Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates

1. It is my pleasure to address the 19th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD19) on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I would like to commend you and to reiterate you our support for the conclusion of a successful session of the CSD 19.

2. The Group would also like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs as well as the Secretariat for their excellent work in preparation of this important meeting.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The 19th session of CSD is a policy session. As such, it should allow us to move our discussions forward in order to take decisions aimed at removing obstacles identified in the five thematic areas during the review cycle at CSD18, and at providing means of implementation for agreed actions on the ground.

Mr. Chairman,

4. As the G-77 has pointed out in previous CSD meetings, transportation is a central component of sustainable development, economic growth and social development. Adequate, affordable, safe and sustainable transport options and infrastructure are a condition for improving accessibility and connectivity that help integrate developing countries into the world, eliminating poverty and achieving the internationally agreed development goals. Developing countries have many success stories in areas such as rural transportation, clean fuels, bus-rapid transport, and multi-modal systems. These advances have contributed to promoting the eradication of extreme poverty and fostering development.

5. However, developing countries still face considerable barriers and challenges in harnessing adequate and affordable transportation means and networks.

6. Local challenges in developing countries are compounded by a global scenario of decreased financing for infrastructure development, increased volatility in global energy markets and the need to respond to climate change challenges. In addressing these constraints, policy recommendations should respect national ownership and priorities, fostering national initiatives while unlocking the global support required for such. The objectives of our discussions should be to ensure safe, affordable and efficient transportation, increasing fuel and energy efficiency, reducing pollution, congestion and adverse health effects and limit urban sprawl, as called for in the JPOI.

Mr. Chairman,

7. The benefits of Chemicals and derivatives for countries member of G77 and China cannot be over emphasized. It is through industrial production a source of revenue to developing countries, employment and well-being can be realized. However, the main challenge that developing countries face lies in the local capacity to manage production, effective uses of chemicals and protection of chemical hazards and the environment as well as to promote corporate, social and environmental responsibility.

8. We believe that because of inadequate knowledge and expertise, financial and technological capacity to harness the effective uses of chemicals, we need to establish or strengthen a regulatory system, such as registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals, among others, and incorporate the implementation of international legally binding instruments on chemicals and waste. We thus believe that we need at the national level to raise awareness and develop monitoring programmes on chemical safety that specifically address each point of the chemical life cycle. We also need to strengthen preparedness for chemical emergencies and accidents as well as develop legislation on liabilities and compensation for environmental damages;

9. Furthermore, we need to strengthen technical and capacity support to public interest NGOs, research institutions and communities to enable and facilitate their responsible and active participation in policy development processes on chemicals management; we also need to foster public-private partnerships to strengthen capacity of national industry and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the safe and responsible use and handling of chemicals.

Mr. Chairman,

10. On waste management, it is our expectation that international organizations and developed countries provide assistance to developing countries to strengthen their national, human and institutional capacities for the implementation of the Conventions, monitoring of waste generation, treatment and disposal as well as the establishment of inventories of hazardous and radio-active waste and sites as a basis for developing facilities for cleaning up contaminated sites.

11. There is the need to develop secure financial instruments and mobilize new and additional financial resources for developing countries to build waste management infrastructure, facilities and strengthen regional mechanisms for protecting the environment from waste disposal.

12. The need to promote safe and clean technologies with emphasis on bio remediation of land and water, waste treatment, soil conservation, afforestation and land rehabilitation cannot be over emphasized. Developed countries should transfer technology to developing countries on preferential terms and they should also help strengthen research and development systems and enhance the capacity to develop new technologies.

Mr. Chairman,

13. The G77 and China reiterates its readiness to engage in a 10 Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP on SCP) that has the developed countries taking the lead, while respecting their international commitments, particularly with regards to trade and investment, that takes into account the Rio principles, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as set out in principle 7 of the Rio Declaration, and with all countries benefiting from the process.

14. For the G77 and China, tackling current unsustainable patterns of consumption and production while strengthening the means of implementation for developing countries to take on SCP initiatives are key. We are also of the view that a streamlined negotiating text would enable all Parties to focus on the essential elements of the 10YFP. We look forward to discussing these issues with our Partners.

Mr. Chairman,

15. The G77 and China would like to reaffirm the position conveyed in the last IPM Session and in its closing views in regard to the mining cluster.

16. In emphasizing Principle 2 of the Rio Declaration in which 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, we are of the view that the prescriptive nature of the text to be considered for adoption is contradictive to the very spirit of Principle 2.

17. We see the importance of striking a balance between economic, social, and environmental impacts over the mining activities.

18. In this regard, in line with Principle 2 of the Rio Declaration as well as mandates contained in paragraph 46 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), the outcome of CSD-19 on mining needs to reflect a strong emphasis on supporting national efforts with regard to mining activities, in accordance with countries' respective national laws and regulations.

19. It is equally important to take into account the contribution of mining to the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, and implementation of sustainable development. Agreeing on the provision of financing, transfer of environmentally sound technologies for the extraction of mining, as well as strengthening of the principle of Social and Environment Corporate Responsibility for the private sector is particularly important.

Mr. Chairman,

20. 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 prioritization and support for their implementation by the international community.
 
21. 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.
 
22. We look forward to discussing the progress and challenges which SIDS have experienced in relation to the CSD's current thematic clusters and to benefitting from the valuable national perspectives which our colleagues in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) will provide in this regard.

23. The G77 and China reaffirms the importance of taking further effective measures to remove the obstacles to full realization of the rights of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation in achieving sustainable development goals, particularly with regards to the CSD 19 themes, namely Transport, Chemicals, Waste Management, Mining and SCP.

Mr. Chairman,

24. The CSD-19 themes address challenges to developing countries that requires us 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 to and to prevent these crises from escalating further. In this regard, we urge development partners to implementing their part of the commitments on external debt relief, development assistance, financing, trade and technology transfer.

25. The G77 and China is convinced that tackling the issue of intellectual property rights for technology transfers, an increased capacity building and additional and predictable financial resources are three essential tools for a full implementation of actions on the ground. In building resilience to these interlocking crises, developing countries need a strong UN-System capable of delivering not only short-term assistance, but also long-term support that strengthens their national efforts for sustainable development.

Mr. Chairman,

26. The Group of 77 and China looks forward to engaging in fruitful discussions with our Partners on all these challenging issues at this 19th Session of the CSD.

I thank you.