Group of 77 & China
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, may I congratulate you on your election
as Chair of the 14th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development .
We of the Group of 77 and China attach great importance to the issues of
sustainable development . We recall the commitments on Agenda 21 and the goals
contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) .
Mr. President
The CSD provides us an opportunity to further identify new dynamic ways to
promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development -
economic development, social development, and environmental protection - as
interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars .
The four themes of energy for sustainable development, industrial development,
climate change and air pollutionlatmosphere are of paramount importance . These
themes encompass political, economic, social and environmental dimensions .
CSD-14 should identify the barriers and constraints that all countries, particularly
developing countries, are facing in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the JPOI
around these themes . Consideration of the same themes during CSD-15 with a
view to setting policies and practical measures, if done appropriately and in a
manner that includes the interests of all countries, can help the international
community to tackle the most serious of challenges we are facing .
We also wish to highlight that our discussions should address the crosscutting
issues that were identified during CSD-11 . In this regard, we wish to stress the
particular conditions prevailing in Africa and in the Small Island Developing
States, the Least Developed Countries and Land-locked Developing Countries .
Despite our best efforts, it is clear that we still require more support from the
international community to meet the goals set in Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation . The international community should also supports
African countries in the implementation of the NEPAD initiative as well as other
regional initiatives .
It is also important to recall that natural disasters have had a huge impact on the
developing countries and remain a source of great concern . Natural disasters
hinder significantly the process of development and damage the environment and
should remain on the agenda of international and regional meetings for further
consideration .
Mr. President
Our meeting takes place at a critical juncture for the developing world in the
context of the reform of the United Nations . It is our considered view that the
United Nations is the only platform on which the developing world is afforded fair
opportunity to raise issues that are of concern to us and that are essential to our
survival.
It is in this spirit that the Group of 77 and China requests that this discussion,
underpinned as it should by the Rio Principle 7 of Common but Differentiated
Responsibility, be informed by the sincere quest to find ways of implementing
Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as well as the World
Summit Outcome .
Since Rio, we have declared our collective political will that, by addressing issues
on the three pillars of sustainable development, the challenges faced by the
developing world can be met . We have not yet seen this will being converted to
action. It is important to focus on these commitments .
The Group of 77 and China recognizes that achieving internationally agreed
development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals is not a choice
for developing countries, but a necessity to provide better standards of living,
restore human dignity, and free our people from the scourge of hunger, want and
fear. However, it is not entirely within the capacity of developing countries to
bring this to pass without a friendly international environment and enabling
policies and practices . Development partners should also make good their
promises to provide stable, predictable and adequate financial resources . Although
development aid has reached an all-time high, it remains at a historically low level
as a share of donor country income .
It is well known that the MDGs are still far from being achieved . The Millennium
Development Goals Report 2005 reflects the progress made during the first 5
years. On the basis of the progress report, the number of women dying during
childbirth has been reduced but not in all countries . As deaths and new infections
mount, the prevalence of the HIV and Aids pandemic in all regions has increased
and Tuberculosis and Malaria are emerging as old and permanent threats .
The Group of 77 and China remains concerned about the implementation of the
commitments made in Monterey, concerning the allocation of 0 .7 percent of GDP
to ODA. Given the fact that we are just 9 years away from 2015, the deadline for
the achievement of MDGs, meeting this target by all developed countries at the
earliest opportunity remains crucial . While thanking those developed countries
that have met this target and those that have presented a time frame for its
achievement, we urge the others to do the same.
We are concerned about the problems that the biggest financial mechanism, the
Global Environmental Facility, is facing on the threshold of each replenishment,
particularly replenishment four, in pledging adequate financial resources to
support projects in developing countries . Lack of adequate funds has created a
bottleneck for many of the projects in the pipeline . To exacerbate the problem
further, more complicated rules and procedures in the GEF for designing and
implementing projects has increased the obstacles developing countries are facing
in presenting their projects. We also urge the GEF Council to maintain a balance
amongst the three pillars of sustainable development while considering and
approving project proposals.
