The objective of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD Rio+202012), is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing theprogress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the majorsummits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges. In this regard,the Conference needs to produce an assessment and stocktaking as to why many of commitmentsof the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio1992 as well as the WorldSummit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002, were not realized to their full potential;what has prevented the international community from moving forward on agreements; and how canwe re-energize the political will to avoid the perception that multilateral approaches are increasinglyassociated with indecision, unfulfillment of commitments and stalemate.

levels, with the fundamental lead of States, and encourage the participation of major groups andother stakeholders for the implementation of the sustainable development agenda;2. UNCSD will provide the opportunity to fulfill and implement the sustainable development agendathat has evolved considerably in the past decade; and will boost those issues that did not advancewithin the principles of sustainable development. It will not renegotiate nor retract agreed principlesand outcomes of the major summits on Sustainable Development, including the commitments madein the three conventions, UNFCCC, CBD and UNCCD.3. The lack of integration of the three pillars of sustainable development and the lack ofimplementation of commitments of sustainable development have led to the scale and gravity ofglobal challenges, especially climate change, threatening the ability of developing countries toachieve the MDGs and for some threatening the territorial integrity and the existence and viability ascountries.4. Guided by the Rio Principles and Agenda 21, UNCSD RIO+20 2012 outcomes should provide thenecessary political impetus for the range and level of action required to bridge the implementationgap, taking into account that insufficient steps that have been taken at the international level toaddress the vulnerabilities and to effectively support the sustainable development efforts indeveloping countries, which grapple with the effects of multiple crises. Furthermore, the commitmentof the international community on international cooperation needs to be reinforced.5. Any outcome should lead to continued priority being given to the eradication of poverty, and tosupport the effective national efforts of developing countries in promoting empowerment of the poor,including enhancing the productive capacity, full and productive employment and decent work for allas well as the creation of income opportunities that must be complemented by effective socialpolicies with a view to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs.

1. The renewed political commitment in Rio should lead to the full implementation of the RioDeclaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, the Programme for the FurtherImplementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and thePlan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (“Johannesburg Plan ofImplementation”) and should fully support national efforts to achieve sustainable development inparticular eradication of poverty and food security. We reiterate that poverty eradication cannot beachieved without the collective commitments and efforts of the international community.2. We emphasize the urgent need to increase efforts at the national, regional and international levelsto address food security and agriculture development as an integral part of the internationaldevelopment agenda. We underline the need for sustained funding and increased targetedinvestment to enhance world food production and called for new and additional financial resourcesfrom all sources to achieve sustainable agriculture development and food security.3. We reaffirm that the implementation of the BPoA, MSI, Istanbul Program of Action for LDCS andthe Political Declaration on Special Need of Africa, and all outcomes of the major summits onsustainable development, remain valid and the international community should renew politicalcommitment and strengthen the means of implementation, thus giving new impetus to theSustainable Development agenda.4. We reiterate also that the responsibility for the development of every country rests primarily uponitself but the effective international cooperation is an essential factor for the full achievement of itsown development goals. We reaffirm the need to reinforce sustainable development globally throughnational collective effort in accordance with the principles of common but differentiatedresponsibilities and the principle of sovereign rights of the states on their natural resources inaccordance with the UN Charter and principles of international law, without causing damage to theenvironment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.5. We reaffirm the need to take further effective measures to remove obstacles to the realization ofthe right of peoples to self-determination, in particular peoples living under colonial and foreignoccupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development and areincompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person and must be combated and eliminated.People under foreign occupation must be protected in accordance with the provisions of internationalhumanitarian law.

6. We also reaffirm that in accordance with the Declaration on the Principles of International Lawconcerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of theUnited Nations, this shall not be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action which woulddismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign andindependent States conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and thus possessed of a Government representing the whole peoplebelonging to the territory without distinction of any kind.7. We reaffirm the need for the fulfillment of chapter 7 of the JPOI, Agenda 21, BPoA and the MSI;as Small Island Developing States are a special case both for environment and development in viewof their unique and particular vulnerabilities. The international community should thereforesignificantly augment their efforts to assist SIDS in sustaining momentum realized to date in effortsto implement the BPOA and MSI and achieve sustainable development. This should includeimprovement and strengthening of the relevant entities within the United Nations system whichsupport SIDS' sustainable development. Additionally, we call for the Rio Conference to agree toconvene an international conference for the sustainable development of Small Island DevelopingStates in 2014;8. We reaffirm that the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for theDecade 2011-2020, adopted by the Fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs, outlines LDC’spriorities for sustainable development and defines a framework for renewed and strengthened globalpartnership to achieve them. The UNSDC RIO+20 should fully integrate the IPOA into its outcomedocument and underline renewed and scaled-up global commitment to achieve sustainabledevelopment in the LDCs.9. We underline that the lack of political commitment for the implementation of previously agreedinternational commitments reached in major UN Summits and Conferences, especially those relatedto Africa’s development needs, is of major concern. Instead of re-energizing global partnership andstrengthening political will for delivery of promises made to Africa to assist in the fight againstunderdevelopment, poverty and disease, there seems to be a systematic attempt to renegotiatethese commitments. All the commitments should never be diluted nor renegotiated since they arepivotal for bringing Africa into the mainstream of global economy and serve as an essentialingredient for the achievement of sustainable development. It's urgent to fully implement all thecommitments particularly those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, theDeclaration on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the Monterrey Consensus of the

