Iceland
Statement of Iceland for the discussion on Means of Implementation and Global Partnership, Post-2015 Development Agenda
Thursday 23 April 2015
Ms. Anna Pála Sverrisdóttir, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Co-facilitator. Thank you for convening this joint session. Close cooperation between the two pairs of co-facilitators and co-chairs has shown itself to be productive and will continue to be crucial. In our opinion, your leadership is needed to help us to maximize synergies between the two processes and avoid duplication of work. It´s a tough task, but we know that we are in able hands. We trust that you will be able to help identify the most pragmatic ideas on how to go forward, keeping in mind our tight schedule. Thanks to your efforts and input by all member states the Addis zero draft provides a firm basis for going forward.
• Co-facilitator, regarding means of implementation of the Post-2015 agenda: It is the position of Iceland in general as a small member state that it makes most sense to aim for better implementation within existing frameworks and institutions. We simply do not have the capacity to attend multiple meetings on similar issues in myriad forums – I suspect that many small states and developing states may have similar concerns.
• Co-facilitator. You have challenged us to discuss possible key deliverables and transformative ideas.
• I´ll begin by an idea that may not be new, but that we think is one of the most transformative ones. Iceland has been truly happy to see the strong push by so many states, for getting gender equality and women´s empowerment right, in the context of MoI and the Addis outcome. This is of the utmost importance for success, as we were well reminded of by civil society this morning. Let´s follow through on it. Iceland has of course provided written comments on how to strengthen the FfD draft, including on gender equality – one of these being dedicated resources to advance gender equality and women’s human rights. I´ve also previously mentioned how target 5.a of the SDGs falls behind internationally agreed standards and contradicts target 1.4.
• Examples of further key deliverables in our opinion, have to do with food security and nutrition as well as environmental integrity to name some benefits. These would be investment in sustainable land management and retrieval of degraded land; as well as investment in sustainable fisheries, including by proper design, monitoring and enforcement of sustainable fisheries policies. In that respect, there is need for a long-term vision over short-term gains in investment. Furthermore, Iceland strongly supports the call for action to bridge the large investment gap in financing a shift towards sustainable energy, to speed up necessary development towards the post-carbon economy. One example is the Global Geothermal Alliance, an initiative of IRENA, Iceland and other partners that aims at promoting geothermal as an important renewable energy resource in the developing word.
• Iceland recognizes that technology advances and innovation remain the basis for further progress in all of these fields [monitoring/land degradation, sustainable energy]. In this regard, capacity building is key, and has been at the core of Iceland’s development cooperation, including through the four United Nations University Training Programs in Iceland, for fellows from developing countries.
• Last but not least, research and development of new medical treatments, together with infrastructure improvements, including in road safety, can save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people. Including those suffering from nervous system injuries and illnesses – an area where medical research lags far behind. Co-facilitator. Through capacity building, cooperation at all levels, and the diffusion of new technologies, we indeed can achieve our agenda.
• I thank you.
Thursday 23 April 2015
Ms. Anna Pála Sverrisdóttir, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Co-facilitator. Thank you for convening this joint session. Close cooperation between the two pairs of co-facilitators and co-chairs has shown itself to be productive and will continue to be crucial. In our opinion, your leadership is needed to help us to maximize synergies between the two processes and avoid duplication of work. It´s a tough task, but we know that we are in able hands. We trust that you will be able to help identify the most pragmatic ideas on how to go forward, keeping in mind our tight schedule. Thanks to your efforts and input by all member states the Addis zero draft provides a firm basis for going forward.
• Co-facilitator, regarding means of implementation of the Post-2015 agenda: It is the position of Iceland in general as a small member state that it makes most sense to aim for better implementation within existing frameworks and institutions. We simply do not have the capacity to attend multiple meetings on similar issues in myriad forums – I suspect that many small states and developing states may have similar concerns.
• Co-facilitator. You have challenged us to discuss possible key deliverables and transformative ideas.
• I´ll begin by an idea that may not be new, but that we think is one of the most transformative ones. Iceland has been truly happy to see the strong push by so many states, for getting gender equality and women´s empowerment right, in the context of MoI and the Addis outcome. This is of the utmost importance for success, as we were well reminded of by civil society this morning. Let´s follow through on it. Iceland has of course provided written comments on how to strengthen the FfD draft, including on gender equality – one of these being dedicated resources to advance gender equality and women’s human rights. I´ve also previously mentioned how target 5.a of the SDGs falls behind internationally agreed standards and contradicts target 1.4.
• Examples of further key deliverables in our opinion, have to do with food security and nutrition as well as environmental integrity to name some benefits. These would be investment in sustainable land management and retrieval of degraded land; as well as investment in sustainable fisheries, including by proper design, monitoring and enforcement of sustainable fisheries policies. In that respect, there is need for a long-term vision over short-term gains in investment. Furthermore, Iceland strongly supports the call for action to bridge the large investment gap in financing a shift towards sustainable energy, to speed up necessary development towards the post-carbon economy. One example is the Global Geothermal Alliance, an initiative of IRENA, Iceland and other partners that aims at promoting geothermal as an important renewable energy resource in the developing word.
• Iceland recognizes that technology advances and innovation remain the basis for further progress in all of these fields [monitoring/land degradation, sustainable energy]. In this regard, capacity building is key, and has been at the core of Iceland’s development cooperation, including through the four United Nations University Training Programs in Iceland, for fellows from developing countries.
• Last but not least, research and development of new medical treatments, together with infrastructure improvements, including in road safety, can save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people. Including those suffering from nervous system injuries and illnesses – an area where medical research lags far behind. Co-facilitator. Through capacity building, cooperation at all levels, and the diffusion of new technologies, we indeed can achieve our agenda.
• I thank you.
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