Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
SIXTY EIGHT SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
*******
ELEVENTH MEETING OF THE OWG ON SDGs
(Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, oceans and seas
Ecosystems and biodiversity)
STATEMENT
BY
H.E.MR. JEAN -FRANCIS R. ZINSOU
AMBASSADOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF BENIN
TO THE UNITED NATIONS,
CHAIR OF THE GLOBAL COORDINATION BUREAU OF LDCs
NEW YORK, 8 MAY 2014
Distinguished Co-Chairs
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of LDCs. This statement supplements the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of the G77 and China.
The focus area 13 on conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, oceans and seas are vitally important for LDCs, especially for the coastal LDCs. The issues articulated under this focus area broadly capture many of the key areas under this cluster. However, many of the specific targets would not apply to LDCs given LDCs’ miniscule contribution to the problems such as marine pollution, waste disposal, ocean acidification, etc. Therefore, differentiated target is essential under this focus area. The Group seconds the proposal on supporting small-scale fisheries. The Group supports the issues under 13, d and e. The Group does not support the target under 13 (g).
Additionally, the Group would like to see a target on “protecting the coastal degradation including salinization”. This is vitally important for coastal LDCs and other coastal countries and should be reflected in the next version of the compilation.
Under Means of Implementation, the Group of LDCs would like to propose the following target:
Support LDCs financially and technologically to effectively use marine resources and to protect marine bio-diversity.
On ecosystems and biodiversity, the Group of LDCs is of the view that the targets under 14 (a) and (b) are universal in nature. We would request our scientific community, through you Mr. Co-Chair, to undertake an estimate of costs and opportunity costs of these undertakings. We need to put in place a time bound target on the means of implementation, at par, if the Member States agree to set these universal goals.
The Group would like to reformulate as follows the target 14i) : “ensure inclusion of indigenous and local communities in decision making, ensure their free, prior and informed consent and promote traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples.
Under means of implementation, the Group would like to propose the following:
a) Provide financial and technical support and facilitate technology transfer to LDCs to develop and implement national strategies for sustainable use, preservation and protection of the national environmental resources and the sustainable management of marine biodiversity and ecosystems in line with their broader sustainable development strategies. This is in line with the IPoA.
b) Increase scientific knowledge, and develop research infrastructure and capacities to enhance contribution of the marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular of the LDCs.
I thank you all for your kind attention
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