International Conference on Financing for Development, the Plan of Implementation of the WorldSummit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation) and the 2005 WorldSummit Outcome as well as the 2008 Political Declaration on Africa’s development needs.10. We recognize also the specific development challenges of middle-income countries and theneed to support their efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and achieve their developmentgoals, including the Millennium Development Goals. UNSCD Rio+20 should fully take into accounttheir challenges to achieve sustainable development in a comprehensive manner in order toeffectively integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions.11. We urge all countries to fully implement their commitments under the three Conventions, theUNFCCC, the CBD and the UNCCD and to take effective and concrete actions and measures at alllevels, and to enhance international cooperation, in accordance with the principles identified in theConventions, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.12. We reaffirm that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and express ourdeep concern that developing countries are particularly vulnerable to and are experiencing increasednegative impacts from climate change, ocean acidification and that this is severely undermining foodsecurity, efforts to eradicate poverty, sustainable development; and threatens the territorial integrity,viability and the very existence of small island developing states. In this regard, we call upon Statesto immediately and fully implement the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change to ensure the viability and survival of all Nations.13. We reiterate that oceans and seas and their resources, as well as islands and coastal areas forman integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical for global foodsecurity and for sustaining economic prosperity and the well-being of mankind, in particular thenational economies of developing countries. We therefore reaffirm our commitments in relation to theprotection and preservation of the marine environment and the sustainable use of its resources forthe attainment of the development goals, including sustainable development and internationallyagreed development goals, such as the MDGs and those contained in Chapter 17 of agenda 21 andthe Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.14. There are major and systemic gaps in the implementation of internationally agreed commitmentsrelating to the sustainable management of marine resources, including in monitoring, control,surveillance, compliance and enforcement regarding fisheries. Destructive fishing practices, over-fishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and subsidies that contribute to fishing

overcapacity continue to degrade marine resources, and undermine food security and sustainabledevelopment, particularly in developing countries and small island developing States. There are alsomajor gaps in assistance through capacity building, transfer of technology and provision of financialassistance to coastal developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and smallisland developing States, to realize the full social and economic benefits from the sustainable use ofmarine resources.15. We stress the urgent need for developed countries to change their unsustainable patterns ofconsumption and production, particularly since over- and under-consumption have resulted inenormous disparities between the rich and the poor and between developed and developingcountries. We also state the need for developing countries to ensure that their development takesplace in a sustainable manner. In this regard, we call for the adoption of the 10 Year Framework forSustainable Consumption and Production.16. We urge developed countries that have not yet done so to meet the targets of 0.7 per cent oftheir gross national product for ODA; including 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product toleast developed countries. In order to meet agreed commitments and targets, it is important thatdeveloped countries establish clear and transparent timetables within their national budget allocationprocesses to reach the level of at least 0.5% for ODA for developing countries as well as 0.15% to0.2% of GNP for ODA to LDCs, as urgently as possible, taking into account that the 2010 deadlinewas not fulfilled by 2010, and 0.7% by 2015, at the latest. We also urge developed countries to meettheir ODA commitments as agreed in IPOA.17. We express our profound concern that the commitment to doubling aid to Africa by 2010 asarticulated at the summit of Gleneagles was not entirely reached and in this regard we stress theneed to make rapid progress in order to fulfill the Gleneagles and other donors' commitments.18. We stress that the outcome of the high level review of the MSI which identified the progress andgaps in implementation of commitments made by the international community to assist SIDS with theachievement of Sustainable Development and highlights the ongoing challenges they face due totheir small size, remoteness, narrow resource and export base and exposure to global environmentalchallenges.19. We urge the members of the WTO to redouble efforts to achieve a universal, rules-based, open,non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system and for an early balanced, ambitiousand development-oriented outcome of the Doha Development Agenda multilateral trade

We believe that there are not a great number of new and emerging issues that we have notindentified in Agenda 21 and in subsequent outcomes. What we need to address are theconsequences of the lack of implementation of previous commitments by the internationalcommunity and the lack of proper attention and prioritization of sustainable development over thelast 20 years.1. We reiterate the call for simultaneous action to address the challenges related to all three pillars ofsustainable development in a coordinated, integrated and balanced manner, recognizing that humanactivities alter nature and exhaust natural resources, that life depends on the uninterruptedfunctioning of natural systems, while human beings are at the centre of concerns of sustainabledevelopment and they are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature in order torestore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem.2. We reaffirm the urgent need to address persistent and emerging sustainable developmentchallenges, such as food and energy crises and the challenges relating to the limit andunsustainable use of resources, climate change, biodiversity, drought and desertification, landdegradation, urbanization, water and sanitation, frequency of disasters, social impact of extremeweather events, health, seas and ocean acidification, melting of glaciers, floods and degradation ofmountain areas. All of these crises and challenges have significant and, in some cases, unforeseenimpacts on developing countries, undermining their efforts to achieve the MDG;3. We recall also the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in theeconomic, social and related fields including the development goals and objectives containedtherein, and recognize the vital role played by those conferences and summits in shaping a broaddevelopment vision and in identifying commonly agreed objectives; and underline the need toachieve sustainable development, recognizing that this goal can be achieved through inclusive