Mr. President
The Group of 77 and China represents the poorest in the world . Poverty
eradication remains one of our highest priorities . To achieve this we need to find
ways of changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and
protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social
development - all of which are overarching objectives of, and essential
requirements for, sustainable development . Sustainable patterns of production and
consumption, with developed countries taking the lead, should be underscored and
should receive adequate attention at the national, regional and international levels
in order to achieve sustainable development .
The Group of 77 and China sees the Means of Implementation essential for
achieving MDGs by 2015 . Hence, the international community, particularly
developed countries, ought to spare no efforts in meeting the needs of developing
countries to advanced and appropriate technologies, financial resources, education
and training, capacity building, and promotion of human resources .
An integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources,
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, combating desertification,
managing fragile ecosystems and promoting sustainable agriculture and rural
development, as well as environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals
and hazardous and solid wastes remain critical as in the past and deserves
adequate attention .
Regional and international cooperation remains an essential factor in
implementation of Agenda 21 and JPOI .
The empowerment of women and their participation in decision making should
remain on the agenda of the international community . The active role of women
from all walks of life is paramount to the achievement of MDGs .
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation introduced the concept of innovative
partnerships. Partnerships were seen as complimentary but not as a substitute for
the commitments and responsibilities of governments, particularly in relation to
the effective and urgent means of implementation of all our hard fought
agreements.
Mr. President
Before concluding, it is important to remind once again about the importance of
the CSD to the whole world, particularly the developing world . It is critical that
the integrity of this body is maintained if we are to have significant
implementation of agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation . In
this regard, the Group addressed a letter to the Chair of CSD 14 on 4 April 2006
raising concerns on the programme of work and the equal and balanced treatment
of each of the themes . We would hope that during these proceedings, these
challenges would be overcome so that we would strengthen CSD and more
importantly reinforce the decisions of CSD11 .
I thank you.
as Chair of the 14th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development .
We of the Group of 77 and China attach great importance to the issues of
sustainable development . We recall the commitments on Agenda 21 and the goals
contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) .
Mr. President
The CSD provides us an opportunity to further identify new dynamic ways to
promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development -
economic development, social development, and environmental protection - as
interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars .
The four themes of energy for sustainable development, industrial development,
climate change and air pollutionlatmosphere are of paramount importance . These
themes encompass political, economic, social and environmental dimensions .
CSD-14 should identify the barriers and constraints that all countries, particularly
developing countries, are facing in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the JPOI
around these themes . Consideration of the same themes during CSD-15 with a
view to setting policies and practical measures, if done appropriately and in a
manner that includes the interests of all countries, can help the international
community to tackle the most serious of challenges we are facing .
We also wish to highlight that our discussions should address the crosscutting
issues that were identified during CSD-11 . In this regard, we wish to stress the
particular conditions prevailing in Africa and in the Small Island Developing
States, the Least Developed Countries and Land-locked Developing Countries .
Despite our best efforts, it is clear that we still require more support from the
international community to meet the goals set in Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation . The international community should also supports
African countries in the implementation of the NEPAD initiative as well as other
regional initiatives .
It is also important to recall that natural disasters have had a huge impact on the
developing countries and remain a source of great concern . Natural disasters
hinder significantly the process of development and damage the environment and
should remain on the agenda of international and regional meetings for further
consideration .
Mr. President
Our meeting takes place at a critical juncture for the developing world in the
context of the reform of the United Nations . It is our considered view that the
United Nations is the only platform on which the developing world is afforded fair
opportunity to raise issues that are of concern to us and that are essential to our
survival.
It is in this spirit that the Group of 77 and China requests that this discussion,
underpinned as it should by the Rio Principle 7 of Common but Differentiated
Responsibility, be informed by the sincere quest to find ways of implementing
Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as well as the World
Summit Outcome .
