Sumario: EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development/Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting: Opening Statement (26 February 2007: New York)
Statement by Mr. Stephan Contius, Federal Republic of Germany, on behalf of the European Union, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development/Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting: Opening Statement, New York
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration. Let me express our thanks to the Division for Sustainable Development for the preparation of this
meeting as well as for the Secretary-General reports on each of the four thematic clusters, which provide a useful basis for our upcoming discussions on policy recommendations of CSD 15.
This CSD policy cycle offers us an unparalleled opportunity to address the key issues of energy for sustainable development, climate change, air pollution and industrial development in an integrated manner. These issues are deeply interrelated; they are at the heart of ensuring long-term sustainable development, in particular progress in the areas of poverty eradication and climate change. Recognising this gives us a better understanding of all related challenges and opportunities.
The EU is firmly committed to an action oriented outcome of CSD 15, to be complemented by voluntary actions and partnerships. We will strive for a CSD 15 outcome which is clear on objectives, actions and the role of the different actors inside and outside the United Nations system. Such an outcome of CSD would reflect the necessity that we all collectively, individually and in partnership have a role to play in overcoming the current obstacles in implementation.
Energy for sustainable development
• Strong action is needed to foster a transition to a global low carbon economy. The EU advocates that all states integrate diversified energy policies in national sustainable development strategies, national poverty reduction strategies or other national planning frameworks by 2010, giving priority - and allocating adequate resources - to energy efficiency, renewable energies and improved access to sustainable, reliable, affordable and environmentally sound energy services for all as one of
the prerequisites for reaching the MDGs.
• The EU would like to reiterate its commitment to the JPoI's objectives on energy and encourages all member states to identify their contributions to these objectives.
• The EU proposes a 'basket of voluntary commitments' as a non-negotiated outcome of CSD 15. Each state should submit national objectives on access to energy, energy efficiency and renewable energies to fill this basket.
• To ensure regular monitoring of such commitments, we propose that the CSD should devote time to review and follow-up on energy in its sessions in 2010/2011 and 2014/2015. This review arrangement should be based on existing data to better identify best practices and success factors, to analyze gaps and barriers and to suggest opportunities to accelerate access to energy, to increase energy efficiency and to advance the use and development of renewable energies. This review arrangement would
among other things allow bi- and multilateral donors to further focus their support.
Climate Change
• We believe that the topics of adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer, as discussed at CSD 14, deserve special attention by CSD 15. Those topics are closely inter-linked with all other CSD topics, and CSD 15 should explore, which additional supporting policy recommendations could adequately complement UNFCCC policies here.
Industrial Development
• Policies, capacities and infrastructure for sustainable industrial development are key prerequisites for global sustainable development. The choices in terms of design of industrial development are strongly interlinked with challenges such as climate change, energy supply and air pollution. CSD15 offers an opportunity to address the environmental, economic, social and political aspects of such sustainable industrial development choices.
• In this context, the EU believes that increasing resource efficiency, enhancing technological innovation and de-coupling economic growth from resource use offers the opportunity to reduce costs, increase competitiveness and thereby preserve jobs or even provide additional employment. Moreover, changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns is fundamental to deliver tangible results not just in the area of industrial development, but also in the other thematic clusters of CSD
15.
• The EU is supportive of UNIDO's proposal on regional and country-specific benchmarking, which, we believe, could be an important step to raise further support for the principles of cleaner production and resource-efficiency. UNIDO has already declared her readiness for further engagement in this policy area.
Air pollution
• The EU strongly advocates that indoor-air pollution in developing countries and its severe health-impacts are of high importance for the international agenda. Improving access to cleaner cooking and heating fuels in developing countries are relevant especially for women and children. CSD 15 needs to agree on concrete action on this topic and will commit concerned states as well the international donor community to act with a sense of urgency. The WHO should continue to play a key role in
advocacy, programme development and implementation.
• The ECE region has developed an ambitious convention on long-range air pollution. We believe that it can serve as a model for other regions, and we are ready to support information and knowledge exchange. The EU has made considerable progress for the control of air pollution and more action is underway.
• Traffic-related emissions (vehicles, aviation and maritime transport), should be an imperative of high priority for international action.
Cross-cutting issues
• We welcome the opportunity at this CSD to address inter-linkages and cross-cutting issues within their own right and within our thematic discussions. To talk about real progress and practical implementation we also need to talk about improving access to financial resources, including by creating the right investment climates; achieving good governance ensuring human rights, gender equality and non-discrimination. It is crucial to integrate each of the thematic issues into national sustainable
development and poverty reduction strategies. It is also necessary to promote and assist technology development and access and to build capacity including through education and the provision of information.
As we expect to leave this IPM session with a Chairman's draft negotiating text which reflects these priorities, we trust your Excellency's guidance, Mr. Chairman, and look forward to a good outcome of this Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting.
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