Madame Facilitator,

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

2. At the outset, I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations for convening today's meeting, and for introducing the draft resolution entitled "Development of a Global Pact for the Environment." The Group of 77 and China is of the view that the environmental issues shall be dealt with within the framework of the sustainable development.

3. The Group of 77 and China appreciates the briefing of today, as it will help in shedding further light on the initiative in order to enable the formulation of future positions, it is also an opportunity to hear from other delegations on their views and thinking on both process, as well as the goals and objectives of the proposed Pact.

4. The Group of 77 and China would particularly appreciate more clarity on the added value of this initiative. Specifically, it will be beneficial to learn how the proposed initiative will tie up with, or impact existing agreements such as the UNFCCC/Paris process, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention on Combating Desertification, the Chemicals agreements and others.

5. The Group of 77 and China also have queries regarding the nature of the proposed Pact, and whether it is the intention to have a legally binding instrument? How will this proposed instrument be implemented? What would be the implications of this proposed Pact? What are the gaps the proposed Pact is seeking to address? How would this address different degrees of legality of different environmental agreements?

6 On the process, the Group of 77 and China would like to seek further information on the parameters of this process; what is the space for participation? Whether the discussion and negotiations here in New York is the proper location, or in Nairobi where UNEP is headquartered and has the mandate to articulate environmental matters on behalf of the United Nations? The Group of 77 and China would welcome to hear thoughts from other delegation on the value of the NY-based process and, which parameters for participation in the proposed working group they prefer or are considering, and we also welcome to hear delegations thoughts on the above-mentioned issues.

7. In concluding, the Group of 77 and China underlines the importance of having an open, universal, transparent and intergovernmental process, and requests further time for discussions. And we thank once again the Permanent Mission of France for its efforts in this regard.

I thank you.