Climate Change Degrading Land, Eroding Development Gains, Speakers Say, as Second Committee Concludes Debate on Sustainable Development
Terrorism and climate change go hand in hand in delaying, and in some cases destroying, development gains, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as it concluded its discussion on sustainable development.
The representative of Iran said the West Asia region was not only faced with poverty, land degradation, water scarcity and hotter climate conditions, but also grappled with terrorism. The scourge had forced Iran — the sixth most disaster-prone country in the world — to shift resources away from achieving development goals and building disaster resilience to ensuring national security.
Extremism and terrorism “systematically applied against us” had destroyed years of development and much of the country’s civil infrastructure, the delegate of Syria said. What some had called “a moderate opposition” bombed factories, hospitals, cultural heritage sites and “even the fruit that we produce”. The Syrian conflict had damaged years of achievements, caused insurmountable suffering and completely plunged the country’s standard of living.
The representative of Mali pointed out the correlation between climate change, poverty and extremism, saying that the Sahel’s drop in soil fertility had caused a mass exodus of rural populations, creating a breeding ground for extremists. Terrorists and drug traffickers “seem to be free” to indoctrinate young people for criminal purposes.
The river Niger was drying up and repeated floods, strong winds and other weather phenomena had led to a severe drop in food production. That was particularly alarming for Mali as its agriculture sector was the largest employer, making up for 80 per cent of the jobs.
The representative of Togo also expressed concern over land degradation’s effect on agriculture production, which was already a vulnerable sector. Togo had adopted plans to promote soil fertility management, restore degraded ecosystems and explore the most efficient use of water.
Throughout the day many delegates highlighted how sustainable tourism and the protection of natural resources were mutually reinforcing, with Costa Rica’s representative saying the 2030 Agenda gave impetus to private-public cooperation to ensure the preservation of destinations. Tourism was only viable and attractive when the “natural beauty” of the land was upheld in a sustainable way.
Indonesia’s representative said his country’s tourism sector was a large contributor to economic growth, job creation, social progress and a builder of understanding between cultures and civilizations. As a “people-to-people” activity, tourism was furthermore a force that promoted peace and understanding.
Also speaking today were representatives of Singapore, Colombia, Mauritania, Mozambique, New Zealand, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Malawi, Iceland, Mongolia, China, United States, Paraguay, Serbia, Samoa, Turkey, Guatemala, Philippines, Bhutan, Niger, Argentina, Switzerland, Nepal, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Monaco, Rwanda, Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Arab Emirates, Gabon, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Liberia, Eritrea, Armenia, Zambia and Cameroon, as well as the Holy See.
Also speaking were representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The Second Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Friday, 23 October, for a joint meeting with the Economic and Social Council.
Background
The Second Committee met today to continue its consideration of sustainable development. For further information, see Press Release GA/EF/3427.
Statements
MIAK AW HUI MIN (Singapore), associating herself with the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, Alliance of Small Island States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said that each country must implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a way that best suits national circumstances. Singapore had recognized long ago that a competitive economy, a high quality of life and a sustainable environment were complementary parts of a virtuous cycle of development. Her country had renewed its commitment to development through the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015, which charts the next steps and aspires to reduce reliance on private car transportation, achieve a zero-waste society, develop a leading green economy and foster gracious communities. The 2030 Agenda must complement such goals with indicators that can measure progress across different targets. She also emphasized the importance of the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development.
CARLOS ARTURO MORALES LÓPEZ (Colombia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said it was jarring to see how many droughts were happening all over the world, especially in Central America and California. Those conditions were some of the worst seen in decades. Hence, urgent political momentum was critical in adopting a legally binding agreement on climate change at the upcoming twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties. It was important to continue in the momentum of safeguarding biodiversity. The rate of biodiversity loss was alarming. As Pope Francis had said, human life and nature were not independent of one another. The degradation of soils and variable climate effects had severely affected agricultural production. Responsible production and consumption were crucial to achieving sustainable development and Colombia stood ready to work creatively to that end.
