Mr. Chairman,
I would like to thank the panelists for their presentations that highlighted some
interesting cross-linking approaches that might be useful for the selected themes of
CSD-18.
First and foremost, allow me to reemphasize the important inter-linkage between
sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Both serve to underline the important principle of achieving economic and social
progress while ensuring that the natural resources that we depend on are managed to
meet present and future needs.
The thematic cluster under consideration in the CSD certainly has an important linkage
with the economic and social goals of the MDGs, while also having an environmental
dimension. The themes under consideration are vital economic drivers and important in
developing countries? development, particularly mining, and could serve as useful
indicators to chart progress for goal 1 of the MDGs ? poverty eradication.
In this connection, it is crucial that our deliberations ensure that implementation and
management of the thematic issues, based on common but differentiated
responsibilities, observe the three pillars of sustainable development, particularly in
fulfilling economic growth for developing countries.
There are certain cross-cutting considerations to take into account for the selected
themes, particularly in relation to their contribution for the MDGs.
First, is financing for sustainable development. Resources derived from economic
growth have traditionally been the source of funding for sustainable development in
developing countries, albeit not always sufficient. With the tight grip of the crisis still
taking hold on the global economy, added with new challenges such as climate change,
volatility of food prices, and energy crisis, developing countries? resources have been
spread thin. The challenge is to fairly distribute resources between meeting the needs of
the poor, education, developing infrastructure, and cutting down emissions.
For this reason, apart from traditional financing, innovative financing has become an
important factor that needs to be explored. Innovative financing has and could continue
to be created through public-private partnerships. Involvement of the private sector in
achieving the three pillars of sustainable development, as well as involvement of
multilateral banks in supporting the sustainable development agenda, is another option
to consider.
I would like to also add that investment in the public as well as private sector in this
regard, also should be geared towards green economy growth.
Second, because sustainable development cuts across many sectors, there should be an
effective international institution arrangement that could integrate the broad spectrum
of issues. It is important for the institution to operate on the basis of coherence and
effective coordination, which are integral aspects of sustainable development.
Since the UN SG has placed sustainable development as one of the UN?s seven
priorities for 2010, we should use this momentum to make progress in institutional
reform for sustainable development. It is hoped that this international governance could
assist developing countries to meet the financial challenges, facilitate technology
transfer, promote capacity building and monitor implementation. Sustainable
development should be the main focus of this institutional framework.
Third, technology plays a critical role in promoting sustainable development, in
particular the implementation of this thematic cluster. Furthermore, for transportation,
waste management, mining, chemical management to play a role in sustainable
consumption and production, the transfer of environmentally sound technologies must
be facilitated. This is because developing countries lack the capacity and resources in
particular for research and development, which limits their ability to dispense the
appropriate technology to scale. A global partnership should promote investment for
developing countries on transfer of technology, and to have access to environmentally
friendly technologies.
Thank you.
