Group of 77 & China
Mr. Chairman,
1. The G-77 and China attaches great importance to this theme under review. In 2002, Member States agreed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (JPOI) that governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups should play an active role in moving towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. Since then, some developing countries have reaped benefits from implementing measures that promote SCP. They have made significant economic and social gains, while achieving important progress in the area of environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, many developing countries continue to be caught in the poverty trap and lack the necessary resources and capabilities to shift to SCP. They face numerous challenges, including finance, basic infrastructure, product affordability and technical skills, and are struggling to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is therefore important that measures to delink growth from environmental degradation take into account this need to protect gains made by developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable.
2. As such, while we should develop a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on SCP, any such framework should take into account the need for all countries to promote SCP patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process. While governments, businesses and consumers need to make changes in their policies, activities and choices respectively to achieve the shift to SCP, countries should also continue to have the right to decide on their own growth pattern. The lack of resources and capabilities required for developing countries to shift to SCP also needs to be addressed. In this regard, developed countries should translate their commitments into actions on capacity building and the transfer of environmentally-friendly technologies, where appropriate. Building partnerships across sectors, as well as strengthening cooperation among countries, including South-South cooperation, should also be promoted to assist countries in their shift to SCP.
Mr. Chairman,
3. SCP is an opportunity for developing countries to enhance development. However, it can also become a bottleneck for growth in these countries, such as in the area of trade. We therefore need to keep in mind the broader development implications as we continue our discussion on SCP.
I thank you.
1. The G-77 and China attaches great importance to this theme under review. In 2002, Member States agreed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (JPOI) that governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups should play an active role in moving towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. Since then, some developing countries have reaped benefits from implementing measures that promote SCP. They have made significant economic and social gains, while achieving important progress in the area of environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, many developing countries continue to be caught in the poverty trap and lack the necessary resources and capabilities to shift to SCP. They face numerous challenges, including finance, basic infrastructure, product affordability and technical skills, and are struggling to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is therefore important that measures to delink growth from environmental degradation take into account this need to protect gains made by developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable.
2. As such, while we should develop a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on SCP, any such framework should take into account the need for all countries to promote SCP patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process. While governments, businesses and consumers need to make changes in their policies, activities and choices respectively to achieve the shift to SCP, countries should also continue to have the right to decide on their own growth pattern. The lack of resources and capabilities required for developing countries to shift to SCP also needs to be addressed. In this regard, developed countries should translate their commitments into actions on capacity building and the transfer of environmentally-friendly technologies, where appropriate. Building partnerships across sectors, as well as strengthening cooperation among countries, including South-South cooperation, should also be promoted to assist countries in their shift to SCP.
Mr. Chairman,
3. SCP is an opportunity for developing countries to enhance development. However, it can also become a bottleneck for growth in these countries, such as in the area of trade. We therefore need to keep in mind the broader development implications as we continue our discussion on SCP.
I thank you.