GHOLAMALI KHOSHROO (Iran), associating himself with the Group of 77, said that his country had contributed to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. However, Iran faced specific challenges to implement the 2030 Agenda. His country’s diverse climate conditions and its assortment of marine and terrestrial biodiversity were rooted in its unique geography. Iran was the sixth most disaster-prone country in the world. Implementing the ambitious objectives required non-discriminatory measures, particularly regarding the finance and transfer of technology and associated know-how. The West Asia region was not only faced with real challenges such as poverty, land degradation, water scarcity and hotter climate conditions, it was also grappling with terrorism in the region. That scourge had forced Iran to shift resources away from achieving development to ensuring national security.
MOHAMED EL BECHIR MOHAMED LEMINE (Mauritania), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said that land erosion and desertification were hindering sustainable development in many countries, particularly those in Africa where many people depended on agriculture. Recurrent droughts and the shrinking of biodiversity in Western Africa and along the coast had caused huge economic losses. His country was severely affected by climate change and was setting up plans to combat desertification and undertake “environmental governance”, within the context of combating poverty. His State was also participating in a “Green Belt” proposal, a major reforestation programme, and stood ready to cooperate with the international community on climate change.
ANTÓNIO GUMENDE (Mozambique), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, stated that the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 had the merit of being multidisciplinary, comprehensive and people-centred, and should guide the collective efforts of the international community to better address disaster preparedness. His country was extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and the Government had approved a master plan for preventing and mitigating their effect, that involved measures such as simulation exercises focusing on floods and cyclones and activation of an early warning system.
PHILLIP TAULA (New Zealand), also associating himself with Canada and Australia, said that his country had a longstanding commitment to small island developing States, including those in the Pacific. There had been a “sea change” in global recognition of the unique and particular vulnerabilities faced by such States who were at the forefront of climate change. His country emphasized that all development actors in such countries operate processes that were “fit for scale”. In the Pacific, most countries had populations of tens or hundreds of thousands, and international agencies with processes designed for much larger projects in much bigger States often added significant extra costs and long delays, burdening small administrations.
MOUNZER MOUNZER (Syria), associating himself with the Group of 77, said the world was living through a time of unprecedented instability as a result of terrorism and intervention into internal affairs by other actors. His country had at one time been close to reaching the Millennium Development Goals, however progress was destroyed when “extremism and terrorism was systematically applied against us”, he said. Today infrastructure was being destroyed by such terrorism. What some have called “a moderate opposition” had bombed factories, cultural heritage sites and “even the fruit that we produce”. Syria suffered from intervention by European countries claiming to defend human rights, and that had led to the destruction of the entire civil infrastructure. The economy had suffered millions of dollars of loss on a daily basis and the standard of living had fallen dramatically. “It has even become impossible to provide electricity to our people,” he said, adding that humanitarian projects had been halted and millions had suffered from the drastic inflation of national currencies. He also expressed concern over the oil spill in Lebanon and said that Syria had no assistance in clean-up efforts.
DIANGUINA DIT YAYA DOUCOURÉ (Mali), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said his country was committed to combating the disintegration of planet Earth through the sustainable management of natural resources. The situation indeed was alarming. There was more carbon dioxide in the air today than in the last two million years. That was evident in the Sahel which had experienced a drop in soil fertility and loss of biodiversity. Environmental degradation had caused an increase in poverty and a mass exodus of rural populations to cities or countries in the North. Terrorists and drug traffickers “seem to be free” to indoctrinate young people for criminal purposes. The river Niger was drying up and climate change had caused repeated floods, strong winds and other weather phenomena leading to a drop in food production. That was particularly alarming for Mali as the agriculture sector made up 80 per cent of jobs. A national action plan aimed to adapt to climate change by funding environmental programmes and mobilizing domestic resources. “We want to build a green and resilient Mali,” he said.
WAKÉ YAGNINIM (Togo), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said that climate change presented a real threat to his country’s agriculture sector which remained highly vulnerable. The Government was adapting to climate change through a national programme to reduce its impact on vulnerable rural populations. Togo had also adopted plans to promote good integrated soil fertility management practices and bio-fertilizers. It was promoting water use for small-scale producers, restoring degraded ecosystems and exploring how water can be best used in agriculture. His State was in the process of developing schools for farmers and firewood policies to lessen people’s destruction of that resource, and focusing on how to best manage waste.
