EU Statement -- UN General Assembly, Second Committee, Agenda item 18(a): Promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Mr. Chair, 

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and Georgia, as well as Monaco align themselves with this statement.

At the outset, we would like to thank the G77 and China for presenting the draft resolution on Sustainable Consumption and Production. We would also like to thank the co-facilitators – Ms. Soumia Ramdoum from Algeria, Ms. Audrey Danthinne from Belgium and Mr. Rebuma Dejene from Ethiopia – for their help in guiding our discussions, and the Secretariat for its support.

Mr. Chair,

The EU and its Member States stand firmly behind the 2030 Agenda and this resolution addresses important issues in relation to SDG12 in particular. Throughout the negotiations we engaged openly and constructively to find compromise. We welcome some updates to the resolution, including on the welcoming of the new science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution; the 2025 UN Ocean Conference held last June in Nice, France; the 2028 UN Water Conference; and youth and decent jobs.

At the same time, we regret that some delegations continue to block a dialogue on pollution at the level of the UN General Assembly. The pollution crisis rages on and is estimated to result in nearly 10 million premature deaths every year. It affects us all, and multilateral cooperation is urgently needed to address this crisis. We will therefore continue to engage with members on this important topic.

We also regret the lack of consensus to return to agreed language from last year on the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. Where new language cannot be agreed on a specific issue, it is the standard practice to continue to uphold previously agreed, consensus-based language. We take good note that this solution was not acceptable in this resolution and that agreed language has been deleted.

Mr. Chair,

The SCP resolution is a resolution on which the EU and its Member States feel a strong sense of co-ownership. We believe that this resolution should remain a jointly drafted consensus resolution that takes account of the priorities and views of all delegations, and in that vein we have refrained from tabling separate resolutions under this agenda item. We look forward to continue to co-facilitate the informal consultations next year, in line with the well-established practice from previous years, and to also being invited to contribute to the zero draft before it is tabled.

Mr. Chair, 

We regret that a vote has been called on this normally consensual resolution. We believe this undermines our collective effort and the constructive spirit of striving for consensus which has been a tradition in this committee and has also guided the negotiations on this resolution this year. The EU and its Member States fully support this important resolution.

I thank you.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.