Kenya
1
Statement on
?Meeting Targets, Goals and Timetables?
By
Hon. Dr. Newton Kulundu, MP
Minister for Environment, Natural Resources & Wildlife,
Leader of Kenya Delegation to CSD 12
New York - 28th April 2004
2
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation would like to start by expressing its confidence in your
leadership and that of the Bureau of the 12th Session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development. We are convinced that this Review Session will
bring about an improved understanding of priority concerns and the best
options towards the implementation of sustainable development within the
framework of the thematic cluster. Meeting the targets, goals and timetables
that were agreed upon at the Millennium Summit and reaffirmed at WSSD
remains a major pre-occupation for us.
The Secretary-General?s report highlights the slow and limited progress on a
wide range of areas in Africa. It provides some of the concerns and
constraints facing most African countries. It also points out that without
sustained interventions, my region will have difficulty in meeting the
commitments made at the Millennium Summit and Johannesburg. It is
within this background that I wish to reiterate that inadequate global and
domestic resources to fund sustainable development initiatives and
fragmented approaches to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation still remains our major challenge.
Mr. Chairman,
The Johannesburg Summit stressed the importance of trade, finance,
technology transfer and capacity building in the implementation of
sustainable development. We believe that the Summit introduced a major
shift from the donor-recipient paradigm to one that focuses on the obstacles
to economic growth in poor countries. It emphasized the need to reform the
unfair global economic and trading systems. It also called upon the
international community to fulfill its ODA commitments, among others.
African countries still require enhanced international cooperation and
provision of means of implementation to enable them achieve the set targets
and goals. It is our sincere hope that during this session, ways and means of
strengthening mechanisms for implementation will be enhanced.
Meeting the targets on water, sanitation and human settlements is a
prerequisite for the targets in other areas such as poverty eradication and
environmental sustainability. Halving the number of people without access
to safe drinking water and access to adequate sanitation by 2015, and
improving the lives at least 100 million of slum dwellers by 2020, is a
daunting challenge for us in Africa. However, I believe with greater
cooperation and commitment, we can do it within the set timeframes.
3
Mr. Chairman,
Our approaches need to be comprehensive and participatory, involving all
sectors of the society, including civil society organizations. Efforts directed
towards achieving sustainable development should be integrated into the
national planning process and clear commitments to promoting coordination
and coherence at all levels spelt out. Stronger political will and more
effective institutions matched with additional financial resources are
required for us to be successful.
Mr. Chairman,
Financing of sustainable development under the three thematic areas require
a combination of public and private resources. We should explore
innovative sources of financing such as through fiscal policies and private
contributions.
We recognize the role partnerships can play in sustainable development. As
such establishment of credible partnerships based on mutual respect and
shared responsibility of all partners involved should be encouraged.
Efforts need to be directed towards establishment of the necessary
responsible institutions and legislation, so that an enabling environment that
enhances sustainability can be created.
Further efforts should be made to increase the volume; quality and effective
use of ODA in developing countries, for it will remain a significant source
of financing for years to come.
Countries and development partners should prioritize water, sanitation and
provision of adequate shelter for all in the allocation of investment
resources.
Mr. Chairman,
Towards this end, Kenya has undertaken policy, legal and institutional
reforms on the socio-economic development and environmental protection.
We have identified poverty unemployment as the biggest challenge facing us
and have developed a national Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and
Employment Creation. The strategy translates the agreed goals and targets
contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation into a concrete national programme of action. The key
priority actions that the strategy intends to address are inter alia:
i) Improving poor people?s access to productive resources
ii) Integrating natural resources and environmental conservation into
the national planning process, and
iii) Of interest to this session, paying particular attention to the
provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and shelter to
Kenyans. We have ranked this as priority areas of focus.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, let me say that to meet the targets, goals and timetables set at
Millennium Declaration and WSSD requires a change of heart among
colleagues seated in this room today. A will to ?make it happen? as agreed
at Johannesburg. We urge the international community to support Africa
implement strategies that integrate economic, social and environmental
aspects of sustainable development for the benefit of us all.
Thank you.
