– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
27 September 2019
Heads of State and Government,
Ministers,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegations
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank you all for your participation today and throughout the process of the SAMOA Pathway Mid-Term Review.
Thank you for raising your voices here at the United Nations. Today, we listened, and we learned from each of you. The General Assembly values every Member State equally – I count on hearing your voices throughout the Seventy-Fourth Session
These deliberations confirmed what most of us already knew: that collective action is the only means of addressing the vulnerabilities of those hardest hit by climate change.
We cannot allow apathy to derail our actions on the Paris Agreement. To give way to indifference would be to endanger the future of Small Island Developing States.
Yesterday, in this hall, we discussed financing for development. A responsive and adequate financial system that meets the needs of Small Island Developing States is fundamental, for peace and security, for development and for prosperity.
There are the resources required to ensure a better world for everyone, everywhere.
Excellencies,
You have shown resilience and leadership. Now I call on every Member State to respond by taking significant steps to safeguard Small Island Developing States.
As we pledge to redouble our efforts to leave no one behind, let us do so in solidarity with Small Island Developing States as equal partners.
I am confident that with political will, inclusive actions, and global efforts, we will succeed in this most urgent task.
I thank you.