multilateralism and the equal participation of all countries. In this regard, we call for the full andprompt fulfillment and implementation of the commitments adopted in those conferences andsummits.4. We reaffirm that the current major challenge for developing countries is the impacts from themultiple crises, particularly the ongoing economic and financial crisis which is a result of theinternational financial system. In this context, we reaffirm the urgent need to address the lack ofproper regulation and monitoring of the financial sector, the overall lack of transparency and financialintegrity, excessive risk taking, overleveraging and unsustainable patterns of consumption andproduction in developed countries. These economic repercussions have also aggravated poverty,social exclusion, increased unequal distribution of income and wealth, and undermined efforts toimplement sustainable development. In this regard we call for the reform of the global financialsystem and architecture. We also reaffirm the need to continue working towards a new internationaleconomic order based on the principles of equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, commoninterest, cooperation and solidarity among all States.5. We express profound alarm that emissions of greenhouse gasses continue to rise globally, andthat climate change and sea-level rise continue to pose a significant risk to developing countries thatare particularly vulnerable in their efforts to achieve sustainable development, and for small islanddeveloping states represent the gravest of threats to their survival and viability.6. Climate change disproportionately affects the socio-economic development of the LeastDeveloped Countries, considering that they have contributed least to the problem and also threatensto reverse some of the development gains that have been achieved to date.7. We take note of the major outcomes of the COP 10 of the UNCCD.8. We reaffirm the significant contribution of Sustainable Forest Management to SustainableDevelopment.9. We underline that agricultural development and food security need to be prioritized to fulfill theright to food and proper nutrition. This must be done by eliminating barriers that distort internationaltrade as well as by promoting local food production by small farmers, women, youth, indigenouspeoples and rural communities, and, where appropriate, by practices that contribute to stability offood prices and domestic markets, and regulation of food prices to meet social needs.

10. We underline the importance of the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation asa human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights. Furthermore wehighlight the critical importance of water resources for sustainable development, including povertyand hunger eradication, public health, food security, hydropower, agricultural and rural development.11. We reaffirm that the right to development and the right to food remain as some of the criticalgaps to be fulfilled in order to achieve sustainable development.12. We further reaffirm the vital role of indigenous people in achieving sustainable development,including their holistic, traditional and scientific knowledge of their land, natural resources andenvironment.13. We are concerned that millions of poor people are unable to afford to pay for modern energyservices, even when those services are available, and emphasize the need to address the challengeof access to and affordability of modern energy services for all, in particular the poor; and emphasizethe need to take further action to mobilize the provision of adequate financial resources, of sufficientquality and arriving in a timely manner, as well as the transfer of advanced technology to developingcountries and countries with economies in transition for providing efficient and wider use of energysources.14. We reaffirm support for the implementation of national policies and strategies to combine, asappropriate, the increased use of new and renewable energy sources and low-emissiontechnologies, the more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on advanced energy technologies,including cleaner fossil fuel technologies, and the sustainable use of traditional energy resources, aswell as the promotion of access to modern, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy services andthe enhancement of national capacities to meet the growing energy demand, as appropriate,supported by international cooperation in this field and by the promotion of the development anddissemination of appropriate, affordable and sustainable energy technologies and the transfer ofsuch technologies to developing countries and countries with economies in transition,15. We reaffirm paragraph 37 of the JPOI regarding disaster risk reduction and reiterate theexistence of a clear relationship between sustainable development, poverty eradication, climatechange, disaster risk reduction, disaster response and disaster recovery, and stress deep concern atthe number and scale of natural disasters, and their increasing impact in recent years, which haveresulted in massive loss of life and long term negative social, economic and environmentalconsequences and which have greatly affected the achievement of sustainable development in

1. We stress that the success of the UNCSD RIO+20 depends on an integrated approach thatinvolves the three pillars of sustainable development and that its outcome should be focused onimplementation, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. TheUNCSD RIO+20 should identify a framework of action of implementation of commitments and shouldmove the sustainable development agenda forward taking into account the renewed politicalcommitment and assessment of gaps described in the paragraphs presented above.2. We strongly believe that increased political commitment of developed countries is essential to fillthe gaps in the means of implementation.3. Provision of a clear registry on financial resources and technology transfer from developedcountries available for the implementation of sustainable development commitments, as well as itstimelines, functions, recipients, management, and objectives. This registry of commitments wouldstrengthen transparency and a culture of accountability.