NKOLOI NKOLOI (Botswana), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that there was increasing recognition that the planet’s fragile ecosystems were degrading and depleting at an alarming rate. Actions taken at the national level alone could not combat that in the absence of a supportive global environment. The countries of sub-Saharan Africa faced severe threats due to climate change, and more actions were needed to assist those in arid and semi-arid areas. If landlocked developing countries were to achieve sustainable development, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference on Human Rights with its six priority areas should be fully implemented.
FRED SARUFA (Papua New Guinea), associating himself with the Group of 77, Alliance of Small Island States and the Group of Pacific Small Island Developing States, said the further strengthening of the United Nations system through necessary reforms should be expedited, as that would catalyse a fit-for-purpose solution to support delivery on the 2030 Agenda. That strategy should be integrated throughout all work of the Assembly, and not siloed-off into Committees. The “Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway” adopted in Samoa in September, 2014, was the pivot for the sustainable development of small island developing States; as such, the importance of robust integration of the priorities of those nations into all streams of sustainable development at the multilateral and bilateral levels could not be overemphasized. Sustainable development without addressing the main drivers of climate change was found to fail. The implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 13 was therefore imperative, and must be supported by a robust, legally-binding agreement at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Paris and by partnerships for financing and implementing the climate agenda. Underpinning that must be the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. Describing his country’s 2014 National Strategy for Responsible Sustainable Development — which would serve as its platform to launch the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals — he stressed that the challenge for his State was to translate its unprecedented economic growth into improved human development outcomes.
LOT THAUZENI PANSIPADANA DZONZI (Malawi), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that the 2030 Agenda should form a solid ground for ensuring sustainable development and for strengthening international cooperation on eradicating poverty. His country recognized that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals depended on the provision of adequate resources, which could not be mobilized by countries alone. Better coordination of financial resources from development partners would in turn improve the implementation of the Agenda. Malawi remained among the poorest countries in the world, with rural areas especially hard hit by poverty. Therefore rural development was a priority in the country’s national plan.
MARIA MJOLL JONSDOTTIR (Iceland) stated that her country was a strong proponent of sustainable energy and contributed to knowledge dissemination and investment in the field of geothermal energy. Further, Iceland also looked forward to participating in shaping the way forward on the sustainable use of marine resources. The legal framework for the management of oceans was firmly grounded in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its implementation at local and regional levels was crucial. She stressed that unsustainable land management, including the use of pesticides, mono-cropping, overgrazing and deforestation had caused the degradation of approximately one-third of the world’s arable land. The international community must act now to reverse that trend.
SUKHBOLD SUKHEE (Mongolia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the Landlocked Developing Countries, described the progress his State had made in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. However, growth did not necessarily enable everyone to benefit from economic opportunities, and poverty eradication remained a goal for the country. Mongolia had recently completed its intended nationally determined contribution within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). That contribution was in line with the country’s National Green Development Policy, he said. Global development cooperation and partnership would play a significant and unique role in supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and Mongolia supported a renewed global partnership that held a positive outlook on the future of development cooperation. The effects of climate change, increased natural disaster frequency, water scarcity, land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and air pollution were major environmental challenges for the country. In that context, it supported the international efforts to continue a new Decade on Water for Sustainable Development. It would also be crucial to establish national coordination mechanisms to foster the implementation of the Sendai Framework.
YE HUA (China), associating herself with the Group of 77, called for equitable, open and comprehensive development guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The focus should be on resolving the basic issues in poverty, health and education through the enhancement of social equity and justice, and the establishment of comprehensive development partnerships. She called on developed countries to increase official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries. The upcoming Paris Climate Change Conference should address the issues adaptation and technology gaps in a balanced way and foster integrity and fairness between the global North and South. In the next five years, China would aim to alleviate poverty for other 70 million people and was willing to share experience and knowledge. Education had been recognized as key to developing the country further, she said, touching on how China had assisted developing States in their economic development through funds and other resources.
CASSANDRA Q. BUTTS (United States) said the Committee must focus its efforts on the most “fruitful” actions and avoid duplicative resolutions. It was important to ensure that efforts resonate with the broad community of stakeholders. The 2030 Agenda had successfully brought together civil society, Governments and the private sector, and Member States should work towards meaningful collaboration and concrete action to achieve results. That was in line with the evolving understanding of how development worked. The breadth of the Committee’s agenda was a testament of collective efforts in the march towards a common understanding, she said, warning against efforts to hastily expand agendas.
