Mr. Chairman,

1. It is my pleasure to address during the thematic discussion on inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues and means of implementation of the 18th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD18) on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. This past week we have been discussing the themes for this CSD cycle, for developing countries each theme presents particular challenges. This afternoon, however, we have the opportunity to discuss these themes in the broader context of sustainable development as well as to focus on the means of implementation needed in order to surpass the challenges identified in each of these themes.

3. The CSD 18 themes, mainly mining, waste management, chemicals, transport and sustainable consumption and production (SCP), require developing countries to broaden and to strengthen their sustainable development agenda. The multiple and interrelated crisis, particularly food security, climate change, the global economic and financial crisis has seriously challenged our capacity to respond and to prevent these crises from escalating further. In this regard, throughout the week we have heard the need for greater technology transfer, increase capacity building and particularly for additional and predictable resources. These three components are the essential tools for implementation. In order to bridge the gap between policy making and implementing in the field, developing countries need the tools and the support of their development partners. In building resilience to these interlocking crises, developing countries will need a strong UN that enhances their national efforts for sustainable development. The value added of CSD is that it looks at the balance and integration of the three pillars of development: social, economic and environmental.

4. Mining, waste and chemicals management pose particular challenges in that these practices are engrained in a national context and local infrastructure but are particularly influenced by global demand. The regulations of these industrial operations are often set far away from the place of extraction or disposal, thus, it is imperative to develop greater accountability frameworks taking into account local concerns and the communities that are impacted from this. Greater corporate responsibility is also important in developing these accountability frameworks.

Mr. Chairman,

5. Many delegations have alluded to the concept of green economy, particularly in the SCP discussions. However, for the G77 and China any green initiative needs to be rooted in the context of poverty eradication. Delinking growth from environmental degradation needs to also take into account the social pillar of development.

6. In this CSD cycle, and the next policy session, we need to start identifying how we are going to implement the recommendations we agree on during the policy session.

7. Additionally, the G77 and China believes that the results of this session need to be forwarded to other relevant ongoing processes, such as the preparations for the High-level Plenary Meeting and the ECOSOC's AMR theme, mainly women equality.

8. We would like to ask the following question to the panelists:

- How do the themes under review relate to the climate change discussions?
- How can the CSD and the UN better respond to the interlinkages, cross-cutting issues and particularly implementation gaps in developing countries, particularly in respect to the themes under review?

Thank you.