3. In this regard, greater coherence and coordination among the various funding mechanisms andinitiatives related to sustainable development is crucial. We call for the prioritization of sustainabledevelopment in the allocation of resources, where needed and in line with the priorities and needs ofdeveloping countries, and reiterate that strong oversight of these resources is important to ensurethat developing countries have steady and predictable access to the resources they require toimplement sustainable development. Such oversight should also have inclusive, participatory andadequate representation from developing countries.4. We reiterate our call for the reforming of the international financial system, including through anambitious and expeditious reform of the Bretton Woods institutions, particularly their governancestructures, based on the full and fair representation of developing countries, in order to address thedemocratic deficit in those institutions and improve their legitimacy; and that these reforms mustreflect current realities and ensure the full voice and participation of developing countries;5. We underline that debt crises tend to be costly and disruptive and tend to be followed by cuts inpublic spending, affecting in particular the poor and vulnerable. We recognize the important role on acase by case basis of debt relief, including debt cancellation and debt restructuring, with theprovision of additional concessional financing, as debt crisis prevention and management tools fordeveloping countries, and we stress the urgent need for the international community to examineoptions for an effective, equitable, durable, independent and development-oriented debt restructuringand debt resolution mechanism that takes into account the multiple dimensions of debt sustainabilityand its impact on development.7. We stress the need to provide financial resources and allocation of grants and credits. In thisframework, we call for the fulfillment of past commitments and for the substantial increase andallocation of new, additional, predictable, and adequate financial resources and investment, includingthe development of infrastructure, in order to support the implementation of national policies anddevelopment strategies in developing countries.

8. We urge developed countries that have not yet done so to meet the targets of 0.7 per cent of theirgross national product for ODA; including 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to leastdeveloped countries. In order to meet agreed commitments and targets, it is important thatdeveloped countries establish clear and transparent timetables within their national budget allocationprocesses to reach the level of at least 0.5% for ODA for developing countries as well as 0.15% to0.2% of GNP for ODA to LDCs, as urgently as possible, taking into account that the 2010 deadlinewas not fulfilled by 2010, and 0.7% by 2015, at the latest. We also urge developed countries to meettheir ODA commitments as agreed in IPOA.9. We express our profound concern that the commitment to doubling aid to Africa by 2010 asarticulated at the summit of Gleneagles was not entirely reached and in this regard we stress theneed to make rapid progress in order to fulfill the Gleneagles and other donors' commitments.10. We reiterate that there is a need to strike a balance in reflecting the agreed priorities of theOrganization in the allocation of resources to the United Nations regular budget, which is persistentlyto the detriment of the development activities. In this regard, we stress that the Secretariat muststrictly implement General Assembly mandates without exceptions and/or delays.

We call for decisions to:1. Establish an International Mechanism to implement concrete actions focused on bridging thetechnological gap between developed and developing countries and facilitating transfer oftechnology in sustainable development.2. Create an enabling environment that aims at removing all barriers to technology transfer andtechnology adaptation, consistent and in harmony with the relevant international obligations.3. Ensure immediate implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and CapacityBuilding.4. We stress the need for effective mechanisms, enhanced means, appropriate enablingenvironments and the removal of obstacles to the scaling up of the development and transfer oftechnology to developing countries.12

5. There is a need for access of developing countries to technologies. Developing countries wouldalso need to have access to the know-how and expertise required for the effective utilization of thesetechnologies to achieve sustainable development.6. Consideration must also be given to the role of patent protection and intellectual property rightsalong with an examination of their impact on the access to and transfer of environmentally soundtechnology, in particular to developing countries, as well as to further exploring efficiently theconcept of assured access for developing countries to environmentally sound technology in itsrelation to proprietary rights with a view to developing effective responses to the needs of developingcountries in this area.7. Concepts and modalities for assured access to environmentally sound technologies, includingstate-of-the-art technologies, in particular by developing countries, should continue to be explored,enhanced access to environmentally sound technologies should be promoted, facilitated andfinanced as appropriate, while providing fair incentives to innovators that promote research anddevelopment of new environmentally sound technologies8. Bearing in mind that recipient countries require technology and strengthened support to helpfurther develop their scientific, technological, professional and related capacities, taking into accountexisting technologies and capacities.

2. The main challenge remains the lack of political will to fulfill the obligations agreed mostly in thepast 20 years. Therefore, the implementation of a relevant outcome of the Conference in Rio as wellas the fulfillment of the commitments on sustainable development, in particular made by developedcountries, remain the cornerstone for the achievement of sustainable development3. At the same time, the discussion of this theme should respect the different realities of economic,social and environmental developments of countries as well as their particular conditions andpriorities. The policy space of each country to define their own paths towards sustainability in theireconomy and society, in accordance with their own circumstances and priorities should bereaffirmed, as well as the sovereign right of countries over their natural resources and ensuring thatactivities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other Statesor of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.4. We recall also the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in theeconomic, social and related fields, including the development goals and objectives containedtherein; we recognize the vital role played by those conferences and summits in shaping a broaddevelopment vision and in identifying commonly agreed objectives, and underline the need toachieve sustainable development, recognizing that this goal can be achieved through inclusivemultilateralism and the equal participation of all countries. In this regard, we call for the full andprompt fulfillment and implementation of the commitments adopted in those conferences andsummits5. We reaffirm that the current major challenge for developing countries is the impacts from themultiple crises, particularly the ongoing economic and financial crisis which is a result of theinternational financial system. In this context, we reaffirm the urgent need to address the lack ofproper regulation and monitoring of the financial sector, the overall lack of transparency and financialintegrity, excessive risk taking, overleveraging and unsustainable patterns of consumption andproduction in developed countries. These economic repercussions have also aggravated poverty,social exclusion, increased unequal distribution of income and wealth, and undermined efforts toimplement sustainable development. In this regard we call for the reform of the global financialsystem and architecture. We also reaffirm the need to continue working towards a new internationaleconomic order based on the principles of equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, commoninterest, cooperation and solidarity among all States.6. We reaffirm that there is an urgent need for the international economic and financial institutions towork together to ensure that developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, are14

