Mr. Chairman
Distinguished Delegates
It is my distinct honour to address the Eighteenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD-18).
Namibia associates itself with the statements delivered earlier on behalf of the Group of
Seventy-Seven (G77) and China and the African Group, respectively.
The themes for this CSD cycle are interrelated and are keys to sustainable development.
Namibia continues to address issues related to transport, chemicals, waste management and
mining in an integrated manner.
The Government of Namibia strives to reduce poverty and inequality in the country by,
among others, providing community-based income generating opportunities to communities
through the creation of community based tourism enterprises under the Community Based
Natural Resource Management Programme.
We believe that the implementation of Agenda 21 within the context of National
Development Plans will enable Namibia to attain her Vision 2030. We all agree that
infrastructure is vital for the growth of our economies. Roads, railways and other
communication infrastructure are integral parts of the production and consumption pattern.
Equally important, is the issue of access to markets and technology transfer particularly with
regard to skills development, capacity building, and financial support.
We are a country with special needs in the broadest context of sustainable development. Our
difficult and harsh environmental constraints make Namibia extremely vulnerable to external
shocks. We are a drought and flood prone country, with much of the land not suitable for
crop production. Food security in the country is of great concern especially in view of
climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.
Namibia is vulnerable to the impact of climate change. There is evidence that climate change
has undermined in a significant way our efforts for sustainable development. Exceptional
flooding during the past two years does not conform to any known historical trend and does
not show consistency with currently favoured climate change scenarios, observed by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or to any study carried out in Namibia in this
area.
We thus need more sophisticated Early Warning Systems to predict with a higher degree of
accuracy the events that are likely to unfold in the short, medium and long-term. This will put
us in a better position to respond effectively.
In spite of all these challenges, the response by the Government to the ongoing flood situation
bears testimony to our intensified efforts to embrace adaptation measures. We are finalizing
a National Strategy on Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change. We require additional
financial support and technology transfer from our development partners in order to
implement and mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in our
national development process.
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We need additional support to invest in our infrastructure for education, health and other
social programmes. As our consumption continues to grow so does our generation of waste.
We, therefore, require additional investments in waste management.
Mr. Chairman
Namibia mines diamonds, copper, uranium, and many other minerals of strategic importance.
Namibia is party to the Kimberly Process. Mining is the main contributor to our GDP. The
sector is also a significant employer in the country.
Namibia is well known for its sound environmental management practices. Namibia is one
of the few countries in the world where the protection of the environment is provided for in
its Constitution. The Environmental Management Act of 2007 makes it mandatory for
Environmental Impact Assessment studies to be carried out before any mining or prospecting
commences.
The Namibian Government, in partnership with the mining industry, and with financial
support from the German Geological Survey has recently commissioned a Strategic
Environment Assessment (SEA) for uranium. This assessment aims to incorporate
environmental aspects in all uranium-mining activities. It covers issues related to social
aspects, water, biodiversity, and infrastructure development associated with mining activities.
All sensitive areas have been identified and mapped out and possible mitigation measures
have been proposed.
Namibia would like to see local beneficiation and value addition to mineral resources in
countries where they are mined. We would like to see these minerals processed at home so
that they can contribute to job creation and poverty reduction.
We live in an interdependent world. Countries should take joint actions in the implementation
of sustainable development. Only when we adapt our conduct to promote sustainable
patterns of consumption and production can we improve the state of the world and eventually
save ourselves and future generations.
I thank you.
