Least Developed Countries

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NEPAL
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED
NATIONS
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]; Website:
www.un.int/nepal
Statement on behalf of the Least Developed Countries by Mr. Mani Ratna Sharma, member of
the Delegation of Nepal, at the opening session of the Second Preparatory Committee
Meeting of UNCSD (New York, 7 March 2011)
Co-Chairs,
I have the honour to deliver this Statement on behalf of the Group of the Least Developed Countries
(LDCs).
My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the Republic of Argentina on behalf of the Group
of 77 and China.
I thank the Secretary-General for the presentation of various reports for our substantive discussions.
We appreciate the Co-Chairs and other members of the Bureau for their leadership role in connection
with the work of this meeting as well as the preparatory processes of the Conference.
Co-Chairs,
We attach great significance to this meeting as it provides us with the opportunity to consider on such
matters, among others, as the objective of the conference, green economy in the context of sustainable
development and poverty eradication, and institutional framework for sustainable development. LDCs
have also a particular importance to this meeting as it is being convened prior to the United Nations
Conference on the Least Developed Countries to be held in Istanbul, Turkey in May this year, which is
expected to be vital in designing a new and robust international support architecture for the LDCs
including to build resilience from the vulnerabilities.
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LDCs face a number of problems and challenges towards sustainable development due to the inner
structural constraints, vulnerabilities and lack of capacities, as well as the external shocks. Already fallen
into the vicious circle of poverty and hunger along with poor health conditions and diseases, problems
of illiteracy, low productive capacity and dependence on agrarian nature of economy; these countries
also face the crises of global economic and financial, food, energy and the adverse effects of climate
change. This has negatively affected the efforts of the LDCs in all three pillars of sustainable
development. As a result of the climate change, to which the LDCs have contributed least, we face
disproportionate impacts of extreme weather events, desertification and biodiversity loss, fragility of
mountainous ecosystems and melting of glaciers, floods and submergence of coastal areas and sea level
rise. These have now become regular phenomena and more devastating now than in the past times.
Co-Chairs,
Eradication of Poverty and hunger is a cross cutting issue and without which sustainable economic and
social development can not to be achieved in the LDCs as poverty remains high in most LDCs. With
regard to the newly emerged concept of a ‘green economy’, we need to work towards a clear and
acceptable definition for all with a view to establishing its beneficial linkages with sustainable
development and poverty eradication. The concept is still in the evolving process.
The ‘green economy’ may not be an objective by itself; it could be a means to an end of sustainable
development and poverty alleviation. The ‘green economy’ should not be interpreted as conditionality
or a burden to LDCs in the harnessing of resources in these countries for alleviating poverty. Similarly,
this should be used to promote and enhance the capacity in LDCs without constraining the policy space
to pursue their own way of development in accordance with their own situations and priorities. The
‘green economy’ should have a high priority on enhancing substantial transfer of new environmental
technology to LDCs with strong international support mechanisms.
Co-Chairs,
The LDCs are lagging behind in sustainable development as the international support measures are not
fully effective and adequate in terms of scale, scope and quality. The progress of these countries has
slowed down due to the lack of the proper and timely implementation of the commitments made by the
international community in the earlier summits, including in Stockholm (1972), Rio de Janeiro (1992) and
Johannesburg (2002). The LDCs have been experiencing high difficulty in their development mainly due
to capacity constraints, lack of enhanced level of financial support, lack of the ODA commitments
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fulfillment, their constant marginalization in the international trading system, lack of substantial debt
relief measures, negligible FDI inflows, lack of technological support and lack of holistic approach to
development. The LDCs, therefore, need to be given due priority in allocating necessary funds as well as
devising programs because of their lack of capacity and resources.
There is no doubt that the LDCs require a genuine global partnership in order to strengthen social,
economic and environmental aspect of sustainable development. In this context, we emphasize the
critical need to fulfill all the previous commitments made by the developed countries, particularly the
ODA commitment of providing the 0.15-0.20 per cent of their GNI to the LDCs. The developed countries
must take concrete steps to providing additional financial support, transferring technology, reducing and
cancelling debt, removing trade barriers and opening their markets, and building capacity in the LDCs in
order to realize the agenda of sustainable development at the global level. The LDCs also should be
provided with additional, substantive and secure funding and technology for adaptation and mitigation
of the climate change effects together with legally binding and ambitious mitigation measures. The
resources and support structure will also be critical to attain our bio-diversity protection goals. We need
to have a coherent and concerted approach to addressing the issues of sustainable development in a
holistic manner in place of the piecemeal approach.
Co-Chairs,
The implementation of multilateral environmental agreements is critical to promote sustainable
development and reduce poverty. Because of the lack of capacity and resource constraints, the LDCs
face the challenges of effective implementation of the agreements they have been party to. Therefore,
any institutional mechanism related to sustainable development, both existing and new, should take
these concerns into account. The institutional mechanisms for sustainable development should focus on
transfer of technology, resource mobilization and capacity building for LDCs in a holistic manner. These
Institutional mechanisms should be inclusive of LDCs.
We believe that the Conference and its preparatory process should be guided by a greater level of
efficiency, transparency, inclusiveness and should ensure the inputs and participation of all, including
from the vulnerable groups such as LDCs. This alone will lead us to a successful convening of the
conference and producing the outcome that is result-oriented with an enhanced level of international
support measures and targeted programs.
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Co-Chairs,
While I have the floor, let me speak from my national capacity and raise the issue of the mountain
countries in particular:
There is about 12 per cent of total global population that lives on mountains, and mountains are among
the most vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change. There is a close connection between the
mountains and water resources, bio diversity and livelihoods. These issues and adaptation challenges
were discussed at the expert level meeting of the mountain countries held in Kathmandu last
September. Therefore, sustainable mountain agenda has to be a priority issue for Rio+20 as well as all
MEA processes as special area of global concern. As under the CBD, we look forward to a separate
Programme of Work for mountain areas in all international processes including in the RIO+20 processes
because of the extreme vulnerability of these areas.
Finally, we look forward to working with you and the members of the Bureau and will always be
providing to you our firm support and cooperation along with our constructive engagement in all the
preparatory processes and the conference itself.
I thank you.