Madam Chair,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The Group thanks the Secretariat for its presentation of the reports before us on agenda item 20: sustainable development.

Introduction:

1. At the outset, the Group of 77 and China emphasizes that action to address the multi-dimensional challenges of sustainable development must take into account the three pillars of sustainable development - economic development, social development and environmental protection, as there is a need for a coordinated, integrated and balanced approach to promoting the operationalization of sustainable development. Sustainable development is the comprehensive conceptual framework in which actions aimed at promoting economic growth, social equity and environmental conservation should unfold.

2. Economic, social and environmental goals at the national, regional and global levels should also be promoted in a complementary and consistent way.

3. The multi-dimensional problems we face: a global economic downturn, international financial and food crises, the energy crises compounded by the high cost of fuel, unfulfilled commitments to providing financial resources, technology and capacity building, and climate change threaten the efforts by developing countries to achieve their objectives and goals of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

4. We welcomed the commitment of the Honorable President of the General Assembly to work towards strengthening the multilateral framework to better address current and new global challenges. In this regard, we take this opportunity to underscore the need to promote measures to ensure that members of the High-level Panel established by the General Assembly as well as other organs of the UN system, are elected taking in consideration the principle of equitable geographical representation and in consultation with the Regional Groups.

Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

Madam Chair,

5. We look forward to a consensus and action-oriented outcome from the policy session of the Commission of Sustainable Development in 2011 based on an open and inclusive negotiation process.

6. Greater emphasis on promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead, in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, is also needed.

7. It has been 18 years since the Rio Summit, but the fundamental challenges identified in Rio remain and have even worsened in some cases. Guided by the "Rio Spirit", a Rio-plus-20 Summit should provide the necessary political impetus to bridge the implementation gaps. The G77 therefore reiterate their support to the convening of a World Summit on Sustainable Development in Brazil in 2012 to review the 20-year progress achieved in the implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. We should aim for the adoption of action oriented outcomes that will yield concrete results in the field of financing, access to technology and the building of capacities in developing countries. With that in mind, we must not shy away from identifying what still needs to be done to consolidate the progress achieved , overcome the remaining challenges and identify emerging issues. These important discussions will unfold in the Preparatory Process of the UNCSD. At this session of the Second Committee, we should reaffirm and reinforce that process, including by ensuring that full support be provided for the participation of developing country delegates in all official meetings of the preparatory process.

Follow-up to and Implementation of Mauritius Strategy

Madam Chair,

8. The particular vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to the vagaries of climate change, which poses an existential threat to these countries, are well-known. Sea-level rise, coral bleaching due to rising temperatures, increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events, are but few of the adverse impacts of climate change with which SIDS have to grapple.

9. The Group welcomed the convening of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly held on 24-25 September 2010 that adopted a political declaration on progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States through the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action (MSI). The G-77 urged the international community, in particular developed countries, to honour and scale up their commitments to support the sustainable development of SIDS including those contained in the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and MSI and further called on developed countries to provide new, additional and predictable financial resources, technology transfer on favorable terms and capacity building to SIDS.

10. The Group recognizing the importance of the Caribbean Sea to the economic well-being and sustenance of people living in the area, the international community, including the UN system, should support countries of the region to take appropriate steps for its preservation and protection.

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

Madam Chair,

11. The Group expresses its concern over the increased frequency and scale of natural disasters in recent years which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for countries, particularly developing countries. The Group calls upon the international community, particularly developed countries and the relevant international organizations, to increase their assistance to the affected States, including by supporting efforts towards enhancing their national and regional capacities for implementation of plans and strategies for preparedness, rapid response, recovery and development in relation to natural disasters.

12. Vulnerability to natural hazards contributes to increasing the scale and scope of disasters and humanitarian crises, and can significantly impede our ability to achieve the MDGs. Actions should be aimed at the most vulnerable countries and populations and include developing early warning systems, increasing preparedness and risk reduction. In spite of this and a growing recognition of the benefits of investing in disaster risk reduction, financial resources to this end have been insufficient.

13. We express our support to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and its mandate to promote public awareness and commitment, expand networks and partnerships, and improve knowledge about causes of disaster and options for risk reduction.

