STATEMENT BY THE PREMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CHILE, H.E. OCTAVIO
ERRÁZURIZ, ON BEHALF OF THE RIO GROUP DURING THE SECOND PREPARATORY
CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
March 7, 2011
Mr. Co-Presidents,
I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the States that are
members of the Rio Group, and to extend to you, Mr. Co-Presidents, our warmest
greetings and pledge our full support for this Preparatory Conference and for the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, as decided in G.A.
resolution A/RES/64/236.
At the start, we would like to commend the Bureau for having reached agreement
on a substantive process leading to June 2012.
We would also like to show our appreciation for the host country of the
Conference, Brazil, for its constant guidance and contributions to this process.
Mr. Co-Presidents,
This Second Preparatory Conference will provide the opportunity for further
discussions on the Objective and Themes of Rio + 20 and, so we hope, give way to
a deeper reflection on its guidelines and concepts. It will also allow for an
interactive discussion with respect to the expected results of the process and
contents and formats of the outcome document.
As we stated recently during the January inter-sessional meeting, the Group
believes that the preparatory process of the Rio+20 Conference will be crucial in
the definition of the concrete outcomes and commitments we can achieve in
2012.
True to the Rio Principles, whose consistent and effective application should be
reinforced by this process, we believe we should focus our discussions in further
advancing the international commitment with sustainable development, poverty
eradication, addressing inequalities and preventing new economic and financial
crisis.
In this regard we emphasize the importance of considering the necessary means
of implementation to support the efforts undertaken by developing countries in
achieving sustainable development. The success of Rio + 20 will be measured
against our capacity to effectively address vital issues such as access to adequate
financing, technology and human capacities development, crucial elements in the
discussion of environmental and sustainable development issues.
With respect to new and emerging issues, we believe that the experiences and
effects of the financial and economic crisis, food crisis and energy crisis have
brought to surface many problems that need to be tackled, as of now, in a
comprehensive manner. Climate change, energy security, biodiversity loss,
desertification, water scarcity, marine pollution and frequency of disasters are
challenges we must face with utmost urgency. We also recognize the imperative
to take actions to decouple economic growth and environmental degradation.
The urge to attain sustainable development is a condition to ensuring equity.
Mr. Co-Presidents,
With regards to institutional framework, we believe we must advance along this
path with a healthy, unbiased approach, taking into account the need to consider
the three pillars of sustainable development in a balanced manner. We need to
find efficient institutional mechanisms for sustainable development that will
eliminate duplications, promote synergies and respond, in a dynamic manner, to
the concerns of developing countries. In so doing, we must recognize the
advances obtained by existing international institutions and agreements, as well
as have awareness as to their true potential.
We consider it’s very important that developed countries provide financing for
sustainable development in a predictable and adequate manner. This includes
the provision of ODA; the developed countries must fulfill their commitments, in
particular the 0.7 % from their GDP.
In this regard, regional and sub regional mechanisms should be given major
attention and support for creating or enhancing those structures that coordinate
and assess the main tasks addressed by sustainable development, with adequate
funds in order to implement their objectives, in a context where the United
Nations would have a central role.
We also believe that the institutional framework should support scientific
capacity in areas of sustainable development in developing countries and that the
fulfillment of ODA commitments is a key to enhancing capacity building, including
scientific, technical and technological capacity, and development for developing
countries. In this regards it is crucial to address the basic needs of technology
transfer to developing countries.
With regards to Green Economy there is not, at this moment, a clear and
consensual definition of what a “green economy” approach entails.
We believe that UNCSD provides an opportunity to discuss the possible
benefits as well as possible risks involved in such a concept and its policy
implications. We also believe the road to an economy that better integrates
social and environmental concerns will require a certain degree of flexibility
and the consideration of the different levels of economic, social and
environmental development in different countries. It should lead to strong,
sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, by: promoting human resources
development, bridging the technology and development gap, enhancing
developing countries competitiveness; and help expand market access for
their products while rejecting protectionism and trade-distorting measures.
Thank you
