ON THE OCCASION
OF THE
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
RIO+20
Statement by
His Excellency Sonatane Tu’akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou
Chairman of Delegation
KINGDOM OF TONGA
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Friday 22 June 2012
Check Against Delivery
Madam President of the Conference
Secretary General Ban ki Moon
Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
Our Rio dreams have come full circle. In 1992 we gathered here from all parts of the
globe to give direction to an ambitious vision for a better, more sustainable world.
Twenty years on, we return to Rio to assess how much of those daring dreams has
become a meaningful reality for our peoples, how many of those aspirations has been
genuinely met, and also to collectively plot a new global course of sustainable
development to navigate a world beset with increasing economic and financial
uncertainties, swiftly sweeping political challenges and ever intensifying environmental
and climatic stresses on our shared planet.
We gratefully acknowledge the pivotal role of our Brazilian hosts in the organization and
dynamic arrangements for this Conference.
Madam President
We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of the Group of 77
and China. Like other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Rio+20 represents a
return home of sorts as it was here that the special and particular vulnerabilities that
make States like Tonga unique were initially recognized by the international community.
It lay the foundation for a SIDS 'blueprint' - the Barbados Plan of Action (BPOA) - and
later the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (MSI), so we are pleased that
agreement has been reached for a Third International Conference for the Sustainable
Development of SIDS to take place in 2014. The ‘BPOA+20’ will be a critical milestone
as an early measure of implemented outcomes from our Conference this week and of
the on-going work towards achieving the ‘MDGs’. It adds impetus to our national
activities within the context of the Tonga Strategic Development Framework - its 9
priority objectives for 2011 to 2014 - and beyond. Within that process, a strengthened
UN system responsive to the needs of SIDS remains imperative to such
implementation.
Madam President
The pervading adverse impact of climate change continues to threaten the existence
and viability of SIDS in particular low lying islands and atolls. Sea level rise and the loss
of territorial integrity for such States presents all Leaders here with an overwhelming
challenge .. take the bold measures necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to
levels that ensure a viable future for SIDS like Tonga - for to safeguard the survival of
the most vulnerable people amongst us is to safeguard a viable future for all peoples.
We must take the momentum of our collective political will here and that which was
secured most recently in Durban to advance the next UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Qatar. It must involve improving the means of
implementation for countries like Tonga including accessible finance, technology
transfer and capacity building. We will continue to join others on this issue to advocate
actively at every level, at international fora and within the UN system including the UN
Security Council.
Madam President
Tonga’s connection with the ocean and its marine environment, like all Pacific SIDS, is
an ancient one but one which over time continues to evolve. Whilst many spoke to the
green economy we joined others in speaking to the ‘blue economy’ – one which, in our
view, reaches from the seabed depths of 'deep ocean blue' and encompasses all within
to the heights of what one might call 'zenith blue'. A healthy ocean has always been a
staple source of sustenance for island communities and so we welcome the timely
focus on sustainable fisheries and developing national capacity, on the importance of
access and the role of small scale and artisanal fishers and women, and on the need
for concerted action to address the vulnerability of coral reefs and mangroves. As a
party to UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), we welcome the highlight on
the Convention's role to advance sustainable development whether it be through its
provisions governing marine scientific research or living and non living marine
resources, implementing agreements such as the 1995 Agreement for the
Implementation of the Provisions of UNCLOS relating to the Conservation and
Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, or the
potential development of further legal instruments within its framework to reflect new
realities.
Madam President
As a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Council, Tonga
looks not only to advocating the interests of fellow developing States and the Pacific
region but also to building on its domestic efforts through its Tonga Energy Road Map
(TERM). With the provision of the requisite financial resources, on-going capacity
building, appropriate technology transfer and a genuine partnership with a number of
willing development partners and agencies, TERM represents a vibrant voluntary
commitment to reducing Tonga’s greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy
security through 50% renewable energy mix by 2020. Tonga will host with IRENA a high
level IRENA donor coordination and high level dialogue with other Pacific Island States
to engage real financing for renewable energy implementation, before the next IRENA
Council. SIDS cannot afford to be idle in developing and sharing their national or
regional efforts and initiatives to address common energy concerns. In this the
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, we are pleased that the outcome of the
Ministerial Conference in Barbados last month was one such worthy effort.
I thank you for your kind attention and May God bless you all.
