Download Eradication of Poverty - Permanent Missions to the United Nations

Statement of H. E. Dr Abdul Momen, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Bangladesh
on agenda item 20: Sustainable development: a-i
at the Second Committee Plenary of the General Assembly
November 7, 2012
Mr. Chair,
My delegation aligns itself with the statement of Algeria made on behalf of the G-77 and China.
We would like to commend the Secretary General for presenting comprehensive reports on
various sub-items under agenda item.
Mr. Chair,
In the UN arena we have resolved that, Sustainable Development is the comprehensive
conceptual framework to address the multi-dimensional challenges of economic development,
social development and environmental protection. In this context, we second the ethos of the
outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development UNCSD, “The future
we want” that poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge of today and that all efforts of
sustainable development should be aimed at bringing one billion people of the world out of the
shackles of poverty and we should follow a holistic approach to achieve the goals.
While putting our utmost appeal as to a balanced representation of poorer countries in the
Working Group for effective and full implementation of the outcomes of the UN Conference on
Sustainable Development, we call upon member states for creation of an effective institutional
framework for sustainable development at all levels, as well as the provision of adequate means
of implementation to least developed countries (LDCs). We echo the call of G-77 and China to
our Development Partners for increased new and additional financial resource flows, transfer of
technology and capacity building for the LDCs for full and prompt realization of sustainable
development actions in this category of the humankind, who lag behind in all three aspects of
Sustainable Development.
Mr. Chair,
The already proven impacts of climate change are taking place with greater severity and
frequency. These impacts are reversing some of the progress that we made in realization of the
MDGs and other IADGs. The LDCs are least responsible for climate change, while ironically
they need to bear the major brunt of the consequences. Needless to say, this group of countries is
ill-equipped to cope with the changing global environmental circumstances. Despite their high
vulnerabilities, it is often found that their particular needs are overlooked in search of policy
solutions and responses at the international level.
It is heartening that the world is more united than before to combat climate change. The call for ‘
the future we want’ is filled with hope . The momentum generated by this appeal is extraordinary. We must build on this momentum to translate our unity into concrete actions for these
vulnerability prone countries. In terms of MDGs, we did pretty well. But we are always afraid
that if water level rises due to global warming or another devastating tsunami or Sandy attacks
us, all our achievements might be washed away and all our scarce resources may be directed to
humanitarian rehabilitation of relief efforts away from achieving MDGs.
Given the situation, we have three specific proposals. First, we must de-politicize the climate
change discourse. Drastic measures are required to implement an ambitious cut of greenhouse
gas emissions. It is a necessity for global community. Developed countries must make unilateral,
meaningful and unconditional commitments to reduce their GHG emissions and must implement
them. Advanced developing countries should also make comparable commitments. We must not
fail to reach an agreement to protect the most vulnerable group of countries.
Secondly, adaptation remains key, both for our survival and development. It will require us to
mobilize resources, globally, regionally, nationally and even sub-nationally. Tens of billions of
dollars are now needed to meet the adaptation needs. It was proposed much earlier by LDCs that
the developed countries should provide 0.5 to 1 percent of their GNI as new and additional funds
to combat climate change which has so far remained in paper only. We must consider this
seriously. We need to ensure equitable distribution of available resources and broaden the
participation of LDCs in the clean development mechanism (CDM). Annex I parties should
provide further financial support to implement the Nairobi Framework. In line with adaptation,
we must forward the cause of decommissioning of the damaging projects. It should start
regionally and we ask humbly to the UNFCCC Secretariat, to form a decommissioning
Commission to find out the projects having broader ecological and climatic impact locally and
regionally and recommend ways and means for their immediate dismantling.
Thirdly, the future climate change agreement must ensure that LDCs and other vulnerable
countries of the world have access to eco-friendly and cost-effective technologies. We strongly
feel that like the Adaptation Board, there should also be a "Technology-transfer Board" to
facilitate technology transfers for sustainable development in the least developed economies.
Mr. Chair,
The midterm review of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, revealed that its principles
have guided progress towards resilience. However, risk management systems and decision-
making at national and international level require further critical development, including disaster
loss accounting and integrated risk modeling, to support development and investment planning.
A substantial increase in investment in disaster risk reduction is urgently required to implement
the Hyogo Framework for Action. Despite some progress, the magnitude of resource availability
for disaster risk reduction falls well short of the requirements. We recognize that the efforts of
national government , particularly those of LDCs need to be supported by adequate international
assistance. International community must come up with necessary means and resources.
We support strengthening the ISDR secretariat. However, the idea of alternative methods of
financing, including secondments from agencies and Member States needs to be carefully
considered.
Mr. Chair,
The agriculture sector of LDCs is primarily rain-fed and thus, its productivity is highly
vulnerable to climate change. This will further intensify the frequency and severity of droughts,
floods and other extreme weather events. IPCC report has projected that heavy precipitation will
trigger soil erosion, land degradation and water logging. The Sea-level rise will lead to increased
salinity of irrigation water. Land and land-use systems will be severely affected. It will diminish
productivity, biodiversity and other ecosystem services. The food security and livelihood
security in LDCs, particular those in Sub-Saharan Africa, will be seriously affected. These
factors further magnify the challenges that the LDCs face in attaining the MDGs.
The impact of multiple global crises also has a strong food security dimension, especially
because more retrenchments, unemployment and poverty has brought greater pressure to bear on
the affordability of food for a larger number of people. It is therefore, imperative that any
recovery plan takes into account the specific conditions and problems of rural areas where
agriculture is the main economic activity. Continued maintaining and upgrading of rural
infrastructure such as roads, soil conservation works and development of water sources can lead
to both economic sustainability and social upliftment.
