Poland
REPUBLIC OF POLAND
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
9 EAST 66th STREET, NEW YORK, N .Y. 10021
TEL. (212) 744-2506
Commission on Sustainable Development
14th session
HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT
S T A T E M E N T
by
Ms. Agnieszka BOLESTA
Undersecretary of State
Ministry of the Environment
of the Republic of Poland
New York, 11 May 2006
Check against delivery
Mr. Chairman, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
statementI iwsi lnlo wb eb ebirnige fdi sttor imbeuette dC hiani rtmhaen 'roso mr.equest regarding the time limit . Full text of my
Mr. Chairman,
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you and the Bureau members for excellent
preparation of this session . I wish to express my appreciation to the Secretary General for his
report on the major challenges we are facing in the areas of energy for sustainable development,
industrial development, atmosphere pollution and climate change .
The distinguished Minister of Austria already spoke on behalf of European Union and its
member states, but I would like to offer some additional comments . Indeed access to energy,
energy supply and industrial development are indispensable for development, as well as
eradication of poverty, which is the first of the Millennium Development Goals .
Mr. Chairman, dear colleagues
Global climate change is a major challenge the human kind will face in the coming years .
Poland considers that energy supply security is a precondition for further development and
economic growth of the world. Therefore I will focus on these two issues,' using our own
experiences.
While our GDP has been growing recently by up to 6 per cent annually, energy,
consumption growth' never exceeded 2%, and GHG emissions have decreased by more than 30
since 1988 . Sulphur-dioxide emissions decreased more than 50% and particulates almost 90%
during the same period of time .
These positive . developments have been possible due to structural changes in our
economy and persistent implementation of priorities identified in the National'-Environmental
Policies. An important role in this process played the establishment of unique environmental
financing schemes, namely environmental funds, debt to environment swaps and effective use of
available resources. We are ready to share our experiences with other countries .
Although our economy has been growing fast during recent years, the state of
environment has been improving and the biodiversity is at the same level or even richer . We
strongly believe that environment and biodiversity are important elements contributing to
economic development, for example biodiversity resources can be used for job creation and
development. Taking into account the linkages between natural environment, natural resources
and development, we find it important to reverse negative global trends of losing biodiversity
resources.
Referring to energy for sustainable development the most important issues, in our
opinion, are:
improvement of energy security, including by diversification of energy sources,
increasing access to reliable and affordable energy services for sustainable
development, particularly in developing countries,
increasing the use of renewable sources for energy production,
decoupling of economic growth from energy demand, i .e. by changing energy
consumption patterns and improving energy efficiency
integration of energy access, energy efficiency, air and climate protection measures into
national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, sustainable
development programmes, etc .,
2
more active involvement of general public and stakeholders into decision making, and
public-private partnerships .
With regard to sustainable industrial development, Poland considers as the most
important the following:
creating friendly environment for development of small and medium sized
enterprises, and assist them in their development,
changing consumption and production patterns to much more sustainable path
supporting development of scientific research aiming at environmentally sound
technologies and technology transfer,
developing
corporate
social
and
environmental
accountability
and responsibility, including through environmental management schemes and integrated
product policies,
Mr. Chairman,
It is not possible to win the battle against the climate change with the participation of
developed countries alone . This challenge requires much broader, global response . The share of
developed world in global GHG emissions is decreasing and even more ambitious targets for this
group of countries will not be enough to stop global warming . The developing countries will
continue to develop and will need more energy to meet the demand of their societies. The main
challenge for the international society is now to assist the fast growing developing countries in
choosing the path of development contributing to measures aiming at stabilization and . reduction
of global GHG . emissions in the. coming years. We are open to discussion of any possible
framework of future climate change regime involving all countries . :
Climate change is closely linked to energy supply challenge . The rapid development of
global economy, :including emerging economies, will require . more and more energy, including
energy. from fossil l- fuels . The recent rise of oil and natural gas prices should : stimulate )
development of new, zero, and loww emission technologies . Otherwise the issue of energy safety
will be an overriding priority for many countries, one even more important thanthe need to stop,
global warming . Poland as .a country with an energy sector based on coal is particularly interested.
in such technologies, as well as carbon capture and storage technologies . Moreover, Poland
recognizes the need for an increased share of renewable energy in the future energy mix . Any .
new GHG emission reduction targets after 2012 will require significant changes in the energy
sector . We need to ensure, that such changes will not influence the energy safety at national,
regional and global scale, in a negative way.
Mr. Chairman,
Our discussion would not be meaningful without integration of cross-cutting issues such
as poverty eradication, changing consumption and production patterns, education for sustainable
development, raising public awareness and participation, capacity building, health, gender
equality and development of new, effective financial and investment mechanisms into all four of
the themes discussed during the present session .
