 Thank you co-facilitators, 1. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honour to advise you that the Group will negotiate this process collectively. We wish to congratulate you on your appointment as co-facilitators and assure you of or commitment and support through this process. The group will be represented by Uruguay as the Chair and South Africa as coordinator during this negotiation. We may also be assisted by other members of our group during the process and will inform you accordingly. Co-facilitators, 2. The Group of 77 and China has remained committed to its foundational opposition to all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. As the core group that present he annual resolution on the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action we have a demonstrated history of commitment and support for this seminal and fundamental process. The upcoming High-level meeting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action offers an important opportunity to reaffirm the milestone achievement of the DDPA, assess gaps in implementation and accelerate our collective efforts at combatting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Co-facilitators, 4. The Group wishes to recognise the submission of the Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action un the title "Road map to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action" submitted last year in which the IGWG expressed the theme and proposed format for the meeting. We are pleased to note the theme "Mobilizing global public support for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action" is referenced in the guiding question. Co-Facilitators, 6. The Group wishes to emphasise the adoption of a political declaration is vital to this meeting and should reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in monitoring the implementation of the DDPA and in fostering international cooperation efforts. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action emphasizes human dignity and that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of international human rights and international humanitarian law and are essential in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It constitutes a holistic agenda that encompasses measures to improve education and awareness, to fight poverty and marginalization, and to secure inclusive development. Its relevance is further strengthened by the recognized nexus between combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 7. The declaration should be focused on strengthening the resolve of the international community to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as agreed by consensus in 2001. The declaration should renew the global commitment to the effective implementation of the outcomes of Durban, as articulated in Durban and reflected in the successive review declarations and annual resolutions on it implementation. The group would encourage attention is given toward the need to eliminate all forms of persistent historical and structural inequalities, including by acknowledging, addressing and taking effective measures to remedy past tragedies and their consequences, and eradicate all forms of discrimination - as articulated in the Declaration on Future Generations and the DDPA. We also wish for the political declaration to centre on education on the history of racism and racial discrimination and the impact thereof and in this regard, we would welcome underscoring the important role of youth. It is a stain upon humanity that succeeding generations bear the burden of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, are robbed of their basic human rights and are prevented from attaining their true potential. 8. It is also important to recognise the modern elements impacting racism and racial discrimination and would encourage the declaration seek to combat this, whilst remaining grounded in the Durban Declaration and programme of action. As recognised in the most recent resolution on a Global Call to action, resolution 80/193, which mandated this very meeting and declaration. 9. The group would further wish to include the importance of widely distributing the text of Durban as recognised in the report of the Inter-governmental Working Group and requested by numerous resolutions on the implementation of the DDPA and would encourage a 25th anniversary commemoration print is prepared and distributed as part of the commemorations and may also include the updated Programme of Activities of the Second Decade of People of African Descent. Co-facilitators, 10. We wish to conclude that the act of hosting this meeting and the adoption of focused and succinct declaration will be positive step in the global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Provided the text does not seek to re-define or re-determine the parameters and goals established in 2001. We remain deeply concerned about the alarming resurgence of all forms of racism in society and call upon States, in opposing all forms of racism, including hate-speech and religious intolerance, worldwide in line with Durban Declaration and Program of Action. I thank you. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the G77 and China. The Group of 77 and China welcomes this interactive dialogue, and wishes to reiterate its general support to the UN80 initiative and its overarching objective of achieving "a paradigm shift" in how the UN system organizes its work in order to deliver greater impact on the ground for the people we serve. The Group supports efforts to reduce fragmentation, improve efficiency and strengthen delivery, while stressing that any structural reform must be Member State-led, evidence-based, transparent, and be supported by cost-benefit analyses and comprehensive risk assessments, with adequate time to clearly understand any operational implication. The Group also wishes to emphasize that any reform proposal should not lead to the dilution of development mandates, nor jeopardize long-standing partnerships with UN development entities at the country-level, and should be guided by programme-country needs and national priorities and respect the different realities of field presences. The decisive test should be whether a reform improves efficiency and support to programme countries without disrupting the implementation of National Cooperation Frameworks and Country Programme Documents, ongoing projects and agreements. With regard to the proposal to merge UNDP and UNOPS, the Group of 77 and China takes note of the Preliminary assessment of a potential merger between UNDP and UNOPS presented a few days ago, which