STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. KATINDA E. KAMANDO, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, IN THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 98: (c ) Protection of the global climate for the present and future generations of mankind; (e) Convention on Biological Diversity; (f) Implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference, Sustainable Development of Small Islands Developing States

New York, 6 November 1997

Mr. Chairman,

At the outset, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to thank the Secretary General for making available to the Committee documents A/52/413, A/52/441 and A/52/319.

I would also like to thank Mr. Michael Zemmit Cutjar for the introductory statement made yesterday, and Mr. Calistus Juma for the introductory statement made today.

Mr. Chairman,

As we are preparing for the Third Conference of Parties on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Kyoto, Japan from 1 to 10 December 1997, most of the developing countries continue to be the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change as a result of increased emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide gasses into the atmosphere.

The concentration of these greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere is a result of the activities of industrialized countries which continue to pursue their industrialization strategies in wanton disregard for the environment, leading to global warming of the planet causing extreme weather events, sea level rise, increase in number and intensity of typhoons and drought.

Mr. Chairman,

While there is no agreement on emissions reduction by countries in the North, it is unfair and, indeed, unacceptable that the developing countries which are struggling to attain decent standards of living should be asked to curtail their industrial activity and share in the efforts to reduce emissions so that the industrialized countries can continue with their unsustainable production and consumption patterns. In this context, the Group of 77 and China strongly maintains that in accordance with principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, developed countries must take the lead and not merely reduce emissions, but according to the Climate Change Convention, to modify longer-term trends in anthropogenic emissions, their production and consumption lifestyles.

Furthermore, the Group of 77 and China proposal presented at the just-ended meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate, that developed countries reduce emissions below 1990 levels of 7.5% by the year 2005, 15% by 2010 and 35% by the year 2020, is a realistic proposal and should be seriously considered if we are to preserve our globe for future generations.

Mr. Chairman,

The proposal by the Group of 77 and China is not a new invention. Under the Climate Change Convention, developed countries have agreed to take measures aimed at returning their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. This commitment was reiterated again at the First Session of the Conference of the Parties in 1995 whereby the international community recognized that stronger measures were needed to minimize the risk of climate change. In this regard, the Group of 77 and China maintains its call for meeting the targets for the reduction of greenhouse gasses by developed countries.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China attaches greater importance to the Convention on Biological Diversity and we are pleased to note that there is progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 through its focus on marine and coastal biodiversity, agricultural biological diversity, forest biological diversity and inland waters. In this regard, the CBD is therefore an important instrument for translating international commitments into national action. For this to happen, there is a need to increase resources so that the needs of the developing countries can be addressed more adequately.

The Group of 77 and China is pleased to learn that negotiations for a protocol on biosafety have reached an advanced stage and are expected to be finalized in 1998. However, there is a need for the Parties to the Convention to redouble their efforts so that negotiations are completed by next year.

Mr. Chairman,

The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-4) will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia in May 1998. At the last COP, Parties we requested to submit their national reports on the implementation of the Convention by 31 December 1997. Since national reports constitute an important element in the evaluation of the activities of the Convention, it is our hope, that Parties will heed this appeal in order to have a fruitful fourth COP.

Mr. Chairman,

Scientific research plays a key role in the implementation of the CBD, especially in the work of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advise (SBSTTA) of the Convention. The Group of 77 and China is pleased to note that SBSTTA is exploring ways of enhancing its ability to mobilize the best available scientific knowledge for the implementation of the Convention’s objectives. In this context, it is important that the COP strengthen its role in mobilizing scientific knowledge related to biological diversity and to make it available to the rest of the United Nations system.

Mr. Chairman,

For the Convention to succeed, it is important that adequate financial resources are provided to Parties in a timely manner. In this context, we would like to urge donors to make adequate financial resources available to Parties through the GEF and through other sources including from bilateral sources.

Mr. Chairman,

The report of the Secretary General on the implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States contained in document A/52/319, is illuminating on the progress made so far and the future programme of work. Indeed, we note with appreciation the positive developments attained in some of the priority areas of concern to these countries, in particular, actions by the United Nations of supporting the system-wide implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

We welcome the outcome of the fifth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development and UNGASS on the recommendations to propel the implementation of the Programme of Action, especially undertaking a review of the outstanding chapters of the POA in 1998, scheduling a comprehensive review of the POA in 1999 and holding a special session of the General Assembly immediately preceding its fifty-fourth session.

We underscore the fact that considerable and strenuous efforts have been and are being made by these island states at the national and regional levels and these endeavours are not complemented and supplemented adequately by the international community consistent with the commitments undertaken in the outcome of the global conference to operationalize and implement the POA. It is, therefore imperative for the bilateral and multilateral donor community to mobilize and provide adequate financial resources and technical assistance which enable the small island developing states to address their special socio-economic development constraints more effectively.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.