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11 May 2024
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11 May 2024
Secretary-General’s Press Conference Ahead of the Closing UN Civil Society Conference
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11 May 2024
UN Security Council Press Statement on mass graves in Gaza
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The Sustainable Development Goals in India
India is critical in determining the success of the SDGs, globally. At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted, “Sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be of great consequence to the world and our beautiful planet. It will be a world of fewer challenges and greater hope; and, more confident of its success”. NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s premier think tank, has been entrusted with the task of coordinating the SDGs, mapping schemes related to the SDGs and their targets, and identifying lead and supporting ministries for each target. In addition, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been leading discussions for developing national indicators for the SDGs. State governments are key to India’s progress on the SDGs as they are best placed to ‘put people first’ and to ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’. The UN Country Team in India supports NITI Aayog, Union ministries and state governments in their efforts to address the interconnectedness of the goals, to ensure that no one is left behind and to advocate for adequate financing to achieve the SDGs.
Story
05 January 2024
Celebrating a milestone year in the UN-India Partnership!
Dear Friends, This past year has been a truly momentous one for India – and for the UN in India. From taking the mantle as the world’s most populous country, to the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, to hosting the Cricket World Cup, and perhaps most significantly, the G20 Presidency, all eyes were on India this year. Yet the year began under no small amount of global headwinds. Multilateralism itself has been fraying at the seams, pulled apart by a number of challenges, including the war in Ukraine, and more recently renewed conflict in the Middle East. And at the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit held in New York in September confirmed what many development practitioners had long sounded a warning on – the SDGs are dramatically off course, with only fifteen percent on track, with nearly a third ground to a halt or even in reverse gear. Against this backdrop, India demonstrated much-needed leadership at home and on the international stage, delivering development solutions at scale and helping build an inclusive consensus across divides. The UN in India was privileged to be a partner at many levels. At this critical juncture, India’s G20 Presidency refocused the G20 on taking greater responsibility for putting the 2030 Agenda’s time-bound targets back on track and the voice of the Global South on centre stage. This included bringing greater alignment between climate action and the development agenda, and raising ambitions on reform of the multilateral system, including the international financial architecture, and accelerating digital transformations. In addition, the Presidency stressed the need for a more women-led development across multiple workstreams. India’s G20 featured stronger coordination and alignment between the UN and the Presidency than perhaps any G20 to date. In response to government invitation, the UN in India was proud to play an important role in that partnership, complimenting the leadership of the DESA Under Secretary-General as overall Sherpa for the UN system and the UNDP Administrator as lead on the Finance Track. A number of UN agencies and the RCO were privileged to support different Working Groups through partnerships with leading line ministries and the G20 Secretariat. This collaboration included contributing technical inputs to issue notes and other processes, as well as helping deliver side sessions and providing specialist human resources and other support at government request. Despite extensive geopolitical challenges, India’s G20 Presidency managed to successfully advance a number of key priorities, including those highly valued by the UN system, through the consensus New Delhi Leader’s Declaration and other prior deliverables. This included the new G20 Action Plan to Accelerate Progress on the SDGs, commitments to triple global capacity in renewable energy, raising ambitions on MDB reform, very much in line with the UN Secretary General’s call for an SDG Stimulus, as well as the strongest-ever gender equality language of any G20 Leaders’ Declaration, including setting the stage for a new ministerial level G20 Working Group on Gender Equality to be taken forward by Brazil. Together with its solidarity with the Global South, exemplified by the inclusion of the African Union in the G20, the Indian G20 Presidency took critical steps towards a fairer and more effective multilateralism. Read More The year also saw the launch of the first new-generation Government of India - UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-27 (SDCF), strategic articulation of the overall India-UN country partnership, and the guiding instrument for UN system support to India’s SDG achievement delivered jointly through individual UN Agency country programmes. The SDCF was the product of an extensive and inclusive multi-agency and multi-ministry year-long collaborative effort. I would particularly like to thank and acknowledge NITI Aayog for their substantive leadership and coordination as overall nodal counterpart, as well as the Ministry of External Affairs, different nodal ministries, UN agencies, civil society, and other partners, for their support and collaboration. This was truly a whole-of government, whole-of-society, and whole-of-UN effort.Read More And reflecting the increasingly two-way nature of our partnership, for the first time the SDCF has included South-South Cooperation as a key engagement priority. Our UN Country Team agencies will use their extensive knowledge of the Indian development landscape to help codify Indian best practices in key areas of South-South cooperation to partner in bringing those solutions to the global stage for the benefit of other countries. As a vehicle for this support, we are launching our first-ever country-level SDG pooled fund, with