Saudi Arabia
Draft Statement: the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (April 3rd, 2014)
Mr. Co-Chair,
Thank you.
Saudi Arabia aligns itself with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of the G77 and China. We will keep this intervention short, since we agree with many of the proposed elements under the focused areas. However, we believe that both sustainable cities and human settlements as well as Sustainable consumption and production deserve to be standalone goals under the SDG.
We have a few points regarding these topics.
On Sustainable cities and human settlements:
• This focus area should be a stand alone-goal
• We believe that an effectively planned city and access to transportation are key for sustainable development
• Targets should include those that stress access to affordable, accessible, safe, and sustainable transportation such as bullet point B and E
Mr. Co-Chair,
On Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production:
• The promotion of sustainable consumption and production should be a stand-alone goal as we believe that this issue is vital to development, since it especially effects developing countries
• We believe that the 10-year framework program on sustainable consumption and production highlights its important aspects and we encourage developed countries to take the lead in changing their consumption and production patterns
• Developed countries should support means of implementation in achieving more sustainable consumption and production patterns
Mr. Co-Chair,
On Climate:
It is an important issue related sustainable development, however we should not prejudge the 2015 outcome under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, if anything, we should respect it, since it is the specialized body that deals with this issue.
Hence,
As we recognize from the previous speakers statements, some do not affiliate to the stand-alone goal as it is clearly a cross cutting issue.
• In essence, the appropriate platform for this discussion is in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC is the leading primary platform for international and intergovernmental negotiations; to which its principles such as Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) should be maintained.
• Considering historical responsibility, developed countries should take the lead in combating climate change and in reducing emissions. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia would like to stress the need for developed countries to follow through with their commitments.
Mr. Co-Chair,
Thank you.
Saudi Arabia aligns itself with the statement made by Bolivia on behalf of the G77 and China. We will keep this intervention short, since we agree with many of the proposed elements under the focused areas. However, we believe that both sustainable cities and human settlements as well as Sustainable consumption and production deserve to be standalone goals under the SDG.
We have a few points regarding these topics.
On Sustainable cities and human settlements:
• This focus area should be a stand alone-goal
• We believe that an effectively planned city and access to transportation are key for sustainable development
• Targets should include those that stress access to affordable, accessible, safe, and sustainable transportation such as bullet point B and E
Mr. Co-Chair,
On Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production:
• The promotion of sustainable consumption and production should be a stand-alone goal as we believe that this issue is vital to development, since it especially effects developing countries
• We believe that the 10-year framework program on sustainable consumption and production highlights its important aspects and we encourage developed countries to take the lead in changing their consumption and production patterns
• Developed countries should support means of implementation in achieving more sustainable consumption and production patterns
Mr. Co-Chair,
On Climate:
It is an important issue related sustainable development, however we should not prejudge the 2015 outcome under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, if anything, we should respect it, since it is the specialized body that deals with this issue.
Hence,
As we recognize from the previous speakers statements, some do not affiliate to the stand-alone goal as it is clearly a cross cutting issue.
• In essence, the appropriate platform for this discussion is in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC is the leading primary platform for international and intergovernmental negotiations; to which its principles such as Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) should be maintained.
• Considering historical responsibility, developed countries should take the lead in combating climate change and in reducing emissions. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia would like to stress the need for developed countries to follow through with their commitments.
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