Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates

1. It is my pleasure to address the intergovernmental preparatory meeting of the 19th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD19) on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The Group wishes to congratulate you on your election as well as the other members of the Bureau of CSD19. The Group also wishes to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs for the presentation of the intersessional reports prepared for this important meeting.

Mr. Chairman,

2. The 19th session of CSD is a policy session. As such, it should allow us to move our discussions forward, to take decisions in order to remove obstacles and address challenges we have encountered in the five thematic areas during the review cycle at CSD18, and to provide means of implementation for agreed concrete actions to be implemented on the ground.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group fully reiterates its position stated last year during the review cycle.

4. Transport is a central component of sustainable development. Adequate and affordable transportation networks empower people to move freely, communicate and exchange goods and services. In order to achieve the internationally agreed development goals (IADGs) and eradicate poverty, it is necessary to expand the transport infrastructure and transport services in developing countries. New challenges have impacted the development of the transport sector: the global financial crisis, which has led to reduction of financing for infrastructure development in many developing countries; the demand for transport services has been negatively affected by the economic downturn; increased volatility in global energy markets, driven by speculation in the markets. To these are added the need to respond to pollution and climate change and to respect local, social and environmental conditions where transport projects are implemented.

5. In addressing these constraints, policies should respond to national priorities and circumstances. We should continue to aim towards providing safe, affordable and efficient transportation, increasing energy efficiency, reducing pollution, congestion and adverse health effects and limiting urban sprawl. In rural areas, the expansion of all-weather road networks is of paramount importance. Likewise, multi-modal approaches to transit, particularly in urban regions, are required. Bus-rapid transit systems offer interesting examples of how to improve coverage and affordability. Support to alternative modes, such as cycling and pedestrianization, should also be highlighted. Concerns with reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and health should inform decisions to improve and provide technology transfer and capacity-building and the diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries in the area of transportation. Different countries will use different models for the development of their transport infrastructure, but common to all is the key role governments play in these processes.

Mr. Chairman,

6. The importance of chemicals to developing countries cannot be over emphasized. In developing countries, agricultural sector widely relies on chemicals products. We use chemicals in producing organic and inorganic fertilizers for crops and crop protection to influence food quality as well as to control insects and weeds. Chemicals are also widely used in the medical sector, mining and mineral processing, cosmetics, and as preservatives including production of plastic products, etc. Chemical industry has significant socio economic contribution to the economies of developing countries providing forward and backward linkage. For this reasons, therefore, chemicals are closely linked to the Millennium Development Goals and contribute to poverty alleviation, jobs creation and improved living standards. It is the interest of G77 and China to encourage continued investments in production, capacity building, research and development in this sector.

7. Notwithstanding its usefulness, chemicals are also the main contributor of toxic compounds, therefore unregulated wide scale use of chemicals lead to pollution and can also promote adverse environmental and health impacts worldwide.

8. While significant efforts are taking place at international levels that need to be coordinated and harmonized, the G77 and China acknowledges that the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) constitutes an important global framework for strengthening capacity for sound chemicals management and narrowing the capacity gap between the developing and the developed countries, setting out rules for registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals, managing certain toxic chemicals, particularly pesticides; strengthening preparedness for chemical emergencies; developing legislation on compensation for environmental damages; and supporting developing countries in their efforts to prevent illegal trans-boundary shipments of hazardous chemical and radioactive wastes.

9. While these processes are in progress, we are concerned that in developing countries, more remains to be done to ensure the environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, within the principles of sustainable development. G77 and China believe that two of the major problems, particularly in developing countries, are (a) lack of sufficient scientific information for the assessment of risks entailed by the use of a great number of chemicals, and (b) lack of resources for assessment of chemicals for which data are at hand as well as inadequate human resources capacity. We believe that efforts should be made within the framework of sustainable development to support developing countries.

10. The G77 and China emphasize that increased coordination of United Nations bodies and other international organizations involved in chemicals assessment and management need immediate attention and should be further promoted cognizant of the linkage to other areas such as Sustainable Consumption and Production. We look forward to enhanced support by the international community to all the processes that address sound management of chemicals.
Mr Chairman,

11. Despite the progress made by developing countries towards the implementation of Johannesburg Programme of Implementation (JPOI) targets, the ineffective and inefficient waste management become a major and growing public health and environmental issues, particularly in urban areas, and threaten the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
  
12. The Group G77 and China emphasize that access to financial and technological resources, capacity building and know-how is essential for advancing sustainable waste management in developing countries, including investments in low-cost options for waste management, recycling and reuse and disposal, as well as energy recovery from waste, notably options suitable for poor communities that can be replicated on a larger scale. There is also a need for improved data at the international level on different types of waste.

