Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China

2. In the last two weeks, we have had intensive discussions on the five CSD18 themes. Many developing countries have spoken about their success stories in these five areas. They have also highlighted gaps in implementation and challenges that prevent them from moving further forward.

3. It is therefore important that when we discuss the way forward, we keep in mind these gaps and challenges faced by developing countries.

Mr. Chairman,

4. As we move forward, on mining, greater transparency and accountability is required by all actors at all levels. Business and industry must establish worldwide corporate policies on sustainable development, arrange for environmentally sound technologies to be made 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.

5. For chemicals, 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. 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.

6. For waste, we need to address the challenges faced by developing countries, including greater investment, capacity-building, know-how and technology transfer in implementing the 3Rs. Improvements in infrastructure are also urgently needed to combat the high cost of health services and thereby eradicating poverty and reducing rural-urban migration. The Group is also of the view that electronics companies need to increase their efforts to collect and responsibly treat e-waste.

Mr. Chairman,

7. For transport, 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 Johannesburg Plan Of Implementation(JPOI). Very substantial investments in transport infrastructure are required both in rural and urban areas in developing countries. We should also aim to reduce GHG emissions from transportation in conformity with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provisions, including through the adoption of new and environmentally-friendly technologies with the support of developed countries.

8. We need to build a 10-YEAR framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) based on work done in this area, including national, subregional and regional strategies and the Marrakech Process. The Framework must be led by developed countries, recognize the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and address gaps faced by developing countries. We need to continue our discussions between now and CSD19, including through an inter-sessional, on the process towards developing the Framework in order for all countries to participate in the building of this Framework. The Group recommends that a possible way forward could be through an open-ended ad-hoc working group under the aegis of the UN.

9. It is also 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.

I thank you.