Climate change remains largest global threat, must remain highest priority: PGA Shahid

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.

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.

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.