Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
22 September 2021
Excellencies,
I would like to thank you for the opportunity to join this year’s high-level discussion to increase ambition on nature.
Last year’s event included the endorsement of the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, a landmark promise collectively representing more than 2 billion people.
I commend you for pushing to maintain this momentum and to hold each other accountable to our pledges.
As President of the General Assembly, I fully commit to supporting these efforts.
We cannot continue to ignore climate action while our collective wellbeing hangs in the balance.
We must step up climate finance and end the funding gap.
The Earth is losing biodiversity at rates not seen in the modern era. Human responses to stop biodiversity decline have been woefully inadequate, with targets repeatedly missed.
We must embrace nature-based solutions that protect the rich tapestry of life on earth, and that allow our oceans, our lands and our forests to thrive. Let’s not forget that biodiversity is integral to our spiritual, cultural, psychological and artistic well-being.
I am pleased to say that I will be convening a high-level General Assembly event on Climate next month.
Our goal is to maintain commitment to the 1.5 degree target, address capacity and funding gaps, and raise ambition and momentum ahead of COP26.
Likewise, as part of my five rays of hope, I will ensure that the 76th session of the General Assembly will include a ‘moment for nature’ event, next year, addressing the interconnected issues around the environment. This includes the ocean, climate, biodiversity loss, and desertification, amongst others.
Excellencies, despite the odds facing us, I chose a ‘Presidency of Hope’ as the theme for my term.
I intend to highlight solutions and support transformative partnerships that help accelerate action.
I count on your support to turn our hopes into reality.
My friends, the COVID crisis may have been a tragedy, but it is also a warning and an opportunity.
Let us heed this warning.
Let us use this opportunity wisely.
Let us embrace a greener, bluer, more resilient future.
Thank you.
We must embrace nature-based solutions that protect the rich tapestry of life on earth, and that allow our oceans, our lands and our forests to thrive. Let’s not forget that biodiversity is integral to our spiritual, cultural, psychological and artistic well-being.