includes 3 structural merger options and 2 alternatives to structural mergers. Without prejudging the G77 and China and its Member States position, the Group notes that, in accordance with the reports and data provided, the option of creating a new merged entity appears to carry the highest legal, operational, financial and delivery risks, since it would require the dissolution of both UNDP and UNOPS and the renegotiation of legal, governance, regulatory and policy frameworks, country arrangements and funding agreements. At a time of tightening resources and rising development needs, the opportunity cost of prolonged institutional reconstruction should be carefully weighed, since transition financing and management attention could otherwise be directed to country-level delivery, including for SDG acceleration. The Group of 77 and China would like to present the following questions: 1. The Group would welcome further clarification on the precise rationale for the proposed merger, including the primary challenge it is intended to address out of the objectives identified in the assessment. 2.Regarding the efficiency case for a merger, given the consolidated UNDP-UNOPS assessment provides two competing cost-recovery savings estimates, the Group would like to ask if the Secretariat could provide transparent and comparable data to Member States through independent verification, including to set out the assumptions behind these savings estimates and how we can prevent cross-subsidisation between the implementation arms. 3.How would it be ensured that any decision preserves UNDP's development mandate and country presence, including the Resident Representative function, nationally owned programming, and the continued implementation of Country Programme Documents, bearing in mind the significant value that UNDP brings to programme countries, as well as the long-standing relationships of trust it has built with national authorities since its establishment in 1965? Likewise, how would the preservation of UNOPS's distinct value as a provider of non-programmatic services be ensured? 4.What concrete gains could only be achieved through a structural merger, and could not be achieved through non structural options that ensure efficiencies through closer cooperation, shared services, data and expertise and joint planning? Furthermore, has the Secretariat assessed whether the projected efficiency gains would outweigh the operational, financial, and partnership risks identified, including in large programme countries where both organizations have substantial and potentially complementary engagements? In addition, could the Secretariat clarify the methodology used to arrive at the 5 per cent duplication estimate and provide country and sector-level evidence supporting this conclusion? 5.The consolidated UNDP-UNOPS assessment assumes that UNOPS' fee-for-service revenue can be added to UNDP's voluntary-funded base, while both the fee model and cost-recovery discipline remain intact. Can the Secretariat set out exactly how a merged entity would reconcile two different financial logics? Can you confirm if a hybrid "two-window" model is what is actually being proposed? 6.Could the Secretariat provide a country-level example showing how the country office setting would (a) handle a programmatic UNDP engagement and a fee-for-service UNOPS-type project simultaneously; (b) how the two cost-recovery rates will be applied; (c) how project selection between the two arms will be decided; and (d) how conflict of interest between advisory and implementation functions will be managed if it arises? To finish, let me reassure you that the Group of 77 and China is aligned with the vision and ambition of the UN80 initiative, and it looks forward to receiving the information requested to continue to assess the merit of the different options presented in the UNDP and UNOPS joint assessment. Distinguished Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies, The Oriental Republic of Uruguay deems it an honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We thank you, SB chairs, for convening this joint plenary. The Group remains guided by your leadership as we move forward SB64 here in Bonn. We would like to thank the COP30 Presidency of Brazil for their continued leadership and continue to work with the incoming presidencies of Türkiye and Australia, as we navigate through first climate talks for this year. We firmly believe that these two weeks of negotiations could pave the way for a successful outcome in Türkiye this year. As the science informs us, global impacts from climate change are being experienced now across all our group members, the time has come to move decisively into an era of international cooperation and implementation of the Paris Agreement. In this context, G77 and China places significant importance on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement. We underscore that meaningful climate action must be driven tailored to the diverse national circumstances of developing countries and advocate for meaningful climate action must be driven by scaled up means of implementation including finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building tailored to the diverse national circumstances. Further, we highlight the importance of upholding principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, in the light of different national circumstances, as enshrined in the Convention and Paris Agreement. These principles are not only foundational to the climate regime but are essential to ensuring that developing countries can effectively pursue sustainable development while advancing ambitious climate goals. For developing countries, climate action cannot be decoupled from the broader context of poverty eradication, economic development and resilience, and sustainable development. Enhanced international support and predictable delivery of commitments are critical to enable transformative action on the ground. Finance The G77 and China is concerned with the insufficiency, inaccessibility and very low availability of climate finance, in accordance with developing countries needs and priorities This includes the trajectory as well as the lack of ambition from developed countries to provide and mobilize committed and pledged climate finance resources. The Global Environment Facility's recently announced at its 9th replenishment for 2026-2030 a 27% decline from GEF-8 and the lowest we've seen in 16 years while the Green Climate Fund recently announced that a developed country will cut its signed contributions for 2024-2027 in half. Financial support provided by developed countries, in