2. Firstly, I wish to thank you, Madam Chair, and your Bureau for your hard work and for your correspondence highlighting possible proposals for the upcoming session method of work for the Committee.

3. Madam Chair, as the proponents of the majority of the resolutions of the Committee, and the special relevance of the Second Committee for developing countries, we assured you of our full commitment to working constructively on the overall work of the Committee. We also agree that the modalities for the upcoming session will be exceptional and will not create a precedent for future sessions.

4. We note that the circumstances around the continued unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic will not afford us the comfort of returning to normal conditions and practices. However, we believe that this has been known for some time, and therefore we are saddened that on the verge of beginning the main session of the Committee we are now trying to establish from the start the working methods for the Committee. It would have been desirable to have received the preliminary shared proposals with sufficient time, so that all delegations and groups could have been able to deliberate more extensively on them.

5. In this vein, the G77 and China sees the modalities adopted at the 75th session as a basis for our deliberations. We note however, that unlike the 75th session where exceptions were made to accommodate two extremely critical resolutions, there is no such scenario during the 76th session. Therefore, the Group strongly believes that all resolutions during this upcoming session should be treated equally, and that there should be no prioritizing of any resolution over another. The G-77 would not support an approach that prioritizes or creates unequal or preferential conditions of a few selected resolutions over others.

6. We believe any selection of resolutions would have to have strong arguments and criteria, which additionally at this stage we do not see the possibility of gaining consensus on this, and this will only work to the detriment of the development agenda as a whole.

7. We also strongly believe that each report of the Secretary-General is relevant to its specific area of focus and therefore here again the Group will not support the selection of a few reports to give priority. We must find an equal and appropriate manner to consider all of the reports to the Committee, in a manner that would allow us to be most effective and efficient in doing so.

8. On the matter of in-person sessions, we believe that, like in the 75th UNGA, it must be applied to formal sessions, in particular on all of those where decisions are to be taken, such as the opening and closing session of the Committee, action on resolutions and decisions, etc, as this is consistent with the existing rules and procedures of the UNGA and the Commissions.

9. In the case of informal consultations of resolutions, the Group does not support a hybrid format, where a small number of resolutions are to be negotiated in person and in full, while the rest are negotiated virtually, and with primarily technical updates. This would create a differentiation and prioritization between the different resolutions that we do not support. In the case of small missions, as is the case of most of developing countries, this would create logistical complexities, preventing them to adequately follow up all the negotiations. However, the Group can show flexibility where facilitators and negotiators deem it necessary to convene an in-person meeting or a small group session, most possibly at the end of their deliberations or at a critical juncture, in order to garner consensus to close off resolutions.

10. Moreover, the Group strongly considers that the same number of consultations should be allocated to all resolutions on an equal basis. We believe that the practice of assigning an equal number of consultations to all resolutions as in the 75 UNGA should be maintained. In the case of the 75th UNGA, there was agreement to allocate each resolution 3 consultations on an equal basis. The Group, however, would be flexible and would support an increased number of consultations for all resolutions, in order to allow for further deliberations.

11. Furthermore, we understand that the overall updates of the resolutions cannot be purely factual, technical or editorial. At the 75th UNGA there was an agreement that all resolutions should incorporate at least one preambular paragraph and one operative paragraph on an equal footing, to be negotiated in depth. We believe that this basis is the minimum we can adopt for the 76th UNGA. It should be up to main proponents of resolutions to decide the substantive updates to be proposed, in the understanding that in light of the current circumstances there will be an overall restrain by all. Otherwise, it could be considered, if we want to go a step further, to agree to incorporate in each resolution, on equal manner, more than one operative and one preambular paragraph to be fully negotiated, possibly up to three paragraphs.

12. Madam Chair, as the date fast approaches for the beginning of our main segment of the Committee, we wish to impress upon you the importance for us to quickly as possible work out our mode of operation for this segment, and we call for this to be done as transparently and inclusively as possible, so that we can find a consensual way to move forward during this unprecedented year.

13. Madam Chair, once again, the Group remains fully vested to support you and the bureau so that we would have a successful session. Please be assured of the Group's full and constructive engagement.

I thank you.

2. We thank the Co-Facilitators, Sweden and Kenya, and their respective teams, for their efforts in the negotiation process to achieve consensus on the adoption of the resolution "Modalities for the International Meeting entitled: 'Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all - our responsibility, our opportunity'".

3. We also take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to our G77 and China Coordinator, Mr. Andrés Córdova, of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador, for his hard work, able negotiation skills and for duly representing our Group throughout the intergovernmental consultations of both the enabling and modalities resolutions of this International Meeting, playing a key role to their successful and consensual adoptions.

4. As it is reflected in PP1 of the resolution, we recall that the decision of having this International Meeting is to commemorate the 50 years since the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and its outcome documents. This meeting will take place as a contribution to the environmental dimension of sustainable development to accelerate the implementation of commitments in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, including a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. We recall the decision of having this event as an "International Meeting" and not as a "Conference", taking as precedent resolutions A/RES/57/262 and A/RES/58/213.

6. The Group restates its understanding that there is no expectation to redefine, renegotiate, nor mandate new mechanisms or new commitments, nor go beyond the provisions of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

7. We also recall that the international meeting will result in a summary of discussions as its outcome document, as it has been referred in OP20.

