(check against delivery)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Shigeki Sumi
Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
UN Conference on Sustainable Development, PrepCom 2, Session 1
7 March 2011
Mr. Co-Chair,
At the outset, let me stress Japan’s firm commitment to contribute actively to the
preparation of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. I would
like to make a statement focusing on the key deliverables of the Conference.
Firstly, in order to secure the renewed political commitment, demonstrate its added
value and produce tangible impac t for sustainable development, we need to set a new
paradigm and overcome the traditional dichotomy between developed and developing
countries and between environment and development. We are critically in need of a
new green growth model, which reconciles economic development, efficient use of
natural resources and environmental protection.
My Government believes that the Conference should concentrate on what can be
achieved in the context of the two agreed themes and on the conceptual framework to
guide our actions in achieving those objectives.
Having said that, I would like to elaborate on some specific sectors related to
sustainable development and green economy in which my Government has keen
interest at this stage.
Mr. Co-Chair,
First on the list is the climate change issue. At COP16, the “Cancun Agreements”
anchored the emission reduction pledges of both developed and developing countries
under UNFCCC. Building on this significant achievement, we need a truly fair and
effective international framework to solve the climate change issue and to realize a
transformation to a low-carbon-economy.
As the fast-start financing for this imminent challenge announced in December 2009,
Japan pledged USD 15 billion up to 2012, including public and private finance to
support developing countries, and has already implemented USD 7.2 billion as of the
end of September 2010. Japan is delivering on its commitment taking into account the
developments in the international negotiations.
Second, biodiversity merits our close attention. At CBD-COP10 held in Nagoya, the
Member States agreed on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as the global strategic plan for
the period 2011 to 2020. As the President of COP10, Japan established a Trust Fund
with a voluntary contribution of USD 12 million to assist developing countries to
prepare their national plans to implement the Aichi Targets. This is one of our
deliverables in this sector.
Another sector we put high priority on, both in the context of sustainable development
and the achievement of the MDGs, is water and sanitation. We should capture the
discussions at the 6th World Water Forum to be held in Marseille several months ahead
of the UNCSD. Japan also supports the global effort to realize “Sustainable sanitation:
the five- year drive to 2015”.
As for the institutional framework for sustainable development, my Delegation
supports in-depth discussions on both the long-term visions and the concrete
deliverables for the short and medium term to improve international environmental
governance.
Mr. Co-Chair,
To conclude my intervention, I would like to explain Japan’s view on the overarching
concept to guide our actions for sustainable development.
Rising food prices and high unemployment rates are seen as among the reasons for the
recent social and political unrest in some countries. These issues are not alien to the
challenge of sustainable development. In order to deal with this challenge, it is
essential to establish a society where the dignity of each and every person is fully
respected. The human security concept calls for the protection and empowerment of
individuals so that people, including future generations, are free from fear and want
and can fully realize their potential.
Last but not least, as one of my Government’s humble “deliverables” for the success of
the Conference, it has decided to make a voluntary contribution of USD 91 thousand
to support developing countries’ participation in the preparatory process.
Thank you for your attention.
