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SOLOMON ISLANDS
STATEMENT BY
HON. GORDON DARCY LILO, MP
PRIME MINISTER
BEFORE THE PLENARY MEETING OF THE UNITED
NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMEENT (RIO+20)
20 JUNE 2012
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
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Your Excellency, Madam President, Hon. Dilma Rousseff
Presidents,
Prime Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I bring you greetings from the Government and People of
Solomon Islands. Let me congratulate Brazil for being such a
wonderful host and for its leadership in facilitating negotiations
that would lead to the adoption of the Rio Declaration.
I come to this conference with a sense of urgency and trepidation
as we have reached the planetary boundary that now threatens
the health and survival of the human race. We have entered an
era of overfished world and excess resource extraction that is nonsustainable.
Given the intensity and frequency of a number of natural and
global crises, today, the global system has placed SIDS and LDCs
with an uncertain future. We still continue to face challenges from
climate change impact to growing global inequalities and
unsustainable consumption by a broken international economic
system.
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Since the Earth Summit in 1992, what has been so apparent is a
clear lack of political will to honor commitments that would have
translated into actions. As a result of such gross inaction, we have
not achieved much by the time Rio+20 comes.
Mr. President:
Here in Rio, we renew our collective commitment to the Rio
Principles with a focused and concise set of agreed actions that
should guarantee the future of our planet, for the present, and
for generations to come. We have agreed to change the way we
do business! This calls for better distribution of wealth and
efficient use of resources that respect social values. After all,
Quality of Life is measured in Fairness, Equality, Decent jobs that
seek inclusive, balance, and an equitable approach to eradicate
poverty. We can even support a quality of life that is measured
by our Gross National Happiness Index.
Here, in Rio, we recognize some of the key deliverables. We will
be launching three process decisions: First, the establishment of
the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals will safe-guard,
life-giving resources needed for humanity's survival. Second, an
institutional framework for sustainable development, to better
coordinate the implementation of decisions emanating from the
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conference. Third, the means of implementation that would
translate decisions into action with relevant Technology Transfer,
and a Financial Mechanism to ensure resources are available for
implementation.
Mr. President:
The unique and special situation of SIDS was recognized twenty
years ago. Today, the urgency of the situation remains! It is,
therefore, critical to ensure that SIDS are represented in processes
including the SDG Steering Committee.
Mr. President:
Solomon Islands welcomes the decision of the Conference to
convene the Third Sustainable Development Conference for SIDS
in the Pacific region in 2014. The government welcomes
recognition by all leaders that climate change does undermine
sustainable development. Current emission pledges on the table
will see global temperature increased by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius in
the next 100 years. Ocean acidification is on the increase and is
threatening the health of both corals and fish stocks.
Solomon Islands is a member of the Coral Triangle Initiative. CTI
hosts 76% of the world's known coral species, 37% of the world's
reef fish, more than half of the world’s coral reefs, and a large
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extent of mangroves and spawning grounds for pelagic life such
as tuna.
At the regional level, Solomon Islands had hosted the First Pacific
Species Forum. This was a conservation strategy to index the
taxonomy of our Pacific fauna and flora in order to move from
scientific knowledge to conservation actions.
The loss of marine biodiversity due to climate change is certain,
unless agreement is reached under the UNFCCC negotiations to
keep global temperature below 1.5 degree Celsius. Small Islands
Developing States must not be seen as expendable because of
their smallness. Nor should they be regarded as collateral
damage because of global inaction. We support the call by SIDS
to build on the political momentum generated in Rio for a
ministerial summit on the margins of UNGA 67 session. This is to
garner political support generated here in Rio and to take
concrete ambitious mitigation targets.
Mr. President:
All countries need to have science-based driven policies. This is to
ensure that development related activities are sustainable and
promote inter-generational equity. This is because our
populations depend on the environment for subsistence and
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livelihood. At this juncture, I am, indeed, pleased to note that
this is reflected in the document we will adopt.
For SIDS and LDCs, as growing democracies, it is important that
international partnerships are managed through state
institutions. Confidence in and legitimacy of state institutions is a
must! After all the state is the primary actor: nationally,
regionally, and internationally.
Despite challenges, Solomon Islands have embarked on a number
of policy initiatives to meet its commitments for Sustainable
Development vis-à-vis Biodiversity Initiatives, Land Degradation
Programs and Reforestation, Climate Change Policy: Mitigation
and Adaptation.
On fisheries, Solomon Islands had taken ground-breaking decision
in conserving global fish stocks, acting in concert with seven other
Pacific SIDS. The Pacific Ocean, as you are aware, provides a
quarter of the world's tuna. Two years ago, eight Pacific Small
Islands developing States, referred to as the Parties to the Nauru
Agreement, closed 4.5 million square kilometers of high seas from
purse seine fishing. The conservation measures have leveraged
economic and enhanced value-added opportunities for the PNA
member states. An example is the “Vessel Day Scheme” (VDS).
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The present Solomon Island government has also embarked on an
on-shore processing initiative. Negotiations have been carried out
with a number of fishing investors. This would add-value in terms
of job creation, income generation, and fishery management in
the country.
Mr. President:
Solomon Islands is addressing depletion of forest in the country. It
has made a deliberate decision to scale-down logging and replace
it with ecotourism, sustainable farming, fishing and responsible
mining. Also, Solomon Islands sought EITI membership to ensure
international standards are observed by all stakeholders.
Investment in renewable energy, smallholder and subsistence
farmers will be game changing support for transformation of our
economy.
To abate land degradation, Solomon Island government has
embarked on Land Recording and Registration. This is important
because 80% of the land is customarily owned. This policy will
enable people’s participation in sustainable development.
Yesterday, Solomon Islands was an awardee for the UN Equator
Initiative. This was received by the Tetepare Descendant
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Association. Tetepare is the largest uninhabited island in the
Pacific and unlogged island in the world, with rich biodiversity
and rain forest. The communal ecotourism enterprise provides
jobs and education for its members. This is an example of
sustainable cooperation that acts locally and contributes globally.
Mr. President:
The Document we will adopt, "The Future We Want" sets a path
that would allow us to work together to create a better future for
the present and future generations.
In closing, I wish to register Solomon Islands’ unreserved support
for the Rio Outcome Document!
Mr. President, I Thank You