accordance with article 4.3 of the UNFCCC and article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement must be commensurate to the level of ambition formally announced by developing countries in their respective NDCs recognizing that enhanced, predictable and accessible support is essential to enable developing country Parties to raise ambition and accelerate action across mitigation, adaptation and responses to loss and damage. Developing countries have submitted their NDCs, showing progression over time; however, funding remains insufficient and is in decline. We therefore expect the full operationalization of Article 9.1 through the climate finance work programme, in complementarity with Article 4 of the UNFCCC, ensuring that it is central to all discussions and deliberations. In this context, we affirm the importance of discussing the scope and modalities of the work programme in the informal event taking place on the 8th of June to ensure that they are developed in a Party driven and inclusive manner. The group further reiterates its deep concern with the delayed transition of the Adaptation Fund to serve the Paris Agreement exclusively, in particular delegating authority to the Board to ensure monetisation of the SoPs, and urge parties to make progress on this matter. Mitigation The group reaffirms its commitment to multilateral cooperation as well as party-driven consensus-based progress across agenda items. We reaffirm our continued commitment to contribute to the ultimate objective of the Convention and the goals of the Paris Agreement including the temperature, holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels on the basis of equity and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities in the light of different national circumstances. We recognize the need for urgent progress on mitigation, with developed countries taking the lead, adaptation and loss and damage taking into account increasing impact of climate change in our countries, which requires the provision of support from developed countries and an enabling international economic system. G77 and China invites Parties to engage discussions under the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme in a constructive manner in line with its mandate. Adaptation On adaptation, the Group of 77 and China recalls the pivotal importance of the Global Goal on Adaptation, as set out in Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement, and reaffirms its objective of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the temperature goal. The Group reaffirms the central role of the United Arab Emirates Framework for Global Climate Resilience, the Baku Adaptation Roadmap and the Belém-Addis Vision in advancing the implementation of the GGA. The Group highlights that means of implementation is the central pillar of our work on adaptation: adequate, predictable and accessible means of implementation, including adaptation finance, technology transfer and capacity-building from developed country Parties to developing country parties, must be ensured across all discussions on the Adaptation, reiterating the call for efforts to at least triple adaptation finance by 2035. It must also anchor the work under the Baku Adaptation Roadmap. The Group looks for clear guidance ahead of COP31, through a process that is Party-driven, transparent and inclusive, guided by the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances, and that addresses the needs and priorities of developing country Parties. The Group of 77 and China calls for enhanced support from developed country Parties, particularly in relation to finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, and remains committed to constructive and collaborative engagement during SB64. On adaptation, group regrets that the SB64 does not include an agenda item on National Adaptation plans and look forward for an ambitious outcome in SB65. The Group of 77 and China wants to emphasize the role of the Nairobi Work Programme (NWP) in assisting developing countries to improve their understanding and assessment of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, to make informed decisions on adaptation, and to address the knowledge, capacity building and related implementation needs identified by Parties. In this regard, we would like to recall that all activities undertaken under the NWP are to be consistent with its mandate as outlined in decision 2/CP.11 and decision 17/CP.19. Additionally, the group wants to stress the importance of using terminology and language recognized within the Convention, and must not include classifications or categorizations of countries that are not agreed under the Convention, without prejudice to the consideration of regions and subregions relevant to the implementation of NWP activities, in the preparation of reports and other documents. The Group further emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the NWP is inclusive of all adaptation approaches without specific prioritization. The G77 and China underscores the importance of ensuring funding for the implementation of NWP. Agriculture Agriculture is central to the economies, livelihoods and food security of developing countries. agriculture is already being affected through droughts, floods, land degradation, pests and diseases. Adaptation must therefore remain the priority for climate action in agriculture. The G77 and China's priority in 2026 is to secure the future of the Agriculture and Food Security agenda item through a COP 31 decision, as the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work ends this year. That decision must preserve the agreed focus on agriculture and food security, with adaptation and means of implementation at its core, in line with the principles of the Convention, including equity, CBDR-RC, national circumstances and the right to development. G77 and China's emphasis the need for scaled-up, grant-based and concessional finance, technology transfer and capacity-building from developed countries for developing countries, supported by better coordination with relevant mechanisms under the Convention. This agenda item must remain focused on agriculture, food security and adaptation. A broad food system or transformative agriculture approach is not appropriate for this work. ACE Action for Climate Empowerment remains a critical enabler of climate action for developing countries. Education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation are essential for building resilient societies and supporting the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement. As we engage in the midterm