[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Csaba\u00a0K\u0151r\u00f6si<\/em>,<\/em> President of the 77th<\/sup> session of the General Assembly<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n —-<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Interactive Dialogue among Member States on Harmony with Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n 24 April 2023 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n (As Delivered)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n \n As humans, we are latecomers, new tenants of this world.<\/p>\n \n Tenants with short term leases but with particular responsibilities.<\/p>\n \n We are born, we live our lives to the best we can, and then we pass.<\/p>\n \n The one thing that remains to sustain the many waves of humanity, past, present, and emerging is \u201cMother Earth\u201d. She existed before we appeared, she sustains us, but she does not need us. We need her.<\/p>\n \n Not to forget, that we are part of nature. It cannot be otherwise.<\/p>\n \n Nevertheless, we continue to disregard her health, her capacities and sustainability.<\/p>\n \n Our mainstream attitude has centered on extracting nature\u2019s resources for the fulfillment of the immediate needs of just one or two generations of humans.<\/p>\n \n Our approach has been based on believing that resources are infinite and growth of consumption is always good. On always looking at growth as pure gain. On misleading ourselves to think that whatever is offered by Earth is free of charge, free of responsibilities to be taken.<\/p>\n \n We did not look at the side effects, the externalities.<\/p>\n \n But now we must.<\/p>\n \n In its recent report, the IPCC stressed that if we do not take immediate action and change our whole way of living, we will perish!<\/p>\n \n It is high time we acknowledged that infinite growth of the so-called linear economy is not possible in a world of finite resources.<\/p>\n \n The assumption that there is limitless potential for traditional economic growth encourages unsustainable production and consumption patterns beyond the Earth\u2019s regenerative capacity.<\/p>\n \n We need to promote a system of \u2018Harmony with Nature\u2019 that aims to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations.<\/p>\n \n We have to re-define growth. It is desirable to increase the total value humanity creates, but that should be achieved through decreased intake of new material resources, through reduced environmental footprint.<\/p>\n \n We need to invent \u2013 or, quite frequently, re-invent \u2013 transformative solutions that are rooted in science, conducive to development and sustainable.<\/p>\n \n Excellencies, on 12 April, I was pleased that many of you joined the Second Informal Briefing on Science-Based Evidence on Sustainable Solutions.<\/p>\n \n Going beyond Gross Domestic Product, GDP, was the topic of the first panel, the creation of a methodology to measure our progress on sustainability which has been in discussion since the SDGs were created.<\/p>\n \n That is not to say that GDP isn\u2019t useful. It is.<\/p>\n \n But we need an all-inclusive system of measurements from when we cut a tree down to when we place the last touches on a new house.<\/p>\n \n It is unfair to Mother Earth to trumpet our success based only on the gains and profits, without accounting for the destruction it took to achieve them.<\/p>\n \n Every day when we continue to delay addressing the consequences of our unsustainable patterns, we endanger the environment:<\/p>\n \n I am sure that any further degradation will just exacerbate the many socioeconomic challenges we have around the world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We should be aware of how fragile our globe is.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We have to respect nature\u2019s ecological limits.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We are to finally understand the risks our lifestyles pose to the world. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We must recognize the interdependence of human and natural systems, and shift away from single-sector approaches.<\/p>\n \n We must learn how to take responsibility for the global common goods that we use jointly, that we altered jointly, and that can be kept in better health only through a joint, responsible governance. Even if and when the deepening geopolitical divide is not offering the most favorable approach to take shared responsibility.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And there are recent examples of how this could be done.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Just last month, Member States agreed to the High Seas Treaty, a text for protecting the marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This will see for the first time sustainable management of marine resources at all levels in the high seas.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With its four goals and 23 targets, the Kunming-Montr\u00e9al Global Biodiversity Framework sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And, of course, we have the Sustainable Development Goals: our most valuable blueprint of how to establish:<\/p>\n \n Gearing up for the SDG Summit in September, I hope it will lead to a \u201cquantum leap\u201d in our efforts to accelerate the implementation of our pledges.<\/p>\n \n For that to happen, we don\u2019t want to change the Goals. We want not only to change gears. We want to change the game, too.<\/p>\n \n We must look at where we can unlock new commitments, find new tools, and adopt innovative policies based on scientific inputs.<\/p>\n \n Moreover, we will have to strengthen the credibility of our collective pledges.<\/p>\n \n In general, we should demonstrate leadership at this truly critical time.<\/p>\n \n And we should never forget the saying of the great scientist Carl Sagan: \u201cPreserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we\u2019ve ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Csaba\u00a0K\u0151r\u00f6si, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly —- Interactive Dialogue among Member States on Harmony with Nature 24 April 2023 (As Delivered) \u00a0 Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Csaba K\u0151r\u00f6si, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly\r\n\r\n----\r\n\r\nMessage on the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO)\r\n\r\n7 April 2023\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOn this World Health Day, I congratulate WHO on its 75th anniversary.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOver the course of its history, WHO has contributed to landmark achievements in public health, including the eradication of smallpox, the near eradication of polio and the expansion of childhood immunization, saving millions of lives.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nMore recently, WHO has played a key role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and helped galvanise the most complex vaccination campaign in history. Time and again, WHO has proved that investing in science lies at the heart of reaching our objective of a healthy and prosperous future.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nHowever, the pandemic has disrupted essential health services in most of the countries, shortened life expectancy, and halted progress towards universal health coverage.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nHalfway through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must redouble our efforts to achieve its goals. \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAs we prepare for the upcoming high-level meetings on health in the General Assembly, let us seize this opportunity to reconfirm our collective pledges and chart new pathways for a healthy and sustainable future.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nOn this day and every day, let us commit to achieve Health for All.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-252441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-statements","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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