Distinguished Chair,

Ecuador has the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China for the Opening Plenary of the 46th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice.

Allow me first to express the Group's full support and readiness to engage meaningfully with all Parties towards the successful work of this Subsidiary Body.

1. The Group highlights that the work of SBSTA must proceed in a comprehensive, coherent, balanced and Party-driven manner. We would like to reemphasize the urgent need to enhance pre-2020 action and support, which will lay a solid foundation for post-2020 implementation.

2. Furthermore, the Group reiterates its view that the Paris Agreement is the result of collective and tireless efforts of all Parties working constructively in a spirit of compromise for our efforts on climate change, through enhancing the implementation of the Convention, including its provisions and principles, in particular equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. In this sense, the Group is of the view that as we move into the implementation phase, the delicate balance of all issues which we have achieved in Paris as well as the principles and provisions of the Convention must be preserved. This is the context in which we expect developed countries to continue taking the lead role in addressing climate change, including through the implementation of the Paris Agreement, in accordance with their historical responsibilities and their respective capabilities.

3. With regards to the work of the Nairobi work programme on impacts of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change under Agenda Item 3, we welcome the work undertaken to date and look forward to determining ways and mechanisms for the national focal points to better benefit from the information and the exchange of views under this programme and enhance our implementation of actions on the ground. The Group looks forward to the discussions on May 13th and 15th of May on how the Nairobi Work Programme can assist the Adaptation Committee and how that can feed into discussions of the CTCN.

4. On Technology, the Group believes that the Technology Framework can provide the much needed guidance to the work of the Technology Mechanism, especially in providing support for actions on technology development and transfer in developing countries so that developed countries can, in according to Article 4.5 of the Convention, take all necessary steps to promote, facilitate and finance, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to developing country Parties, and to support the development and enhancement of endogenous capacities and technologies of developing countries, which will of course enable the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement. We look forward the further elaboration of the technology framework so that a clear strong link with the Financial Mechanism of the Convention and with the support of the implementation of NDCs is discussed.

5. The Group considers that adaptation, including adaptation co-benefits, of agriculture to the adverse effects of climate change continues to be the key priority for developing countries for SBSTA work on this matter, in light of the particular vulnerabilities of the sector and its relationship with the livelihood of millions, with food security and with poverty eradication. Risk and vulnerability assessments are critical in the light of the adverse effects of climate change on existing and planned productive systems, including in terms social and economic impacts.

6. On Science and Review, the Group welcomes the GCOS Implementation Plan for 2016 and emphasizes the need for the further enhancement of capacity building for developing countries to be able to undertake these planned activities. We acknowledge and look forward to the work that the IPCC will undertake as a source of input to the Global Stocktake and recognize that the outcome of the 6th Assessment Report will be a crucial element as well. It is the Group's resolve that the continuous funding of the IPCC remains paramount.

7. On Response Measures, the Group reaffirm the importance of giving full consideration to identifying the necessary actions to meet the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties arising from the impact of the implementation of response measures and avoid the negative economic and social consequences of response measures on developing countries. In this regard, we look forward to enhanced actions through strengthening institutional arrangements and the establishment of a cooperative mechanism to address the adverse impacts of the implementation of response measures on developing countries. The Group welcomes the first technical expert group meeting on the impact of implementation of response measures and looks forward to the inputs and recommendations from the experts to support the work of the improved forum. We should provide sufficient space and time for TEG members to make their contributions, which will allow the improved forum to achieve concrete outcomes as envisaged by parties. The Group also emphasizes the importance of working on the modalities, functions and work programs for the forum under the Paris Agreement.

8. The Group reiterates the importance of multilateral solutions when addressing emissions from fuel used for international civil aviation and maritime transport, while taking into account the principles and provisions of the Convention and not on the basis of unilateral measures. We take note of the developments made under the ICAO and IMO in addressing these matters.

9. On matters relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the Group welcomes the productive exchange of views and focused discussions on these matters. We highlight that to our view, these three components are of equal importance and we must proceed in a coherent and balanced manner without leaving any behind. We hope to continue to engage constructively in these discussions, including by responding to the invitation to submit our views on, inter alia, the operationalization of the above mentioned mandates included in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and in the roundtable discussion to be held in conjunction with SBSTA 46. We stress that action under Article 6 should preserve national policy space; promote sustainable development; foster enhanced adaptation and mitigation actions and ensure environmental integrity and that participation is voluntary and subject to the consent of participating Parties to the Paris Agreement.

10. On Modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement the Group considers as important that the modalities are developed so as to allow for a clearer accounting. This work should aim at ensuring transparency, accuracy, completeness, consistency, and comparability of data and provide more clarity on what is being accounted as climate finance, mechanisms and instruments; avoid double counting; and draw from relevant work already undertaken under the Convention and lessons learned from National Communications, Biennial Reports and Biennial Update Reports, while making a distinction between the accounting of the climate finance provided and climate finance mobilized.

11. Finally, Mr. Chair, The Group welcomes the multi stakeholder dialogue on the design of the platform for indigenous peoples that will take place under this session and in response to paragraph 135 of decision 1/CP.21 and to the consultations carried out at COP22. We see this as an important approach to discuss ways to effectively operationalize the platform. In that sense, the Group expects that discussions and suggestions resulting from this dialogue as well as from the submissions by parties should be reflected in a report by the Secretariat of the UNFCCC. We would invite you to work towards the design of a roadmap with actions and roles of actors to operationalize this platform.

12. We would also like to begin exploring the possibility of considering loss and damage at these inter-sessional meetings, not just once a year at COP meetings, as is the current procedure. We hope to be able to discuss this with the current and incoming presidencies at this session for decision at COP 23.

13. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, the Group would like to express the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of pre-2020 commitments and actions for a solid foundation for the post-2020 implementation, including the ratification of the Doha amendment. We request all developed country parties to increase the ambition of their Pre 2020 mitigation efforts and to enhance the provision of finance, technology development and transfer and capacity building.

14. Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to reassure you of the Group's appreciation and trust for your leadership and our eagerness for a fruitful and successful exchange with our partners during this session.

Thank you,