Your Excellency, Mr. Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and Vice-President of the General Assembly,
Your Excellency, Mr. Fernando Huanacuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia,
Ms. Helena Yánez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ecuador,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to join the Vice-President of the General Assembly in welcoming you all to this seventh Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature.
This year’s Dialogue addresses the overarching theme of “Earth Jurisprudence and the Sustainable Development Agenda”.
Today’s dialogue is very timely as it is organized a day before International Mother Earth Day.
The worldwide celebration of International Mother Earth Day serves as a broad reminder of the essential role of the Earth in providing life and sustenance to us all.
It also encourages humanity to promote harmony with nature and the Earth. This means actively seeking ways to meet the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations in a fair, balanced and sustainable manner.
The focus of today’s discussion on Earth Jurisprudence is also very timely.
Earth Jurisprudence is rooted in a philosophy of law and human governance, in which the well-being of each member of the human community depends on the well-being of the Earth as a whole.
We are part of the natural web of life.
Our failure to understand what it means to be part of the natural world has led us to relate to Nature with only our self-interest in mind.
I am pleased to note that more and more countries have taken action to set this situation right, including by granting legal personhood to Nature.
You will hear more about how the Rights of Nature have been unfolding from a number of today’s expert speakers.
Ecuador was the first country to recognize the Rights of Nature in its Constitution. Bolivia has also enacted several laws on the Rights of Nature.
Other examples include the adoption of Rights of Nature in Mexico City, and initiatives in New Zealand and India.
Earth Jurisprudence is also of particular interest in China where the development of an ecological civilization has been addressing our relationship with Nature.
Indeed, Chinese culture underscores the importance of Tian-ren-he-yi 天人合一 (unity of heaven and the human), which is to emphasize the unity of nature and the human being.
Excellencies,
This broad commitment to re-shaping our relationship with Nature has been incorporated into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Right at the start of the Agenda, Member States expressed their determination to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
In SDG 12, Member States recognize - through target 8 - the need to ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature by 2030.
In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Bolivia for having championed this important topic in the General Assembly.
For the past eight years, your leadership in raising awareness on the need to change our perception about ourselves and our interaction with the natural world has been profoundly inspirational.
Let us build on that leadership and be part of it.
I wish you all a very productive and fruitful day of dialogue today.
Thank you.
Your Excellency, Mr. Fernando Huanacuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia,
Ms. Helena Yánez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ecuador,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to join the Vice-President of the General Assembly in welcoming you all to this seventh Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature.
This year’s Dialogue addresses the overarching theme of “Earth Jurisprudence and the Sustainable Development Agenda”.
Today’s dialogue is very timely as it is organized a day before International Mother Earth Day.
The worldwide celebration of International Mother Earth Day serves as a broad reminder of the essential role of the Earth in providing life and sustenance to us all.
It also encourages humanity to promote harmony with nature and the Earth. This means actively seeking ways to meet the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations in a fair, balanced and sustainable manner.
The focus of today’s discussion on Earth Jurisprudence is also very timely.
Earth Jurisprudence is rooted in a philosophy of law and human governance, in which the well-being of each member of the human community depends on the well-being of the Earth as a whole.
We are part of the natural web of life.
Our failure to understand what it means to be part of the natural world has led us to relate to Nature with only our self-interest in mind.
I am pleased to note that more and more countries have taken action to set this situation right, including by granting legal personhood to Nature.
You will hear more about how the Rights of Nature have been unfolding from a number of today’s expert speakers.
Ecuador was the first country to recognize the Rights of Nature in its Constitution. Bolivia has also enacted several laws on the Rights of Nature.
Other examples include the adoption of Rights of Nature in Mexico City, and initiatives in New Zealand and India.
Earth Jurisprudence is also of particular interest in China where the development of an ecological civilization has been addressing our relationship with Nature.
Indeed, Chinese culture underscores the importance of Tian-ren-he-yi 天人合一 (unity of heaven and the human), which is to emphasize the unity of nature and the human being.
Excellencies,
This broad commitment to re-shaping our relationship with Nature has been incorporated into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Right at the start of the Agenda, Member States expressed their determination to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
In SDG 12, Member States recognize - through target 8 - the need to ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature by 2030.
In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Bolivia for having championed this important topic in the General Assembly.
For the past eight years, your leadership in raising awareness on the need to change our perception about ourselves and our interaction with the natural world has been profoundly inspirational.
Let us build on that leadership and be part of it.
I wish you all a very productive and fruitful day of dialogue today.
Thank you.
File date:
Friday, April 21, 2017