Madam Chair,

The G77 and China recognizes that the multiple challenges continue to undermine the ability of developing countries to implement actions in pursuit of the achievement of sustainable development. The Group reaffirms all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, while stressing that these principles must guide all discussions on sustainable development.

The Group underscores that eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions is a central imperative of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and therefore emphasizes the need to address it in order to truly leave no one and no country behind, focusing in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.

Madam Chair,

I will now enumerate some of the Group's priorities in this agenda item:

1. We call for accelerated, cooperative action to advance sustainable consumption and production, with full respect for developing countries' priorities and capacities, and with developed countries taking the lead while providing adequate support for developing countries. Developing countries need financial and technical assistance to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

2. We commit to support the timely and full implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS): A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity and the Awaza Progamme of Action for LLDCs, recognizing that countries in special situations deserve special attention. We hope that concrete progress can be made on the development of a Strategic Plan of Action for Middle-Income Countries in order to address the specific challenges faced by them.

3. Biodiversity loss and disasters continue to threaten sustainable development; the Group urges scaled-up means of implementation for developing countries to reduce risk, build resilience and protect livelihoods, in line with intergovernmentally agreed commitments.

4. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and its widespread, unprecedented impacts disproportionately burden all developing countries and in particular the poorest and most vulnerable among them. We call for concrete actions to enhance the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement adopted under the Convention, in support of developing countries. We further call for the full implementation of agreed outcomes under the Convention and its Paris Agreement. In this regard, we reiterate our call for urgent and timely provision and mobilization of resources by developed countries to developing countries to tackle climate change.

5. We express their concerns that water stress is above 70 percent in some countries. To accelerate progress on SDG 6, we encourage participation at the highest possible level in the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, to be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 10 December.

6. The Group reiterates the need for a broader, systemic and a more people-centered preventive approach to disaster risk, that disaster risk reduction practices need to be multi-hazard and multi-sectoral, inclusive and accessible in order to be efficient, effective, and that to achieve the 2030 Agenda disaster risk reduction must be integrated at the core of development and finance policies, legislation, and plans. Developed countries must fulfill their commitments to provide finance, technology transfer and capacity building support to developing countries in this regard.

7. The Group further calls for enhanced implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and scaled resources for land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable livelihoods, especially in Africa and other severely affected regions. It also urges robust international support, finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, for full implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to halt biodiversity loss while enabling sustainable development.

8. We reiterate the importance of inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels, including technical and vocational training, to equip societies with the skills needed for sustainable development.

9. Universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy remains critical to inclusive growth; the Group highlights the need for strengthened political will and increased levels of investment and action by all stakeholders to end energy poverty and increase access to clean energy research and technology, according to national plans and policies, and with a view to transfer the relevant technologies to the developing countries.

10. Sand and Dust Storms are an escalating hazard undermining progress toward the SDGs; the Group calls for coordinated international action, enhancing capacity-building at the national level; the development and implementation of regional and sub-regional programmes and projects; the sharing of information, best practices and experiences and the transferring of technology; efforts to control and prevent the main factors of sand and dust storms; and the development of early warning systems as tools.

Madam Chair,

The Group will submit draft resolutions under this agenda with concrete policy action proposals to support developing countries in their pursuit to achieve Sustainable development.

In conclusion, the G77 and China will engage constructively, with the view of achieving successful outcomes under this agenda item.

I thank you.