review of the Glasgow Work programme, the Group looks forward to a balanced assessment of progress achieved, challenges encountered, lessons learned and areas for improvement while we consider the inclusion of potential new elements. This review should provide an opportunity to identify implementation gaps and strengthen support for developing countries in advancing all six ACE elements. The Group emphasizes that future work under ACE and a new Action Plan should remain focused on implementation, inclusiveness, enhanced international cooperation while promoting access to accurate and reliable information, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries, facing particular vulnerabilities and capacity constraints. Capacity Building On capacity-building, the Group of G77 and China continues to emphasize that strengthened national capacities are essential for implementation and ambition across all areas of climate action. At SB64, the Group will continue engaging constructively on the Fifth Comprehensive Review of the Capacity-Building Framework for developing countries under the Convention, as well as other matters related to capacity-building, as important opportunities to ensure renewed, responsive, and well-resourced frameworks that address the persistent and emerging needs of developing countries. The Group also welcomes the relevant mandated events, including the 15th Durban Forum, the 11th Informal Coordination Group meeting, and the 10th meeting of the PCCB. We look forward to constructive engagement under this agenda item. Technology Technology development and transfer remain cornerstones of the Convention and the Paris Agreement. For the G77 and China, true progress means actual implementation. Specifically, we emphasize executing the Belém Technology Implementation Programme through the Technology and Financial Mechanisms and the Adaptation Fund. During these sessions, it is critical that we select a capable host for the CTCN and ensure a strong Memorandum of Understanding is agreed upon by COP 31. Furthermore, reaching an agreement on Linkages is vital. We anticipate a substantive Joint Annual Report decision and the launch of the second periodic assessment. Moving forward, our overarching priorities are clear: increase support for the Climate Technology Centre and Network, address developing countries' technology needs, and foster a broader technology environment that enables us to fulfil our global climate goals. GST Regarding GST-related processes, the Group welcomes the holding of the first UAE dialogue under paragraph 97 and the last GST annual dialogue under paragraph 187 of the GST1 outcome at this 64th session of the SBs pursuant to their agreed respective mandates. We look forward to a robust exchange of views and perspectives in these dialogues among Parties and stakeholders leading towards enhanced progress in the implementation of the Paris Agreement as envisaged under its Article 14. Just Transition At this session on just transitions, we recognize the time constraints and the three important mandates before us on JT. We therefore encourage all Parties to engage on these mandates constructively so as to maximize the use of the limited time available. At SB64, our priorities are to finalize the TORs for the review of the work programme, recommend a draft decision on the process for the operationalization of the Just Transition Mechanism for consideration by CMA8, and reflect on the outcomes of the fifth dialogue report to help inform the CMA decision. In doing so, we should ensure that this work is Party-driven, inclusive, implementation-focused, and responsive to sustainable development and poverty eradication. Transparency The Group underscores the critical importance to developing countries of adequate financial and technical support for both the Convention and the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework. This includes adequate funding for reporting and capacity-building, funding of key technical support programmes by the Secretariat, and funding the activities of the CGE. In addition, simplified access to GEF resources and adequate support from other providers remain unmet structural preconditions - not peripheral concerns. The Group emphasises that sustainable national reporting systems are a prerequisite, not an option, for the Framework's long-term implementation, and calls on the 64th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies to prioritise these systemic gaps through concrete, predictable, and accessible support for developing country Parties. Response Measures Looks forward to carrying out activities of the forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures as mandated in COP30 decision in a timely and meaningful manner. Trade and Climate Encourages Parties to engage constructively in the dialogue on climate and trade in a robust and structured manner consistent with paragraphs 56 and 57 of the Mutirao decision, the Convention and Paris Agreement, recognizing the critical importance of an open and supportive international economic system and multilateral cooperation in line with Article 3, paragraph 5, of the Convention. Loss and Damage On loss and damage, while the Group recognizes that there is no agenda item on this topic during SB64, the Group emphasizes that averting, minimizing and addressing the loss and damage arising from the adverse effects of climate change, especially on developing countries, is a key pillar of our work as Parties under the Convention and Paris Agreement. In this context, we encourage the rapid implementation by the loss and damage-related constituted bodies, such as the WIM Executive Committee and its expert groups and task force, the Santiago network with its Advisory Board and secretariat, and the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage with its Board and secretariat, of their respective mandated work coming from relevant COP and CMA decisions, including from Belem. We look forward to reviewing their work at SB65 and COP31/CMA8. The Group of 77 and China looks forward to working with you to address the climate related challenges. The Group of 77 and China will steadfastly maintain and advance collaboration and active engagement to ensure the success of our collective endeavours towards decisive climate action at this critical juncture. Thank you. 31st Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs (27 September 2007)
Press Briefing by G-77 Chairman at the 41st G-77 Chapters Meeting (26-27 February 2007)
Press Conference by G-77 Chairman on G-77 Agenda and UN Reform (20 February 2007)
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