Chapter 5 China's Basic Principles and Position on Some International Issues Relating to Sustainable Development Section 3 China's Views on Several Global Cross-Sectoral Issues 5.26 China holds that the UNGA Special Session's review of relevant cross-sectoral issues cannot deviate from the relevant consensus reached by the General Assembly, especially by the UNCED. Specifically speaking: I. On Issues of Financial Resources and Technology Transfer 5.27 In its Resolution 44/228 of 1989 giving mandate to the convening of the UNCED, the UN General Assembly has stated, inter alia: "Notes that the largest part of current emission of pollutants into the environment originates in developed countries, and therefore recognises that those countries have the main responsibility for combating such pollution" and that "new and additional financial resources will have to be channelled to developing countries in order to ensure their full participation in global efforts for environmental protection". Accordingly, Chapter 33, especially its 15th Section, of Agenda 21 carries the consensus formulation that for developing countries: "ODA is a main source of external funding, and substantial new and additional funding for sustainable development and implementation of Agenda 21 will be required. Developed countries reaffirm their commitments to reach the accepted UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for ODA". 5.28 Regrettably, far from being implemented, the above-mentioned "reaffirmed commitments" have been shifted in the opposite direction, marked by a trend of continuing decline in ODA levels since UNCED. Thus, total ODA has dropped from the level of 0.35% of the total GNP of the developed countries in 1991 to 0.29% in 1995. At the same time, the agreed measures, as stipulated in subparagraphs (a) to (f) in Section 18 of Chapter 34 of Agenda 21, on Transfer of Technology have seen little progress. 5.29 In this context, China maintains that five developed countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands) are commendable for having honoured their ODA commitments of 0.7% of GNP or overfulfilled their ODA target, and having started to transfer environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms. Meanwhile, it should also be pointed out that other developed countries should also honour their commitments, made in Chapters 33 and 34 of Agenda 21, by taking concrete steps on financial resources and technology transfer including steps to honour their commitment in Section 33-13 of Agenda 21 that to the extent that they have not yet achieved the target of 0.7% of GNP for ODA, developed countries agree to make their best effort to reach the target by the year 2000. 5.30 Like other developing countries, China maintains that it is essential for the developed countries to honour their above commitments on financial resources and technology transfer as soon as possible. This is not only a matter of honouring their international commitments, but is also conducive to establishing the new global partnership as called upon by the UNCED, for promoting global sustainable development. In short, this is key to ensuring an effective implementation of Agenda 21, and is a priority issue to be resolved for the implementation of the global consensus reached at the UNCED. II. On the Issue of Trade and Environment 5.31 Principle 12 of the Rio Declaration as unanimously adopted by the UNCED stipulates: "States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade" 5.32 Regrettably, deviating from this principle which is beneficial to the world, some developed countries have repeatedly tried to introduce the so-called "environment clause" and "social clause" into international trade under the pretext of "environmental protection", in an attempt to discriminate against developing countries or even to restrict their economic development and the market access for their products. This harmful tendency, which runs counter to the global consensus reached at the UNCED, should be corrected so as to promote the healthy development of world trade and world economic relations. III. On the Issue of Patterns of Production and Consumption 5.33 Resolution 44/228, as unanimously approved by UN General Assembly, points out that "the major cause of the continuing deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of production and consumption, particularly in developed countries". Accordingly, developed countries should speedily reduce and change their unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. In accordance with the UNCED consensus, they should not only draw lessons from history and take the road of sustainable development, but should in the meantime provide financial resources and transfer technology to the developing countries, (as required of them by the UNCED), to promote a global shift to sustainable patterns of production and consumption. At the same time, while devoting efforts to social and economic development and to meeting the basic needs of the people's lives, developing countries should act in accordance with the UNCED consensus to regard "environmental protection as an integral part of the development process", and to refrain from following the developed countries' patterns of production and environmental protection, characterised by "pollute first, treat later". They should, in accordance with their national conditions, give overall consideration to the elements of population, economy, society, resources, production, consumption, and environmental protection so as to embark steadily on the road of sustainable development. IV. On the Issue of Climate Change 5.34 China attaches importance to the issue of climate change, and has actively participated in all the meetings relating to the formulation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as to all the follow-up governmental conferences and meetings since the Convention entered into force. China is one of the first countries to deposits its Instrument of Ratification of the Convention at the UN headquarters. 