I thank you, Mr. Chairman
PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
9 EAST 66th STREET, NEW YORK, N .Y. 10021
TEL. (212) 744-2506
Commission on Sustainable Development
14th session
HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT
S T A T E M E N T
by
Ms. Agnieszka BOLESTA
Undersecretary of State
Ministry of the Environment
of the Republic of Poland
New York, 11 May 2006
Check against delivery
Mr. Chairman, Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
statementI iwsi lnlo wb eb ebirnige fdi sttor imbeuette dC hiani rtmhaen 'roso mr.equest regarding the time limit . Full text of my
Mr. Chairman,
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you and the Bureau members for excellent
preparation of this session . I wish to express my appreciation to the Secretary General for his
report on the major challenges we are facing in the areas of energy for sustainable development,
industrial development, atmosphere pollution and climate change .
The distinguished Minister of Austria already spoke on behalf of European Union and its
member states, but I would like to offer some additional comments . Indeed access to energy,
energy supply and industrial development are indispensable for development, as well as
eradication of poverty, which is the first of the Millennium Development Goals .
Mr. Chairman, dear colleagues
Global climate change is a major challenge the human kind will face in the coming years .
Poland considers that energy supply security is a precondition for further development and
economic growth of the world. Therefore I will focus on these two issues,' using our own
experiences.
While our GDP has been growing recently by up to 6 per cent annually, energy,
consumption growth' never exceeded 2%, and GHG emissions have decreased by more than 30
since 1988 . Sulphur-dioxide emissions decreased more than 50% and particulates almost 90%
during the same period of time .
These positive . developments have been possible due to structural changes in our
economy and persistent implementation of priorities identified in the National'-Environmental
Policies. An important role in this process played the establishment of unique environmental
financing schemes, namely environmental funds, debt to environment swaps and effective use of
available resources. We are ready to share our experiences with other countries .
Although our economy has been growing fast during recent years, the state of
environment has been improving and the biodiversity is at the same level or even richer . We
strongly believe that environment and biodiversity are important elements contributing to
economic development, for example biodiversity resources can be used for job creation and
development. Taking into account the linkages between natural environment, natural resources
and development, we find it important to reverse negative global trends of losing biodiversity
resources.
Referring to energy for sustainable development the most important issues, in our
opinion, are:
improvement of energy security, including by diversification of energy sources,
increasing access to reliable and affordable energy services for sustainable
development, particularly in developing countries,
increasing the use of renewable sources for energy production,
decoupling of economic growth from energy demand, i .e. by changing energy
consumption patterns and improving energy efficiency
integration of energy access, energy efficiency, air and climate protection measures into
national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, sustainable
development programmes, etc .,
2
more active involvement of general public and stakeholders into decision making, and
public-private partnerships .
With regard to sustainable industrial development, Poland considers as the most
important the following:
creating friendly environment for development of small and medium sized
enterprises, and assist them in their development,
changing consumption and production patterns to much more sustainable path
supporting development of scientific research aiming at environmentally sound
technologies and technology transfer,
developing
corporate
social
and
environmental
accountability
and responsibility, including through environmental management schemes and integrated
product policies,
Mr. Chairman,
It is not possible to win the battle against the climate change with the participation of
developed countries alone . This challenge requires much broader, global response . The share of
developed world in global GHG emissions is decreasing and even more ambitious targets for this
group of countries will not be enough to stop global warming . The developing countries will
continue to develop and will need more energy to meet the demand of their societies. The main
challenge for the international society is now to assist the fast growing developing countries in
choosing the path of development contributing to measures aiming at stabilization and . reduction
of global GHG . emissions in the. coming years. We are open to discussion of any possible
framework of future climate change regime involving all countries . :
Climate change is closely linked to energy supply challenge . The rapid development of
global economy, :including emerging economies, will require . more and more energy, including
energy. from fossil l- fuels . The recent rise of oil and natural gas prices should : stimulate )
development of new, zero, and loww emission technologies . Otherwise the issue of energy safety
will be an overriding priority for many countries, one even more important thanthe need to stop,
global warming . Poland as .a country with an energy sector based on coal is particularly interested.
in such technologies, as well as carbon capture and storage technologies . Moreover, Poland
recognizes the need for an increased share of renewable energy in the future energy mix . Any .
new GHG emission reduction targets after 2012 will require significant changes in the energy
sector . We need to ensure, that such changes will not influence the energy safety at national,
regional and global scale, in a negative way.
Mr. Chairman,
Our discussion would not be meaningful without integration of cross-cutting issues such
as poverty eradication, changing consumption and production patterns, education for sustainable
development, raising public awareness and participation, capacity building, health, gender
equality and development of new, effective financial and investment mechanisms into all four of
the themes discussed during the present session .
I thank you, Mr. Chairman
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