New York
UN
Deputy Secretary-General's video message to UN Association New York Gala Dinner
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
It is a great pleasure to address you tonight and to thank you for your outstanding contributions and support to the work of the United Nations.
I welcome your focus at this year’s Humanitarian of the Year Awards on climate change and the environment.
We are one week away from the United Nations Climate Change Conference -- COP27-- in Sharm el-Sheikh.
This pivotal conference comes at a time of escalating climate catastrophes that are threatening progress across all Sustainable Development Goals.
From worsening drought and the risk of famine in the Horn of Africa, to the hottest European summer in 500 years, to devastating storms, floods and wildfires on every continent – including here in the US – no country is immune.
The stark truth is – without much bolder climate action, ambition and cooperation – we are facing even greater catastrophe.
Even if countries were to actually deliver on their current pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth’s climate would still warm by ruinous levels by the end of the century, with terrible socioeconomic and environmental consequences.
We are failing to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement - and we are failing to keep our promise to leave no one behind.
Unfortunately, the climate emergency is not even the only crisis facing our world.
Humanity is pushing nearly 1 million species towards extinction and destroying our natural ecosystems by polluting land, sea, freshwater and air.
We are waging a war on nature, eroding the capacity of our life support systems to regenerate and undermining traditional knowledge and cultural values linked to nature.
We must – and we can – change course.
By galvanizing a nature positive movement.
By adopting a whole-of-society approach with renewed commitments and cross-sectoral engagement.
Across the world, there are people helping us show the way forward.
The 2022 Humanitarian of the Year award winners are such people.
You have played an instrumental role in helping to address the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
You serve as a powerful reminder that when people stand up, and mobilize around shared concerns, change is possible.
Mr. Grant Reid, through his leadership at Mars, has been a champion of corporate sustainability and public-private-community actions.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, my big sister, has spent a lifetime advocating for sustainable development standards in finance and international trade.
And Ms. Ellie Goulding has helped to inspire a new generation of environmental activists with passion and purpose to change mindsets away from nature-harming activities to nature-nurturing behaviour.
Honourees, on behalf of the United Nations, thank you.
In closing, let me also express our deep gratitude to the United Nations Association of New York for your continued support and exemplary work.
We look forward to working with all of you and together create a more sustainable, peaceful and prosperous world for all.
Thank you — and bon appétit.
It is a great pleasure to address you tonight and to thank you for your outstanding contributions and support to the work of the United Nations.
I welcome your focus at this year’s Humanitarian of the Year Awards on climate change and the environment.
We are one week away from the United Nations Climate Change Conference -- COP27-- in Sharm el-Sheikh.
This pivotal conference comes at a time of escalating climate catastrophes that are threatening progress across all Sustainable Development Goals.
From worsening drought and the risk of famine in the Horn of Africa, to the hottest European summer in 500 years, to devastating storms, floods and wildfires on every continent – including here in the US – no country is immune.
The stark truth is – without much bolder climate action, ambition and cooperation – we are facing even greater catastrophe.
Even if countries were to actually deliver on their current pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth’s climate would still warm by ruinous levels by the end of the century, with terrible socioeconomic and environmental consequences.
We are failing to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement - and we are failing to keep our promise to leave no one behind.
Unfortunately, the climate emergency is not even the only crisis facing our world.
Humanity is pushing nearly 1 million species towards extinction and destroying our natural ecosystems by polluting land, sea, freshwater and air.
We are waging a war on nature, eroding the capacity of our life support systems to regenerate and undermining traditional knowledge and cultural values linked to nature.
We must – and we can – change course.
By galvanizing a nature positive movement.
By adopting a whole-of-society approach with renewed commitments and cross-sectoral engagement.
Across the world, there are people helping us show the way forward.
The 2022 Humanitarian of the Year award winners are such people.
You have played an instrumental role in helping to address the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
You serve as a powerful reminder that when people stand up, and mobilize around shared concerns, change is possible.
Mr. Grant Reid, through his leadership at Mars, has been a champion of corporate sustainability and public-private-community actions.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, my big sister, has spent a lifetime advocating for sustainable development standards in finance and international trade.
And Ms. Ellie Goulding has helped to inspire a new generation of environmental activists with passion and purpose to change mindsets away from nature-harming activities to nature-nurturing behaviour.
Honourees, on behalf of the United Nations, thank you.
In closing, let me also express our deep gratitude to the United Nations Association of New York for your continued support and exemplary work.
We look forward to working with all of you and together create a more sustainable, peaceful and prosperous world for all.
Thank you — and bon appétit.