Mr. Chairman,
Honourable Ministers,
H.E. Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General,
Distinguished Delegates and representatives,

1. It is my pleasure to address the High-Level Segment of the 18th Session of UN Commission on Sustainable Development on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Mr. Chairman,

2. Recent global crises have highlighted our shared vulnerabilities and underscored the need for greater international co-operation to eradicate poverty, achieve the MDGs, and reverse the mounting pressure on the earth's ecosystems. It is therefore important that we commit to sustainable development with this sense of urgency.

3. These themes: Transport, Chemicals, Waste management, Mining, and A 10-year Framework of Programmes on sustainable consumption and production are interlinked with each other, as well as with other sustainable development themes, including those from past and future CSD cycles and from forthcoming high level events, such as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), to be convened in 2012 in Brazil, the High Level Plenary Meeting on the MDGs, the High-Level Review of the Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy, and the high-level event on biodiversity.

Mr. Chairman,

4. Implementing the outcomes of the major UN Conferences related to economic and social fields, including Agenda 21 and JPOI. We believe that these discussions in CSD will contribute substantively to the achievement of Agenda 21 and the internationally-agreed development goals (IADGs), including the MDGs, by 2015. It is also critical that we address the gaps and constraints in implementing Agenda 21 and JPOI in order to identify the way forward.

5. The Group attaches great importance to the consideration of the thematic issues in CSD's agenda in the context of the three pillars of sustainable development, which are mutually reinforcing, inter-related and must be considered in an integrated manner.

6. Addressing the three pillars of sustainable development requires a comprehensive approach to international trade, finance, debt, energy and technology. In this regard, it is important that we continue working towards an early conclusion of the development oriented Doha Round of trade negotiations, mobilizing development assistance to developing countries, and ensuring that investment and trade policies are fair and structured to promote and facilitate technology transfer to developing countries on affordable and cost-effective terms, especially environmentally- sound technologies.

Mr. Chairman,

7. The mining industry has been an important source of revenue for developing countries, in particular its role in eradicating poverty. To enable the revenues to serve sustainable development objectives for the long term requires effective management. In this connection, greater transparency and accountability is required by all actors at all levels, including the international financial system. It is also deemed important by the countries of the Group to guard and ensure the right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth.

8. The Group wishes to emphasize that the primary objective of managing resources and revenue accrued from mining must be utilized for the purpose of national development priorities, and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned. It is necessary that business and industry, in particular trans-national corporations establish worldwide corporate policies on sustainable development; arrange for environmentally sound technologies to be available to affiliates owned substantially by their parent company in developing countries without extra external charges; modify procedures in order to reflect local ecological conditions; and share experiences with local authorities, national Governments and international organizations. CSD plays an important role in raising awareness, sharing best practices and lessons learnt to better integrate sustainable development in the mining sector, according to Agenda 21 and the JPOI.

Mr Chairman,

9. Significant progress has been made towards attaining the 2020 goal since the Johannesburg Plan of Action on Chemicals. However, more remains to be done to ensure environmentally sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes, within the principles of sustainable development and improved quality of life for humankind. The Group believes the major problems in this area, particularly in developing countries, derive from the fact that developed countries are not providing the necessary means of implementation for the three chemical conventions and SAICM. There is also a lack of sufficient scientific information in the assessment of risks from the use of chemicals, which stems from inadequate research and development.

10. Rather than generating new agreements and obligations for developing countries, we consider it important to continue working in the implementation of current commitments. To address the challenge of mercury, we look forward to a comprehensive, legally-binding instrument ensuring the establishment of a financial mechanism based on new and predictable financial resources, under the authority of the Parties.

11. In this regard, CSD19 should examine among the range of financing options for multilateral funding for chemicals and hazardous waste, in order to ensure access to such funding.

Mr Chairman,

12. There is an urgent need to intensify the fight against poverty and to drastically improve the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals related to sanitation and public health in the developing countries. Great benefits could be achieved through the provision of better services for waste disposal and treatment, the promotion of environmental education and effective and efficient waste management actions. Most importantly, however, the developing countries needs a greater investment, capacity-building, know-how and technology transfer in implanting the 3Rs (reducing, reuse, recycle) in order to ensure a better quality of life for the population. Improvements in infrastructure are urgently needed to combat the high cost of health services and thereby eradication of poverty and reduce rural-urban migration.

