(check against delivery)
Statement by Atsushi Suginaka
Delegation of Japan
Session3: Theme 2 of the Conference
Second Preparatory Committee
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
8 March 2011
“Institutional framework for sustainable development”
Thank you, Mr. Co-Chair
Our effort to achieve sustainable development needs to be supported by
appropriate institutional architecture at national, regional and international levels,
which should be subject to constant review with a view to improving
effectiveness and address ing new challenges. Japan welcomes the opportunity
to discuss this important subject as we prepare for Rio+20 next year.
Mr. Co-Chair,
Japan is of the view that, in order to improve the international governance on
sustainable development, better utilization of existing institutions is essential and
coordination among them should be further strengthened. Japan recognizes the
initiatives taken to this end in the United Nations systems, including UN
“Delivering as One”. Further efforts in this direction should continue to be
pursued.
Japan believes that the CSD should continue to play the central role as a
high-level body responsible for sustainable development, keeping its unique
function to mainstream sustainable development into each thematic issue.
Japan welcomes proposals to strengthen the CSD, in particular on how to
improve implementation of CSD decisions, and continues to engage in
constructive discussions for this purpose.
Mr. Co-chair,
Japan recognizes the importance of the enhancement of international
environmental governance in order to effectively address global environmental
issues.
Japan would like to reiterate the importance of system-wide coherence within the
United Nations system in the environmental field. What is necessary in this
regard is to make the most of the limited resources available within the United
Nations system, through enhanced coordination and rationalization of the
various institutions, including the secretariats of the multilateral environmental
agreements (MEAs). In this context, the development of a system-wide strategy
for the environment, identified in the “Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome” could contribute
to enhancing system-wide coherence.
With regards to the options for broader institutional reforms, Japan agrees, in
principle, to the necessity of strengthening UNEP. Yet, we should further
examine each option of organizational reform from the perspective of
cost-effectiveness and the possible budgetary implications.
In concluding, Mr. Co-chair, Japan welcomes discussion on any ambitious
proposal as a long-term vision, and supports consideration of the concrete
deliverables for the short and medium term so that Rio+20 can produce
meaningful outcomes which improve the international governance on
sustainable development.
Thank you, Mr. Co-chair.
