STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. M. W. MANGACHI, MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY IN THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE AD HOC OPEN-ENDED INTER-SESSIONAL WORKING GROUP OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

New York, 5 March 1997

Mr. Chairman,

I am pleased to inform the Working Group that the G-77 agreed on a common framework, on which the issues to be raised at the UNGASS should be considered. This framework will be the basis for consultations with the other groups. It is the hope of the Group of 77 that its framework will be acceptable to the Working Group.

The Group also discussed part III A of the Co-Chair’s text, paragraphs 18 and 19.

Concerning para 18, the Group made the following observations:

• The para should be recast to encompass all aspects of economic, social and environmental considerations.
  
• This para should he harmonized in the final draft, with the paras to be introduced under international cooperation to accelerate sustainable development, in the proposed G-77 framework.
  
• A balance needs to be drawn between the needs for development and those for environment.

• Concerning para 18(a), the G-77 felt that it was not proper to set a time frame of the year 2005 during which all countries should adopt national strategies for sustainable development. It was further felt that such a proposal, coming from an international forum, like this one, constituted interference in the affairs of governments.

• As for 18(c) it was also felt that the suggestion to the effect that governments should acknowledge additional social actors and groups, had implication for interference in the government actions. It was further suggested that the reference to trade-offs among economic, environmental and social objectives, should be replaced by the notion of complementarity.
  

Concerning para 19 on changing consumption and production patterns, the G-77 made the following comments:

• It must be recognized that the North was mainly responsible for unsustainable production means as well as pollution and overconsumption. It is hence necessary to invoke the principle s of common but differentiated responsibilities and the polluter pays principle, when apportioning responsibility between the North and the Third World countries.

• In addressing the issues of consumption and production patterns, it is important for the North to pay attention to the special needs of developing countries, particularly providing the South with sufficient "development space" and meeting the basic needs of the poor in the developing countries.
  

• It is important that the North reduces wasteful consumption patterns.

Thank you.