Switzerland
1
2ND PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEETING UN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Statement on the Objectives of the Conference by
Switzerland
delivered by Daniel Ziegerer, Acting Head of Section Global Affairs, International
Affairs Division, Swiss Federal Office for the
Let me start by thanking the bureau and the secretariat for all the hard work
undertaken in preparation for this second meeting of the PrepCom. The
Secretary General’s report and the Synthesis report provide a solid basis for our
discussions at this meeting.
Sustainable development is a fundamental concept for Switzerland. In fact, in the
Swiss Federal Constitution sustainable development is even listed as one of the
national objectives. It goes without saying, that sustainable development can only
be achieved through joint efforts by the international community.
With the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 we agreed at the first Rio conference on
a set of principles and a comprehensive programme for advancing towards a
sustainable future. Yet nearly twenty years later, we must acknowledge we have
still a very long way ahead of us.
The principal objective of the UNCSD, which is to renew the commitment at the
highest political level, is therefore very pertinent. The vision of a sustainable
development needs to be centre stage again and the UNCSD is a good
opportunity for doing so.
We are convinced that the two main conference themes on which we agreed will
permit us to bring sustainable development back on the political agenda of our
leaders. We therefore second those voices mentioned in paragraph 51 of the
synthesis report that state that the UNCSD should focus on the already
designated topics of the institutional framework for sustainable development and
Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty
eradication. With regard to those two topics, Switzerland is fully committed to a
substantive outcome of UNCSD that provides an added value for the
international community.
In order to achieve a meaningful outcome on the institutional framework for
sustainable development, we think it is very important to clearly differentiate
between governance issues in each of the pillars of sustainable development and
governance for sustainable development in a horizontal manner.
2
As mentioned in paragraph 20 of the synthesis report, good environmental
governance is among the highest common priorities for accelerating progress
towards sustainable development. Less than two weeks ago, all of us jointly
agreed at the UNEP Governing Council on the need to initiate at this PrepCom a
full analysis of the financial, structural and legal implications and comparative
advantages of the different options identified in the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome.
We are looking forward to this analysis which will enable us to have informed
discussions about IEG within the UNCSD process in its consideration of the
institutional framework for sustainable development.
In order to bring us forward towards a green economy, Switzerland is convinced
that collective action at the international level is needed. We believe that we need
to make progress on two levels, one being the policy and the other the
operational level. An internationally agreed Road Map for Green Economy that
addresses these two levels, as mentioned in paragraph 79 of the Synthesis
Report, would therefore be a useful and practical outcome of the UNCSD.
The UNCSD preparatory process should profit from the valuable contributions of
the various specialized processes and from the important work of core actors.
The Regional Preparatory meetings, the Report of the High-level Panel on Global
Sustainability, the Global Ministerial Environment Forum in 2012 and the 5th
Global Environment Outlook will all provide valuable contributions that should
feed into the preparations and the outcome of the UNCSD.
Mr. Chairman, let me conclude by stressing once more that Switzerland is
committed to a substantive outcome of the UNCSD. We are looking forward to
fruitful discussions during this 2nd PrepCom Meeting.
2ND PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEETING UN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Statement on the Objectives of the Conference by
Switzerland
delivered by Daniel Ziegerer, Acting Head of Section Global Affairs, International
Affairs Division, Swiss Federal Office for the
Let me start by thanking the bureau and the secretariat for all the hard work
undertaken in preparation for this second meeting of the PrepCom. The
Secretary General’s report and the Synthesis report provide a solid basis for our
discussions at this meeting.
Sustainable development is a fundamental concept for Switzerland. In fact, in the
Swiss Federal Constitution sustainable development is even listed as one of the
national objectives. It goes without saying, that sustainable development can only
be achieved through joint efforts by the international community.
With the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 we agreed at the first Rio conference on
a set of principles and a comprehensive programme for advancing towards a
sustainable future. Yet nearly twenty years later, we must acknowledge we have
still a very long way ahead of us.
The principal objective of the UNCSD, which is to renew the commitment at the
highest political level, is therefore very pertinent. The vision of a sustainable
development needs to be centre stage again and the UNCSD is a good
opportunity for doing so.
We are convinced that the two main conference themes on which we agreed will
permit us to bring sustainable development back on the political agenda of our
leaders. We therefore second those voices mentioned in paragraph 51 of the
synthesis report that state that the UNCSD should focus on the already
designated topics of the institutional framework for sustainable development and
Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty
eradication. With regard to those two topics, Switzerland is fully committed to a
substantive outcome of UNCSD that provides an added value for the
international community.
In order to achieve a meaningful outcome on the institutional framework for
sustainable development, we think it is very important to clearly differentiate
between governance issues in each of the pillars of sustainable development and
governance for sustainable development in a horizontal manner.
2
As mentioned in paragraph 20 of the synthesis report, good environmental
governance is among the highest common priorities for accelerating progress
towards sustainable development. Less than two weeks ago, all of us jointly
agreed at the UNEP Governing Council on the need to initiate at this PrepCom a
full analysis of the financial, structural and legal implications and comparative
advantages of the different options identified in the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome.
We are looking forward to this analysis which will enable us to have informed
discussions about IEG within the UNCSD process in its consideration of the
institutional framework for sustainable development.
In order to bring us forward towards a green economy, Switzerland is convinced
that collective action at the international level is needed. We believe that we need
to make progress on two levels, one being the policy and the other the
operational level. An internationally agreed Road Map for Green Economy that
addresses these two levels, as mentioned in paragraph 79 of the Synthesis
Report, would therefore be a useful and practical outcome of the UNCSD.
The UNCSD preparatory process should profit from the valuable contributions of
the various specialized processes and from the important work of core actors.
The Regional Preparatory meetings, the Report of the High-level Panel on Global
Sustainability, the Global Ministerial Environment Forum in 2012 and the 5th
Global Environment Outlook will all provide valuable contributions that should
feed into the preparations and the outcome of the UNCSD.
Mr. Chairman, let me conclude by stressing once more that Switzerland is
committed to a substantive outcome of the UNCSD. We are looking forward to
fruitful discussions during this 2nd PrepCom Meeting.
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