Nick Smith - 8 March,
2012 - Good morning. Thank you to the organisers
of today’s seminar for providing this opportunity
for everyone involved in contributing to
the Zero Draft Document for Rio+20 to get
together and share ideas and information
on these matters which are so critical to
our future.
I would like to acknowledge the distinguished
speakers and guests, and especially acknowledge
and thank all of you who have put many hours
and much thought into your submissions.
Of course, we are all here because in June
this year, leaders of states, civil society
and business will meet in Rio de Janeiro
to map out the next steps for sustainable
development. The “Rio+20” conference will
be one of the largest international events
this year.
In the twenty years since the Rio Earth
Summit, ground-breaking concepts contained
in the Rio principles and Agenda 21 have
been mainstreamed into our daily lives.
Significant environmental agreements in
climate change, biodiversity, and desertification
grew out of that Summit, and work under
these conventions continues to develop.
This year’s Rio+20 conference on sustainable
development will focus on two themes: the
green economy in the context of poverty
eradication, and the institutional framework
for sustainable development.
It will consolidate progress made so far,
but it also seeks to address current shortcomings
and new challenges.
In times of global economic uncertainty,
it is tempting to downgrade or consider
sustainable development as an “option”.
This would be a mistake. There is vast potential
in sustainable development, something this
government recognises, not only for New
Zealand but also in the Pacific and globally.
The green economy and green growth are areas
that New Zealand is focussing on to drive
important economic, environmental and social
growth. It is as much about how we grow
as it is about how much we grow. There are
complex issues and balancing of interests.
It is clear that there is no one definition
and no one-size fits all policy, for us
or our neighbours.
New Zealand already has many innovative
businesses that leverage off our strong
clean green reputation. There is the potential
for more innovation leading to more jobs
and wealth creation in New Zealand.
Recognising the importance the need for
New Zealand to further take up Green Growth
opportunities; the Government established
the Green Growth Advisory Group to provide
advice on ways to green New Zealand’s growth.
The Report was released last weekend and
the Government is currently considering
the recommendations of the group.
In 2011 the Green Economy index was published
analysing the performance and perception
of 27 countries. New Zealand was ranked
first for overall performance. The report
states that “New Zealand’s best green performance
in 2011 suggests that prioritising green
in the political and economic spheres can
transform smaller nations into global sector
leaders”.
We favour a broad approach to green growth
that has all industries moving to more environmentally
sustainable technologies.
NZ’s focus us to bring together policies
that support a strong, growing economy with
sound stewardship of our national environment.
The Ministry for the Environment is recognising
work in Green Economy with 2012 the first
year that the Green Ribbon Awards include
a ‘Green Economy Category’. Nominations
for these awards are now open. So if you
know any individual or organisation in New
Zealand that’s making a difference to our
environment, please nominate them before
23 March.
Within the Rio+20 process, as the submissions
from governments and stakeholders show (all
available online), there are a wide range
of views on what sustainable development
entails.
We are aware that New Zealand stakeholders,
either directly or through their international
linkages, have made submissions as well
as engaged with officials. We welcome this
and encourage you to continue to provide
feedback
When faced with the multitude of issues
presented - from sustainable agriculture,
to education, food security, disaster preparation,
to mountains and oceans, reasonable people
will come to different views on what needs
to be done and how.
For New Zealand, our focus is on the areas
that are most urgent, where we can add value,
and where there are good prospects to make
progress.
The oceans, or “the green economy in a blue
world” is one area where we believe significant
advances can be made at Rio+20. Although
the health of the oceans and sustainable
use of fisheries and other marine resources
was addressed at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg in 2002, implementation
has been largely lacking.
New Zealand is a nation surrounded by water
and I am pleased to say that we are taking
steps to improve the management of the environmental
effects of activities far out at sea in
our exclusive economic zone, through legislation
now before Parliament.
Oceans cover 70 percent of our earth, feed
and provide employment for millions, many
from least developed countries, and yet
the state of this important life sustaining
resource is threatened by pollution, overfishing
and the effects of climate change. And yet
there is a lack of coordinated, science-based
collective management of our oceans.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
continues unchecked in many parts of the
world, sometimes even supported by Government
subsidies. The FAO reports that 85 percent
of the world’s fisheries are fully exploited,
overexploited, depleted, or recovering from
depletion - the highest percentage since
FAO began keeping records, and a 10 percent
increase from four years ago. Things are
heading in the wrong direction.
