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Dr. Noeleen HeyzerUnder-Secretary-General of the United

Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

Follow-up to Rio+20: Actions & considerations at the

Regional Level Dialogue of Executive Secretaries with the

Second Committee

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The Rio+20 Challenge Creating a new, better model for 21st century economies

“With smart public policies, governments can grow their economies, alleviate poverty, create decent jobs & accelerate social progress in a way that respects the earth’s finite resources”

- UNSG Ban Ki-Moon

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Asia-Pacific Regional Context

Home to 3.9 billion (about 56% of global population)

About 46% live in urban areas

About 36% of global GDP and 34% of world exports

Highest regional growth (about 5.6%) in 2011

Almost 40% of global energy demand in 2011

About 80% of global disaster losses in 2011

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Threats to Asia-Pacific Development

Persistent Problems: Poverty, hunger, growing inequalities, energy, water, health & vulnerable jobs

Emerging Issues: Transboundary issues such as financial crises, commodity price volatility, natural disasters & climate change

The “New Normal” of global turbulence, uncertainty, and volatility

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Asia-Pacific Development

In spite of growth most Asian populations still in rural areas & employment remains deeply vulnerable

Most Asia-Pacific countries have only limited social protection systems

Financing for inclusive & sustainable development

Rio+20 has challenged us to go even further

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Regional Development Solutions

Must rebalance & integrate the 3 pillars of sustainable development

Asia-Pacific already moving to begin this process

Rio+20 Outcome Document: Specific new mandates for UN Regional Commissions

New Regionalism: Regional Solutions

Expanding South-South & inter-regional cooperation

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ESCAP: Efforts & Initiatives

Intergovernmental: Engagement with Member States, Role of Annual Commission & Conference Structure Review

Institutional: Reorienting Flagship Publications, Strengthening the RCM & Regional/Global State of Sustainable Development Report

Substantive: Inter Alia: Green Growth, Energy, Transport, Urbanization, Oceans & Support to LDCs

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ESCAP: Intergovernmental

Engagement with Member States

Focusing the Role of the Annual Commission Session

Conference Structure Review

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ESCAP: Institutional

Reorienting Flagship Publications: Economic & Social Survey; Theme Study; Asia-Pacific MDG Report etc.

Strengthening regional UN coordination through the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM)

Regional & Global State of Sustainable Development Report

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ESCAP: SubstantiveGreen Growth: Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap

Energy: ‘Asian Energy Highway’

Water: Resilient Systems & Economics of Supply

Food Security: Sustainable agriculture & poverty reduction

Transport: Dry Ports/Regional Connectivity

Oceans: Special Case of the Pacific SIDs

Support to LDC’s: DRR, SPECA & Fragile States

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Conclusion

Sustainable development is a truly generational opportunity for change

Our ability to shape and contribute to this change has never been greater.

For Asia and the Pacific, Rio+20 was a key milestone in our journey to a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient future.

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Thank you