Climate change remains largest global threat and must remain the highest priority, even though the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be ignored, says President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.
Delivering his opening remarks at the High-Level Thematic Debate on “Delivering Climate Action: for People, Planet and Prosperity” on Tuesday, PGA Shahid shed light on four key points.
As a first, Shahid revealed that climate change still remains the largest global threat, and should remain the highest priority while we cannot ignore the impacts of Covid-19.
He stated that there is no denying that the ongoing pandemic has eaten up possible resources linked to climate action.
With this being said, the PGA stated that one of the largest and potentially the most transformational recoveries the world has ever undertaken currently faces the globe, urging the globe to ensure all recovery funds are climate-friendly and all recovery stimulus is “green and blue”.
As a second key point, PGA Shahid highlighted that several countries deemed most vulnerable including the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS are struggling to meet their climate commitments, as they are simultaneously working to overcome the pandemic “while being crucially held back by structural challenges”.
Highlighting that issues such as debt servicing challenges must be rectified if the capacities of countries are to be let loose in special situations, PGA Shahid suggested that a further extension of the debt service suspension initiative by one more year would “tremendously” benefit the cause of the LDCs, LLDCs and the SIDS.
PGA Shahid went on to note that a “whole-of-society” approach which empowers young people, women and all other stakeholders, is required to tackle climate change.
Colleagues, we have seen young people on TV, we have read the articles, we have heard them at events… and we have spoken to them directly, as I did on my recent trips. They are not happy with us. They see us talking when we should be taking action on the ground. And they are not wrong. We must ensure the youth have a seat at the negotiating table. We owe it to them, not just as the future inheritors of our planet, but perhaps as our best hope.”Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th UNGA Session.
Going on to reveal that women and girls around the globe, who are both disproportionately impacted by climate change, as well as less represented on the frontlines of climate negotiation deserve negotiations, PGA Shahid noted that women comprise less than 30 percent of climate and biodiversity researchers and make up only 38 percent of national environmental delegations.
Stressing that only 12 percent of heads of environment are women at ministerial level, Shahid urged to do better.
As a final message, Shahid said that for 76-years the UN has stood as the face of international cooperation, stating that challenges facing the globe currently, such as the ongoing pandemic, climate change, and biodiversity loss are borderless and global in scope.
Said challenges do not discriminate between the “north and south” and are also color and class blind, said the PGA, who highlighted that they are the challenges that UN was designed to confront.
Just as the world looked to the United Nations to avoid any future world wars, to reconcile differences, to recover from the ashes of that dark period, they look to us now to harmonize our relationship with the natural world. I believe that working towards this goal will inspire a new generation of multilateralists. I base this on the optimism and hope that I experienced when I attended the Rio Summit in 1992 as a young delegate.”Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th UNGA Session.
PGA Shahid went on to state that his confidence was inspired by the large gathering of global leaders, pledging to take action to safeguard the planet, which also enhanced his belief that the UN is a place where people can come together and work towards a positive difference.
With this being said, Shahid urged the globe to work to inspire the same optimism and hope in the youth community, to restore their confidence to look to the UN for signs that peace, progress, and prosperity can be achieved, for our blue planet and all life forms on it.