13. It is vital to engage multilateral institutions and donor communities in financing waste related technical cooperation projects that address emerging chemical issues, electronic waste and provide useful knowledge and practical training for local and national authorities. In this regard, there is a need to increase efforts to collect and responsibly treat e-waste and to increase safe recycling of e-products, including by electronic companies, as well as to put an end to growing e-waste dumps, in particular across the developing world.

Mr. Chairman,

14. The G77 and China is of the view that the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production should be based on Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and the Rio principles, particularly the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, with the developed countries taking the lead, respecting their international obligations, including in what relates to trade and investment and with all countries benefiting from the process. The Framework should also be in line with the three pillars of sustainable development.

15. The 10YFP should encourage all countries to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, without imposing new constraints on the developmental needs of developing countries. It should not be used to implement trade protectionist measures or result in additional conditionalities for international development financing.
 
16. Furthermore, the Framework must address the gaps and challenges faced by developing countries in this area, including financing for implementing SCP activities such as through a voluntary trust fund, the transfer of environmentally-sound technology, capacity building, education and training. It is also important that the 10YFP focuses on pragmatic and concrete deliverables.

17. In this context, the Framework should center on programs and activities. It should be based on work already done in the area of SCP and recognize existing programs and priority areas indicated by the various regions. It should also be broad, flexible and dynamic and involve all stakeholders, including governments, civil society and the private sector.
 
Mr. Chairman,

18. The benefits of mining for many countries, in particular developing countries are evident, as it is a source of revenue to developing countries. Yet, the main challenge that G-77 countries face lies in the equitable distribution of benefits resulting from the extraction of mineral resources. This is because countries of the G-77 that lack the financial and technological capacity for mineral extraction, often concede to skewed mineral development contracts, which not only undermine the sovereignty of nations over their resources, but also result in wholesale mining development and unfair returns for governments, who are often left with the social and environmental burdens associated with mining.

19. To draw policy options for Managing Mining industry, it is important to underline the Principle 2 of Rio Declaration which states that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. We also would like to emphasize that managing resources and revenue accrue from it must be exercised in the interest of their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned.

20. It is necessary that business and industry, in particular transnational corporations, adopt worldwide measures consistent with the principle of sustainable development, ensure environmentally sound technologies are available to affiliates owned substantially by their parent company in developing countries without extra external charges and to modify procedures in order to reflect local ecological conditions and share experiences with local authorities, national Governments and international organizations.

21. Transparency and accountability are objectives that should be embraced and promoted by all Member States, regardless of their size, level of development or resource endowment, including the equity and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems, as well as its commitment to open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial systems.

22. In addressing the issue of mining so that it could comply with three pillars of sustainable development not only tilt towards one pillar, we need to address this issue in a balance manner in both supply and demand side. The development of global ethics for good conduct of mining with the end goals of achieving the MDGs could be further explored. We reiterate our commitments to conserve and efficiently manage our natural resources, in order to promote the sustainable development and the welfare of our future generations.

Mr. Chairman,

23. During the 65th Session of the General Assembly, we marked the completion of the first five years since the adoption of the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) with a High Level Review Meeting. The Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) continue to be the blueprint for effectively addressing SIDS' sustainable development needs and warrant increased prioritisation and support for their implementation by the international community.
 
24. It was clear from the MSI High Level Review that SIDS' progress towards achieving sustainable development remains inadequate. This is due in large part to their small size, acute vulnerability to external shocks and natural disasters, dependence on commodities whose prices have become increasingly volatile and heavy reliance on imports. These characteristics generally serve to exacerbate the impact of the economic, social and environmental challenges which are faced by developing countries more generally. Despite such constraints, SIDS have generally sought to integrate the Mauritius Strategy into their national development plans and strategies. However, there is much room for support in respect of financial resources, technical expertise, monitoring and evaluation, as well as the development of verifiable targets and benchmarks to measure progress in the implementation of the BPoA and MSI. It is the Group's expectation that the broad-based assessment of (UN system support for SIDS) which was mandated during the Review, and which is currently underway, will result in stronger commitment, and greater, more effective partnership for the implementation of the BPoA and MSI.
 
25. We look forward to discussing the progress and challenges which SIDS have experienced in relation to the CSD's current thematic cluster and to benefitting from the valuable national perspectives which our colleagues in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) will provide in this regard.

Mr. Chairman,

26. The CSD 19 themes require developing countries to broaden and to strengthen the 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, urged development partners to implementing their part of the commitments whether in external debt, development assistance, financing, trade, technology transfer and greater technology transfer, increased capacity building and additional and predictable financial resources represent the three essential tools for implementation. In building resilience to these interlocking crises, developing countries will need more than ever a strong UN capable of delivering not only short-term assistance, but also long-term support that strengthens 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, it is in this framework that we must continue to analyze the themes under discussion and build a comprehensive assessment for effective implementation in the field.

I thank you.