Halting or slowing overfishing will be one
goal, but restoring the oceans will be another.
We support the call for a global network
of representative Marine Protected Areas
that can provide a natural refuge and be
a regenerative resource for the oceans.
For the Pacific, oceans issues are the top
priority for Rio+20. Sustainable development
in the Pacific cannot be separated from
oceans and fisheries issues. Small Island
Developing States in our region must receive
a greater share of the benefits derived
from those resources. Over 55 percent of
our development assistance is focussed on
the Pacific, and our efforts support long
term sustainable development, including
in oceans and fisheries.
As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, we
have also highlighted the importance of
progress in these areas in our statements
and submissions on behalf of Pacific Island
countries.
Tackling fossil fuel subsidies reform is
another priority area for New Zealand. Fossil
fuel subsidies harm the environment and
encourage wasteful consumption. The needs
of the vulnerable can be better met by targeted
assistance rather than broad subsidies that
often have perverse effects on the environment.
New Zealand, along with like-minded countries
such as Ethiopia and Switzerland have been
supporting international efforts for reforms
as part of the “Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Reform”, and we hope to build on the work
underway in APEC and the G20.
New Zealand will push for specific outcomes
in these areas, and we invite interested
stakeholders to work with us on these issues,
to provide your ideas on the best way forward.
Although oceans and fossil fuel subsidies
reform are key priorities, sustainable energy,
agriculture and fresh water are also important
areas we support. They are important not
only to New Zealand, but are also key to
development, whether in the Pacific or elsewhere.
Sustainable Development Goals have been
proposed as one possible form for specific
commitments. These are likely to apply to
both developing and developed countries,
and we think they could be useful targets,
as complements to the Millennium Development
Goals.
Sustainable energy and oceans are two front
runners for possible goals.
The reform of the institutional framework
for sustainable development is also on the
table for Rio+20.
It is recognised that the current system
has fragmented, uncoordinated and duplicative
frameworks in place. Greater impact and
effectiveness, not simply more money and
more projects and programmes is needed.
New Zealand is a strong supporter of the
UN’s “delivering as one” initiative, which
provides countries with one coordinated
UN contact point, rather than the multitude
of offices as in the past.
Proposals that will be tested include strengthening
existing mechanisms, such as the Economic
and Social Council, the Commission on Sustainable
Development and the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP). Other proposals centre
on creation of new institutions, such as
a Sustainable Development Council, a World
Environment Organisation or a new specialised
agency from the core of UNEP.
What kind of framework does New Zealand
seek? Though it is often stated, it makes
it no less true - form should follow function.
The form should ensure effective integration
of the three pillars at all levels, eliminate
duplication and overlap, produce measurable
and monitorable outcomes, while being cost
efficient.
The pros and cons of each option need to
be fully explored to see whether they will
meet our needs for a coherent, coordinated,
responsive and efficient institutional framework.
The creation of yet another mechanism or
entity without regard to the actual issues
to be solved and the realities of the current
environmental, economic and financial pressure
is unlikely to progress sustainable development.
Consider for example, the proposal to transform
UNEP into a specialised agency to raise
the status of the environment pillar. What
problem are we addressing? Is there a risk
that environment work could become further
siloed? What is it that UNEP cannot do now
that a new framework might allow? Is there
a risk that a new institution could be weaker
rather than stronger than what exists now?
What might it cost? What are the implications
for UNDP, which is the UN lead agency responsible
for the development system? Will this answer
the concerns of duplication in physical
and intellectual resources with existing
institutions, such as the United Nations
Development Programme? What are the advantages
of this proposal, as compared to strengthening
any other institution or even the creation
of a new World Environment Organisation?
These are the questions that we must ask
ourselves and others. We are listening carefully
to stakeholders, and again invite your considered
views and insights.
New Zealand intends to play a constructive
role at Rio+20, as it did at the original
Rio Earth Summit and the Johannesburg World
Summit on Sustainable Development.
We will not be the biggest and may not be
the loudest voice at the conference, but
we intend to be one of the most practical
and relevant.
The Rio+20 conference will consolidate and
build upon the progress made since the original
Summit. Perhaps it will not make the same
headlines as the original ground-breaking
Rio Earth Summit. If concrete measures and
outcomes in key areas of oceans and subsidies
reform are achieved, then we have played
our part.