MARCELO ELISEO SCAPPINI RICCIARDI (Paraguay), associating himself with the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, the Group of 77 and the CELAC, advocated for strengthening of the national capacity to collect, analyse and disseminate data and highlighted the role played by ODA in doing so. He welcomed the initiatives of sustainable tourism to respect resources and at the same time develop country’s economies. He urged the use of renewable sources of clean energy. Calling for a fruitful dialogue with a special focus on the world’s most vulnerable populations, he said it was time to adopt a binding agreement to curb the impact of climate change and particularly address drought and natural disasters in landlocked countries
IVA JEMUOVIC (Serbia) stated that the 2030 Agenda offered a unique opportunity to tackle complex developmental challenges, including changing patterns of migration, youth unemployment and the combined shocks of climate change and financial volatility. Natural disasters negatively affected the fragile economic situation in South-East Europe and made the eradication of poverty more difficult. As a country hit by massive and devastating floods in 2014, Serbia was well aware of the need for urgent disaster mitigation and adaption measures. Further, since the onset of the global financial crisis, the country’s economic growth had been weak, with the migrant crisis creating new challenges. No development was possible without peace and stability.
FRANCELLA STRICKLAND-SIMONET (Samoa) said that countries such as hers had long advocated for ambitious climate mitigation efforts by Member States with the capacity to do so, and for a global goal of limiting the rise in average temperature to well below 1.5°C to prevent low-lying islands from being submerged by sea-level rise. Expressing hope for an ambitious climate agreement that would address the concerns of small island developing States, including a loss and damage mechanism, she went on to stress that the follow up to the implementation of the Samoa Pathway was of particular importance. There must be a recognition in all international agreements that small island developing States remained a special case for sustainable development. This session, the resolution on the Samoa Pathway follow up would need to launch a small islands developing States partnership framework that would guarantee timely and effective follow up on the commitments and pledges made at the conference in 2014. With regard to the High-level Political Forum, there should be at least one day devoted to small island developing States and the follow up to the implementation of their sustainable development aspirations. Finally, she said, Samoa, together with 38 other Member States, had proposed a resolution to declare 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
CEREN HANDE ÖZGÜR (Turkey) said that rapid urbanization and climate change had exposed the international community to more disasters. Calling the Sendai Framework one of the milestones of 2015, she added that in her country’s experience, disasters led to large setbacks in social and economic development. Building resilience was the key to humanitarian assistance and would be an important topic at the World Humanitarian Summit to be held in Istanbul in May 2016. Further, desertification affected countries in many regions of the world and low-income and rural communities suffered especially. By adversely impacting livelihoods, it also, in some cases, caused migration. As a country located in an arid and semi-arid region, Turkey had been implementing a comprehensive strategy to combat that by constructing dams on national and trans-boundary rivers. As a result, her country had been releasing water to its neighbours even during times of drought.
MARÍA CONCEPCIÓN CASTRO MAZARIEGOS (Guatemala), associating herself with CELAC and the Group of 77, said the 2030 Agenda continued work that had begun in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals. However, it even went beyond those, with ambitious goals on eradicating poverty. Her country was among the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. The recent landslide in her country, caused by heavy rains, had resulted in loss of life and housing. Endorsing the Sendai Framework, she added that reforestation and promoting sustainable trade in forest products was an important aspect of the management of that natural resource. To achieve sustainable development, it was essential to eradicate hunger because the poorest were most dependent on natural resources. It was critical that the Second Committee have a broader vision of sustainable development.
MARIA ANGELA PONCE (Philippines) said it was necessary to rethink sustainable development and to realign it with the 2030 Agenda. Sustainable development cut across the entire spectrum of issues taken up by the Committee, and intercut issues in the peace and security and human rights pillars of the United Nations. Another powerful storm, Super Typhoon Koppu, had just battered the Philippines; such storms had become the norm for the country. That reality highlighted the need to mainstream and integrate disaster risk reduction and the Sendai Framework into the 2030 Agenda, with the aim to build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations, and reduce their exposure to climate-related extreme events. In that regard, his country renewed its support for the Samoa Pathway and echoed calls for its implementation. The Philippines currently held the presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a cross-regional platform of 20 members representing nearly 700 million people. He noted that all Forum members had agreed on the importance of climate action, the criticality of means of implementation, the importance of streamlined access to climate finance and a goal that temperature rise would not exceed 1.5°C.
