Statement by Mr Gennadii Marushevskyi, the representative of Ukraine at
the Second Intercessional Meeting of the Preparatory Process for the UNCSD
New York City, 16 December, 2011
Mr Co-Chair,
1. A significant obstacle to achieving sustainable development globally is the lack
of a coherent approach that fully integrates three pillars of sustainable
development. On the contrary, a number of different processes have emerged that
address each pillar in isolation. There is a need of integrated, more holistic
approach towards sustainable development that will allow integrate economic,
social and environmental approaches.
2. The Rio+20 conference provides an opportunity to secure renewed political
commitment for sustainable development. An outcome document would include
voluntary commitments from governments, UN and other key stakeholders how
they are going to provide an integrated approach to sustainable development. Such
commitments would be annexed to the outcome document in the form of
Compendium of Commitments, as it was proposed by the delegation of the USA.
3. Integration of three pillars of sustainable development could be realized first of
all through strategic planning at the global and national level. At the global level,
sustainable development goals should be set by the global community. Most
environmental problems are global in nature and sustainable development goals
should be directed on supporting of governance of global commons. An outcome
document would include a statement on sustainable development goals as well as
description of mechanism that will define clearly how to set such goals. At the
national level, national sustainable development goals should be set by national
conferences and adopted in the national sustainable development strategies. In such
a way, each country could choose its own model of sustainable development.
4. To integrate three pillars of sustainable development, there is a need to integrate
views, opinions and interests of key stakeholders. At the international level, the
UN provides such an opportunity through the world summits on sustainable
development. At the regional level, there is, for example, the process
“Environment for Europe”. At the national level, it could be national conferences
like regular multi-stakeholders forums. For example, in Ukraine, the forum
“Environment for Ukraine” was launched two years ago. The problem is how to
transform a discussion forum into a national decision-making forum. From this
point of view, the outcome document could include commitments of governments
to support conducting of regular national multi-stakeholder decision-making
forums for setting of national sustainable development goals, assessing the
progress to date and addressing new and emerging challenges.
5. To reach sustainable development goals and successfully implement relevant
strategies and action plans, an institutional framework for sustainable development
should be strengthened. At the global level, there is a complicated objective for UN
how to provide integrated approach to international policy. Ukraine supports
establishment of World Environmental Organization with universal membership
by UNEP transforming and strengthening. At the national level, Sustainable
Development Agencies would be established as implementing bodies. They should
have enforcement power for integration of sustainable development pillars and
integration of environmental policy into sectoral policies, programs and plans.
Thank you
