Third Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3)

GROUP OF 77
NAIROBI

Statement by H.E. Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar, Head of Pakistan Delegation on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the Third Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3)
(Nairobi, 4 December 2017)

Mr. President,
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honored to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group commends the hard work that has gone into organizing UNEA-3 as an extraordinary event and that too back to back with Open Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR). In this regard synergy between the UNEA and CPR Bureaus as well as the Secretariat ably led by Executive Director Mr Erik Solheim has been impressive to say the least. Kudos, also are due to Republic of Kenya, the host country.

Mr. President,

The United Nations Environment Assembly is the highest decision making body on the Environment and G77 and China would like it to rise to the responsibilities that the Assembly's position entails. We are aware of the challenges but affirm that difficulties should not be a recipe for inaction.

The Group believes that UNEA resolutions and decisions would remain confined to the conceptual realm barring effective implementation and follow up.

Our movement towards the goal of a pollution free planet requires the international community to strive as one and not be hamstrung by individual agendas and the desire to circumvent commitments made at the highest level of political leadership.

Mr. President,

UNGA resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets. It makes commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The resolution makes commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental - in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business. Our Group reaffirms the resolution.

Our Group also reaffirms UNGA resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. It is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity.

We welcome the Paris Agreement, adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We welcome its early entry into force, encourage all its parties to fully implement the Agreement, according to their nationally determined contributions and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities in a manner that does not threaten food production.

G77 and China stresses the importance of inclusiveness within the United Nations development system and that no country and no one is left behind in the implementation of UNEA 3 resolutions. In this regard the Group calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates and resources, to ensure the implementation of this matter.

We feel that it is important to safeguard the natural environment in times of armed conflict and terrorist acts for the sake of future generations and consolidate efforts for the protection of our common environment.

Mr. President,

There is a need for cooperation at the global and regional levels with a view to managing and mitigating the effects of sand and dust storms through enhancing early warning systems and the sharing of climate and weather information to forecast sand and dust storms, and affirming that resilient action to combat sand and dust storms requires a better understanding of the severe multidimensional impacts of sand and dust storms, including the deterioration of the health, well-being and livelihood of people, desertification and land degradation, forest and biodiversity loss, land productivity, and their impact on sustainable economic growth.]

Mr. President,

The G77 and China welcomes the opportunity afforded by UNEA-3 for interface between Governments, scientific community, organized communities and private sector. Such cooperation is indeed required for a task which no sector can accomplish individually.

The Group urges all delegates to benefit from exchanges during and on the sidelines of UNEA-3 for mutual benefit. The Secretariat deserves commendation for facilitating different events including leadership dialogues but let us not forget that follow up and sharing of knowledge distilled from different events would redound to the benefit of pollution control rather than self-congratulatory exultation.

The Group wishes to reiterate the importance of call in paragraph 88 of the document "The Future We Want" for, inter alia, consolidating UNEP headquarters functions at Nairobi.

Mr. President,

The group reiterates its continual call for buttressing the resources of United Nations Environment Programme commensurate with our high expectations of the entity. In this regard augmenting the Environment Fund is important as are other voluntary contributions.

Mr. President,

G77 and China hopes that all draft resolutions will be adopted by consensus along with the draft Ministerial Declaration. It would highlight our seriousness not only in moving towards a pollution free planet but in strengthening the environmental dimension of Agenda 2030 and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

I thank you.