able to benefit from the advantages of multilateral trade system and their integration into global trademarkets.7. Any discussions on the Rio Conference in relation to “green economy in the context of sustainabledevelopment and poverty eradication” should not resort to any form of protectionism, unilateralmeasures or other border trade measures; should allow for expanded market access for productsfrom developing countries and address trade-distortive measures; and should not generateconditionalities, new parameters or standards in the areas of financing, ODA and other forms ofinternational cooperation. In this regard, we express serious concern regarding subsidies by manydeveloped countries.8. Any outcome should lead to continue to give priority to the eradication of poverty, and to supportthe effective national efforts of developing countries in promoting empowerment of the poor,including the creation of income opportunities that must be complemented by effective social policieswith a view to achieving the MDGs.9. At this point in time, the Group recognizes that there is no consensual agreement on the definitionof a Green Economy in the context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication. The Groupis discussing and considering further this theme based on, among others, these following tenets:- Undertaking economic and social activities in an environmentally sound manner;- Ensuring social inclusion and equity;- Including tools to catalyze international cooperation in the multilateral framework forachievingsustainabledevelopmentandpovertyeradicationthroughtechnology

11. International actions in the field of environment and development, including this process, shouldaddress the interest and needs of all developing countries, considering their own characteristics,ethnical diversity and social complexity. At the same time, this process should be carried forwardconsidering the special situation and needs of developing countries, especially LDCs, LLDCs, andSIDS, and those most environmentally vulnerable.12. We reaffirm the validity of cooperation between North and South as the basis of internationalcooperation in order to achieve the objectives of sustainable development. At the same time, weacknowledge the importance of other cooperation mechanisms, including partnerships, that haveproved its usefulness for developing countries and that can complement effectively, and notsubstitute, North and South cooperation.

Despite some progress made in the past decades, poverty eradication remains the most pressingissue in the area of sustainable development. Our common goal to eradicate the root causes ofpoverty should guide our efforts towards sustainability, while considering the needs of both presentand future generations. Sustainable, sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth indeveloping countries will remain the main priority, in order to achieve their ultimate goals oferadicating poverty, hunger, achieving the MDGs and restoring harmony with nature. These areessential conditions to prepare action plans for technical and financial assistance to developingcountries and to solve the current global imbalances and inequalities. In doing so, a harmonizedbalance among the three pillars of sustainable development must also be maintained.In that context, we propose the following actions:1. All countries should promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, emphasizingthe rational use of nature and its resources in a way that does not compromise the well-being andexistence of present and future generations, and does not exhaust the natural resources of theplanet, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from theprocess, taking into account the Rio principles, including, inter alia, the principle of common butdifferentiated responsibilities as set out in principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment andDevelopment.

2. Reforming the international financial system, democratizing its governance structure, promotingmore participation of developing countries and making it more development-oriented. At the sametime, rejecting any conditionality on developing countries for aid, loans and debt rescheduling or debtrelief; and unlocking the provision of new, predictable and additional financial resources todeveloping countries, with a view to achieving financial inclusion which is an important factor toachieve the MDGs, as economic strength reduces vulnerability and inequality and leads to higherincome and savings.3. Financial cooperation shouldn’t create offsets that may facilitate the non-compliance of developedcountries’ commitments.4. The Conference should not promote and cannot impose measures in developing countries whichgo against their national, economic and development priorities and development models.5. Support adequate regulation of markets and corporations by policy frameworks to be implementedby governments. These frameworks must guide corporate practices towards environmental, socialand developmental objectives.6. We urge the members of the WTO to redouble efforts to achieve a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trade system and for an early balanced,ambitious and development-oriented outcome of the Doha Development Agenda multilateral tradenegotiations. We call for the full realization of the commitments made in the 2005 Hong-KongMinisterial Declaration of the WTO in favor of the LDCs.

1. The Group of 77 and China reaffirm article 139 of the JPOI1in its totality and reiterate theimportance of enhancing effectiveness, promoting a coordinated approach, transparency andavoiding overlapping efforts.2. We reiterate that the General Assembly of the United Nations should adopt sustainabledevelopment as a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, particularlyfor achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in theMillennium Declaration, and should give overall political direction to the implementation of Agenda21 and its review.

3. We reaffirm that, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, theprovisions of Agenda 21 regarding the Economic and Social Council and General Assemblyresolutions 48/162 and 50/227, the Council is the central mechanism for the coordination of theUnited Nations system and its specialized agencies and supervision of subsidiary bodies, inparticular its functional commissions, and to promote the implementation of Agenda 21 bystrengthening system-wide coordination4. In that context we emphasize that the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development, as awhole, should focus on the due integration of the three pillars of sustainable development, theimplementation of Agenda 21 and the JPOI and shall be based on an action- and result-orientedapproach and be consistent with the principles of universality, democracy, transparency, cost-effectiveness and accountability, keeping in mind the principles of Rio, in particular the common butdifferentiated responsibilities.

