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