Inter-linkages and cross cutting issues including means of implementation

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. JAMIL AHMAD OF PAKISTAN ON INTER-LINKAGES AND CROSS CUTTING ISSUES INCLUDING MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION DURING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PREPARATORY MEETING (IPM) OF FIFTEENTH SESSION OF COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (CSD-15) (New York, 1 March 2007, Morning Session)

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I have the honour to make this contribution on behalf of Group of 77 and China to our discussion on ‘Inter-linkages and cross cutting issues including means of implementation’. We thank the Panelists for their important presentations.

The themes of CSD-15 are defined by close inter-linkages and cross cutting issues. Among these the Means of Implementation stand out as the most important and critical one to the realization of our common objectives of promoting sustained economic growth and sustainable development.

The topicality of the issues on our agenda and their relevance to our endeavors to eradicate poverty and achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development is well recognized. The fact that poverty is rampant globally and on the rise in some countries and regions only lends greater urgency for seeking sustainable and development oriented solutions to the challenges we face.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China believes that the urgent and full implementation of the international commitments relating to the means of implementation in the areas of Energy for Sustainable Development, Industrial Development, Air Pollution and Climate Change must be based on the Rio principle 7 of common but differentiated responsibilities. In this regard, we have noted the slow progress on the implementation of Bali Strategic Plan for Capacity Building and Technology Transfer. We call for its immediate, full and effective implementation. UNEP must act in cooperation with CSD to urgently implement it.

Adequate policies must take into consideration the special needs of developing countries, particularly those in Africa, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.
We would also like to emphasize the needs of countries emerging from conflict in the areas of capacity building, technical cooperation and infrastructure development.

Mr. Chairman,

As we seek ways to build capacities, foster the transfer of knowledge and technology to developing countries, enhance coordination, strengthen scientific knowledge, assessment and cooperation, we also realize the need for a fully supportive and enabling international environment to facilitate and promote the implementation of national development strategies.

Mr. Chairman,

In order to effectively cope with the challenges we face in the means of implementation, Group of 77 and China suggest the following policy options to be endorsed by CSD-15:

Scale up efforts to effectively implement the global partnership for development as set out in the Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey and the JPOI and to effectively operationalize the World Solidarity Fund for Poverty;
Work towards an early conclusion and development oriented outcome of the Doha Round of Trade negotiations and to specifically undertake concrete measures to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers on imports from developing countries as well as the removal of tariff escalations and tariff peaks on exports from developing countries. This is critical to enable developing countries to make full use of their comparative advantages;
Implement debt relief measures to enable developing countries to meet the goals and targets in the JPOI;
Consciously direct Foreign Direct Investment flows to the weaker economies, through various measures, such as investment guarantee schemes;
Early and full realization of 0.7% ODA target;
Establish financial mechanisms including disbursal of loans with extended repayment timeframes, microfinance schemes and revolving funds;
Encourage simplification and streamlining the rules as well as improve accessibility of developing countries to all the existing financial mechanisms including GEF, as well as identify new and additional sources of financing;
Greater involvement of the private sector through promotion of public-private partnerships,
Adopting a more coherent approach on the corporate, environmental and social responsibility and accountability;
Promote responsible entrepreneurship, particularly among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs);
Facilitate access to and transfer of technology;
Promote technical capacity building and know-how, including through support from multilateral financial institutions;
Immediate, effective and full implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Capacity Building and Technology Transfer;
The renewed commitment of the international community, especially financial institutions, is essential to support national efforts of developing countries for capacity building. In this context, a global campaign should be initiated for human resource training particularly in the area of sustainable development;
World class Centers of Excellence in areas relevant to sustainable development should be established in the developing countries through international cooperation;
High quality “virtual universities” and virtual means of research could be created to spread knowledge, innovation and technological application;
Investment and trade policies should be structured in ways designed to acquire technological capabilities;
International rule making and standard setting activities should respond to the concerns of developing countries and not discriminate against them;
The agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS), and other intellectual property laws, should be reviewed and, where necessary, revised to enhance their contribution to sustainable development. This should be pursued both in WIPO and the WTO;
More direct endeavours should be made to utilize global scientific and R&D capabilities for sustainable development. In this regard research and developmental needs and priorities of developing countries should be identified together with possible niche opportunities for specific countries and regions;
Strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation in investment, trade, technology, research and development;
Enhance regional cooperation, through: establishment of regional/sub-regional arrangements, strengthening cooperation between national and regional institutions, strengthening and facilitating as appropriate, regional cooperation arrangements;

Mr. Chairman,

We are satisfied at the discussions over the week under your able leadership. Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting has been useful in bringing to the fore a number of policy options which will form basis for CSD-15 to agree to a set of action-based and development oriented policy options preferably with an in-built mechanism for follow up and implementation.

I thank you.