KUNZANG C. NAMGYEL (Bhutan), associating herself with the Group of 77, Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that the effective implementation of an ambitious and integrated 2030 Agenda required practical national strategies that had an intergenerational time frame of 15 to 20 years. For least developed countries, the efficacy of such strategies and investment plans depended on predictable commitments of financial, technical and policy support measures from the international community. Further, the ideal of harmony with nature which was at the heart of the 2030 Agenda was a concept that resonated strongly with the Bhutan’s development concept, anchored in “Gross National Happiness”, which sought a holistic middle path approach to development.
ISSIAKOU ABDOU (Niger), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group, Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that poverty was multifaceted and must be addressed in a multidimensional way. The advancement of women, respect for national sovereignty, transfer of technology and aid for trade were critical. Climate change was a serious threat to global ecosystems and an emerging challenge for Niger. Restoring land and combating desertification and diversity loss were of utmost importance to his country, he said, calling upon Member States to address the challenges faced by countries experiencing serious drought, especially those in Africa. The Paris Climate Change Conference must lead to binding commitments to curb global warming, mobilize resources, support resilient measures for adaptation and ensure technology transfer. National policies for Niger had enabled integrating the 2030 Agenda in its goals, including through a programme on climate change, biological diversity, desertification and the management of natural resources. He noted legislative progress and the inclusion of sustainable development into the country’s Constitution.
SEBASTIÁN DI LUCA (Argentina), associating himself with the Group of 77 and CELAC, said the 2030 Agenda must crystalize joint efforts without forgetting historic responsibilities under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. It was important to take an integrated approach to gender inequality so that by 2030 there would be a more egalitarian society. It was crucial to protect the environment and ensure the sustainable use of ecosystems, he said, adding that “we are reaching the point of no return unless coordinated steps are taken”. Developed countries historically had a greater responsibility for mitigation, financing developing countries and technology transfer. On climate funding, the Green Fund Member States must be transparent in providing funding to it. He called for a balance between commitments of developing countries and commitments of developed countries, who were obligated to provide 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to developing countries. He underlined the need for the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and non-conditionality for aid.
LYNE CALDER (Switzerland) said the poorest people and others in vulnerable situations often bore the brunt of disasters. The Sendai Framework must therefore be translated into actions in order to strengthen the resilience of individuals and communities. Disaster risk reduction was an essential component of sustainable development and a sine qua non of eradicating poverty. With the increasing effects of climate change, population growth, expanding infrastructures and environmental degradation, humanitarian response mechanisms had reached their limits. “We must change our approach and put the focus on preventing disasters rather than managing their consequences,” she said. That shift would require a commitment and an investment from different actors, both men and women within families, communities and countries, along with all sectors of society — public, private, academic and civil society. The continuing investment made by the United Nations system must also be based on a comprehensive understanding of risks. Finally, she stressed, it was critical to break the split between actors and actions in the sphere of development and humanitarian aid. Funding for disaster risk reduction must be included in humanitarian aid and development agendas in order to preserve development-related investments.
LOK BAHADUR POUDEL CHHETRI (Nepal), associating himself with the Group of 77, the Least Developed Countries and the Landlocked Developing Countries, said his State had been incorporating the Goals and Targets of the 2030 Agenda in its national development plans, policies and programmes. A key challenge for Nepal was climate change, which had not only increased the cost of development but had also caused desertification and loss of biodiversity and cultural heritage. Urgent action was needed in that regard, and Nepal looked forward to a legally-binding agreement — based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibility, equity and respective capacity — at the Climate Change Conference in December. He also underlined the 13 guiding principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and called for action on its seven targets and four priorities, with a particular focus on disaster-prone countries such as Nepal. A similar level of cooperation was required to conserve and promote the mountain ecosystems, indigenous knowledge and healthier relations between humans and nature.
