Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has made a number of proposals at the 78th Session of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
The PGA delivered his remarks at the 78th Session of the UNESCAP on Sunday, the session is themed around “A Common Agenda for Advancing Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific.”
Highlighting that the vast Asia Pacific region presents both enormous potential as well as daunting challenges, the PGA stated that many countries in the region have made significant development gains over the past few decades.
These have lifted millions of people out of poverty and improving the quality of education, living and health standards, however, he said these achievements are “regularly” threatened by global and regional crises.
Highlighting that a path forward that recognizes the challenges and agrees on collective responsibilities needs to be charted as the session deliberates on a common agenda for Advancing Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, PGA Shahid said that these pathways should be inclusive and centered on protecting people and the planet.
He also noted that these pathways must address inequalities and debt burden, leverage technologies, create economic opportunities, promote partnerships and also support vulnerable countries across the region.
Stating that 58 members and associate members of ESCAP include 37 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked developing countries (LLDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the PGA stressed that these countries are disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and also are among the worst affected by the climate crisis.
He stressed that they are also vulnerable to commodity and food price shocks, with which he called to do more to support these countries with finances, technology, capacity development and debt relief in their efforts to overcome Covid-19 and achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
With this being said, he stated that the needs of these countries will be placed in the center with a greener, more resilient and sustainable post-pandemic development trajectory for the region.
PGA Shahid made four proposals at the ESCAP session.
Firstly, Shahid stated that communities across the globe must move forward together and leave no one behind particularly in terms of access to vaccines, finances or technology as the globe slowly recovers from the pandemic.
Stressing that countries in special situations are struggling on all counts, the PGA noted that vaccine inequity continues to persist, with the majority of developing countries still reaching for their first dose.
Countries in special situations have reduced access to financial assistance, with only $5.5 billion of the $456 billion in SDR funds launched by the IMF in the aftermath of the pandemic going to LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS. Without additional support there is a rising risk of lopsided recovery or backsliding.”Abdulla Shahid, PGA.
As a second point, he stated that the climate crisis threatens to compromise the progress that has already been achieved, noting that the people need to invest in areas that advance environmental protection and climate action in the Covid-19 recovery journey.
He stated that industries need cleaner production strategies, and trade in climate-friendly goods and services in order to ensure businesses do not contribute to global warming and climate crises.
There is an urgent need to increase the flow of climate finance to developing countries, particularly in the form of grants. Likewise, we must do more to ensure equal parts financing for adaptation and mitigation, and ensure the full cooperation of the private sector, who manage trillions in resources.”Abdulla Shahid, PGA.
Thirdly, the PGA shed light on the urgent need to address immediate debt vulnerabilities and restore debt sustainability for countries in the region, stating that Covid-19 has paved the path to ballooning fiscal deficits, with governments forced to provide a significant stimulus to citizens, while economic activities and tax revenues dried up.
PGA Shahid noted that the average fiscal deficit among Asia-Pacific developing countries increased from 1.2 to 6.2 percent of GDP between 2019 – 2021, adding that several countries in “special” situations are undergoing debt distress or showing early signs of such distress due to Covid-19.
There is a need to provide debt relief, not only debt suspension. Debt relief packages must be made more attractive to countries in special situations, in light of their particular vulnerabilities. Debt relief programs could also be combined with efforts to promote green growth and green jobs, or converted into innovative incentive packages such as debt-for-nature swaps, debt-for-climate adaptation swaps, and Sustainable Development Goal bonds.”Abdulla Shahid, PGA.
Lastly, the PGA stated that science and technology are essential to humanity’s collective response to sustainable development challenges.
However, he noted that the present reality is that digital technology is highly unequal between countries, between women and men as well as between rural and urban.
In 2019, in Asia and the Pacific, 55 percent of men used the internet compared to only 41 percent of women – and the gender gap seems to be widening. All stakeholders must integrate new technologies into plans and strategies to accelerate the advancement of the SDGs, with equality and equity as the guiding principles.”Abdulla Shahid, PGA.
Highlighting that a key tenet of his “Presidency of Hope” is sustainable development, the PGA stated that from the beginning of his presidential term at the UNGA, a series of events has been organized to galvanize actions toward recovery and sustainable rebuilding, with particular attention to the needs of the LDCs, LLDCs, and the SIDS.
These include the high-level events on climate, vaccines, and tourism, as well as soon-to-convene meetings on debt and environment.
PGA Shahid stated that building back better, stronger, bluer and greener has become more urgent and more feasible through greater collaboration, partnership and political will, noting that the Asia Pacific region must lead the way, facilitated by ESCAP and the region’s development partners.
