Chair,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this agenda item.

Excellencies,

The G77 and China recognizes that the multiple challenges continue to undermine the ability of developing countries to implement actions in pursuit of the achievement of sustainable development. The Group reaffirms all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, while stressing that these principles must guide all discussions on sustainable development.

Excellencies

The Group's priorities in support of achievement of sustainable development include, inter alia;

First, we call for concrete actions to enhance the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement adopted under the convention in support of developing countries to address the widespread and unprecedented impacts of climate change that disproportionately burden developing countries and in particular the poorest and most vulnerable. We reiterate our call for urgent and timely provision and mobilization of resources by developed countries to developing countries to tackle climate change.

Second, we reiterate that urgent and significant actions are needed to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. We reaffirm the necessity of fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and from digital sequence information on genetic resources as well as the contribution from Indigenous Peoples and local communities whose traditional knowledge, including traditional knowledge associated to genetic resources, and practices are relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

We urge the international community to strengthen its efforts to halt the biodiversity loss and protect ecosystems, including increasing the provision of financial, technological and capacity building support to developing countries necessary to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and in line with the provisions of the Convention. In this regard, we urge developed countries to fulfill their commitments under the Convention of Biodiversity on the provision of means of implementation to developing countries, including the goal to mobilize per year at least $20 billion per year by 2025 and $30 billion per year by 2030 as agreed in the GBF, as well as to strengthen capacity-building and development, access to and transfer of technology, and access to innovation and technical and scientific cooperation.

Third, we reaffirm that SIDS remain a "special case" for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities, and acknowledge the close interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States. We remain committed to support the timely and full implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS within the framework of South-South Cooperation. We emphasize that developed countries have the obligation and commitment of assisting developing countries in meeting their development objectives and urge developed countries to fulfil all previous and new commitments.

Fourth, we stress that developing countries need adequate, sustainable and timely provision of support, including through finance, technology transfer and capacity-building from developed countries and partners tailored to their needs and priorities, as reflected in the principles of the Sendai Framework. In this context, we underscore the need to implement the Sendai Framework in the context of poverty eradication efforts. We call on developed countries to increase transfer of technology and the provision of funds oriented to addressing, in a balanced manner, desertification, land degradation and drought, particularly in support of the national efforts of affected countries.
 
Fifth, we reaffirm our firm rejection of the imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions, against developing countries and reiterate the urgent need to eliminate them immediately. We emphasize that such actions not only undermine the principles enshrined in the Charter of the UN and international law but also impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.
 
Excellencies,

Accordingly, the Group will submit draft resolutions under this agenda with concrete policy action proposals to support developing countries in their pursuit to achieve Sustainable development.

In conclusion, the G77 and China will engage constructively, with the view of achieving successful outcomes under this agenda item.

I thank you.