Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The Group thanks the various Secretariat representatives for the reports presented before us on Sustainable Development under agenda item 19.

2. At the outset, the Group of 77 and China reiterates its strong commitment to the achievement of sustainable development at the heart of which is the eradication of poverty, which remain as the Group's overriding priority and an essential requirement for sustainable development. Although the world has undergone far-reaching changes in the past two decades, and significant progress has been made in many important fields, developing countries continue to face serious challenges in advancing their level of development. The many ongoing crises we face, such as the financial, economic, food and energy-access crises, and the challenges relating to limited resources coupled with their unsustainable use, have significant impacts on our countries and undermine our efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals. In fact, the number of people living in absolute poverty has increased in many developing countries.

3. We take note of the report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, which should not be re opened or re negotiated and, shall be the main basis for integrating the SDGs into the Post 2015 Development Agenda as the Resolution 68/309 mandates.

4. The Group of 77 is of the view that it is vital for all Member States to promote sustainable development in accordance with the Rio Principles. In this regard we emphasize that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should remain the foundation of the current and future global development efforts. We further emphasize the critical role of the international community in the provision of adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources, transfer of technology and capacity building to developing countries.

5. Developing countries need the appropriate technology if they are to shift to a more sustainable development path. It is essential to bridge the technological divide, to promote sustainable industrialization and inclusive growth across the world, in particular for the developing countries. Progress towards implementing the sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda will depend on the progress achieved with respect to means of implementation, finance and technology.

6.The Group reaffirms the outcome document of the United Nations conference on sustainable development "the future we want" and urges its speedy implementation. The Group highlights the importance of the implementation of 69/290 regarding the format and organizational aspects of the High Level Political Forum and welcome the holding of its meetings under the auspices of the ECOSOC last July and looks forward to the issuance of the report of these meetings, and stresses the need for the HLPF in its 2015 meetings to discuss the working methods of the HLPF. By virtue of its broad functions, the high-level political forum has a critical role of providing leadership on sustainable development issues. It should be a dedicated platform for the implementation of sustainable development commitments, maintaining a strong focus on implementation at all levels, including the sharing of experiences.

7. We believe that the HLPF should follow up on the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and bring cohesion and complementarity among the various follow-up processes, especially in the context of the post-2015 development agenda. Moreover, the Forum should enhance the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development by engaging with the economic, social and environmental policymaking communities more intensively, and for developing and implementing integrated policies and activities.

8. We reiterate the call for the immediate implementation of the Rio +20 outcome in taking further effective measures and actions to remove the obstacles impeding peoples living under foreign occupation from achieving sustainable development, as such circumstances continue to adversely affect their economic and social development, and are incompatible with the dignity of the human person.
Mr. Chair,

9. This Session, the Committee will have before it the biennial resolution entitled 'International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon'. It is anticipated that the phenomenon will occur later this year or early next year and will have a global impact. The Group welcomes the opportunity to draw attention to the El Niño phenomenon and the challenges that it poses for many of its Member States. We call for continued support for the International Research Centre on El Niño, which is located in Guayaquil, Ecuador and look forward to the outcome of the Third International Conference on El Niño Southern Oscillation, which is due to take place from 12th to 14th November 2014.

Mr. Chair,

10. The Group welcomes the summary of the President of the General Assembly of the 4 Structured Dialogues on possible arrangements of a Technology Facilitation Mechanism and calls for swift implementation of the recommendations contained in the summary. The outcome on technology, in the view of the Group, remains an unfinished task and the Group looks forward to the operationalization of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Mr. Chair,

11. Furthermore, allow me to congratulate the Government and the people of Samoa for hosting a successful third International Conference on SIDS this year. The Conference was a success for all.

12. The Group of 77 and China welcomes the SAMOA Pathway as an action plan that captures the SIDS priorities and issues and aims to set the international community on the pathway towards enabling SIDS to attain their sustainable development aspirations. The SAMOA Pathway is a concise, focused and action-oriented document that requires the international community to transform from the business as usual approach to delivering results on the ground.
 
13. The Group looks forward to ensuring partnerships and those commitments contained in the SAMOA Pathway are implemented and we strengthen the international cooperation for SIDS at all levels.