Article 139.Measures to strengthen institutional arrangements on sustainable development, at all levels, should betaken within the framework of Agenda 21,45build on developments since the United Nations Conference on Environmentand Development and lead to the achievement of, inter alia, the following objectives:(a)Strengthening commitmentsto sustainable development; (b)Integration of the economic, social andenvironmental dimensionsof sustainable development in a balanced manner; (c) Strengthening of theimplementationof Agenda 21,including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-buildingprogrammes, particularly for developing countries; (d) Strengtheningcoherence, coordination and monitoring;(e)Promoting the rule of law and strengthening of governmental institutions; (f) Increasingeffectiveness and efficiencythrough limiting overlap and duplication of activities of international organizations,within and outside the UnitedNations system, based on their mandates and comparative advantages; (g)Enhancing participation and effectiveinvolvement of civil societyand other relevant stakeholders in the implementation of Agenda 21, as well as promotingtransparency and broad public participation; (h) Strengthening capacities for sustainable development at all levels,including the local level, in particular those of developing countries; (i) Strengtheninginternational cooperationaimed atreinforcing the implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the Summit

effectiveness in their activities.7. We reaffirm the need for the fulfillment of Agenda 21, BPoA, the MSI, and chapter 7 of the JPOI,especially paragraph 58 which recognized that Small Island Developing States are a special caseboth for environment and development. The international community should therefore significantlyaugment their efforts to assist SIDS in sustaining momentum realized to date in efforts to implementthe BPOA and MSI and achieve sustainable development. This should include improvement andstrengthening of the relevant entities within the United Nations system which support SIDS'sustainable development. In this regard, we also reaffirm that small island developing States regionalinstitutions should play a key role in following up on and monitoring the implementation of Agenda21, the JPOI, and the BPOA and MSI.8. We collectively commit to finding lasting solutions to the complex and mutually exacerbatingchallenges and problems of the LDCs. We are committed to assisting the LDCs with an overarchinggoal of enabling half of them to meet the criteria for graduation through the eradication of povertyand the achievement of accelerated, sustained, inclusive and equitable growth and sustainabledevelopment. Thus, we solemnly commit ourselves to implementing this Programme of Actionthroughout the coming decade. This should include improvement and strengthening of the relevantentities within the United Nations system which support LDCs' sustainable development. This shouldalso provide enhanced financial and technical support to their research and development, scienceand technology including strengthen national and regional institutions as appropriate according totheir national policies.9. We recognize Africa’s special needs as articulated in the Political Declaration on Africa of 2008and reaffirm the urgent need for timely implementation of Chapter 8 of the JPOI to realize the special19

needs since sustainable development has remained elusive for many African countries. We furtherstress that Africa’s sustainable development challenges are compounded by the continent’svulnerability to negative externalities, including environmental challenges and emphasize that theinstitutional framework for sustainable development at the international level should be strong andsufficient enough to support Africa’s national and regional efforts addressing sustainabledevelopment.10. We recognize also the specific development challenges of middle-income countries. Thesecountries face unique challenges in their efforts to achieve their national development goals,including the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard IFSD should support them in addressingtheir development needs.

The Group of 77 and China believe that the following goals and principles should be the basis of theInstitutional Framework for Sustainable Development and should guide our efforts towards it:1. Enhancement of the IFSD as a whole to ensure a balanced approach to sustainable developmentthat integrates its three pillars and strengthens the capacity of the United Nations to fosterinternational cooperation in order to address fully the wide range of issues pertaining todevelopment, particularly of developing countries.2. Strengthening of institutional arrangements on sustainable development at all levels based onAgenda 21, building on developments since the United Nations Conference on Environment andDevelopment with a view to promoting the achievement of sustainable development objectives.Subject to concurrence by the respective governing bodies, where applicable, the reform neededmust lead to addressing the roles and mandates of the relevant institutions, funds, programmes andsubsidiary bodies dealing with the three pillars of the sustainable development within the UN systemin order to distinctly allocate the appropriate normative and implementation functions to them, as wellas reviewing the implementation of the international commitments3. Reaffirmation of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as the basis ofinternational cooperation in the area of sustainable development. This principle is essential for thefulfillment of previous international commitments and for the implementation of sustainabledevelopment objectives.20