5.35 The Convention has clearly laid down the global consensus and the relevant commitments, which include: "Taking note that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs" (paragraph 3 of Preamble of the Convention), and "The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments under the Convention will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under the convention related to financial resources and transfer of technology, and will take fully into account that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country Parties." (Article 4.7 of the Convention) 5.36 In accordance with the Convention provisions, developed countries should, on one hand, limit and reduce their greenhouse gases emissions and should, on the other hand, implement in good faith their commitments relating to the requisite financial resources and technology transfer to developing countries so as to strengthen the latter's capabilities to address climate change. Besides, the first Conference of the Parties in 1995 decided (in its Decision 1) to strengthen the developed country Parties' commitments and to set "quantified limitation and reduction objectives" for their GHG emissions, and "not introduce any new commitments" for the developing country Parties. V. On the Issue of Biodiversity 5.37 China attaches importance to biodiversity, and has actively participated in all the negotiations and meetings related to formulation of the Convention on Biodiversity and in all the follow-up governmental conferences and meetings since the Convention entered into force. China was one of the earliest countries to ratify the Convention. 5.38 It has always been China's proposition: that every country has the sovereign rights over the biological resources within her territory; that the developed country Parties, in accordance with the convention, should provide the developing country with new and additional financial resources and transfer relevant technology to the latter on fair and most favourable terms, so as to enable the latter to implement their relevant commitment under the Convention; that protection and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity, as well as equitable and rational sharing of the benefits of biological resources utilisation should be promoted through effective and mutually beneficial international cooperation; and that on the issue of biological safety, a feasible protocol should be worked out step by step, with emphasis on controlling trans-boundary transfer of the live organisms processed by biological technology so as to reduce their adverse impacts on biodiversity and on human health. VI. On the Issue of Forests 5.39 China supports the Statement of Principles on all types of forests, as unanimously adopted at the UNCED, which is a framework document for relevant countries to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation for the sustainable development of forests. 5.40 The Chinese Government maintains: that forests are a major component of the national resources of a State; that every State has the absolute sovereign right over its forest resources; that each sovereign State is entitled to formulate its strategies and measures for the protection, management, development, and rational utilisation of its forest resources in accordance with its own social and economic development needs; that the realisation of sustainable development of forests should take into full account the biological, economic, and social benefits of the forests; and that the review by the international community of the forest issues should respect the sovereignty of relevant countries and should take into account both the protection and the utilisation aspects, without overemphasising the one to the neglect of the other. VII. On the Basel Convention (on the Control of Trans-Boundary Transfer, Disposal and Treatment of Hazardous Wastes) 5.41 China signed the "Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-Boundary Transfer, Disposal, and Treatment of Hazardous Waste" in March 1990, and deposited its Instrument of Ratification in December of 1991. 5.42 China attaches great importance to the Basel Convention, and has been strictly implementing the relevant provisions. In 1995, the Chinese legislation organisation adopted the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes". In addition, the Chinese Government has taken a series of relevant administrative measures relating to implementation of the relevant provisions of the Basel Convention. 5.43 China, along with other developing countries at the Basel Convention conferences of the Parties and other relevant meetings, has firmly stood for a comprehensive ban of the movement of hazardous wastes from developed countries to the developing countries. China has actively supported the relevant decisions and amendments, and the "Protocol on Responsibility and Compensation" which is being formulated. The Chinese Government is opposed to the attempts of certain developed countries at restricting the scope of application of the protocol, and maintains that the producers and relevant countries of origin of hazardous wastes should be responsible for compensation for their trans-boundary movements and disposal of hazardous wastes. VIII. On the Issue of Sustainable Development of the Small Island Developing States 5.44 China maintains that the international community should provide the requisite financial and technological assistance to small island developing States for realising the objectives of their sustainable social and economic development set out in the Barbados Declaration and Programme of Action, as adopted at the 1994 Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Text Browser Utilities: [ACCA21 Home Page, National Report on Sustainable Development Home Page, Back, Next] For more information about ACCA21 contact: web@acca21.org.cn Address: 109 Wanquanhe Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100089, People's Republic of China Telephone: +86-10-82636193, +86-10-82634400 Ext.2401 Fax: +86-10-82636192