Informal Briefing on the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group Created by General Assembly Resolution 72/77 Entitled ‘Towards a Global Pact for the Environment‘

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73^rd Session of the UN General Assembly

9 July 2019

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

I am delighted to open this informal briefing with a note of congratulations, the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group created by General Assembly Resolution 72/77 has fulfilled its mandate – and it has done so on time.

My special thanks goes to Her Excellency, Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative of Lebanon, and His Excellency, Francisco Duarte Lopes, Permanent Representative of Portugal, for their skillful stewardship of this complex process over three substantive sessions.

I am also deeply grateful to Member States: for the rich and diverse views expressed, and for the substantive recommendations generated. This sends a positive signal about our ability to work together and to find common ground. And, of course, I am grateful to the Secretariat for its excellent support.

The General Assembly now has a set of actionable recommendations – set out in a report available in the six official UN languages – with regards to multilateral environmental frameworks and international environmental law, and how to ensure that we are on track to realize our shared ambitions.

And they come at a critical time. Just one week ago, the Global Preparatory Meeting for the Climate Action Summit was held in Abu Dhabi, as people across Europe struggled with a record-breaking heatwave, and residents of Guadalajara, Mexico woke up to find their city covered in several feet of ice. All at the same time.

These are only two examples of extreme weather events, which are already affecting millions of people, wrecking lives and livelihoods, fueling conflict and displacement, and causing billions of dollars in damage.  

We know that we are approaching a “point of no return” unless we get to grips with the climate crisis in the next 11 years. We know that we face similar tipping points in relation to biodiversity loss and desertification.

Let me share just a couple of examples. Vertebrate populations have declined by an average of 60 percent since 1970. A staggering 12 million hectares of land – that’s almost the size of Greece – is rendered unproductive each year due to desertification and drought.

But we also know that great opportunities lie in environmental action. For instance, action to restore degraded land could save as much as 1.3 billion dollars a day – that could be invested to support other Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to boosting food security and livelihoods.

So I count on Member States to take action based on the recommendations presented to the General Assembly.

As we move forward, we must keep in mind that two-thirds of the SDG targets maturing in 2020 depend on environmental action – as indeed does the whole of the 2030 Agenda, and the whole of humanity, for that matter. There could not be more at stake.

Excellencies,

There are just 76 days to go until the Climate Action and Sustainable Development Summits. Let us use this time to work constructively – together.

Nearly half a century ago, at the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Member States agreed on the solemn responsibility to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations. That responsibility is even greater now.

So I wish you every success as you consider the recommendations of the Working Group. I believe there is value in using the recommendations of the Working Group as a step-ladder to our collective drive for greater ambition on all three dimensions of the 2030 Agenda, and am in the hands of Member States regarding next steps.

Thank you very much.