UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001165 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV UNGA BO BN SUBJECT: UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE, UN-HABITAT, AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS REF: STATE 163387 ¶1. Summary. The United Nations General Assembly's Second Committee adopted eight resolutions by consensus during its December 5 session, including resolutions on sustainable development, international financial system, UN Habitat, Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs),and global partnerships. In accordance with reftel, the U.S. called for a vote and gave the Explanation of Vote (EOV) on a budgetary paragraph in the resolution on the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Belarus made reference in its statement to the 2008 Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC). End summary. ¶2. The Committee considered draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.48 entitled, "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa," submitted under Agenda item 54 (e) and containing no Program Budget Implication (PBI). In accordance with reftel, the U.S. called for a vote on operative paragraph 17 and provided an EOV. Japan also gave an EOV, stating that since not every UN member is a party to the UNCCD, the costs associated with the Convention should not come from the UN budget. With a vote of 161-2(U.S. and Japan)-0, however, the paragraph was included in the resolution. As instructed, the U.S. delegation then joined consensus and the resolution in its entirety was adopted without a vote. Benin, in a general statement, thanked the UN Secretariat for its useful support to UNCCD, especially during the November 26 UNCCD extraordinary session held at the UN headquarters. ¶3. The Committee also considered draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.44 entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy", submitted under Agenda item 54 (i). The draft resolution contained no PBI and was adopted by consensus. In its Explanation of Position (EOP) on behalf of the EU, Portugal stressed the link between new and renewable sources of energy and climate change, calling on nations to move with urgency from a carbon-based to a more equitable, low-carbon global economy. Also, in a veiled plea to the United States, Belarus used its EOP to ask that the General Assembly convene a "special thematic debate" after upcoming 2008 energy events, especially the March 2008 WIREC (to which Belarus has not been invited),so as to inform and allow the wider UN membership to discuss issues concerning new and renewable forms of energy. (Note: Belarus amended the resolution to include reference to WIREC, and evinced great interest in the event. End note.) ¶4. The Committee further adopted by consensus the following draft resolutions, all of which contained no PBI: --A/C.2/62/L.33/Rev.1 entitled, "Towards global partnerships" submitted under Agenda item 61. --A/C.2/62/L.42 entitled, "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" submitted under Agenda item 54 (c). -- A/C.2/62/L.43 entitled, "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)" submitted under Agenda item 55. --A/C.2/62/L.45 entitled, "Convention on Biological Diversity" submitted under Agenda item 54 (f). --A/C.2/62/L.46 entitled, "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation," submitted under Agenda item 57 (b). --A/C.2/62/L.47 entitled, "International Financial System and Development" submitted under Agenda item 52(b). Khalilzad