Mr. Chair,
 
14. We would like to state the importance that our group attaches to disaster risk reduction and building resilience among communities and countries. As Member States are aware, climate change and other environmental disorders have increased the frequency and intensity of natural disasters in the world in recent years. Poverty and under-development increase States vulnerability to the impact of disasters, particularly for the poor in a disadvantaged social situation, the ones who suffer most from natural disasters and who are least equipped to deal with them.
 
15. We take note that the report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals addressed the issue of disaster risk reduction within various targets. In this connection, we reiterate our call that disaster risk reduction and resilience should be adequately considered in the context of the post 2015 development agenda intergovernmental process which, at the same time, should create synergies with the process of defining a new post 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (HFA2) to be agreed at the III World Conference for Disasters in Sendai, Japan in March 2015.

Mr. Chair,

16. We recall that since the adoption of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, "the Future we want" there have been initiatives on sustainable development governance, including: policy documents calling for a new paradigm for "Living Well in Harmony with Nature"; new developments on "Rights of Nature" legislation in a number of countries worldwide.

17. Once more, we express our concern about documented environmental degradation, potentially more frequent and intense natural disasters and the negative impact on nature resulting from human activity. We also recognize the need to strengthen scientific knowledge on the effects of human activities on the Earth System, with the aim of promoting and ensuring an equitable, balanced and sustainable relationship with the Earth.

18. The Group recalls the necessity to make fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume, which are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development and that all countries should promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process, taking into account the Rio principles, and that we must find new pathways for transition to a culture of a more frugal living, less wastage and greater equitable sharing of resources. In this regard, we will submit the resolution in harmony with nature.

Mr. Chair,

19. With regard to climate change, the Group reiterates its view that the international response to climate change must fully respect the principles, provisions and ultimate objective of the Convention, in particular the principles of equity and of common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities. The new agreement must address all elements of the Convention including mitigation and adaptation in a balanced manner and ensure that the developed countries, given their historical responsibility, take the lead in addressing climate change and demonstrate their seriousness in addressing this challenge.
 
20. In this context, it is alarming that there remains a serious lack of delivery on the promises made for providing financial and technological support to developing countries. While we welcome the announcements made by some developed countries during the recent Climate Summit, urgent fulfillment of all commitments made, in particular the early and full capitalization of the Green Climate Fund remain an essential foundation for ambitious action on climate change as well as those referred to mitigation and adaptation.

21. On the issue of Desertification, land degradation and drought, the Group of 77 stresses that they continue to threaten the sustainable development of all countries, in particular developing countries. In this regard, we reiterate the importance of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as an important tool to achieving food security, poverty eradication and to promoting sustainable land use. Additionally, the Group reaffirms the necessity of addressing the issues of desertification, land degradation and drought in the elaboration of the development agenda beyond 2015.

22. The Group stresses that emphasis should be given to the mobilization and channeling of adequate and predictable financial resources to help address the effect of desertification and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable people affected by them. The Group supports the resolve to strive to achieve a land-degradation neutral world in the context of sustainable development and the establishment of an intergovernmental scientific panel on desertification, land degradation and drought.

Mr. Chair,

23. On the issue of Biodiversity, the G77 expresses its appreciation for the efforts made so far by the Executive Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and other organizations of the UN system in its interaction with the General Assembly, particularly on issues of critical interest for our Group. The Group welcomes the actions undertaken so far to promote access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization and associated traditional knowledge. At the same time, we recognize that more work in this respect remains to be done.

24. The Group emphasizes the need for all member States to engage in the discussion of critical and interconnected issues relating to biodiversity, particularly with a view to finding a coherent approach for the benefit of developing countries, which stand to suffer most from the loss of their natural ecosystems and traditional knowledge.

Mr. Chair,
 
25. This year we will consider the biennial resolution on the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea entitled, "Towards the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea for present and future generations". At the 67th session, the General Assembly recognized that the Caribbean Sea is an area of unique biodiversity and a highly fragile ecosystem. Additionally, the General Assembly called on the United Nations system and the international community to assist, as appropriate, Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to promote the sustainable conservation and management of coastal and marine resources, including through the consideration of the concept of the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context of sustainable development. We call for the international community to continue to support this important initiative.

Mr. Chair,

These are some among other very important resolutions that the Group of 77 and China will submit in the upcoming days.

I thank you.