[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

dam-l G77 statement at CSD Ad hoc group on energy and sustainable development



A very interesting speech on issues of energy development and issues of poverty.

STATEMENT BY OSITADINMA ANAEDU OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF G-77 AND CHINA
BEFORE AD HOC OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL GROUP OF EXPERTS ON ENERGY AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

New York, 6 March 2000


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Co-Chairman,

            The Group of 77 and China congratulates you and your Bureau on
your election.  It is a remarkable honour taken with full realization of
your diplomatic skills and competence to carry out this important task
successfully.  The Group commends the efforts of the Secretariat in
reaching out to Member States in respect of the compilation of key issues
and detailed analysis of the report of the Secretary-General. The Group
also appreciates the detailed report presented by Professor Jose Goldenberg
on World Energy Assessment.    While showing understanding of the
constraints of the Secretariat, the Group wants the Secretariat to ensure
that the official reports are duly received by the delegates in accordance
with the rules and procedures of the United Nations Charter.   It is not
enough for Governments to take decisions on the basis of the advance
unedited report.

            The Group recognizes that the elements contained in the
Secretary-General’s report represents the views of only a small number of
those Governments, mainly developed countries, which responded to the
inquiries of the Secretariat.  The Group notes the importance attached to
the main issues already identified in the report, such as access to energy
services, accelerated development and use of renewable sources of energy,
improved energy efficiency, cleaner fuel technologies, liberalization and
privatization, finance and investment, economic instruments and
international cooperation.  What is, however, crucial to developing
countries on sustainable energy development is the method of application of
these elements with due recognition of the level of development in
developing countries.

The Group emphasizes that as we are in a preparatory process, more time
should be given for inputs from various sources, including inputs of
regional perspectives, which are not reflected in the Secretary-General’s
report and World Energy Assessment Report.  The text of the world energy
assessment report is one sided. It approaches issues of energy as if the
whole of problems of energy related pollution are derived from developing
countries.   It presented the problems of sustainability with the
impression that they have been solved in developed countries.  We need a
process in which the experts of developing countries will give their inputs
to ensure fair balance in the energy sector.

Mr. Co-Chairman,

For developing countries, the critical issues demanding immediate attention
remain: transfer of technology in energy and energy related sector, in
particular the elimination of barriers in transfer of technology; capacity
building especially human resources and training facilities; access to
financial resources, including official development assistance (ODA),
private investment flow into energy infrastructure and related services and
debt overhang; and persistent issue of poverty.

                  The Group considers the eradication of poverty as
overriding and long-term goal of development for developing countries.  The
inequities of the present system with some 1.3 billion people in developing
world living on less than one dollar per day and therefore without access
to electricity is unsustainable. The relationship between energy demand and
poverty is two-way: the quality and quantity of energy services, and how
they are achieved have direct effect on both environment and the people
living in that environment.  The lack of affordable and accessible energy
services for people in most developing countries could have unfavourable
social and economic impact on energy and sustainable development.  Those
living in poverty inevitably have to use traditional fuels for cooking and
other uses.  This pattern of consumption tends to keep people living in
poverty to be more impoverished.  It is highly unlikely that a situation
such as this will reinforce any great expectations arising from the
introduction of the various economic instruments. In other words, without
addressing the issues creating the vicious cycle of underdevelopment, the
objective of achieving sustainable energy development will remain a mirage.


                  The Group is strongly of the view that the energy sector
requires increased flow of financial resources from the international
community.  While it is expected that, with privatization and
liberalization, which most developing countries have undertaken as part of
measures to implement national policies, will continue to improve the flow
foreign direct investment, the borrowing through international capital
markets; these are totally inadequate to address intensive capital
requirements for energy producing and consuming infrastructure.   Our
development partners should display their commitment to sustainable energy
development by meeting their agreed target of ODA, which still remains the
main source of funding for the implementation of Agenda 21.

                  The multilateral organizations, such as the United
Nations system, the World Bank, IMF and Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
should increase the level of funding required for capacity building,
research and analytical studies and projects for increased and efficient
use of traditional energy in developing countries.  Both the multilateral
and bilateral creditors must come to the realization that the debts of
developing countries is unsustainable and therefore demand outright
cancellation.  This will release more funds for development and give
meaning to various economic policies being introduced in the energy sector
in developing countries.

Mr. Co-Chairman,

                  The reality of present energy situation should be taken
into consideration by placing emphasis on transfer of technology.  The
transfer of technology should be put into the process as a critical issue.
Developing countries require technologies that will facilitates minimizing
of the adverse affects of pollutant fuels with a view to replacing them
with cleaner, affordable conventional and new and renewable sources of
energy.

                  We should endeavour to create a predictable market for
supply and demand of energy, including conventional fuels.   We should
resist any attempt to create artificial energy situation through
manipulation or interference in world energy market with a view to
guaranteeing stability.   Security of supply without corresponding security
of demand could prove detrimental to market stability and sustainable
energy development in developing countries.

                  We must recognize the fact that eighty per cent of energy
consumption and pollution comes from the utilization of energy in developed
countries.  Yet attempt is being made to ask developing countries to
leapfrog to modern technologies although the gap in transfer of technology
and finance, as a prerequisite for such advancement has not been solved.
We should explore every avenue to develop clean and affordable conventional
energy as well as new and renewable energy alternatives.

                  I thank you.



::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
      Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
        and Editor, World Rivers Review
           International Rivers Network
              1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
                  Tel. (510) 848 1155   Fax (510) 848 1008
                        http://www.irn.org
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::