Statement by Minister Counselor Marisol Black, Director for International Economic Affairs, Ministry of External Relations on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, on agenda item 87c: Environment and sustainable development: Protection of global climate for future generations of mankind

New York, 14th November 2002

Mr Chairman,

It is an honour to address the Committee on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this important issue, as climate change is a common concern of humankind, as set out in the preamble to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It represents a key factor to achieving the goal of sustainable development in developing countries, due to its linkage to economic, social and environmental problems such as poverty, land degradation, access to water and food as well as to human health, amongst others.

Ten years from the signing of the Convention at the Conference on Environment and Development, meeting the goals of stabilizing greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and for developed countries to fulfill 1990 emissions by 5% in the period of 2008-2012 respectively, adopted in the Convention and in the subsequent Protocol adopted in Kyoto in 1997, continues to be a challenge. Meanwhile, atmospheric concentrations of CO2 originating in developed countries have increased, whilst developing countries continue to be most affected by the adverse effects of climate change, particularly due to the economic and social consequences which we most face. The Group of 77 and China expresses its firm opposition to the discussion of new commitments for developing countries in the COP and reiterates its call to move ahead on adaptation measures, through the increase in financial and technical assistance for developing countries, particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change.

In this regard, the Marrakech Accords, which made important inputs to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, recognize, amongst other things, that developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate change and underline the need for capacity creation, technical innovation in key sectors of development such as energy and cooperation, as well as for the establishment of synergies with other Conventions, such as the ones on Biodiversity and Desertification.

Recently, the Eighth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Climate Change, held at New Delhi, India, which country demonstrated unequalled hospitality that we would like to gratefully acknowledge, adopted the New Delhi Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, which reiterates the call for the fulfillment of all commitments and obligations derived from the Convention and its Protocol, amongst other aspects. The Group of 77 and China calls for the full consideration of this Declaration and for the fulfillment of all the common but differentiated responsibilities under the Convention and its Protocol, as set out in the Convention itself when it recognizes that developed countries must take the lead in the fight against climate change and its adverse effects.

The Group of 77 and China would also reiterate the call made by the Conference of Parties to the Global Environmental Facility, for the strengthening of the Facility in order to allow the three Funds created to help developing countries i.e.: The Special Fund for Climate Change, the Least Developed Countries’ Fund and the Adaptation Fund. These funds were created, inter alia, to support programmes and measures in the fields of adaptation, transfer of technology and energy management, to assist in the diversification of economies heavily dependent on the production, processing and export of fossil fuels.

Finally, we call upon the Secretary General to guarantee, within the UN budget, the Secretarial services for the meetings of the Conference of Parties.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.