Mr. Chair,
In the current global context, increased global partnership is indeed needed more than ever
before to address the challenges relating to current cluster of CSD. In this regard, we would
underscore the followings:
First: developed countries must fulfill the ODA commitment of 0.7% to developing countries
and 0.2% of GNI to LDCs. Second: all LDC external debts must be cancelled forthwith without
discrimination or conditionality. Third: developed countries and developing ones which are in a
position to do so must provide duty-free and quota free market access to all products from all
LDCs, unilaterally and without discriminations, even before the conclusion of the Doha Round.
Fourth: current IP regime must provide access to appropriate technologies and related field at
affordable cost to grow climate-resilient crops. Fifth: assist LDCs, in building their disaster
preparedness and establishing early warning system. Sixth: support LDCs in building their
climate resilient development through additional resources, including through regional
cooperation. Seventh: Providing access to finance particularly for rural poor and finally
mainstreaming gender in agriculture, land use and better environmental management.
In conclusion, Mr. Chair, our common future hangs on a delicate balance. We must find courage
to save our planet. Our approach must be pragmatic and holistic. We must work in unison to
ensure that the most vulnerable group of countries receives the support they need to cope up with
climate change and disasters. This is a must to avoid future catastrophe with regard to the
sustainability of the planet earth.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.
Statement of H. E. Dr Abdul Momen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh
on agenda item 24 (a) Implementation of the second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of
Poverty (2008-2017) at the Second Committee of the UNGA
5 November 2012, ECOSOC Chamber ( NLB)
Mr. Chair,
Allow me to begin by commending the Secretariat for its reports before us today. Bangladesh
aligns itself with the statement of Algeria on behalf of G77 and China. However, we would like
to underscore the following points on Agenda item 24(a) in our national capacity.
We recognize the special initiatives undertaken during the first decade for the eradication of
poverty. Developing countries have formulated and implemented their national poverty
eradication plan. Although poverty reduced but it is still much below the expectation and
secondly, they are uneven and fragile. Bangladesh has reduced it by half, but sadly, in few cases
progress have even been reversed. The national efforts, in most cases, could not succeed and
retained without commensurate external support. We are concerned that ODA continues to
decline. International trade regime is far from optimal and the negotiation basically has long
stalled. Meanwhile, the curse of the chronic consequences of contemporary global crises, i. e.
economic and financial crises, food and fuel price hikes and erratic climate change, to mention a
few have added uncertainty and helplessness to poorer people.
Under the circumstances, the prospects to achieve the agreed poverty reduction targets and other
development goals by 2015, appears to be extremely bleak.
In this backdrop, poverty has again come to the core of international debate. According to a
recent World Bank study, the number of poor people with extreme poverty and hunger has
crossed one billion. The number of people with insufficient access to food has also risen. This
perennial problem has further been aggravated by the international financial uncertainty, soaring
food and fuel prices and rapid pace of climate change. According to a recent Oxfam study, the
current crises will push around 119 million people into extreme poverty. Climate Change will
put an additional 50 million people at risk of hunger by 2020. These have made it even more
difficult to reach the MDG target of cutting by half the proportion of people living in poverty
between 1990 and 2015.
The magnitude and complexity of the challenge of poverty demands an immediate and
comprehensive action plan. We support the recommendation of the Secretary General to develop
a comprehensive and pragmatic plan of action in support of the Second Decade. This plan of
action should include a program of substantive work spanning the analytical, normative and
operational work of the United Nations in the area of poverty eradication. The Plan should also
identify the specific roles and mandates of different UN agencies. There should also be an annual
monitoring mechanism to review the status of the implementation of the action plan by all
stakeholders. However, on top of the agenda, lies the capacity building of the least developed
countries to expand their social safety net through economic emancipation, which needs
additional and timely supply of international help and assistance. The Istanbul Program of Action
could be a cornerstone to implement in this regard, which specified the urgent need of
infrastructural development in the LDCs to bring them on track of economic development to
satisfy their social needs.
Mr. Chair,
To address the challenges of poverty and its eradication efforts, international community should
renew their financial and technological commitments towards LDCs and reverse the declining
international resource flows, particularly inadequate financial assistance for development and the
worsening terms of international trade. It is also very important to step up efforts to address
unemployment and job crisis while promoting productive capacities and strengthening
agricultural development.
We echo with G-77 and China that, implementation of international trade expansion can also
contribute to the promotion of economic growth and the eradication of poverty. Developed
countries should be urged to remove trade barriers and agricultural subsidies which constitute
serious impediments to market access by developing countries. It is a fact that market access in
developed countries for the agricultural, manufactured goods and services of developing
countries would help them creating productive jobs and thus help them in their national policies
and endeavors towards economic growth and poverty eradication. We in this regard, call upon
the developed countries and developing countries that are in a position to do so, to fulfill their
commitments to implement 100% duty free and quota free market access for all products of
LDCs as agreed upon under ‘early harvest measures’ of WTO.
We also support the Global Jobs Pact that provides a useful framework for countries to formulate
appropriate policy packages specific to their national situation and priority, and call for
continued coordination and coherence in the implementation of the Global Jobs Pact. We call
upon the UN agencies to come forward with core financing to aid the government projects in
women and youth employment, in addition to their respective projects.
In conclusion, Mr. Chair, poverty is a disgrace. Hence, eradicating poverty and attaining
prosperity is a treasured dream and duty of the global leadership. It is a boundless pursuit of
justice, equality and fairness. Together, I have no doubt we can make poverty an object of
museum in our own generation. We look forward to new and innovative impetus in our efforts
for a shared goal of having a world free from fear, hunger, want poverty, exclusion and
deprivation during the second decade of poverty eradication.
I thank you Mr. Chair.