Rio Group
Statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Chile Ambassador
Octavio Errázuriz, on behalf of the States Members of the Rio Group
Mr. President,
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 both, Mr. Presidents, our
warmest greetings.
First and foremost we would like to pledge our support for the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development as it was decided in G.A. resolution
A/RES/64/236 and declare that our region stands ready to address the issues at
hand, in the clear understanding that our planet has reached a crossroad where
the difference from one path and another can mean the difference between
sustainability and survival, on the one hand, and inaction and condemnation of
future generations and their lively-hood, on the other. Under these
circumstances, we must understand that is necessary to take actions to decouple
economic growth and environmental degradation. The urge to attain sustainable
development is a condition to ensuring equity.
At the outset, let me start by saying that it is regrettable that the Trust Fund was
not able to finance the participation of any developing country delegate.
The full participation of developing countries in this process is essential in order
to achieve an adequate balance in the negotiations enabling the success of the
conference and multilateralism.
The importance that we give to the Objective and Themes of the Conference
make it necessary for us to breathe greater dynamism and leadership into this
process, if we want to rise up to the challenges before us.
Mr. President,
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. 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.
For the Rio Group, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
represents a crucial opportunity to reaffirm at the highest political level our
commitment to the Rio Principles and ensure their consistent and effective
application.
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.
In relation to means of implementation, we again stress the importance of access
to financing and technologies, which are crucial in the discussion of
environmental and sustainable development issues.
In regards 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 in a comprehensive
manner and with utmost urgency. Challenges such as climate change, energy
security, biodiversity loss, desertification, water scarcity and frequency of
disasters will all deserve our attention.
Mr. President,
Let me next address the themes of the conference.
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 not lose gained
ground by lack of acknowledgement of, or appreciation for, the advances
obtained by existing international institutions and agreements, or awareness as to
their true potential.
We consider it’s very important that developed countries provide financing in a
predictable and adequate manner for addressing the ODA to sustainable
development. 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
coordinating and assessing the main tasks addressed to 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.
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 a 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.
Thank you
“Sr. Presidente,
Creemos que debemos impulsar sinergias entre las organizaciones de la ONU que se ocupan del
medio ambiente y el desarrollo sostenible y mejorar la coordinación entre los acuerdos
multilaterales relativos a estos tópicos. Evitaría brechas en la formulación de políticas, así como
la confusión, duplicación e incoherencia existentes en la estructura institucional actual.
Como comentario particular al documento de síntesis, queremos llamar la atención sobre el
párrafo 56 donde se menciona la posibilidad de mejorar los sistemas de alerta temprana sobre
la base de las redes de comunicación con teléfonos portables. La experiencia del terremoto en
Chile del 27 de febrero es elocuente; la red telefónica colapso completamente a los pocos
minutos del terremoto por la saturación de llamadas y por la falta de respaldo energético
adecuado. La experiencia muestra que la gestión de desastres, en particular en la etapa
posterior a los mismos, debe basarse en redes de comunicación que posean autonomía
energética y que sean independientes de las redes comerciales.
También creemos fundamental que, junto con la cooperación internacional, el financiamiento,
la transferencia tecnológica y la formación de capacidades, se haga un esfuerzo por fortalecer
las instituciones en los niveles nacionales y regionales, tanto en las autoridades públicas como
en la sociedad civil y el sector privado.
Reconocemos que el concepto de economía verde, ya nos ha acompañado en los últimos años
como una tendencia reconocible en varios procesos sociales, económicos ambientales.
Creemos que el reconocimiento de estos avances puede ser una base para completar los
elementos requeridos y donde los avances no han estado a la altura de los desafíos, para el
logro de un desarrollo sustentable, que, reiteramos, constituye el foco y objetivo principal de
los resultados que debemos esperar en la conferencia de Río + 20.
También desearíamos ver un tratamiento más profundo, en los documentos preparatorios
sobre la sustentabilidad y los océanos. Sabemos que no es el único tema relacionado con la
sustentabilidad. Con todo, los océanos son esenciales para la alimentación de una población
creciente y constituyen la base para la reserva de la biósfera y de muchas cadenas alimentarias.
