Statement of the G-77 and China during the Meeting of the Working Group on Space 2030 Agenda and its Implementation Plan on the sideline of the 56th session of the S&T Subcommittee of COPUOS to be delivered by H.E. Mr. Omar Amer Youssef, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Egypt, Vienna, 11-22 February 2019
Madam Chair,
On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would like to express our gratitude on your Chairmanship of this meeting of the Working Group on the Space2030 Agenda and its Implementation Plan. The Group would also like to thank the Bureau and the Secretariat for the proposal on a draft structure of an Agenda and assures you and the members of the bureau of our full cooperation in carrying out your mandate.
The Group would like to inform the Working Group that a document has been provided to the bureau which contains principle ideas of the Group on Space 2030 Agenda and its implementation plan in early December 2018. This document has been issued as a CRP. Also, since the proposed draft structure is intended to offer guidance and serve as a reference for more substantive discussion in this year on a Space2030 Agenda and its implementation plan, it is my honor to reiterate some of the basic principles the Group adheres to in this context.
Madam Chair,
The Group of 77 and China is of the view that the “Space2030 Agenda and its Implementation Plan” should be forward looking in its objectives and imperatives and provide a more comprehensive and inclusive long-term vision for space science and technology and their applications as key drivers for sustainable development.
Therefore, it should be global in nature and universally applicable, taking into account respective national needs, realities, capacities and levels of development. The Agenda should also be the result of an all-inclusive consultation process that is accepted by all countries and applicable to all, and contribute to the achievement of a shared vision for the future in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and in the interest of all countries for the benefit and betterment of all humankind.
There is no doubt that there are different approaches, visions, models and tools available to each country, to implement the Agenda; therefore, the Group believes that each State should take ownership of the implementation of the Agenda and incorporate it in its national planning processes, policies and strategies, according to its capacities and capabilities with due regard to the prevailing national conditions.
The Group also firmly believes that the Agenda should reflect the determination to address inequalities among countries and to create conditions for the sustainable and inclusive development of space activities in support of the SDGs. In doing so, the Agenda should also identify concrete steps and measures aimed at addressing the space divide or gap between those nations that have developed space-related capabilities and technologies and those that have limited or no access to such capabilities.
The Group maintains that the Agenda and its Implementation Plan should unify all countries’ efforts towards sustainable development through space activities and the collective pursuit of global development in an inclusive and encompassing process that can bring tangible gains to all parts of the world.
The Group also believes that the Agenda should be implemented in consistency with the rights and obligations of states under applicable international law. At the same time, the Agenda should strongly urge states to refrain from promulgating, adopting and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures that could impede the full implementation of the Agenda’s provisions, particularly in developing countries
The Agenda should also incorporate the means required for its implementation and recognize the need for the mobilization of financial resources, capacity-building and the transfer of technologies to developing countries on favorable terms, and non-discriminatory basis. Thus, the objective and scope of the Agenda require a revitalized global partnership to ensure its implementation.
On the same line, the Group believes that the Agenda should underline the important role and advantage of an adequately resourced, relevant, coherent, efficient and effective UNOOSA in supporting the achievement of the Agenda’s goals. Furthermore, the Agenda should support the Committee and its two subcommittees in promoting the dialogue for ensuring the safe and peaceful nature of space activities.
To conclude, Mr. Chairman, building upon the past work of the Committee, including on the four pillars and the seven thematic priorities, the Group is of the opinion that an effective and viable Agenda should identify and address areas to be tackled with a well-defined strategy, which include, inter-alia: global space governance, international cooperation, capacity building, space economy, space accessibility and space science and technology.