8. The Group highlights the decisions that the international meeting should be mutually reinforcing with UNEP@50, avoiding overlap and duplication, as well as the role of UNEP in support of the preparations of the event. We also recall the invitation to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP, to provide input leading up to Stockholm+50.

9. With regards to OP3, and as it has been referred in detail through the explanatory note of the Secretariat, we stress the common understanding that the International Meeting and its preparation shall provide for the effective participation of the 193 Member States, four States members of Specialized Agencies -Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue and the State of Palestine-, and one regional economic integration organization, the European Union, that will participate on equal footing -on an equal basis, and with no differentiation-.

Mr. President,

10. The G77 and China reaffirms its position throughout the negotiation process on paragraph 15 of Annex 2, namely, to make a full stop after the reference to non-objection basis, without reference to bringing the list of other relevant non-governmental organizations for a final decision by the General Assembly regarding their participation in the international meeting, as well as to replace the footnote associated to this paragraph, so that the participation of the NGOs without consultative status to ECOSOC and the GA would be based on previously consensual agreed language.

11. The language proposed by the Group aimed at ensuring the participation of NGOs without consultative status, on the one hand, and striking a balance between the different views on the role of the General Assembly in the decision pertaining to their participation, in the other hand. The Group continues to believe that the proposal put forward during the negotiation process, if approved by all the membership, would have offered a consensual consideration of paragraph 15 of Annex 2, based on agreed language on the issue of the participation of NGO without Consultative Status, to which the group expresses its full support.

12. The Group is disappointed that our proposal on the participation of NGOs put forward during the negotiation process, which was based on the previous consensus, was not accommodated. We believe that, as has been the case in this and other processes of the GA, the language of the aforementioned paragraph does not have the full support of all the membership and is not acknowledged as agreed language. As such, the Group considers that further efforts could be made to build upon language that can be broadly accepted by all.

Mr President,

13. The G77 and China looks forward to the International Meeting on Stockholm+50 and hopes that the event will be an occasion to raise awareness on the importance of protecting our planet and achieving sustainable development for the wellbeing of this and future generations.

Thank you, Mr. President.

2. At the outset, we would like to stress that African countries are making extreme efforts to contain and overcome the repercussions of the covid-19 pandemic, which has presented unprecedented challenges for the Continent. Despite progress registered in recent years, the global health crisis has directly affected Africa's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and particularly to address the many challenges and threats to the peace and stability of the continent such as terrorism, transnational organized crime, drug, arms and human trafficking, pandemics, etc., that ultimately impede advancements in achieving sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions. In this regard, it is very important to highlight the crucial role of African countries in this resolution in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as in building peace for sustainable development.

Mr President,

3. Peace and security in Africa have an important bearing on the stability and development of the world. Consequently, partnerships are essential, particularly through the pooling of efforts and means of action in the areas of crisis prevention and resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

4. The international community should collectively uphold the leadership and ownership of African countries in their fight against conflicts, by acting on their root causes which are linked to poverty, hunger, social inequalities, bad governance, human rights violations, impunity, and the feeling of marginalization that fosters identity withdrawal.

5. The G77+China, which is the proponent of this resolution has always been supporting the ambition of the African Group, to step up international cooperation for Africa, in the spirit of mutual benefit and international solidarity.

6. We wish to extend thanks and appreciation to the African group, represented by the co-coordinators Nadja MICAEL from Eritrea and Mamadou S. GUEYE from Senegal, as well as to the facilitator Yasser HALFAOUI from Morocco for their brilliant work and great leadership during the process of its negotiation. Also, we would like to thank all partners for their active commitment, which allowed us to have a consensual text.
Mr President,

7. In the past few years, this important resolution for Africa was adopted by vote, due to unacceptance of consensual language in the 2030 Agenda by some delegations, which brought adverse effects on global solidarity and partnership. While being deeply concerned with this, the G77+China has made tremendous efforts to accommodate concerns of all parties and shown maximum flexibility in formulating alternative language in the NEPAD resolution and Causes of Conflict resolution for having a consensual text.

8. We must reiterate that international cooperation, in the spirit of mutual benefit, is of great significance to developing countries, including African countries. Bearing this in mind, we will step up efforts to cooperate with all partners around the world and work with African countries to fight the pandemic and advance post-pandemic recovery, remove the root causes of conflicts, and inject new impetus to Africa's lasting peace and sustainable development, for the common future of all.

Finally, Mr. President,

9. The discussions this year and many years before clearly demonstrate that the causes of conflict in Africa are many. Complex internal and external factors continue to cause, fuel, and perpetuate disputes in many parts of the world, including Africa. African countries can address the causes of human insecurity if afforded the policy space and international solidarity. The work of the UN in the area of prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding requires constant rethinking and should be based or hinged on national ownership and respect to African resolutions. The key is the early and comprehensive implementation of Agenda 2030.

10. The Group recalls that African countries have taken numerous and significant steps to address peace and security challenges at national and regional levels. Despite the progress in the areas of security, the international community and partners must continue to support activities and initiatives in order to strengthen African efforts in addressing the continent's peace and security. To prevent and resolve conflict at the earliest stage, the Group stresses on the need for the UN system to support the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable and durable peace in Africa.

I thank you.