft in the four clusters. We would, therefore, like to submit
to the Chair the missing elements in each of the four clusters forthwith in
writing without listing them in this intervention in view of the paucity of
time.
We hope that our views will be reflected in the revised Chairman?s draft
negotiating document that is expected to be issued this afternoon and
provide basis for negotiations.
I thank you.
