Distinguished Co-Chairs,

1) I have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, let me thank you for your leadership of this dialogue.

2) Healthy environment is critically important – for our health, safety, and, for our livelihood. A degraded planet poses severe limits to our well-being and prosperity as well as for our future.

3) The latest IPCC report is a grim reminder of how we are failing our planet and the drastic action needed today to protect it.

4) If we continue on the same path and do not take urgent actions, we could face limits to how much we can adapt to the changing environment. Any further delay will miss a rapidly closing window to secure a healthy planet for all of us.

Co-Chairs,

5) With regard to this topic, the Group would like to reiterate the importance of the existing multilateral framework for cooperation on climate change and biodiversity namely the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol and its Paris Agreement and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

6) We underscore that the existing frameworks were founded on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of countries, their different national circumstances, and historic responsibilities. Adherence to these principles, therefore, is vital in any discussion on nature and ecosystems.

Co-Chairs,

7) During the informal working group meeting for this leadership dialogue, the urgency to act and to take bold actions was expressed. The Group believes that this would require enhancement in the means of implementation, particularly climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building for the developing countries.

8) To this end, the Group emphasizes that the agreement reached at Glasgow must be the baseline for future discussions on climate action. In this regard, the Group would like to highlight that:

i. First, the commitment undertaken by developed countries of $100 billion in annual climate finance by 2020 was not met and must be fulfilled urgently. Enhanced commitments for annual climate finance from the floor of $100 billion goal must be achieved in the new collective quantified goal on climate finance by 2024. We call for adequate and predictable financing instead of innovative accounting.
ii. Second, while welcoming the commitments reached at Glasgow, including on at least doubling climate financing for adaptation, further action is needed to ensure a balance between support for mitigation and adaptation in climate finance.
iii. Third, concessional finance must be significantly scaled up and climate finance should not be a source of additional external debt for developing countries.
iv. Fourth, the Group welcomes the agreement reached on operationalization of the Santiago Network at Glasgow. It stresses that the establishment of an independent loss and damage financial facility is essential.
v. And fifth, the Group calls for a simplification and acceleration of existing procedures to access financing for climate projects, such as from the Green Climate Fund and calls for its early replenishment.

Co-Chairs,

9) The Group recognizes the importance of sustainable consumption and production patterns in achieving sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda.

10) Accelerated actions and multi-stakeholder partnerships at all levels, including with the UN system and international financial system, to advance innovative pathways to achieving sustainable consumption and production are also important parts of a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient COVID-19 response and recovery.

11) In the context of food systems, the Group recalls that the 2030 Agenda identifies sustainable agriculture and food systems as key drivers of sustainable development. The pandemic and its resultant economic impacts have exposed significant vulnerabilities in contemporary food systems.

12) The Group, therefore, emphasizes the impact of harmful agricultural subsidies and protectionist policies on sustainable food systems and stresses that a universal, open, non-discriminatory, and equitable multilateral trading system is necessary to facilitate access to safe, diverse, and nutritious food.

Co-Chairs,

13) The Group looks forward to the international meeting on Stockholm+50 this year and hopes that the meeting will be able to raise awareness on the importance of protecting our planet and achieving sustainable development for the wellbeing of this and future generations.

I thank you.