4. Strengthening, as part of its core mandate, of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy ofImplementation and Barbados Programme of Action, which represent the essential blueprint ofsustainable development for SIDS and it should also have an effective answer for the needs andvulnerabilities to the economic and financial crisis as well as climate change; as well as increasingthe Institutional capability of the UN system to address SIDS issues, through inter alia addressingsystem-wide shortcomings in the institutional support for SIDS in accordance with the pathways laidout in A/RES/65/2 and the MSI pp. 100-102.5. Ensuring that developed countries implement their responsibilities regarding means ofimplementation in MEAs in accordance with the Rio Principles, in particular the principle of commonbut differentiated responsibilities6. Promoting the incorporation of the concept of sustainable development at all levels, for the designand the work of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).7. Ensuring the full participation of developing countries in decision-making at the global level in theeconomic field, including the governance structures of international financial institutions.8. Improving participation of developing countries in the governance bodies of the financialmechanisms of MEAs, as well as in developing policies and strategies for sustainable development.9. Providing continued support for strengthened and effective voice and participation of leastdeveloped countries in international dialogue and action on development, as well as in decision- andrule-making and standard- and norm-setting in all areas affecting their development, and in relevantinternational forums.10. Providing support to existing regional and sub-regional structures and mechanisms in developingcountries and encouraging their creation, where needed, with the aim of facilitating cooperation andthe exchange of information, including capacity building, exchange of experiences and expertise toadvance the implementation of the decisions at regional and sub regional levels.11. Ensuring immediate implementation of Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and CapacityBuilding (Bali Plan).12. Improving the ability of developing countries to access to new environmentally sound technology,13. Reduction of the overlapping and duplication of responsibilities among the existing structuresrelated to the compilation of scientific information. In that regard, the creation of new commissions,21

2. Furthermore, in order to fulfill the above mentioned two overall functions, the IFSD should havethe following specific functions:a. Strengthening coherence and promoting coordination and integration of the three pillars ofsustainable development;b. Providing political guidance and identifying specific actions in order to fulfil the sustainabledevelopment agenda;c. Monitoring progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and activities of all relevant organs,organizations, funds and programmes and organizations of United Nations Systems, including thoserelated to finance;d. Reviewing and monitoring the progress in the implementation of the commitments set forth in theAgenda 21, including those related to the provision of financial resources and transfer of technology,as well as of the fulfillment of the target of 0.7% of the gross national income of developed countriesfor ODA to developing countries;

e. Revision on a regular basis of the adequacy of funding and mechanisms, including efforts to reachthe objectives agreed in chapter 33 of Agenda 21;f. Establishment of channels/instances for effective cooperation and exchange of informationbetween United Nations organs, organizations, funds and programmes and the multilateral financialbodies, within the institutional arrangements for the follow-up of Agenda 21;g. Reduction of the fragmentation and duplications of activities, initiatives and discussions through,inter alia, the promotion of synergies;h. Articulation of the policies and agendas of the different relevant entities or bodies of the UNSystem which have mandates for sustainable development in the three pillars;i. Strengthening of the operational activities for development, especially the delivery of the UNSystem in the field;j. Assessment of the normative coherence between all MEAs;k. Responding to the scale and magnitude of continuing, new and emerging challenges and issuesrelated to sustainable development;l. Establishment of a mechanism to follow up commitments on sustainable development and toidentify weaknesses or gaps that affect the full implementation of the Instruments;m. Allowing members states to share experiences and lessons learned in different formats orinstances in order to indentify the most effective ways to achieve the objectives of MEAs;n. Creating a compilation of examples of sustainable projects, including future projects that canserve as a platform to share best practices, lessons learnt, and to solicit for support (e.g. financing,technology transfer) from other stakeholders. This can also serve as a support mechanism thatallows for better flow of technology, capacity building and finance, which would also allow for easieraccess of technical assistance.o. Ensuring the transparency of the process of staff selection of the UN Secretariat, which should bebased on merit and taking into account balanced geographical representation at all levels.p. Promoting the participation of all stakeholders in the sustainable development agenda whileensuring the intergovernmental natural of the IFSD;

a. Healthy fish stocks are critical for food security and for sustaining the economic prosperity andsocial and cultural well being of many states as well as for the balance of the ecosystems.International law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),provide for the conservation and sustainable use of fish stocks, and countries agreed in theJohannesburg Plan of Implementation to restore global fish stocks to sustainable levels by 2015.Nevertheless, stocks continue to be fished at increasingly unsustainable levels. States should re-commit to maintaining or restoring depleted fish stocks to sustainable levels by 2015 and shouldfurther commit to implementing science-based management plans to rebuild stocks by 2015,including reducing or suspending fishing catch and effort for all stocks being over-fished or at risk ofover-fishing.b. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing2deprives many countries of a crucial naturalresource, and remains a persistent threat to their sustainable development. States, particularlydistant water fishing States, must renew their commitment to eliminate IUU fishing as advanced inthe Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), and must prevent and combat these practices byeliminating fisheries subsidies that lead to over-capacity, by implementing –in accordance withinternational law- effective and coordinated measures by port States, flag States, and the States ofnationality of the beneficial owners, by identifying vessels engaged in IUU fishing, by deprivingoffenders of the benefits accruing from IUU fishing, as well as by cooperating with developingcountries to systematically identify needs and build capacity, including support for monitoring,control, surveillance, compliance and enforcement systems.

