Madam President,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I have the honour to make this contribution on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the decision by the Security Council to hold a debate on “Energy, Security and Climate”.

The Group is of the view that Security Council’s primary responsibility is for the maintenance of international peace and security as set out in the UN Charter. On the other hand, other issues, including those relating to economic and social development, are assigned by the Charter to the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly. The ever-increasing encroachment by the Security Council on the roles and responsibilities of other principal organs of the UN represents a distortion of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, also infringes on their authority and compromises the rights of the general membership of the United Nations.

The issues of energy and climate change are vital for sustainable development. Responsibilities in the field of sustainable development belong to the General Assembly, ECOSOC and their relevant subsidiary bodies including the CSD and the UNEP. Climate change has a binding multilateral agreement the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and a supportive protocol the Kyoto Protocol. No role was envisaged for the Security Council.

Madam President,

We are of the view that it is vital for all Member States to promote sustainable development adhering to the Rio principles – especially the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility” – and fully implement Agenda-21 and other commitments related to provision of financial resources, transfer of technology and capacity building of developing countries, undertaken at the Rio and Johannesburg and other relevant UN Conferences in the economic and social fields.

The Group has consistently maintained that the UNFCCC is the appropriate forum to consider risks associated with climate change and actions needed to address climate change in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Convention. Developed countries should take urgent action to fulfill their commitments to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. Those countries that have not yet done so, should accede to the Kyoto Protocol.

The Group also feels it inappropriate to consider the issue of energy in the Security Council. We reaffirm the key role of energy in achieving the goals of sustainable development, poverty eradication and achieving the MDGs. Therefore, we emphasize the critical role of international community for provision of adequate, predictable, new and additional financial resources, technology transfer and enhancing capacity building of the developing countries as agreed in Agenda 21, Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) and decisions of Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). Also, there is need for political will and commitment to explore innovative ways of applying energy efficient, environmentally sound, cost-effective and socially acceptable technologies and systems.

Madam President,

The Group of 77 and China will continue to pursue the realization of the goals of sustainable development, as well as the fulfillment of commitments by developed countries in all relevant bodies, especially in the forthcoming 15th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-15) and we urge others to do likewise.

We hope that the decision by the Council to hold this debate does not create a precedent or undermine the authority or mandate of the relevant bodies, processes and instruments, which are already addressing these issues.

I thank you.