13. Specific assistance is needed in developing countries, including Africa, SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, to establish proper inventories of hazardous, radio-active wastes and sites potentially affected by poor management of such wastes, as a basis for developing and implementing facilities for managing them and cleaning up contaminated sites, including at sea and in the oceans.

14. The G77 and China is deeply concerned about the dumping of potentially toxic electronic waste. The expanding of illegal trade in hazardous waste from developed to developing countries, is poisoning people and environment. The Group is in view that the electronics companies need to increase their efforts to collect and responsibly treat e-waste. It is critical they take full responsibility for the safe recycling of their products and put an end to growing e-waste dumps across the developing world.

15. International and bilateral cooperation is needed to provide training and enable technology transfer and know-how on waste disposal. It's important that we begin implementing good practices within UN headquarters, such as, by providing separate waste containers based on the type of material for disposal.

Mr Chairman,

16. Adequate, safe and affordable transportation systems are essential for achieving the IADGs and eradicating poverty. The expansion of transportation services in developing countries, in particular through infrastructure development, is crucial. Expansion of public and collective forms of transportation is a key element of any transportation strategy. Developing countries face considerable barriers and multiple challenges in the development of the transport sector. Policies should respond to national priorities and circumstances, aiming to ensure safe, affordable and efficient transportation, increasing energy efficiency and the uptake of cleaner fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and renewable fuels, such as biofuels, reducing pollution, congestion and adverse health effects and limit urban sprawl, as called for in the JPOI. Very substantial investments in transport infrastructure are required both in rural and urban areas in developing countries. One particular concern relates to the acquisition of second-hand, used vehicles in many developing countries that suffer financial constraints. We believe that the best options for achieving sustainability in this sector are the public and collective forms of transportation.

17. We should also aim to reduce GHG emissions from transportation in conformity with the UNFCCC provisions, including through the adoption of new and environmentally-friendly technologies with the support of developed countries.

Mr Chairman,

18. Last week, many developing countries spoke about their implementation of SCP activities and development of good practices, including through contributing to the Marrakech Process. In particular, we heard how some of these countries benefited economically and environmentally from National Cleaner Production Centres. Developing countries also highlighted the challenges faced in implementing SCP measures, including technology transfer, education, and predictable and stable financing. Environmental standards set by developed countries should also not become new barriers to trade.

19. We are deeply concerned by the worsening of current unsustainable patterns of consumption and production by developed countries. We stress that developed countries must take the lead in the implementation of SCP, recognize the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, support poverty eradication efforts and contribute to a fair and equitable multilateral trading system

20. Going forward, we continue to emphasize the need to build a 10 Year Framework of Programmes on SCP based on the work that we have done in this area, including national, subregional and regional strategies and the Marrakech Process. The Marrakech Process should remain an important forum for dialogue and cooperation on SCP issues among Governments and other stakeholders at all regional levels.

21. At the same time, the Framework must address the gaps and challenges faced by developing countries in the area of SCP, including predictable and stable financing for implementing SCP activities and the transfer of technology on favorable terms. It is therefore important that we continue our discussions between now and CSD19 on the process towards developing the Framework, including on the format and substance needed, in order for all countries to participate and be engaged in the building of this Framework.

22. In this regard, the Group recommends that a possible way forward could be through an open-ended ad-hoc working group under the aegis of the UN.

Mr Chairman,

23. SIDS have largely made considerable progress in advancing their development agenda. However, even their best efforts have fallen short as the scale and magnitude of the myriad crises confronting SIDS which have originated outside of their borders, transcend their limited capacities to effectively address them, posing further threats to their fragile economies. Although the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS have long been recognized by the international community, this has not been matched by the actions necessary to effectively address them. Their special case for sustainable development seems to appear on the radar during a Review and disappear as soon as the spotlight shifts.

24. It is therefore our hope and expectation that as we undertake the MSI+5 Review of progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing states (SIDS) through the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy (MSI), there will be a renewed commitment by our developed partners as well as the entire international community to fulfill existing commitments and even scale up support for SIDS.

Mr Chairman

25. The Group hopes that during the High-Level Segment, adequate attention will be paid to our concerns in the Chair's Summary, including constraints and obstacles faced by the international community, particularly developing countries, in implementing the outcomes of major international conferences concerning the agenda items under consideration in CSD-19. We also reiterate our commitments to conserve and efficiently manage our natural resources to promote sustainable development and the welfare of our future generations.

Mr Chairman

26. The Group reiterates the importance of taking further effective measure to remove obstacle for people living under foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their social development and are incompatible with the dignity and worth of human persons.

I thank you.