c. Coastal States re-commit themselves to the conservation of fish stocks in maritime areas subjectto their sovereignty and jurisdiction through the appropriate conservation measures, including area-based measures, for the conservation of fish resources and the protection of vulnerable marineecosystems (VMEs), in accordance with the law of the sea as reflected in parts V and VI ofUNCLOS.d. We re-commit to the conservation and sustainable use of fish stocks in the high seas, includingthrough measures recommended by the General Assembly of the United Nations, such as thedriftnet fishing moratorium, and those established –in accordance with international law- by thecompetent international organizations, in order to achieve sustainable fishing goals.e. As regards the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction,through the JPOI, in 2002, we committed ourselves to the elimination of destructive fishing practices.While some progress has been made to protect deep sea ecosystems, increased action –taking intoaccount the competent international organizations- is needed to protect them from the impacts ofbottom fishing.f. More must be done to improve transparency and accountability in fisheries management byregional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs).The efforts already made by some RFMOsin undertaking independent performance reviews are appreciated and should be expanded andaugmented, as appropriate.g. Taking into account that conservation measures will not be effective in a scenario of majorsubsidized fishing fleets with a fishing capacity that is not sustainable and that poses an unfairchallenge to developing states in terms of international trade, states should reinforce theircommitment of Doha and Hong Kong3to strengthen disciplines on subsidies in the fisheries sector,including through the prohibition of certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacityand over-fishing. States must accelerate negotiations on those disciplines, including transparency,enforceability and the appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing andleast-developed countries, taking into account the importance of this sector to development priorities,poverty reduction, and livelihood and food security concerns.

a. Distant-water fishing States, when negotiating access agreements and arrangements withdeveloping coastal States, in particular small island developing states, should do so on an equitableand sustainable basis. Those States must comply with the conservation and management measuresadopted by the developing coastal States, and take into account that in accordance with theirsovereign rights over the natural resources of their exclusive economic zones (EEZ), those coastalStates have the legitimate expectation to fully benefit from the sustainable use of such resources.b. The capacity of developing States, including the least developed among them and small islanddeveloping States, to participate in high-seas fisheries has to be built or enhanced and thenecessary measures for developing States participating in RFMOs to enjoy a greater and farer shareof the total allowable catch must be taken.c. We encourage the identification of strategies that further assist developing States, in particularthe least developed and small island developing States, in realizing a greater share of the benefitsfrom sustainable fisheries also through improved market access for fish products from developingcountries.d. Access to fisheries by subsistence, small-scale and artisanal fishers and women fish workers, aswell as indigenous peoples in developing States, in particular small island developing States, mustbe ensured.

a. We recognize the importance of developing capacity not only for the implementation ofinternational commitments, but mainly for developing countries being able to benefit from thesustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources. In this regard, the essential role ofmarine scientific research for the sustainable use of the resources of the oceans and seas and theprotection and preservation of the marine environment must be recognized, as well as the role of thetransfer of technology for capacity-building in the sphere of science. Efforts must be made tocontribute to capacity building and to comply with the law of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS and theoutcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, taking into account the IOC Guidelinesfor the transfer of marine technology.27

b. The General Assembly, in resolutions 57/141 of 12 December 2002 and 58/240 of 23 December2003, decided to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting andassessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects (the RegularProcess), both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, as recommendedby the World Summit on Sustainable Development. We commit ourselves to supporting the RegularProcess and to actively participate in the Ad Hoc Working Group established by the GeneralAssembly and all its activities.

We recognize the scientific uncertainty on the potential intended and unintended impacts of largescale ocean fertilization on marine ecosystem structure and function and we reaffirm the need toensure that, in accordance with CBD decision IX/16 and the precautionary approach recognized inthe Rio Declaration, ocean fertilization activities are not carried out until there is an adequatescientific basis on which to justify such activities, including assessing associated risks, and a global,transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism is in place for these activities; with theexception of small scale scientific research studies within coastal waters, which should only beauthorized subject to the requirements set forth in CBD decision IX/16.

i. Marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction has a notable environmental importanceand it can contribute to the progress of science, to better health, to enhanced food security and tooverall sustainable development. The legal framework is provided by the United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as the principle of the Common Heritage of Mankind contained inits Part XI is part of customary international law. Nevertheless, UNCLOS does not provide a specificlegal regime for the biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The use of biodiversity of areasbeyond national jurisdiction by only a few countries that have the capacity to do so is inconsistentwith general principles of international law, in particular those on equity; principles that are alsoenshrined in UNCLOS, as the Area and its resources are to be explored and exploited for the benefitof mankind as a whole. Therefore, the question of the sharing of benefits must be an integral part ofthe issue, including the aspect of intellectual property rights. In accordance to its essential role inOceans and Seas, the General Assembly established through its resolution 59/24, a Working Groupon biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The General Assembly, upon recommendationof the Working Group, has established a process for ensuring that the legal framework for theconservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictioneffectively addresses those issues.ii. States commit themselves to making progress in the context of the Ad Hoc Working Group, and tothe development of a specific legal regime for the conservation and sustainable use of marinebiological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and to that end, to initiate, as soon aspossible, the negotiation of an implementing agreement to UNCLOS which would address theconservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, inparticular, and as a single undertaking, marine genetic resources, including access and benefit-sharing, measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, andenvironmental impact assessments, marine scientific research, capacity-building and the transfer ofmarine technology.

Oceanfertilization

b)

MarineBiodiversityofareasbeyondnationaljurisdiction

c)

Marinedebris