FULFILMENT OF COMMITMENTS BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION UNSATISFACTORY, SECOND COMMITTEE TOLD

26 October 1998

Press Release
GA/EF/2837

FULFILMENT OF COMMITMENTS BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION UNSATISFACTORY, SECOND COMMITTEE TOLD

19981026 Committee Concludes Discussion of Environment and Sustainable Development

Developed countries should fulfil their commitments under environmental conventions before developing countries were asked to take up new obligations, the Second Committee was told this morning as it concluded its general discussion of the environment and sustainable development. Speaking on the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the representative of Iran said that, after less than one year, fulfilment of commitments made by developed countries had not been satisfactory. It was a matter of concern that there was pressure to involve the developing countries in new commitments, while the developed countries had failed to implement their own obligations. He stressed the need to reaffirm the partnership for implementation of the Convention, based on the principles of non-discrimination and equality. The representative of Malaysia said that the international community should be reminded that developed countries should take the lead in implementing the Convention on Climate Change since they were responsible for the bulk of past and present emissions. As acknowledged in the Convention, there were common but differentiated responsibilities. The need to secure political will, support and commitment was essential for translating recommendations into tangible results, said a representative of the World Meteorological Organization. The gravity and consequences of the environmental problems were more destructive than had been acknowledged. He added that the contributions of science and technology to sustainable development should be reassessed. Poverty eradication and food security, among other things, could be attained more rapidly through enhanced application of science and technology to development. Statements were also made by the representatives of Nigeria and Egypt. The Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Division of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also spoke. The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. Wednesday, 28 October, to take up the topic of training and research. It will also consider the question of the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to continue its consideration of the environment and sustainable development. Under that general heading, the Committee will discuss: protection of global climate for present and future generations; implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States; the Convention on Biological Diversity; and implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. (For background information on documents before the Committee, see Press Release GA/EF/2834 of 22 October.)

Statements

MOHAMMAD ALI ZARIE ZARE (Iran) said that after less than one year, fulfilment of the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol by developed countries had not been satisfactory. Rather, it had been disappointing. It was a matter of concern that there was pressure to involve the developing countries in new commitments, while the developed countries had failed to implement their own obligations. It was necessary to reaffirm the partnership for implementation of the Convention on Climate Change based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Implementation should also observe the principles of non-discrimination and equality of all States parties to the Convention.

Land degradation, desertification and food insecurity were considered main barriers to the achievement of sustainable development, he said. The lack of adequate resources and technical assistance were major elements affecting the desired control over desertification. The decline in soil fertility, soil structure, and desertification took a heavy toll on the agricultural sector in developing countries. That had a serious impact on the livelihood of rural people, particularly the poorest segments of the rural community. The Convention to Combat Desertification was the most important international mechanism to assist developing countries in addressing that serious challenge. Contributions from the international community and all other sources were necessary for implementing the Convention.

HASMY AGAM (Malaysia) said environmental logic for curbing greenhouse gases as very strong. However, his country was concerned by the constant bombardment of vested interest groups through media advertising, which suggested that the developing countries were being relieved of their environmental responsibility. Although it appeared to be persuasive, the message presented through such campaigns had been taken out of context and confused the public. The international community should be reminded of the key principle that developed countries should take the lead since they were responsible for the bulk of past and present emissions. As acknowledged in the Convention on Climate Change, there were common but differentiated responsibilities.

Second Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/EF/2837 25th Meeting (AM) 26 October 1998

He said that his country considered all three mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol -- emission trading, joint implementation and clean development -- were of equal importance. However, there were a number of complex issues related to those mechanisms. Therefore, it was important for all parties to further narrow their differences and enhance understanding of those mechanisms.

ROBERT LENTON, Director, Sustainable Energy and Environment Division of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that addressing climate change was an important issue for the UNDP because it was the developing world that would likely be hardest hit by altered weather patterns, changes in food production and rising sea levels. The use of renewable energy sources and new technologies and supporting sustainable land and forest management practices were essential to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable economic growth. Desertification had demonstrated the inextricable linkage between natural resources management and social, economic and political dimensions.

He said that while the UNDP country offices were direct partners in support of national efforts, the UNDP Central Office to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNSO) had been leading the Organizations' efforts. The bulk of its support has gone to Africa, while support had been intensified to Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Arab states. Future efforts would need to focus on the opportunities to strengthen support by mainstreaming the issue more fully into all relevant programmes, and on further building strategic partnerships at all levels.

A.D.J. BLANKSON (Nigeria) said the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 had, more than ever before, made clear basic facts of life which had hitherto been taken too lightly. Those included the fact that environment and sustainable development were inextricably linked to each other and to life. Life, environment and sustainable development needed to be protected.

At the Rio Summit, his country had seen sincerity of purpose displayed by governments and organizations in identifying causes of unfavourable climate change that threatened human existence, he said. His country had also seen a clear spelling out of a wide range of remedial actions which were apportioned to developed and developing countries to undertake according to their varying capacities and endowments and within the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

He added that, within the context of the norm-setting role of the United Nations, it would be not only unfair, but also impracticable, to renege on the Rio commitments after six years by assigning, equally, the liabilities and obligations outlined at Rio to unequal partners of the developed and developing countries.

Second Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/EF/2837 25th Meeting (AM) 26 October 1998

DON NANJIRA, World Meteorological Organization, said the need to secure political will, support and commitment was essential for translating rhetoric, recommendations and requirements of the written and spoken word into tangible results. The gravity and consequences of the environmental problems were more destructive than had been acknowledged. Those problems related to daily human survival. Development was the primary responsibility of Member States. Actions by the international community in that regard should promote, support and be consistent with the efforts of Member States.

He added that it was high time to reassess the contributions of science and technology to sustainable development. Poverty eradication and food security, among other things, could be attained more rapidly through enhanced application to development of advances in science and technology.

HAZEM FAHMY (Egypt) said his country had suffered severely from desertification and attached great importance to the Convention to Combat Desertification. Serious treatment should be given to the issue of shortage of resources available for the implementation of that Convention. Africa had done its part in helping to implement the Convention while the donor countries had not yet fulfilled its commitments.

Parties to the various environmental conventions should cooperate in exploring ways and means for the effective implementation of those conventions, he said. Also, institutional arrangement should be designed to ensure the proper autonomy for the secretariats of the conventions. The examination of ecological interlinkages between the conventions should be subject to parameters and should be agreed upon within the United Nations framework.

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