Draft Resolution Expressing ‘Profound Alarm’ over Global Rise in Greenhouse Gas Emissions among 14 Texts Approved by Second Committee

The General Assembly would reaffirm that climate change “is one of the greatest challenges of our time”, and express its “profound alarm” over a global rise in greenhouse gas emissions, by the terms of one of 14 draft texts approved today without a vote by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

Titled “Protection of global climate for present and future generations,” the text would have the Assembly voice its deep concern that all States — particularly developing countries — have been experiencing such climate-change impacts as persistent drought and extreme weather events, rising sea levels and ocean acidification.

Furthermore, the Assembly would emphasize that “mitigation of and adaptation to climate change represents an immediate and urgent global priority”, and note the determination of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to adopt a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force at its twenty-first session in Paris.

The Committee also approved a draft text on the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa.  By its terms, the Assembly would encourage developed States party to the Convention to extend support and assistance to those developing countries which have bene confronting the ill effects of desertification.

Also on an environmental theme, the Committee sent to the Assembly a draft text on the Convention on Biological Diversity that would, by its terms, have the organ encourage parties to that instrument to take concrete measures towards achieving its objectives.

Other drafts approved by the Committee touched on topics as varied as sustainable tourism, multimodal transit corridors, information and communications technologies, food security, development cooperation with middle-income countries, South-South cooperation, human resources development and enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and relevant partners, including the private sector.

A decision regarding the revitalization of the work of the Second Assembly was also approved.

Delegates from Morocco and South Africa took the floor during the introduction of draft resolutions.

Speaking during action on draft texts were representatives of Turkmenistan, Suriname, United States (speaking also on behalf of Australia and Canada), Canada, Colombia, Japan and Australia.  Representatives of the European Union and the World Tourism Organization also spoke.

The Committee is scheduled to meet again on Monday, 14 December, at 10 a.m., to take action on outstanding drafts.

Introduction of Reports

The representative of Morocco introduced the draft resolution entitled “Global Code of Ethics for Tourism” (document A/C.2/70/L.37), emphasizing that sustainable tourism was integral to fighting poverty and protecting the environment.

The representative of South Africa, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, introduced the draft resolution entitled “Role of the United Nations promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence” (document A/C.2/70/L.50).

Action on Draft Resolutions

The Committee then took action on the draft resolution on “Information and communications technologies for development” (document A/C.2/70/L.41), approving it as orally corrected.

Turning to its agenda item on sustainable development, the Committee took up consideration of the draft resolution entitled “Towards comprehensive cooperation among all modes of transport for promoting sustainable multimodal transit corridors” (document A/C.2/70/L.10 Rev.1).

The representative of Turkmenistan highlighted that the draft text aimed to promote economic integration and unleash the potential of cooperation.  Transport was still 97 per cent dependent on fossil fuels and produced 25 per cent of man-made carbon emissions.  That was simply unsustainable, he said.

The Committee then approved that text by consensus.

The Committee then took up the draft resolutions entitled “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America” (document A/C.2/70/L.30/Rev.1) and “Global Code of Ethics for Tourism” (document A/C.2/70/L.37), approving both by consensus.

A representative of the World Tourism Organization, making a statement on the draft text on “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America”, stressed it was imperative for Central American countries to provide required inputs through a prompt response to a survey to be circulated to them.

The Committee then took up a draft resolution entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development” (document A.C.2/70/L.57), approving it as orally amended.

A representative of the European Union delegation, in a statement after action, said the text constituted an integral part of the implementation of the sustainable development agenda.

The Committee then turned to the draft resolution entitled “Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind” (document A/C.2/70/L.43), approving it as orally corrected.

The Committee then turned to the draft resolution entitled “Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa” (document A.C.2/70/L.52), adopting it as orally corrected.

Next, the Committee turned to the draft text entitled “Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its contribution to sustainable development” (document A.C.2/70/L.53), approving it as orally corrected.

The representative of Suriname said that he did not in support the view to exclude a paragraph of the text which was about inclusion.

The representative of the United States, also speaking on behalf of Canada and Australia after the approval of the text, said the resolution was introduced past the deadline.  Hence, his country decided not to engage in negotiations.  The cancellation and delay of informal meetings had wasted time.  He felt the need to register “our happiness” in declining participation in negotiations in the six resolutions introduced after the deadline and expressed considerable concern over the Committee’s inability to stick to deadlines.

The representative of the European Union delegation also expressed concern that the texts were made available some two weeks after the deadline of submission set by the Second Committee.  The delays witnessed in 2015 demonstrated the need for the Committee to get its work in order.  Without improving working methods, it was not realistic to expect the Committee to meet the challenges of an ever-changing policy environment.

The representative of Canada also expressed serious concern for the working methods of the Second Committee were in “dire need for reform”.

Next, the Committee took up a draft resolution entitled “United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)” (document A.C.2/70/L.56), approving it as orally corrected.

The Committee then turned to a draft text entitled “Development cooperation with middle-income countries” (document A.C.2/70/L.55).

The representative of Suriname said that again he did not support the view to exclude when the Committee was talking about inclusion.

The Committee then approved the text by consensus.

The representative of Colombia, speaking also on behalf of Costa Rica after approval of text, highlighted the text’s role in establishing a broad strategic framework with regard to middle-income countries.  The focus of those countries must remain on structural problems and establishing more inclusive societies.

The representative of Japan said the resolution had been tabled past the deadline, which had not left enough time to consult with her capital.  No doubt that the substance in the resolution was important and hence Japan had joined consensus on the text, she said.

The representative of Australia, associating herself with the statement made by the United States earlier, said that she would like the record to show that the resolution was one of six that was submitted past the deadline.

The Committee then took up two draft resolutions entitled “Human resources development” (document A.C.2/70/L.48) and “South-South cooperation” (document A/C.2/70/L.54), approving both as orally amended.

The representative of the United States, in a statement of explanation, said that her country understood that references of “transfer of and access to” technology must be in line with authorization of the legitimate holder.

Moving on to a draft entitled “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition” (document A/C.2/70/L.49), approving it as orally corrected.

The representative of the United States, in explanation of position, said that he did not concur with the notion that certain States had extra responsibility, and while his country was committed to reducing poverty, it was not party to the International Convention on Economic and Social Rights, and the resolution had not changed that position.

The Committee then acknowledged the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report on the main decisions and policy recommendations of the Committee on World Food Security (document A/70/92- E/2015/82 and Corrigendum 1).

Next, the Committee took up a draft resolution entitled “Towards global partnerships:  a principle-based approach to enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners” (document A/C.2/70/L.24/Rev.1), approving it as orally amended.

The Committee then took up action on a draft decision entitled “Revitalization of the work of the Second Committee” (document A/C.2/70/L.51), approving it by consensus.