Sweden
Swedish intervention by Ambassador Viveka Bohn
21 April 2004, Conference room 10.00-13.00
Overall review
Thank you Mr Chairman,
In addition to the statements made by Ireland on behalf of the European Union Sweden would
like to make some national comments.
The Secretary-Generals report on Overview of progress towards sustainable development
points out some areas where progress has been made. However, it also contains alarming
information in particular on poverty and HIV/Aids in sub-Saharan Africa and on maternal
mortality.
Sweden has responded to the international agenda for global development by an effort to
translate it into national policy. The bill ?Shared Responsibility", adopted by Parliament last
December, presents a coherent policy for global development with a single goal for all
government activities: To contribute to equitable and sustainable global development.
Development grows from within a society with recognition of the perspectives of poor people,
that is: the needs, interest, capacit ies and conditions of poor women, men and children is the
point of departure. The measures taken towards equitable and sustainable development should
enhance respect for human rights.
Global development is a shared responsibility between developed and developing countries.
Each country is responsible for its own progress and its achievements as regards the MDG's.
Each country has to commit itself to good governance, democracy and human rights for
development cooperation to be more effective and sustainable . As specified in MDG 8, fair
trade, sound agricultural policies, debt relief, investments and effective development
assistance are all crucial for the achievements of the goals. Sweden is committed towards
reaching all MDG's.
Sweden attaches great importance to the Marrakech process on Sustainable Consumption and
Production. Further development of this work is particularly relevant for the themes discussed
in this first cycle of the CSD. The building sector is the most material intensive and energy
consuming sector and it is of utter importance that human settlement and urban development
is energy and material efficient. Since water is a prerequisite for all human activities demand
management is of high importance and as pointed out at a Swedish side-event yesterday a
shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns in the highly water consuming
agriculture sector is crucial. Sustainable consumption and production will also have high
relevance for our next CSD -cycle on energy and industrial development. We also need to
increase work on corporate social and environmental responsibility.
The overuse and degradation of natural resources continues at an alarming rate. We would
like to stress the importance of ratification and implementation of the Multilateral
Environmental Agreements in particular the climate change and biodiversity conventions.
Finally, I would like to share with you that last week the Swedish government adopted the
second version of our National Sustainable Development Strategy. To improve policy
coherence for sustainable development and to co-ordinate the governments' implementation of
this Strategy a Co-ordination Unit for Sustainable Development has been established in the
Prime Minister's Office.
21 April 2004, Conference room 10.00-13.00
Overall review
Thank you Mr Chairman,
In addition to the statements made by Ireland on behalf of the European Union Sweden would
like to make some national comments.
The Secretary-Generals report on Overview of progress towards sustainable development
points out some areas where progress has been made. However, it also contains alarming
information in particular on poverty and HIV/Aids in sub-Saharan Africa and on maternal
mortality.
Sweden has responded to the international agenda for global development by an effort to
translate it into national policy. The bill ?Shared Responsibility", adopted by Parliament last
December, presents a coherent policy for global development with a single goal for all
government activities: To contribute to equitable and sustainable global development.
Development grows from within a society with recognition of the perspectives of poor people,
that is: the needs, interest, capacit ies and conditions of poor women, men and children is the
point of departure. The measures taken towards equitable and sustainable development should
enhance respect for human rights.
Global development is a shared responsibility between developed and developing countries.
Each country is responsible for its own progress and its achievements as regards the MDG's.
Each country has to commit itself to good governance, democracy and human rights for
development cooperation to be more effective and sustainable . As specified in MDG 8, fair
trade, sound agricultural policies, debt relief, investments and effective development
assistance are all crucial for the achievements of the goals. Sweden is committed towards
reaching all MDG's.
Sweden attaches great importance to the Marrakech process on Sustainable Consumption and
Production. Further development of this work is particularly relevant for the themes discussed
in this first cycle of the CSD. The building sector is the most material intensive and energy
consuming sector and it is of utter importance that human settlement and urban development
is energy and material efficient. Since water is a prerequisite for all human activities demand
management is of high importance and as pointed out at a Swedish side-event yesterday a
shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns in the highly water consuming
agriculture sector is crucial. Sustainable consumption and production will also have high
relevance for our next CSD -cycle on energy and industrial development. We also need to
increase work on corporate social and environmental responsibility.
The overuse and degradation of natural resources continues at an alarming rate. We would
like to stress the importance of ratification and implementation of the Multilateral
Environmental Agreements in particular the climate change and biodiversity conventions.
Finally, I would like to share with you that last week the Swedish government adopted the
second version of our National Sustainable Development Strategy. To improve policy
coherence for sustainable development and to co-ordinate the governments' implementation of
this Strategy a Co-ordination Unit for Sustainable Development has been established in the
Prime Minister's Office.
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