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2ND PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEETING UN CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Statement by Switzerland on the Expected Outcome and
Next Steps
delivered by Daniel Ziegerer, Acting Head of Section Global Affairs, International
Affairs Division, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
In order to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development
and to have a concrete outcome of the conference in 2012, it is important that the
UNCSD will focus on the already designated topics. Switzerland is committed to
a substantive outcome of the UNCSD on strengthening the institutional
framework for sustainable development and on accelerating the shift towards a
Green Economy.
With regard to Green Economy, Switzerland is convinced that collective action at
the international level is needed. As my delegation has stated already at the first
PrepCom, we think that one of the main outcomes of the UNCSD should
therefore be an international Green Economy Road Map.
This Green Economy Road Map should reflect progress on two levels, one being
the policy and the other the operational level. At the policy level, the Green
Economy Road Map needs to contain a common vision, common goals, common
strategies as well as concrete targets and timelines for the transformation
towards a green economy. At the operational level, the Green Economy Road
Map needs to bring together best practices and tools that will help us to put the
common vision and goals into practice.
Both the policy and the operational part of the Green Economy Road Map should
build on the excellent analysis and range of possible policies, measures and best
practices identified in the UNEP Green Economy Report. The report certainly is a
milestone and contains key findings that are obviously of tremendous importance
for our further deliberations .
Mr. Chair, with regard to the outcome in the area of institutional framework for
sustainable development, we think it is important to address both governance in
each of the pillars of sustainable development as well as governance for
sustainable development in a horizontal manner. Our deliberations have once
more confirmed that environmental governance is among the highest common
priorities for accelerating progress toward sustainable development.
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In this context, we look forward to the full analysis of the broader reform options
identified in the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome. This will allow an informed decision
about an ambitious and effective International Environmental Governance
Reform package as part of the strengthening the institutional framework for
sustainable development.
With regard to improving governance for sustainable development in a horizontal
manner, Switzerland is certainly open to consider any concrete proposals. In
particular, we think that we should fi nd ways to achieve better accountability for
example through the establishment of a peer review process.
Mr. Chair, let me turn to the question of the format of the outcome. It our view
that we should aim for a concise political outcome of the UNCSD as we have
already agreed in the relevant UN General Assembly resolution. We do not think
that the outcome of this summit should be a comprehensive Plan of
Implementation on all aspects of Agenda 21 as it was the case the years ago at
the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Mr. Chair, Switzerland is committed to an outcome from the UNCSD that has an
added value. The short political outcome that we are looking for should renew the
international commitment to sustainable development by agreeing on concrete
steps forward for shifting towards a Green Economy and for improving the
institutional framework for sustainable development.
