28-04-2004 - Meeting Targets, Goals and Timetables Key elements for Sustainable Development - Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

New York

Permanent Mission address: 150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York, New York 10017 - Telephone: 1 212 351 6600 - Fax: 1 212 351 6610

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Statement by
the Hon Dr David Kemp
Minister for Environment and Heritage

to the

Meeting Targets, Goals and Timetables – Key elements for Sustainable Development

New York
28 April 2004

Minister Brende, fellow ministers;

This 12th session of the Commission for Sustainable Development, together with CSD 13, will set the scene for how we do business for many years to come. It is important that we get it right.

The review on progress with water, sanitation and human settlements has been valuable in exchanging experiences and challenges. I have followed reports of the policy and technical exchanges with interest.

Partnerships

I have also been impressed by reports of the Partnerships Fair.

We agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development that we need to create more partnerships – both private and public.

We should also acknowledge the concerns of some developing countries and work harder to build confidence in the capacity of partnerships to deliver practical and substantial results.

Mr Chairman, I suggest that an outcome of this CSD 12 review process is for CSD 13 to focus efforts on how partnerships can release the energies, capital and management skills of the private sector in support of the JPOI and the MDGs.

ODA and market approaches to MDGs

I understand that the relationship of ODA and market approaches has been a matter for some comment over the last few days.

The Millennium Development Goals have been agreed – and reaffirmed in Johannesburg. We are agreed that the route to achieving those goals is primarily a matter for individual countries.

Australia is committed to ODA – our percentage contribution is above the average OECD level.

ODA is essential for supporting developing countries – particularly those that have the poorest populations or the most difficult circumstances – but ODA will only ever be a small proportion of the effort required.

We have heard how ODA that is not responsive to local demand can be well meaning but wasted. We have also heard how ODA that simply subsidizes suppliers - rather than empowers poor consumers - may have perverse outcomes.

Market approaches to the development goals will also be important for all countries.

The private sector is best placed to mobilize funds for water and sanitation services, whether directly or in public-private partnerships.

Moreover, a well-structured and stable market for water and sanitation services remains the most efficient means of allocating resources in response to direct demands from consumers.

While there are occasions where market approaches will not be realistic, we should always test that judgment given their benefits.

We have heard in this review process that we should not underestimate the value of freeing up local entrepreneurs - within an appropriate and stable regulatory framework that protects the environment.

The capacity of local entrepreneurs to respond to local demands - for example, the personal privacy in sanitation required by women in many developing countries - is a key message that has come out of this review session.

Mr Chairman, CSD 13 could also be where we think more on how to encourage market-based approaches to meeting the MDGs.

In doing so, we should have regard to the specific challenges faced by small island developing states such as those in the Pacific Island Forum group.

Trade liberalization

Market responses are not just at the national or local level. Global markets must also be liberalized.

The international community can do more than provide ODA, develop partnerships or monitor progress.

Mr Chairman, the capacity of developing countries to achieve their MDGs will be hampered unless the international community works to deliver agricultural trade liberalization.

Australia’s commitment to supporting our partner countries reflects this sentiment.

Thank you, Mr Chairman.