Strengthening UNEP for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

GROUP OF 77
NAIROBI

Statement delivered on behalf of the G77 and China, Nairobi Chapter, by H.E. Monica de Greiff Lindo, Chairperson, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia in Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP - Special Session of the UN Environment Assembly UNEP@50: "Strengthening UNEP for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" (Nairobi, 3 March 2022)

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Excellencies Prime Ministers, Excellencies Ministers of Environment, Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Honourable Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Madame Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, distinguished delegates, colleagues, ladies, and gentlemen,

I am honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, Nairobi Chapter.

At the outset, let me congratulate you, your Excellency Mme Chair, and through you the kingdom of Morocco for being nominated by the African group as the Incoming President of UNEA-6. The Group of 77 and China welcomes such nomination and will stand fully under your leadership to guide us for more achievements in the next session.

Your excellencies,

Fifty years ago, the Stockholm conference created the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In 1972, Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta inaugurated UNEP's headquarters. Since then, UNEP has worked closely with the G77 and China to galvanize worldwide commitments and coordinated action to address many of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

The influence of the developing world in its fifty years of history has been significant; two Executive Directors from Egypt and Brazil have led the Organization. The Egyptian national Mostafa Tolba, who would lead UNEP for 17 years, and the German-Brazilian national, Achim Steiner, the fifth UNEP Executive Director, shaped the contours of the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

After the adjournment of the Fifth UNEA, UNEP@50 Special Session to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Organization, represents an opportunity to reflect on the past achievements and lessons learned and envision the future to continue building the UNEP we want. UNEP@50 also provides an opportunity to reinvigorate international cooperation and spur collective action to address many of the world's environmental challenges under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We are further encouraged by recalling paragraph 247 of the Rio Outcome Document, which states that sustainable development goals are "… global in nature and universally applicable to all countries while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities." In this context, the G77 and China would also like to underline the relevance of recognizing the individual efforts that developing countries make to fulfill their environmental commitments in the context of the MEAs, considering national circumstances and priorities.

The Group also recognizes the importance of developing integrated international and national financing frameworks, in support of nationally owned sustainable development strategies, in order to implement the Addis Ababa Action Agenda further, aiming at effectively mobilizing and aligning a wide range of financing sources and instruments with the 2030 Agenda, making use of the full potential of all means of implementation.

Mme Chair,

The Group wants to commend Ambassador Selma Haddadi from Algeria, chair of the Special Session on behalf of the African Group, for her outstanding effort and compromise with the success and impactful outcomes of this commemoration. In the same spirit, the Group welcomes the political declaration to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme. We congratulate H.E. Ms. Saqlain Syedah, High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of Pakistan, and H.E. Mr. Ado Lohmus, Permanent Representative of Environment of the Republic of Estonia, for their dedicated work and leadership in bringing together member and observer states with such broad range of views, without losing sight of the ambition and urgency of our efforts as we contend with the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.

The political declaration we are about to approve is firmly rooted in the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and driven by the commitment of keeping the ambition both regarding environmental protection and means of implementation. It highlights the need and urgency of measures to strengthen UNEP and the United Nations Office in Nairobi, in line with paragraph 88 of "The Future We Want", and the United Nations Office in Nairobi , as the only United Nations headquarters duty station in the Global South. We reiterate the invite, reflected in the Declaration, to the governing bodies of all the multilateral environmental agreements to consider convening their meetings more frequently in Nairobi and, furthermore, add the importance of that invitation in the context of future meetings on plastic pollution.

In addition, it stresses the importance of collaboration and cooperation between MEAs and UNEP, to promote coherence and its effective implementation.

The Political Declaration emphasizes the ambition to continue strengthening the science-policy interface, as one of the main outcomes UNEP can provide to the Member and observer States, bringing together information and assessment, supporting informed decision-making.

Finally, the Political Declaration calls to enhance the provision and mobilization of all types and sources of means of implementation and makes a clear call for the urgent fulfillment of the existing financial commitments under various MEAs to assist developing countries, and stress the importance of fulfilling relevant pledges. Capacity-building, technology and financial support are essential means to complement our national efforts and enable the achievement of sustainable development.

As we celebrate the outcomes of the Fifth Assembly, the Group wants to recognize everyone behind its success. From the Secretariat and all UNEP staff, screen editors, technical support, to the hard work of co-facilitators during the extended sessions, and the positive and constructive spirit of all Member and observer States, throughout the whole negotiations.

Finally, Mme Chair,

The Group of 77 and China is committed to strengthened Nairobi and we welcome you all to the home of the only Global South UN headquarters, to this commemoration that prepares us to better face the many environmental challenges the world is currently facing.

I thank you.