Statement on
?Meeting Targets, Goals and Timetables?
By
Hon. Dr. Newton Kulundu, MP
Minister for Environment, Natural Resources & Wildlife,
Leader of Kenya Delegation to CSD 12
New York - 28th April 2004
2
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation would like to start by expressing its confidence in your
leadership and that of the Bureau of the 12th Session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development. We are convinced that this Review Session will
bring about an improved understanding of priority concerns and the best
options towards the implementation of sustainable development within the
framework of the thematic cluster. Meeting the targets, goals and timetables
that were agreed upon at the Millennium Summit and reaffirmed at WSSD
remains a major pre-occupation for us.
The Secretary-General?s report highlights the slow and limited progress on a
wide range of areas in Africa. It provides some of the concerns and
constraints facing most African countries. It also points out that without
sustained interventions, my region will have difficulty in meeting the
commitments made at the Millennium Summit and Johannesburg. It is
within this background that I wish to reiterate that inadequate global and
domestic resources to fund sustainable development initiatives and
fragmented approaches to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation still remains our major challenge.
Mr. Chairman,
The Johannesburg Summit stressed the importance of trade, finance,
technology transfer and capacity building in the implementation of
sustainable development. We believe that the Summit introduced a major
shift from the donor-recipient paradigm to one that focuses on the obstacles
to economic growth in poor countries. It emphasized the need to reform the
unfair global economic and trading systems. It also called upon the
international community to fulfill its ODA commitments, among others.
African countries still require enhanced international cooperation and
provision of means of implementation to enable them achieve the set targets
and goals. It is our sincere hope that during this session, ways and means of
strengthening mechanisms for implementation will be enhanced.
Meeting the targets on water, sanitation and human settlements is a
prerequisite for the targets in other areas such as poverty eradication and
environmental sustainability. Halving the number of people without access
to safe drinking water and access to adequate sanitation by 2015, and
improving the lives at least 100 million of slum dwellers by 2020, is a
daunting challenge for us in Africa. However, I believe with greater
cooperation and commitment, we can do it within the set timeframes.
3
Mr. Chairman,
Our approaches need to be comprehensive and participatory, involving all
sectors of the society, including civil society organizations. Efforts directed
towards achieving sustainable development should be integrated into the
national planning process and clear commitments to promoting coordination
and coherence at all levels spelt out. Stronger political will and more
effective institutions matched with additional financial resources are
required for us to be successful.
Mr. Chairman,
Financing of sustainable development under the three thematic areas require
a combination of public and private resources. We should explore
innovative sources of financing such as through fiscal policies and private
contributions.
We recognize the role partnerships can play in sustainable development. As
such establishment of credible partnerships based on mutual respect and
shared responsibility of all partners involved should be encouraged.
Efforts need to be directed towards establishment of the necessary
responsible institutions and legislation, so that an enabling environment that
enhances sustainability can be created.
Further efforts should be made to increase the volume; quality and effective
use of ODA in developing countries, for it will remain a significant source
of financing for years to come.
Countries and development partners should prioritize water, sanitation and
provision of adequate shelter for all in the allocation of investment
resources.
Mr. Chairman,
Towards this end, Kenya has undertaken policy, legal and institutional
reforms on the socio-economic development and environmental protection.
We have identified poverty unemployment as the biggest challenge facing us
and have developed a national Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and
Employment Creation. The strategy translates the agreed goals and targets
contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation into a concrete national programme of action. The key
priority actions that the strategy intends to address are inter alia:
i) Improving poor people?s access to productive resources
ii) Integrating natural resources and environmental conservation into
the national planning process, and
iii) Of interest to this session, paying particular attention to the
provision of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and shelter to
Kenyans. We have ranked this as priority areas of focus.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion, let me say that to meet the targets, goals and timetables set at
Millennium Declaration and WSSD requires a change of heart among
colleagues seated in this room today. A will to ?make it happen? as agreed
at Johannesburg. We urge the international community to support Africa
implement strategies that integrate economic, social and environmental
aspects of sustainable development for the benefit of us all.
Thank you.
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