FEH MOUSSA GONE (Côte d’Ivoire), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said that unless the human race changed its production and consumption patterns it would be courting disaster. His country was well aware of what was at stake and what the challenges were. Its national programme to combat climate change was established in 2012 to coordinate and implement measures to reduce greenhouse gasses and continue the country’s growth in economic development. Côte d’Ivoire looked to developing the agriculture and forest sector, improving agriculture output while promoting sustainable output, and recycling. In the last few decades, the growing season had become shorter and there was less arable land. Instead there were storms and coastal erosion, he said, adding that adaption meant strengthening capacities at the national level to reduce poverty, provide food security and focus on renewable sources of energy. Creating jobs and social inclusion were vital. He called on developed countries to live up to commitments made and translate rhetoric into action.
JEAN-FRANCIS RÉGIS ZINSOU (Benin), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said that the future of the world depended on what the international community would decide to do on climate change, “to restore the broken balance”. Desertification and droughts and the rise in sea levels undermined “our common future”. Some countries would disappear from the map altogether if nothing was done. Developed countries and developing countries, superpowers and vulnerable States, had to work together to transform modes of production and consumption and neutralize carbon emissions. He called on the international community to take specific measures to foster institutional capacity-building and ensure significant reduction of emissions.
VALÉRIE S. BRUELL-MELCHIOR (Monaco) stated that the 2030 Agenda emphasized the importance of the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. Her country supported the convening of triennial conferences on oceans so that the international community could see what had been done and what remained to be done. Oceans not only provided benefits to coastal communities, they were sine qua non with life on earth. Rising sea levels threatened the entire planet while especially affecting small island developing States. The Samoa Pathway provided an important road map for the international community, she said, noting that Monaco had focused on specific projects such as adaptation to climate change, preservation of biodiversity, access to safe drinking water and developing sustainable tourism.
JEANNE D’ARC BYAJE (Rwanda) said her country was gearing up to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into its medium- and long-term development strategies. Several key enabling factors that should continue to inform the national, regional and global discussions on the post-2015 development agenda included: fostering national ownership to enable integration of the Goals into national planning, budgeting and reporting frameworks; allowing country adaptation of the Goals at the national level; exercising strong leadership, inclusive governance and the greater participation of citizens from the grassroots level; and ensuing zero-tolerance for corruption. It was imperative to increase domestic resource mobilization to meet development needs and build self-reliance. The private sector, as well as Governments and development partners, could play a critical role in that regard by investing in sectors such as infrastructure and boosting trade and productive employment, especially for women and youth.
SUH SANGPYO (Republic of Korea) said the 2030 Agenda represented the shared vision and commitment of the international community to forge a better world. The efficient monitoring and accountability framework would guarantee the Agenda’s full implementation, and it was therefore crucial that the 2016 session of the High-level Political Forum set the direction for the follow-up and review process. Climate change was among the most significant cross-cutting issues, and the world was now at a crucial moment to reach an agreement on a new climate regime that was both legally binding and applicable to all parties. Her delegation considered climate change as a catalyst for sustainable development, and the outcome of the twenty-first session in Paris as our effort in completing the 2030 Agenda framework.
MR. LEKI (Democratic Republic of the Congo), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said that new threats to life were emerging because of the irreversible consequences of the current trends of consumption. The African continent was beginning to see average temperatures never seen in the past. Calling on the international community to make firm commitments to combat climate change, he stressed that “you cannot win the battle against climate change on your own.” Collective action was an imperative for the survival of mankind, and his country was committed to making responsible sacrifices without endangering its own development. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had major forest resources covering 152 million hectares, which represented 10 per cent of the world’s tropical forests. That virgin reserve meant that his country was the green lung of Africa. Combating climate change was at the centre of the country’s growth and poverty reduction strategy.
MS. AL ATEIBI (United Arab Emirates), associating herself with the Group of 77, said that her country’s experience in sustainable development and resource protection began 40 years ago with a number of socioeconomic programmes established by the founding fathers. The United Arab Emirates had gone beyond 1.7 per cent of GDP in terms of its contribution to international development. In 2014, the Government had adopted a strategy for “green growth”, the first of its kind in the Middle East. The country also hosted the permanent headquarters of the International Centre for Renewable Energy and was among the pioneers in reducing greenhouse gases and CO2 internationally. Her country was also interested in the sustainable use of water resources and was harnessing solar energy for the desalinization of water.
