Joint statement by 9 MGs
Proposed Remarks
On Behalf of the 9 Major Groups
To the Rio+20 Bureau
January 27, 2012
Thank you Mr. Chairmen, Mr. Secretary General, Madame Executive
Co-ordinator, Bureau members, and the secretariat,
On behalf of all nine major groups we would like to express our
appreciation for the elements of the working environment which
have improved during the run up to Rio+20. In particular, we
appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the zero draft and the
improved access to working documents. These have afforded us
the chance to provide ideas and support for the key initiatives. As
well, the electronic access to documents makes us more efficient
participants in the process.
As Jan-Gustav has said, we want to be passionate, thoughtful
constructive members of this process.
To that end, there are several key points that could make us more
effective.
1) Informals access – to be full participants in the process - as was
intended in Agenda 21 - we will require the daily negotiating text
during the informals and any possible informal informals that may
be called.
2) Speaking slots – we appreciate the opportunity to make
interventions during the session this week and hope you will
continue to uphold the commitment to interspersing our
interventions during the discussions at the Intersessionals and
PrepComs and providing us a minimum of 3 minutes rather than
just one.
3) Multi-stakeholder dialogue – the Bureau may recall the submission
of a proposal to hold a multi-stakeholder dialogue at the
Intersessional in March. The Major Groups would like the
opportunity to create a session during the main program-of-work
that can address a specific topic with meaningful dialogue and we
will work with the secretariat to create a format that is engaging
and meaningful. Are you prepared to commit to the dialogue in
the March program-of-work?
4) Liaison with Bureau in Rio – to facilitate good communication and
proper engagement, we would request one of you join us during
our regular meetings at the PrepCom in Rio each day to discuss
the state of negotiations.
5) Funding – we are concerned about the state of funding for the
conference as a whole and encourage you to redouble your
efforts to find the needed monies to successfully hold this event.
A key component of a successful event will be our ability to
include the broadest possible range of voices. This requires
funding for travel of many of the Major Group participants,
particularly from the South. Could you comment on the
measures being taken to address these needs? At the same time,
we would like to thank the EU for their support for Major
Groups to date.
Our ability to attend the informals is an important decision, though
we believe the spirit of Agenda 21, Johannesberg, and other UN
current mechanisms suggests a more fullsome engagement is
desirable and necessary. To this end, we look forward to working
with the Bureau in the coming months to create meaningful
participation mechanisms for the Major Groups in Rio+20 and
beyond.
More broadly, we encourage you to continue your efforts to
convene the discussion and to increase the focus on meaningful
implementation that truly engages and involves the Major Groups.
Please let us know how we can help you to achieve this.
Finally, on behalf of all of us, may I offer our thanks to each and
every one of you for the time and commitment you put into this
process. We look forward to working with you to the finish line in
June.
On Behalf of the 9 Major Groups
To the Rio+20 Bureau
January 27, 2012
Thank you Mr. Chairmen, Mr. Secretary General, Madame Executive
Co-ordinator, Bureau members, and the secretariat,
On behalf of all nine major groups we would like to express our
appreciation for the elements of the working environment which
have improved during the run up to Rio+20. In particular, we
appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the zero draft and the
improved access to working documents. These have afforded us
the chance to provide ideas and support for the key initiatives. As
well, the electronic access to documents makes us more efficient
participants in the process.
As Jan-Gustav has said, we want to be passionate, thoughtful
constructive members of this process.
To that end, there are several key points that could make us more
effective.
1) Informals access – to be full participants in the process - as was
intended in Agenda 21 - we will require the daily negotiating text
during the informals and any possible informal informals that may
be called.
2) Speaking slots – we appreciate the opportunity to make
interventions during the session this week and hope you will
continue to uphold the commitment to interspersing our
interventions during the discussions at the Intersessionals and
PrepComs and providing us a minimum of 3 minutes rather than
just one.
3) Multi-stakeholder dialogue – the Bureau may recall the submission
of a proposal to hold a multi-stakeholder dialogue at the
Intersessional in March. The Major Groups would like the
opportunity to create a session during the main program-of-work
that can address a specific topic with meaningful dialogue and we
will work with the secretariat to create a format that is engaging
and meaningful. Are you prepared to commit to the dialogue in
the March program-of-work?
4) Liaison with Bureau in Rio – to facilitate good communication and
proper engagement, we would request one of you join us during
our regular meetings at the PrepCom in Rio each day to discuss
the state of negotiations.
5) Funding – we are concerned about the state of funding for the
conference as a whole and encourage you to redouble your
efforts to find the needed monies to successfully hold this event.
A key component of a successful event will be our ability to
include the broadest possible range of voices. This requires
funding for travel of many of the Major Group participants,
particularly from the South. Could you comment on the
measures being taken to address these needs? At the same time,
we would like to thank the EU for their support for Major
Groups to date.
Our ability to attend the informals is an important decision, though
we believe the spirit of Agenda 21, Johannesberg, and other UN
current mechanisms suggests a more fullsome engagement is
desirable and necessary. To this end, we look forward to working
with the Bureau in the coming months to create meaningful
participation mechanisms for the Major Groups in Rio+20 and
beyond.
More broadly, we encourage you to continue your efforts to
convene the discussion and to increase the focus on meaningful
implementation that truly engages and involves the Major Groups.
Please let us know how we can help you to achieve this.
Finally, on behalf of all of us, may I offer our thanks to each and
every one of you for the time and commitment you put into this
process. We look forward to working with you to the finish line in
June.