BY THE MINISTERS AND HIGH AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
OF THE G77 AND CHINA
ON SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT WITH SCIENCE AND INNOVATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
HAVANA, CUBA, JULY 4th, 2023
The ministers responsible for environment, science, technology and innovation of the member States of the Group of 77 and China, meeting in hybrid mode on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023 on the occasion of the 14th Convention on Environment & Development held in Havana on 3-7 July,
Recognizing the role of science, technology and innovation in the pursuit of sustainable development, especially as regards eradicating poverty on all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty; in the promotion of other bases and models of production and the achievement of human well-being and a healthy environment;
Emphasizing, moreover, the need to adopt holistic, comprehensive approaches to sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects;
Acknowledging the need to address the triple global environmental crisis caused by climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution, with its complexity and interdependence and unpredictable repercussions on food security, public health and access to vital natural resources, based on the conception and exercise of a science for life;
Considering the importance of science, technology and innovation to achieve the goals for adaptation and mitigation of climate change as well as to address the losses and damages caused by climatic impacts, within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement;
Bearing in mind knowledge as a common asset of the peoples, which should serve the needs of mankind;
The ministers and high authorities responsible for environment, science, technology and innovation:
1. Express our concern about the negative effects of the current complex international scenario on developing countries for the implementation of national and regional actions in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its three dimensions: economic, social and environmental.
2. Reiterate that the challenges of sustainable development cannot be overcome without facilitating access to and use of scientific knowledge, existing skills and technology transfer, at global level, to the benefit of the developing countries.
3. Express our wish that the UN expands its role in the transfer of science, technology and innovation relevant to the developing world, in strengthening the existing international institutional frameworks and public policies relating to technology transfer and development and in the incorporation of these issues at the various levels of education, taking into account the respective national circumstances.
4. Reaffirm the commitments undertaken on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, among other international legal instruments relating to safeguarding the environment and climate and sustainable use of natural resources. In this regard, we urge the international community and the UN System to support the full and effective implementation of these measures, without delay.
5. Note with deep concern that the present disparities between developed and developing countries in terms of conditions, scope and capacities for generating new scientific and technological knowledge represent a serious obstacle to the socioeconomic development of the countries of the South and to that of the national science, technology & innovation systems needed for environmental protection measures.
6. Reaffirm the need to consolidate the strategic relations between the countries of the North and the South in order to boost the exchange of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer, with the aim of revitalizing international cooperation on development, including stepping up its role in North-South and triangular cooperation arrangements.
7. Reiterate our willingness to promote international cooperation, including North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation on science, technology and innovation for the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources, in line with relevant international agreements.
8. Recognize the challenges in the economic and financial, institutional, organizational, information and awareness and technical categories facing developing countries.
9. Recognize that the lack of adequate funding for science, technology and capacity building is a major challenge for developing countries; accordingly, we urge the international community, especially the developed countries, to provide new, additional, adequate and predictable resources in line with the needs and priorities of the developing countries.
10. Reaffirm the need to enhance coherence between international institutions in order to reduce the complexity of processes that developing countries have to follow to request financing.
11. Demand compliance with the target for Official Development Assistance (ODA) agreed at 0.7% of the GDP of developed countries and reiterate its importance to underpinning the sustainable development needs of the countries of the South, particularly those in special situations.
12. Affirm the importance of ensuring equitable access to high-quality education and to socially-useful scientific knowledge and technologies for responding to the multiple challenges facing our nations, which demand closer community participation aimed at bolstering a knowledge culture and knowledge society.
13. Express their deep concern about the current world context of multiple and interconnected systemic crises that have a disproportionate impact on developing countries, such as the world financial and economic crisis, the burden of foreign debt, the unilateralism and protectionism, among other factors that aggravate the impact of epidemics, natural disasters and other environmental crises. These interferences not only hold back economic development and worsen poverty, but also undermine the ability of the developing countries to implement Agenda 2030.
14. Draw attention to the growing devastation caused by climate change as one of the most pressing global challenges threatening the survival of our species, biodiversity and the ecosystems, while impeding sustainable development among developing countries, especially the poorest, most vulnerable countries.
15. Recognize that climate change science is signaling the urgency of reining in the present levels of greenhouse gases to minimize the direct or indirect impact on our ecosystems and natural resources, and of pursuing full and comprehensive implementation and compliance with the Paris Agreement, including finance, technology and capacity building, based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and in a framework that considers the particular circumstances and needs of developing countries.
16. Note the lack of progress on these topics at the 58th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) held from 5 to 15 June 2023, in Bonn, Germany, in spite of the efforts by the Group of 77 and China, and uphold the unity of the Group of 77 and China as we build momentum for a meaningful outcome of the UNFCCC CoP28 in Dubai, UAE, from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
17. Having acknowledged the importance of Planet Earth and its ecosystems as the home of everyone and that “Mother Earth” was a common term in many countries and regions, we note that some countries recognize nature’s rights in the context of promoting sustainable development and we express the conviction that a just balance between the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations requires promoting harmony with nature.
18. Recognize the importance of progressing the restoration of the ecosystems, as an essential element in the promotion of 2030 Agenda’s environmental dimension. In this context, we support the debates aimed at establishing a UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) as a framework for accelerating compliance with the directives and commitments in this sphere.
19. Reaffirm that the imposition of unilateral coercive measures on developing countries is incompatible with international law and with the UN Charter, does not contribute to economic and social development or to dialogue and understanding between countries, while it restricts the ability of those countries to act efficiently in post-pandemic recovery and breaches their inalienable human right to develop. We accordingly reiterate the urgent need for the immediate elimination of such measures.
20. Stress the need for full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as interdependent programs for action. In this context, we recognize the important contribution of women and girls to meeting the development goals of the countries of the South at all levels.
21. Recognize the huge potential of the younger generation to contribute to sustainable development and social cohesion. We consequently stress the need for joint efforts at all levels to expand universal access to high-quality education, to train human capital in the sphere of science and technology and to promote interest of young people in scientific studies.
22. Express our appreciation to the government of the Republic of Cuba and its Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment for organizing and staging this meeting, as part of the chairmanship pro tempore of the Group of 77 and China. We are confident that this meeting will guide our actions in response to the huge challenges of these times, and enable us to progress towards achieving our legitimate development aspirations, especially those relating to safeguarding the environment and climate and to sustainable use of natural resources.