BAUDELAIRE NDONG ELLA (Gabon), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said that his State had anticipated the Sustainable Development Goals in its “emerging Gabon strategic plan”. The main objectives of the 2030 Agenda were part of the strategy and aimed at a national transformation through the construction of development infrastructure, enhancement of energy capabilities and concerted efforts in education to improve the performance of the elementary school system. The recently launched Gabonese programme for agriculture was aimed at ensuring food security. On climate change, Gabon would assume its share of reduction of greenhouse gases, while maintaining a balance between protection and economic activity.
LEULSEGAD TADESSE ABEBE (Ethiopia), associating himself with the Group of 77, Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said revitalization of the United Nations system would contribute to the development agenda. Taking urgent action to combat climate change was rightly a priority of the sustainable agenda. Although Ethiopia’s contribution to global warming was negligible, it had still taken initiatives to address climate change at the national level. The international community had a responsibility to fulfil its promised aid targets. It was imperative to fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund to address the financial needs of developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable ones. As among the countries with a rich biodiversity, Ethiopia would continue to implement the Convention on Biodiversity.
MR. TOBIN (Costa Rica), associating himself with Group of 77 and CELAC, said the cost of climate change would be most measured not by its hit on national gross domestic product (GDP) but on its effect on human lives. In Costa Rica, forest coverage had recovered greatly since the 1980s, he said, emphasizing that advocacy must be fortified by policy. Sustainable tourism and the protection of natural resources were mutually reinforcing. It gave impetus to private-public cooperation to ensure the preservation and protection of destinations, and yet tourism was only viable and attractive when the “natural beauty” of the land was maintained in a sustainable way. Costa Rica received more than two million tourists a year and that industry made up about 5.5 per cent of Costa Rica’s GDP.
DESRA PERCAYA (Indonesia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and ASEAN, said that sustainable development was about transformation and maintaining the needs of this generation as well as the next. The Committee should serve as a platform to mobilize action in bridging the digital divide. A universal climate change agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Convention would be an important step towards keeping temperature rise below 2°C. He highlighted the importance of the tourism sector in achieving sustainable development and said the sector was a substantial contributor to economic growth, job creation, social progress and a builder of understanding between cultures and civilizations. Sustainable tourism could be a powerful tool in the preservation of cultures and the conservation of the environment. As a “people-to-people” activity, tourism was a force that promoted peace and understanding.
REMONGAR T. DENNIS (Liberia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said that unless Governments put in place practical responses and plans to implement the 2030 Agenda, all efforts at the level of the Second Committee and other Committees to drive the process would be futile. The transfer of the necessary technologies should no longer be a problem that developing countries needed to grapple with since the Technology Transfer Facilitation Mechanism had been dealt with. His country looked forward to meaningful action in that and also stressed that grants, concessional loans and ODA should take on a new impetus to achieve concrete development outcomes.
AMANUEL GIORGIO (Eritrea), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group and the Group of Least Developed Countries, said that desertification, land degradation and drought were big challenges that directly affected billions of people in many countries and regions. As a country located in arid and semi-arid regions of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, Eritrea was affected by cyclical droughts and was particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. His country had adopted a five-year plan to manage its resources sustainably. It had also acceded to several relevant international environmental instruments and, along with 10 other countries, was part of the Great Green Wall Initiative to halt the advancement of the Sahara desert.
SOFYA SIMONYAN (Armenia) said that to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive development, her country had been working with its partners to implement reforms and formulate major strategies on poverty reduction, education, science and technology, tourism, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, energy efficiency, climate change, and the overarching strategy for prospective sustainable development adopted in 2014. Social development, tackling unemployment and improving lives were important focus areas within those documents. Having a long history of migration, Armenia had been consistently exploring sustainable partnerships that extended beyond remittances and monetary contributions by fostering the positive link between well-managed migration and development.
