Slovakia
Statement by H.E. Mr. Peter Ziga,
Minister of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
(Rio+20, plenary session, 22 June 2012)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to extend to you the greetings from the highest representatives of my country and
the Government which is very strongly committed to pursue the objectives of sustainable
development adopted at the previous global summits and meetings. We met here both to look
back to what extent we have succeeded in turning our efforts and ambitions in practice and to
set out realistic objectives for the future.
Looking back to what has been achieved we have to admit that despite some partial
improvements and positive changes, these still remain insufficient or regionally limited.
Hunger and poverty, unbalanced economic development, loss of biodiversity or climate
change, depletion of natural resources, energy and wastes – these are only some examples of
areas where our efforts have to be strengthened and implementation of effective measures
accelerated. What we decisively need is a strengthened cooperation on the international level -
addressing the persistent challenges related to sustainable development for all regions and
countries, in particular those facing the most serious economic, environmental and social
problems. The economic stability and sustained economic growth, promotion of social equity,
and protection of the environment are important for eradicating poverty and improving human
well-being.
On the global level the functional institutional system constitutes one of the basic
preconditions for achieving goals and targets laid down in the international conventions,
agreements and treaties. Such a system must be well embedded in the system of the United
Nations so that it can address the most serious problems of sustainable development in
a comprehensive way. On the other hand we should avoid situation of duplication of our
activities and concentrate our human and financial capacities on dealing with the most
threatening problems we face. Therefore we support the idea of strengthening the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) so that it integrates all three main pillars of sustainable
development – economic, environmental and social. This is a proper and more effective way
than creating a new administrative body where new procedures and capacities should have
been created.
When speaking about strengthening the institutional arrangements of sustainable development
we need to promote the environmental pillar by transforming the United Nations Environment
Programme to a specialised agency, with predictable, stable and adequate funding, dealing
with the global environmental issues. We are convinced that such an approach has a potential
to effectively contribute to enhancing synergies among multilateral environmental
agreements, promoting the science-policy interface, building on existing international
instruments, assessments, panels and information networks and providing capacity building to
support countries and facilitate their access to technology.
We are of the opinion that we should adopt measures on the regional level but with global
impacts. Within the European Union we are focusing now on an approach based on
preparation of macroregional strategies. Such strategies, so far defined for the Baltic and
Danube regions, identify the major obstacles and challenges and lay down concrete measures
and actions to foster sustainable development in the countries involved. Such an approach
could be a good example also for other countries in various world regions which could in this
way better address their specific problems under specific conditions.
One of the fundamental tasks we have to solve is to find a balance between the economic
development and the protection of scarce natural resource. The concept of green economy, if
accompanied by concrete and specific measures, offers a unique opportunity to provide for
economic development together with rational use of resources, dealing with social issues,
especially promoting employment.
As far as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are concerned we support the outcomes
achieved in the framework of the negotiations on the level of the European Union and other
forums. The new Sustainable Development Goals should be linked to the Millennium
Development Goals. In the meantime we have to make every effort to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals so as to avoid any overlap with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ladies and gentlemen, let express hope that this summit will become a real milestone in
bringing our lives closer to the sustainability.
Minister of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
(Rio+20, plenary session, 22 June 2012)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to extend to you the greetings from the highest representatives of my country and
the Government which is very strongly committed to pursue the objectives of sustainable
development adopted at the previous global summits and meetings. We met here both to look
back to what extent we have succeeded in turning our efforts and ambitions in practice and to
set out realistic objectives for the future.
Looking back to what has been achieved we have to admit that despite some partial
improvements and positive changes, these still remain insufficient or regionally limited.
Hunger and poverty, unbalanced economic development, loss of biodiversity or climate
change, depletion of natural resources, energy and wastes – these are only some examples of
areas where our efforts have to be strengthened and implementation of effective measures
accelerated. What we decisively need is a strengthened cooperation on the international level -
addressing the persistent challenges related to sustainable development for all regions and
countries, in particular those facing the most serious economic, environmental and social
problems. The economic stability and sustained economic growth, promotion of social equity,
and protection of the environment are important for eradicating poverty and improving human
well-being.
On the global level the functional institutional system constitutes one of the basic
preconditions for achieving goals and targets laid down in the international conventions,
agreements and treaties. Such a system must be well embedded in the system of the United
Nations so that it can address the most serious problems of sustainable development in
a comprehensive way. On the other hand we should avoid situation of duplication of our
activities and concentrate our human and financial capacities on dealing with the most
threatening problems we face. Therefore we support the idea of strengthening the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) so that it integrates all three main pillars of sustainable
development – economic, environmental and social. This is a proper and more effective way
than creating a new administrative body where new procedures and capacities should have
been created.
When speaking about strengthening the institutional arrangements of sustainable development
we need to promote the environmental pillar by transforming the United Nations Environment
Programme to a specialised agency, with predictable, stable and adequate funding, dealing
with the global environmental issues. We are convinced that such an approach has a potential
to effectively contribute to enhancing synergies among multilateral environmental
agreements, promoting the science-policy interface, building on existing international
instruments, assessments, panels and information networks and providing capacity building to
support countries and facilitate their access to technology.
We are of the opinion that we should adopt measures on the regional level but with global
impacts. Within the European Union we are focusing now on an approach based on
preparation of macroregional strategies. Such strategies, so far defined for the Baltic and
Danube regions, identify the major obstacles and challenges and lay down concrete measures
and actions to foster sustainable development in the countries involved. Such an approach
could be a good example also for other countries in various world regions which could in this
way better address their specific problems under specific conditions.
One of the fundamental tasks we have to solve is to find a balance between the economic
development and the protection of scarce natural resource. The concept of green economy, if
accompanied by concrete and specific measures, offers a unique opportunity to provide for
economic development together with rational use of resources, dealing with social issues,
especially promoting employment.
As far as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are concerned we support the outcomes
achieved in the framework of the negotiations on the level of the European Union and other
forums. The new Sustainable Development Goals should be linked to the Millennium
Development Goals. In the meantime we have to make every effort to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals so as to avoid any overlap with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ladies and gentlemen, let express hope that this summit will become a real milestone in
bringing our lives closer to the sustainability.
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