Muchas gracias”.
Octavio Errázuriz, on behalf of the States Members of the Rio Group
Mr. President,
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 both, Mr. Presidents, our
warmest greetings.
First and foremost we would like to pledge our support for the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development as it was decided in G.A. resolution
A/RES/64/236 and declare that our region stands ready to address the issues at
hand, in the clear understanding that our planet has reached a crossroad where
the difference from one path and another can mean the difference between
sustainability and survival, on the one hand, and inaction and condemnation of
future generations and their lively-hood, on the other. Under these
circumstances, we must understand that is necessary to take actions to decouple
economic growth and environmental degradation. The urge to attain sustainable
development is a condition to ensuring equity.
At the outset, let me start by saying that it is regrettable that the Trust Fund was
not able to finance the participation of any developing country delegate.
The full participation of developing countries in this process is essential in order
to achieve an adequate balance in the negotiations enabling the success of the
conference and multilateralism.
The importance that we give to the Objective and Themes of the Conference
make it necessary for us to breathe greater dynamism and leadership into this
process, if we want to rise up to the challenges before us.
Mr. President,
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. 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.
For the Rio Group, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
represents a crucial opportunity to reaffirm at the highest political level our
commitment to the Rio Principles and ensure their consistent and effective
application.
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.
In relation to means of implementation, we again stress the importance of access
to financing and technologies, which are crucial in the discussion of
environmental and sustainable development issues.
In regards 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 in a comprehensive
manner and with utmost urgency. Challenges such as climate change, energy
security, biodiversity loss, desertification, water scarcity and frequency of
disasters will all deserve our attention.
Mr. President,
Let me next address the themes of the conference.
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 not lose gained
ground by lack of acknowledgement of, or appreciation for, the advances
obtained by existing international institutions and agreements, or awareness as to
their true potential.
We consider it’s very important that developed countries provide financing in a
predictable and adequate manner for addressing the ODA to sustainable
development. 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
coordinating and assessing the main tasks addressed to 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.
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 a 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.
Thank you
“Sr. Presidente,
Creemos que debemos impulsar sinergias entre las organizaciones de la ONU que se ocupan del
medio ambiente y el desarrollo sostenible y mejorar la coordinación entre los acuerdos
multilaterales relativos a estos tópicos. Evitaría brechas en la formulación de políticas, así como
la confusión, duplicación e incoherencia existentes en la estructura institucional actual.
Como comentario particular al documento de síntesis, queremos llamar la atención sobre el
párrafo 56 donde se menciona la posibilidad de mejorar los sistemas de alerta temprana sobre
la base de las redes de comunicación con teléfonos portables. La experiencia del terremoto en
Chile del 27 de febrero es elocuente; la red telefónica colapso completamente a los pocos
minutos del terremoto por la saturación de llamadas y por la falta de respaldo energético
adecuado. La experiencia muestra que la gestión de desastres, en particular en la etapa
posterior a los mismos, debe basarse en redes de comunicación que posean autonomía
energética y que sean independientes de las redes comerciales.
También creemos fundamental que, junto con la cooperación internacional, el financiamiento,
la transferencia tecnológica y la formación de capacidades, se haga un esfuerzo por fortalecer
las instituciones en los niveles nacionales y regionales, tanto en las autoridades públicas como
en la sociedad civil y el sector privado.
Reconocemos que el concepto de economía verde, ya nos ha acompañado en los últimos años
como una tendencia reconocible en varios procesos sociales, económicos ambientales.
Creemos que el reconocimiento de estos avances puede ser una base para completar los
elementos requeridos y donde los avances no han estado a la altura de los desafíos, para el
logro de un desarrollo sustentable, que, reiteramos, constituye el foco y objetivo principal de
los resultados que debemos esperar en la conferencia de Río + 20.
También desearíamos ver un tratamiento más profundo, en los documentos preparatorios
sobre la sustentabilidad y los océanos. Sabemos que no es el único tema relacionado con la
sustentabilidad. Con todo, los océanos son esenciales para la alimentación de una población
creciente y constituyen la base para la reserva de la biósfera y de muchas cadenas alimentarias.
Muchas gracias”.