(Original version)

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

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

First of all, please allow me, Excellencies, to express our appreciation on behalf of the Group for convening this constructive consultation meeting on the revised draft of the Call for Action. We would also like to thank you for your efforts in preparing the list with the attractive convergence issues and the new elements presented in the floor, which is very helpful to frame our discussions.

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

The Group of 77 and China recalls that the main purpose to convene the high-level Conference is to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14). We highlight that the 2030 Agenda must be seen as the overarching framework for this process, taking into account the balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development, and the integrated and indivisible nature of the 17 SDGs.

In that regard, the Group of 77 and China, -134 States- would like to recall that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reaffirms all the principles of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) as set out in principle 7 thereof.

This is a matter of great importance to the Group, therefore we stress again the need for the inclusion of the CBDR principle at the beginning of the Call for Action, as it represents the need for all states to take responsibility for global environmental problems and, on the other hand, the need to recognize the wide differences in levels of economic development between states to address such issues.

We underscore the importance that this principle should be acknowledged in the text and we look forward that our proposal would be taken into consideration.

We would like to reserve our comments regarding the rest of the issues for future interventions, if necessary.