Thailand
Statement by Delegation of Thailand
At the Official Segment of the
12th Session of Commission on Sustainable Development
21 April 2004
-------------------------
Mr. Chairman,
First of all, I wish to congratulate you and the other members of
the Bureau on your elections . I am confident that with your able leadership
you will guide our deliberation towards a successful conclusion .
I also wish to associate my delegation with the statement made
earlier by the distinguished Permanent Representative of Qatar on behalf of
the Group of 77 and China.
Mr. Chairman,
The Thai Government has always attached importance to the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,
with particular emphasis on the promotion of good governance,
decentralization, public sector reform and corporate governance .
Poverty eradication, a key element in attaining sustainable
development, is a top priority for the Thai government . It has pursued propoor
policies attempting to reduce the cost of living, increase income, create
jobs and expand opportunities for the poor. At the same time, the
government has introduced innovative measures to improve the provision of
public services such as greater access to health care, education and housing .
As regards to sustainable production and consumption patterns,
the Thai government has been promoting, among others, the use of clean
technology and energy efficiency in the industrial sector, voluntary ecolabeling
scheme and public awareness campaigns .
The Thai Government adopted the Integrated Water Resource
Management concept in 1997 and commenced its implementation shortly
f
thereafter. Many initiatives and programmes developed for water resource
management are now in satisfactory stage of development .
On the protection of the atmosphere, Thailand has successfully
implemented the National CFC Phase-out Program . Attempts have also been
made to reduce greenhouse gases through campaigns to reduce power
consumption and increase carbon sinks .
Environmental management in urban and industrial areas is also
a priority of the Thai government. The government is encouraging local
government to develop guidelines for managing livable cities, towns and
communities .
Thailand is actively involved in sub-regional and regional
initiatives including those under ASEAN . Thailand is fully supportive of the
Mekong River Commission in its management of transboundary water
resources so as to promote equitable and sustainable use of the Mekong
River among countries in the subregion .
Mr. Chairman,
Although Thailand has made some progress in the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the JPOI, we are still faced with a number
of difficulties . This includes lack of capacity and resources at the local level
in the decentralization of sustainable development, lack of resources in law
enforcement and the lack of sufficient funding for certain sustainable
development projects such as the establishment of waste water treatment
plants in urban areas. Despite these obstacles, we are determined to continue
our efforts in order to achieve those goals and targets in Agenda 21 and the
JPOI as well as those contained in the Millennium Declaration .
Thank you .
At the Official Segment of the
12th Session of Commission on Sustainable Development
21 April 2004
-------------------------
Mr. Chairman,
First of all, I wish to congratulate you and the other members of
the Bureau on your elections . I am confident that with your able leadership
you will guide our deliberation towards a successful conclusion .
I also wish to associate my delegation with the statement made
earlier by the distinguished Permanent Representative of Qatar on behalf of
the Group of 77 and China.
Mr. Chairman,
The Thai Government has always attached importance to the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,
with particular emphasis on the promotion of good governance,
decentralization, public sector reform and corporate governance .
Poverty eradication, a key element in attaining sustainable
development, is a top priority for the Thai government . It has pursued propoor
policies attempting to reduce the cost of living, increase income, create
jobs and expand opportunities for the poor. At the same time, the
government has introduced innovative measures to improve the provision of
public services such as greater access to health care, education and housing .
As regards to sustainable production and consumption patterns,
the Thai government has been promoting, among others, the use of clean
technology and energy efficiency in the industrial sector, voluntary ecolabeling
scheme and public awareness campaigns .
The Thai Government adopted the Integrated Water Resource
Management concept in 1997 and commenced its implementation shortly
f
thereafter. Many initiatives and programmes developed for water resource
management are now in satisfactory stage of development .
On the protection of the atmosphere, Thailand has successfully
implemented the National CFC Phase-out Program . Attempts have also been
made to reduce greenhouse gases through campaigns to reduce power
consumption and increase carbon sinks .
Environmental management in urban and industrial areas is also
a priority of the Thai government. The government is encouraging local
government to develop guidelines for managing livable cities, towns and
communities .
Thailand is actively involved in sub-regional and regional
initiatives including those under ASEAN . Thailand is fully supportive of the
Mekong River Commission in its management of transboundary water
resources so as to promote equitable and sustainable use of the Mekong
River among countries in the subregion .
Mr. Chairman,
Although Thailand has made some progress in the
implementation of Agenda 21 and the JPOI, we are still faced with a number
of difficulties . This includes lack of capacity and resources at the local level
in the decentralization of sustainable development, lack of resources in law
enforcement and the lack of sufficient funding for certain sustainable
development projects such as the establishment of waste water treatment
plants in urban areas. Despite these obstacles, we are determined to continue
our efforts in order to achieve those goals and targets in Agenda 21 and the
JPOI as well as those contained in the Millennium Declaration .
Thank you .
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