Since Rio, we have declared our collective political will that, by addressing issues
on the three pillars of sustainable development, the challenges faced by the
developing world can be met . We have not yet seen this will being converted to
action. It is important to focus on these commitments .
The Group of 77 and China recognizes that achieving internationally agreed
development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals is not a choice
for developing countries, but a necessity to provide better standards of living,
restore human dignity, and free our people from the scourge of hunger, want and
fear. However, it is not entirely within the capacity of developing countries to
bring this to pass without a friendly international environment and enabling
policies and practices . Development partners should also make good their
promises to provide stable, predictable and adequate financial resources . Although
development aid has reached an all-time high, it remains at a historically low level
as a share of donor country income .
It is well known that the MDGs are still far from being achieved . The Millennium
Development Goals Report 2005 reflects the progress made during the first 5
years. On the basis of the progress report, the number of women dying during
childbirth has been reduced but not in all countries . As deaths and new infections
mount, the prevalence of the HIV and Aids pandemic in all regions has increased
and Tuberculosis and Malaria are emerging as old and permanent threats .
The Group of 77 and China remains concerned about the implementation of the
commitments made in Monterey, concerning the allocation of 0 .7 percent of GDP
to ODA. Given the fact that we are just 9 years away from 2015, the deadline for
the achievement of MDGs, meeting this target by all developed countries at the
earliest opportunity remains crucial . While thanking those developed countries
that have met this target and those that have presented a time frame for its
achievement, we urge the others to do the same.
We are concerned about the problems that the biggest financial mechanism, the
Global Environmental Facility, is facing on the threshold of each replenishment,
particularly replenishment four, in pledging adequate financial resources to
support projects in developing countries . Lack of adequate funds has created a
bottleneck for many of the projects in the pipeline . To exacerbate the problem
further, more complicated rules and procedures in the GEF for designing and
implementing projects has increased the obstacles developing countries are facing
in presenting their projects. We also urge the GEF Council to maintain a balance
amongst the three pillars of sustainable development while considering and
approving project proposals.
Mr. President
The Group of 77 and China represents the poorest in the world . Poverty
eradication remains one of our highest priorities . To achieve this we need to find
ways of changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and
protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social
development - all of which are overarching objectives of, and essential
requirements for, sustainable development . Sustainable patterns of production and
consumption, with developed countries taking the lead, should be underscored and
should receive adequate attention at the national, regional and international levels
in order to achieve sustainable development .
The Group of 77 and China sees the Means of Implementation essential for
achieving MDGs by 2015 . Hence, the international community, particularly
developed countries, ought to spare no efforts in meeting the needs of developing
countries to advanced and appropriate technologies, financial resources, education
and training, capacity building, and promotion of human resources .
An integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources,
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, combating desertification,
managing fragile ecosystems and promoting sustainable agriculture and rural
development, as well as environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals
and hazardous and solid wastes remain critical as in the past and deserves
adequate attention .
Regional and international cooperation remains an essential factor in
implementation of Agenda 21 and JPOI .
The empowerment of women and their participation in decision making should
remain on the agenda of the international community . The active role of women
from all walks of life is paramount to the achievement of MDGs .
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation introduced the concept of innovative
partnerships. Partnerships were seen as complimentary but not as a substitute for
the commitments and responsibilities of governments, particularly in relation to
the effective and urgent means of implementation of all our hard fought
agreements.
Mr. President
Before concluding, it is important to remind once again about the importance of
the CSD to the whole world, particularly the developing world . It is critical that
the integrity of this body is maintained if we are to have significant
implementation of agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation . In
this regard, the Group addressed a letter to the Chair of CSD 14 on 4 April 2006
raising concerns on the programme of work and the equal and balanced treatment
of each of the themes . We would hope that during these proceedings, these
challenges would be overcome so that we would strengthen CSD and more
importantly reinforce the decisions of CSD11 .
I thank you.
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