GROUP OF 77
NAIROBI

Statement by the H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti Sid, Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Environment Program, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, on the 144th Meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (UNON, Nairobi, 8 January 2019)

Madam Chairperson,
Acting Executive Director,
Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Dear Colleagues,

The Group of 77 and China welcomes the report of the Executive Director that presents important highlights regarding the implementation of the decisions and resolutions of the Environment Assembly. The Group notes the launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report on Global Warming 1.5 Degree-Celsius. The impact of 1.5 degree-warmer environment on developing countries would be devastating. In this regard, the Group calls on the Member States to be considerate of the mounting challenges especially to the developing world and discharge their respective responsibilities.

The Group also notes the preparation for the first substantive session of the global pact for the environment and the Sixth Global Environment Outlook. In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to remind colleagues that we are organizing two coordination meetings on the 10th and 13th of January 2019 to facilitate the Group's position on the Global Pact for the Environment. Please note that the meeting on the 10th January 2019 starts at 1000hrs and Sunday's coordination meeting will start at 1400hrs.

Madam Chairperson,

The Group also takes note and appreciate the Executive Directors mission to South Africa, and Tanzania on the sidelines of the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference; and major developments in the global South, China where Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit was held; Thailand where the 22nd North-East Asian Sub-Regional Program for Environmental Cooperation Senior Officials' Meeting to launch the North-East Asian Clean Air Partnership; to Pakistan to witness the launch of a country-wide 'Clean and Green Pakistan' drive led by Prime Minister Imran Khan; to Malaysia also to witness the launch of an initiative "Building Energy Intensity (BEI) labelling;" and to Indonesia to collaborate on thematic areas such as Marine Litter, Pollution, Green Economy, Illegal Fishing, Peatland Management and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Group strongly believes that such missions are paramount to the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals by the developing world.

Madam Chairperson,

The Group wishes to recognize the active coordination role played by the UNEP Secretariat and respective Regional Offices for the successful launch of the Africa Environment Partnership Platform; the 7th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment; the 21st Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Madam Chairperson,

The Group of 77 and China wishes to recall that South-South Cooperation, as an outlook towards global progress and a strategy for global development, is recognized at the highest level of the United Nations system, the General Assembly. The Group firmly believes that cooperation between developing countries can help members achieve sustainable development goals.

Madam Chairperson,

The Group believes that UNEP has a clear mandate to embrace the South-South Cooperation to deliver on its mandate. In this regard, the Group recalls the 23rd Session of UNEP Governing Council that adopts the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building, which requested UNEP to strengthen its South-South Cooperation strategy to facilitate knowledge sharing and appropriate technology transfer among countries.

In this regard, the Group further request UNEP to ensure to South-South Cooperation initiatives are effectively implemented in the spirit of accountability and transparency. The Group further requests the Secretariat to update on the work of South-South Cooperation regularly.

I thank You!