Security Council  Debate  on Protection of Civilians
 in Armed Conflict – 11th November 2009
Statement by Ambassador Palitha Kohona
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka

STATEMENT BY H.E.DR. PALITHA T.B.KOHONA ,AMBASSADOR,PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SRI LANKA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT 64TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE(SECOND COMMITTEE) UNDER AGENDA ITEM 53:SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Chairperson,
We note with appreciation, the reports of the Secretary-General under Agenda Item 53. My delegation also associates itself with the Statement made by the distinguished representative of Sudan as the Chair of the G-77　& China.
Mr. Chairperson,
The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC concluded that Climate Change poses an unequivocal challenge for human development and even existence. Climate Change will impact on all, in particular, developing countries. We are concerned that the current global development model needs a paradigm shift to face the unprecedented challenge of Climate Change. Finding a new development model, based on green consciousness, that can accommodate diverse cultural dimensions and developmental, needs may be the way to sustain the future of humankind.
Though the initial and burdensome anthropogenic increase of the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere could be directly attributed to the development approach of industrialized countries, small developing countries will be most particularly vulnerable as the problem intensifies.  We believe that our approach to addressing this issue must be based on recognition of the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities, as well as the historic responsibility of developed countries for having given rise to this problem. After all it was the development model adopted by industrialized countries that caused this massive accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere occupying the carbon space of developing countries, which never had the opportunity or capacity to use up their own carbon space. We believe that developed countries must offset their resulting carbon debt by footing the major part of the cost of adaptation by developing countries. Adaptation, both by developed and developing countries is essential. Additionally, current patterns of fossil fuel consumption of developed countries result in a vast ecological debt that is being inherited by developing countries and all future generations. Considering this responsibility, industrialized developed countries should boldly cut their emission levels, based on per-capita emissions criteria. Some of the proposals discussed by the G-8 countries offer a workable starting point.  We welcome the comments made by Japan earlier today.