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Guinean Government is continuing to implement its vast programme for the development and modernization of agriculture with the active participation of the private sector and to promote the rational use of forest resources; combat rural poverty through environmental protection and rational and sustainable management of natural resources; among others

With respect to the other negotiating areas, special importance is attached to the elimination of fisheries subsidies, an issue which, in addition to its commercial importance, is of fundamental significance for the environment and food security.

The EC continues to be devoted to multilateral action to ensure that trade rules are supportive of sustainable development, as shown by its ambitious stance in the DDA negotiations on Trade and Environment and, on the social sustainability side, by its support for appropriate special and differential treatment for developing countries across the key negotiating areas of the DDA.

China has fully realized that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and focused on pollution prevention and control with unprecedented determination and efforts to strengthen ecological and environmental protection. Forceful measures have been taken to tackle air pollution. Encouraging progress has been made in establishing a national market for the trading of carbon emission rights. Energy conservation and emission reduction in key industries have continued to make progress, and energy structures further optimized. China has strengthened the prevention and control of water pollution in key river basins and sea areas, and implemented major ecological protection and restoration projects. From 2013 to 2017, 71% of all the coal-fired power generating units in China achieved ultra-low emissions, and the proportion of coal consumption dropped by 8.1 percentage points, while that of clean energy consumption up by 6.3 percentage points.

The Government of Grenada envisions that the "New Economy" will comprise inter alia a world class tourism, yachting and marina destination, complemented by efficient business, finance and information technology services, an efficient light manufacturing sector, a well-diversified agricultural sector focused on "value added" products, a dynamic oil and gas and renewable energy sector, and a highly efficient agro-industrial sector cluster dedicated to oils and flavour extraction for health, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

UAE has committed to a 7% renewable energy target by 2020 and is planning to be less dependent on oil. The Abu Dhabi future energy (Masdar) is in process of finding low cost renewable energy technologies that can be rolled out on a large scale, giving safe and clean power to many. Masdar has already sent out tenders for international companies and has awarded several contracts for the construction of concentrated solar power plants and are in the process of reviewing technologies for using wind turbines to generate electricity.

The highest rate of duty currently imposed is 400%, levied on non-biodegradable plastic bags and polythene sheets as a measure to protect the fragile ecosystem and environment of the country.

In this connection, it should be noted that the Special Agricultural Development Fund (FEDA) was reactivated at the end of 2012. Its institutional and legal framework is based on Law No. 367 of 1972. FEDA's mission is to promote and stimulate sustainable development in rural areas in order to improve the sector's competitiveness by strengthening social and production infrastructure and improving access to low interest solidarity loans for producer organizations which, for various reasons, cannot benefit from loans provided by formal entities or commercial banks. The Office of the President of the Republic plays a direct role in managing these programmes by means of "surprise visits", during which the needs stated by the country's poorest producers' associations are assessed and properly addressed. The aims here are to generate rural employment, ensure access to credit, reforest watersheds and modernize infrastructure in the countryside, thereby raising the standard of living of rural dwellers. So great has been the impact of these programmes in reducing rural poverty that in September 2014, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) invited the Dominican Republic to present them as a model to be replicated in other countries.

The EU will continue playing an active role in implementing Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the SDGs within the EU and in development cooperation with partner countries. In particular, the EU will continue its efforts to implement the Trade and Sustainable Development chapters of its trade agreements more effectively, including through civil society mechanisms.

The Government's overall policy objectives continue to be guided by the National Vision 2020 that was launched in 2003. It remains the overarching policy framework on how Basotho would like to see their country economically and socially by the year 2020. The 2020 document identifies seven pillars of development: democracy, unity, peace, education and training, economic growth, management of the environment, and advancement in technology. (...)