Protection of Global Climate for Present and Future Generations of Mankind

Madam Chair,

14. The G77 acknowledges that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. In this regard, the Group reiterated that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol remains the central multilateral framework for cooperative action to address climate change. The Group further stressed that the process of work under the UNFCCC must be open, party-driven, inclusive and transparent.

15. The Group urges developed countries to undertake ambitious and enhanced commitments under the Kyoto Protocol in subsequent commitment periods and to ensure that there is no gap between the first and subsequent commitment periods.

16. The Group looks forward to positive outcomes at the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16) and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP6) to be held in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010.

17. It will be crucial that developed countries participate in these negotiations in earnest and take the lead in addressing the implementation gap with respect to both their own historical responsibility to mitigate emissions, in particular by complying with their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol; they should equally facilitate adaptation by developing countries. The extent to which developing countries can effectively respond to the challenge depends on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments relating to financing and technology transfer.

18. In this regard, the provision of financial resources is a binding commitment of developed country Parties. It is essential that such financial resources not be considered as part of current official development assistance (ODA), but be additional, and in compliance with existing binding commitments under the Convention.

Implementation of UNCCD

Madam Chair,

19. The G77 recognizes the challenge posed by desertification and land degradation and resolves to support and strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa to address causes of desertification and land degradation, as well as poverty resulting from land degradation.

20. The Group reiterates the urgent call for developed countries to provide new, adequate and predictable financial resources to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Convention and the ten-year strategic Plan and Framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008-2018). The G-77 and China also called for continued efforts to raising the awareness of desertification, land degradation and drought at all levels through the celebration of the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification 2010-2020, launched at the 2nd International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions (ICID 2010), in Fortaleza, Brazil. The declaration therein adopted underscores that: "in view of global climate change scenarios that intensify the drylands development imperative, the dawn of this new UN Decade is a welcome recognition that decisive action for human and ecosystems well-being in the world's drylands is needed now!".

21. The G77 and China called also for a follow-up and implementation of policy options regarding desertification, land degradation and drought contained in the outcome of the seventeenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in 2009.

22. The Group expresses its interest in holding a High-level Event on "Addressing Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought to achieve Global Sustainability", during the 66th General Assembly session in September 2011.

23. The Group calls on all relevant UN agencies that deal with issues related to desertification, drought and land degradation to cooperate under the aegis of the UNCCD in order to provide a holistic and integrated response to the threats to sustainable development posed by these issues.
Convention on Biological Diversity

Madam Chair,

24. The Group welcomes the successes and comprehensive outcome at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10), including the adoption of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Protocol, which was held from 18 to 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.

25. The Group welcomes the adoption of the Multi-Year Plan of Action for South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-10). In this context, we welcome the outcome of the First Forum on South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity which was held in Nagoya, Japan, on 17 October 2010, and commend the CBD Secretariat for establishing a strategic partnership with the Group of 77 in the field of South-South cooperation.

26. We welcome the decision on the strategy for technology transfer and that on resource mobilization taken during COP-10, since both financing and technology are crucial means if implementing the objectives of the Convention.
Report of the Governing Council of UNEP

Madam Chair,

27. The Group takes note of the report of the Governing Council of UNEP on its 11th Special Session, particularly with regard to the medium-term strategy for the period 2010-2013; the proposal for the proclamation of the international decade for addressing climate change, and the Global Environment Outlook.

28. Additionally, concrete measures are needed to ensure the implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Capacity Building and Technology Transfer. We are concerned by the slow pace of implementation of this important Plan which is indented to enhance the ability of developing countries to better address environmental challenges.

29. We reiterate the call on the United Nations to increase substantially its resource allocations to UNEP's regular budget to demonstrate, in more than just words, our commitment to addressing the dire environmental challenges that we face.

UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

Madam Chair,

30. The G77 recognizes that while progress has been made in raising awareness of the significance of education for sustainable development through the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, such progress remains unevenly distributed. As such, more efforts are required in this area.

31. We began this statement by reiterating the importance of an integrated, coordinated and balanced approach to sustainable development based on the three pillars of sustainable development. We also highlighted the new challenges we face. We need to address the many challenges that we face in the area of sustainable development. This will require concerted effort by all Member States and the urgent implementation of commitments made.

Thank you, Madam Chair.