Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 13, (a), “Sustainable Development”.

Allow me, first of all, to thank the Secretariat for introducing various reports under this Agenda item including the “Report on the fifteenth session of Commission on Sustainable Development”.

2.       This year in May, the Commission on Sustainable Development during its Fifteenth Session concluded the second implementation cycle of its programme of work on thematic cluster of Energy for Sustainable Development; Industrial Development; Air Pollution/ Atmosphere; and Climate Change. The critical importance of these four issues in the context of global development agenda and their relevance to the global endeavours to eradicate poverty and achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development is well recognized. However, we are disappointed to note that the Commission was not able to reach an agreement on these important subjects.

3.       Undoubtedly, CSD with its outstanding convening power is uniquely placed to provide policy guidance and coordination as well as to review and monitor the progress made in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the Barbados Programme of Action and Mauritius Strategy of Implementation as well as the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building. It is, therefore, very important to enable the Commission, consistent with its mandate, to serve as an effective forum for ensuring full and effective implementation of commitments and to promote the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development i.e. economic development, social development and the environmental protection.

4.       The G-77 and China has consistently called for simultaneous action to address the challenges related to all the three pillars of sustainable development in a coordinated, integrated and comprehensive manner. At the national and international levels, the economic, social and environmental goals should be promoted in complementary and consistent ways. Therefore, progress in the environmental pillar of sustainable development should be matched by simultaneous progress on the economic and social pillars as well.

5.       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. In our endeavours to promote solutions to the challenges of sustainable development, we must ensure that the priority problems of poverty, hunger and under development remain the center of our attention.

6.       The challenge of environmental degradation and climate change is huge and clearly beyond the capacity of the developing countries to address it on their own. Working together, in partnerships, premised on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, is, therefore, an important and indispensable principle that we need to adhere to.

7.       It is no secret that implementation has been the Achilles heel of the global development agenda. Ironically, the implementation of what has already been agreed to globally also remains the biggest challenge to sustainable development. To allow the developing countries to fully cope with the challenges of sustainable development, it is important to scale up efforts to effectively implement the global partnership for development as set out in the Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Equally critical is the early, successful and development oriented conclusion of the Doha Round of Trade negotiations, greater investments, ODA and other financing flows as well.

8.       The Group of 77 and China believes that urgent and effective implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building will be a good measure to judge our seriousness in translating our commitments into action. They are particularly relevant to building capacities, enhancing coordination and strengthening scientific knowledge and assessment and cooperation, and fostering the transfer of knowledge to developing countries.

Mr. President,

9.       Before concluding, let me reiterate our strong expectation and hope that the challenges of global sustainable development will be addressed in an integrated and coordinated manner. We look forward to participating actively in future discussions on sustainable development including at the CSD, as we seek to retain the focus on eradication of poverty as an indispensable prerequisite for sustained economic growth and sustainable development in developing countries. We fervently hope that the future sessions of CSD will be able to agree on development oriented policy options and actions, together with an in-built mechanism for their follow-up and implementation that can provide effective and early solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.

I thank you.