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19 July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Dear Friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you for joining this \u2018Moment for Nature\u2019.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Convening today\u2019s high-level thematic debate was a pledge that I had made during my campaign for President, through my vision statement.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And I am pleased to have been able to honor that pledge today.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I have convened today\u2019s debate to discuss the synergies between the various environmental work streams that have run throughout the 76th session.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Work streams covering the three COPs on Climate, Desertification and Biodiversity, the UN conferences on the Ocean, sustainable transportation, food systems, and energy, and the UN Environment Assembly, UNEP@50, as well as Stockholm +50.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Rarely has a UN session witnessed this kind of focus on the climate and the environment. Indeed this is a super session on nature.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While I could list off facts and figures about the damages we have caused to our environment, drawing upon the findings from all the various conferences and summits held this year, there would be little point.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We have heard this, time and again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We know the situation is dire.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen this in my own country, the Maldives. Just recently, over one-third of inhabited islands were affected by sea swells \u2013 unexpected at this time of the year, affecting lives, livelihoods, agriculture, the soil, and people\u2019s homes. Just imagine, when the sea rushes in to the island, without warning, and with no where to run.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We know that we have backed ourselves into a corner with our recklessness.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We know that this will only get worse, and quickly, as we continue to delay the actions that are needed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n What I will do instead, is remind you that it is not too late, that we are still capable of turning this around.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Throughout the 76th<\/sup> session I have come back, time and again, to the theme of hope; hope stemming from the conviction that, despite the daunting challenges we face, our world, our species, truly does have the capacity and capabilities of changing our world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Together, we possess the know-how and the resources to achieve sustainable transformations; transformations that can deliver us to a more resilient and bountiful world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We see this in the technologies that, only decades ago, would have been inconceivable; that centuries ago would have been dismissed as utter fantasy.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I myself remember a time when the power of renewable energies was viewed as far too weak and expensive to make a difference.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today, fleets of vehicles and countless homes run on renewables. Entire cities and countries aspire to be run on renewable energies. The possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today\u2019s discussion, featuring an array of experts from all sectors and corners of society, will center entirely on solutions within our grasp.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The initiatives and partnerships highlighted are concrete proposals to overcome the technical, skilling and financing gaps standing between us and the world we dream of for our children and all future generations.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The gaps in question have been identified by the UN Environment Programme through an analysis, that my office requested, of the outcomes and commitments of the various environmental conferences.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It identifies areas that we know all too well, including political commitment, financing, and inclusivity for women and marginalized groups, as sources of common concern across all workstreams.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In this regard, we will hear from the Executive Director of UN Environment, Ms. Inger Andersen, about these common challenges.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We will also hear from civil society and UN agencies alike on what is needed, across these workstreams, to ensure a holistic approach to protect life on land and below water, and to halt climate change.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We will hear about how the recovery from COVID-19 can be capitalized upon to help address these bottlenecks; as well as how the Sustainable Development Goals \u2013 the common thread that binds all our efforts \u2013 is the blueprint for recovery we so sorely need.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We will hear from young people \u2013 in every segment and panel \u2013 about what they need to contribute to the protection of the planet they will inherit.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And we will hear from representatives of new and traditional media, who will discuss the need for, and the opportunities in, relaying these messages to the public at large.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We just heard two-time Grammy award winner Ricky Kej who is on a journey to empower and inspire change in people through the emotional language of arts and music. He did charge us all up with his motivational song \u201cBorn from the Land\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Undertaking the type of transformational and societal change that we envision is only possible with the buy-in of our 8-billion constituents. Yet, this remains an area that we struggle in.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Engaging the peoples of the world has immense dividends.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I have seen this for myself on my travels. From Angola to Guatemala, I have seen communities in action. Communities protecting and living in harmony with the beautiful and bountiful ecosystems that they live in.This is what we must aspire to.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We have just 89 months \u2013 just 89 months to halve global emissions. Just 89 months to avoid catastrophic climate change. Just 89 months to do everything we can, to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. <\/p>\n That is not a lot of time.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It is my sincere hope that the Moment for Nature will help inform discussions and strategies on coordinated environmental action, and propose solutions in high-impact areas that can truly make a difference.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The UN General Assembly has a critical role in raising awareness, fostering political consensus, galvanizing momentum, and giving strategic direction to the UN system.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As a convener of the best of humanity\u2019s ingenuity and determination, this Assembly can facilitate partnerships among the broader global community at the scale and breadth of ambition needed, and can link this to the many other challenges we face.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My dear friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Last week the world came together in awe at the wonders presented to us by the James Webb Telescope.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We saw countless galaxies home to countless stars, and tried, each of us, to grasp the incredible and unfathomable magnitude of our universe.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We were reminded of how small our planet is in the grand scheme of things, and how much we must do to protect it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And we were reminded also of how far we have come in a relatively short while, of what we can achieve, what we can build, and what we are capable of.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While photos such as those we saw last week may let us dream of what is out there, right now, today, and for the foreseeable future, this planet is all that we have. Our existence is predicated on our ability to live and thrive here.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Knowing this, let us use our incredible ingenuity, our immense resources, and our determination to not only survive but to thrive; to ensure that our children\u2019s children continue to reach further than we can only dream, not out of necessity, but out of curiosity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I wish you a productive discussion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I now invite the Assembly to hear remarks from the 4 remaining speakers of the opening:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And upon the completion of these remarks, the meeting will be handed over to the moderator of the first segment, Ms. Angelique Pouponneau, Deputy Fellowship Coordinator and Policy Advisor of the Alliance of Small Island States.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" UN General Assembly, New York<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the UN and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-269748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n\n