ELIPHAS CHINYONGA (Zambia), associating himself with the Group of 77, the African Group, the Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that as the international community started implementing the new 2030 Agenda, it must keep in mind the lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals. The eradication of poverty was the greatest challenge facing the international community today. In most countries, the benefits of economic growth had not trickled down to the grassroots. Calling for a holistic and far-sighted approach, he added that climate change had the potential to reverse the development so far achieved. Combating that would be a priority in the country’s national plans and it would pursue both mitigation and adaptation strategies.
ALAIN WILFRIED BIYA (Cameroon), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, welcomed the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the launching of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism. As the Committee redefined its role and repositioned itself in the machinery for follow-up to the 2030 Agenda, it was necessary to remember that the discussion of its agenda item dealing with sustainable development had been too focused on the environmental dimension to the detriment of the other dimensions. Cameroon supported the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. Further, the climate change discussion could not overlook the need to operationalize the Green Climate Fund. Thanking countries that had already pledged their contributions, Cameroon said that the delay in operationalizing the Fund would increase the burden for developing countries in general and the African countries in particular.
GILBER MAMANI (Bolivia), associating himself with the Group of 77 and CELAC, reported on the results of the World People's Conference on Climate Change that had recently taken place in his country. A statement was approved at the end of that forum and would be proposed for the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties. Among the recommendations of that text, he cited a call to help the people of the world still suffering from colonialism and capitalism. The global economy could not be driven by profit and exploitation of people and Mother Earth. Regretting the digital divide in his State and other developing countries, he highlighted the need to allow access to knowledge, technology and mitigation mechanisms. Regional and South-South partnerships were vital in uniting developing countries and preventing the “merchantalization” of Mother Earth, and he called for the establishment of an international tribunal on climate justice.
BERNARDITO CLEOPAS AUZA, Permanent Observer of the Holy See, said that for too long development had been understood in terms of ever greater economic growth and wealth accumulation. That concept had fuelled an unrestrained quest for the biggest profit margin and exploited people. He quoted Pope Francis, saying that development plans must secure that people lived in dignity and could create and support a family. The absolute minimum included “lodging, labour and land” and people must also be free to exercise their religious, educational and other civil rights. Exclusion only created scarcity that exploitation turned into profit.
AJAY MADIWALE, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), welcoming the Sendai Framework, said that the poorest and most vulnerable were also those most affected by disaster, and their needs must be prioritized in disaster risk reduction planning at all levels. Governments could not comprehensively address disaster risk on their own and the new Framework recognized that a wide range of multi-stakeholder partnerships would be essential to its successful implementation. His organization would be launching an initiative called the “1 Billion Coalition for Resilience”, which aimed to support one billion people to lift themselves out of situations of risk and vulnerability, helping them to be more resilient to the shocks they faced.
AMBER BARTH, of the International Labour Organization (ILO), said that the Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 8 in particular, highlighted the need to put environmental sustainability and social inclusion at the centre of economic frameworks by promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The intricate relationship between sustainable development, decent work and green jobs was both relevant and timely. The level of unemployment had not yet returned to economic pre-crisis levels, and youth were hard-hit, with 73.3 million young persons out of work in 2014. The greening of economies presented many opportunities to be a net generator of decent green jobs that could contribute significantly to poverty eradication and social inclusion.
CARLA MUCAVI of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said that the 2030 Agenda clearly showed the need to reconcile productivity and sustainability in the use of natural resources. FAO supported Governments in that effort in many ways, based on requests from Member States, tapping into technical expertise and working in partnerships. In the Near East and North Africa, water scarcity had been identified as a priority issue, and FAO was working with partners to adopt and adapt modern agricultural and irrigation technologies. In Africa, FAO was building capacity to deal with frequent droughts. In Europe and Central Asia, it was helping family farmers achieve higher levels of productivity. In Latin America, it had worked with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to support the implementation of the regional food security and nutrition strategy for CELAC. More generally, its Blue Growth initiative was reconciling economic growth and food security with the conservation of oceans and the ecosystems they sustained.
ASHRAF EL NOUR, of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that the Samoa Pathway, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, when taken together, represented the core framework to guide efforts towards sustainable development over the coming years. Agreements yet to be adopted — notably the Paris Climate Change Conference — must complement and reinforce commitments already made. By including migration into those new agendas, the international community challenged itself to address the causes and consequences of migration in a way that promoted dignified, orderly and safe migration for the benefit of all.