Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
Glasgow,
November 2, 2021
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chair of AOSIS,
Courtenay Rattray, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States,
My dear friend, Ambassador Aubrey Webson,
I wish to congratulate Antigua and Barbuda on its 40th anniversary of Independence.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is always a pleasure and an honour to address my fellow small islanders. My sincere appreciation for inviting me to address your meeting. And thank you for your consistent advocacy, ensuring that small islands have a big voice.
Excellencies, while I represent 193 Member States, in my heart and spirit, I am and will always be a small islander.
Coming from the islands, we have always had to talk louder and work harder to be heard, to make sure our concerns are NOT ignored. In my case, in many instances, I had to rise above the rest for fear of not being seen. Yes, I stood on tables and chairs. But conveyed my message.
Friends,
No other group of countries are as at risk of immediate and severe climate impact; no others are as close to the frontlines as we are; and few have been as ambitious in their NDCs as the island nations.
Now, at COP26, we must once again be loud and united, to be heard. Just like we did in Malé, when we first came together as a group, and later at the Second World Climate Conference in Geneva, and at the Rio Summit in 1992.
My friends, I understand your frustrations about climate finance, about support for adaptation, and about the levels of ambition from bigger, wealthier countries. I too feel your pain.
But, as I said at the opening of COP26, there is no time for discouragement, or for resentments. The climate crisis is moving faster and we must move forward.
With that in mind, I was pleased to have convened the last General Assembly meeting on climate change ahead of COP26, only one week ago.
At that meeting, I raised the concerns of small islands and I heard the messages of Member States, of private sector partners, of UN agencies and civil society groups.
What I heard gave me hope.
There is increased ambition – as outlined in UNDP’s ‘NDC Outlook Report’.
There is an incredible wealth of new technologies on the renewable front.
And there is an understanding that we have a moral obligation to adapt to climate change.
Our one area of concern remains, as ever, and this is political will.
The question that we have to ask at COP26 is that as a species, are we ready to make the hard choices to save ourselves and our planet or ready to be a fossil find for the next species on this planet.
Having built my presidency on hope – and as an eternal optimist – I believe humanity will make the right choice.
Dear friends, I know the demands of small islands:
- commitment to climate financing as promised and more;
- clear support to keep the 1.5 degrees within reach;
- financial support for adaptation;
- and a recognition of the role and necessity of a healthy ocean.
On each front I stand with you.
I have called for $1 trillion in climate financing by 2030, and for technology sharing and green re-skilling to complement.
I have asked that all climate finance and related projects be divided equally between mitigation and adaptation.
I have asked that there be clarity on how the incredible resources of the private sector are being utilized, so that they contribute to global climate goals in a transparent and efficient manner.
And I stand with you on the Ocean. Ocean health and climate change are inherently connected. We must agree, together, on a common approach to advocate in this regard.
My friends, allow me to reiterate: We are strongest when we speak as one.
With small islanders at the Presidency of the General Assembly, of the Human Rights Council, and playing strong roles in the UN bodies and institutions throughout the world including at the World Intellectual Property Rights, we seem to be punching above our weight.
Let us keep doing that. Let us be the moral compass on climate, on the oceans, on biodiversity, and on so much more.
I commend you again for your steadfast commitment and I thank you.
Throughout our disarmament efforts, it is my conviction that women and youth can make a meaningful contribution. Let us take special pains to ensure that women and youth, as well as civil society, are more actively engaged in this work going forward.