South-South Cooperation as the first window. A Letter of Intent with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for initial funding was signed in New York in the presence of the External Affairs Minister on the margins on the UN General Assembly. India’s Mission LiFE, which was launched by the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi together with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Gujarat last year, also received coordinated support from the UN India team. Not only was LiFE incorporated into our new SDCF, but UNEP, through the One Planet Network, supported efforts to develop the High-Level Principles of LiFE, which in turn anchored the initiative to all G20 working groups across climate and energy transition themes. UN agencies, including UNEP and UNDP, helped mobilise partner networks for LiFE, and supported the shortlisting of candidates for the global call for LiFE ideas announced by PM Modi. UNDP also supported the Presidency on the priority area around Blue Economy, which led to the formulation and adoption of the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-based Economy. Read More Throughout the year, UN support to Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 routine immunizations has helped ensure that life-saving vaccinations were delivered to the most vulnerable communities in hard-to-reach areas. Agencies including UNDP, WHO and UNICEF continued to provide comprehensive technical support for immunization supply chain strengthening. New WHO and UNICEF data shows that India has made remarkable progress in reviving routine immunization coverage in the last year, after a pandemic-induced regression.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We continued to support the strengthening of Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCHA) services. Constant advocacy, implementation support, and regular mentoring from UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO has contributed to the improvement of India’s institutional delivery rate, which is now at over 90 percent. UN agencies, led by UNICEF, also provided technical assistance, wide-ranging capacity building, and promotion of safe practices to improve Water and Sanitation (WASH) services, including support to the flagship Jal Jeevan and Swachh Bharat missions and improving facilities in refugee settlements. UN advocacy, policy support and evidence generation continued to support the Government’s leadership push for better nutrition outcomes in 2023, including through support to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition, Iron folic acid (IFA) supplementation, and the mainstreaming of fortified rice. Read more Through the year, we supported government efforts to ensure that all children gain strong foundations in basic skills like reading and maths, as well as strong support to the Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme by UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNICEF. Recognizing the critical link between education and fighting climate change, UNESCO’s flagship State of the Education Report 2023 focused on the role Indian teachers can play in fostering environmental education.Read more This year we also celebrated the inscribing of two new Indian sites to the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the historic West Bengal town of Santiniketan and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas, a series of 12th- and 13th-century temples in Karnataka. This now brings the number of World Heritage Sites in India to 42, among the highest in the world. The Garba of Gujarat, a ritualistic and devotional dance performed on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Navaratri and dedicated to the worship of the feminine energy or ‘Shakti’, was also inscribed in 2023.Read more UN agencies also continued to advocate for economic growth and decent work for all women and men. Led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN’s specialized agency promoting decent work, together with UN Women, UNDP, UNIDO and UNHCR, the agencies worked with MSMEs to develop innovation and technology ecosystems, safe, orderly, and regular migration, social protection systems, and linkages to green jobs. Our agencies also took steps towards improving institutional responses for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), including continued support to One Stop Centres which provide support to women affected by violence. India’s hosting of the first Regional Asia-Pacific Conference on Access to Legal Aid in November, part of the global push to implement the UN Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid, was an important step in guaranteeing legal aid for the most vulnerable. And we continued supporting India’s just green transition and resilience to climate change, working to ensure the collection and processing of plastic waste, adoption of renewable energy solutions, green economic growth, the conservation and management of biodiversity and much more. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), has brought together five agencies and eight line ministries is supporting India’s green economic transformations across diverse sectors from sustainable public procurement to green manufacturing and eco-labelling. This year also saw many high-level visits with India at the centre. To start the year, the then President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi made India his first bilateral visit since assuming office, with a focus on G20 priorities and sustainable water use. The UNDP Administrator visited India twice as part of the G20. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell also met with senior government officials and frontline health workers, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen joined the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting, while Mr Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, visited India to advocate for road safety and the UN Road Safety Convention. The UN Secretary-General took part in the G20 Leaders’ Summit, reaffirming his belief in the centrality of India to achieving the SDGs globally. From the UN House in New Delhi, the Secretary-General delivered an urgent message to G20 leaders to come together to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive and ensure the SDGs are achieved on schedule. He also called on G20 leaders to ensure solidarity with the Global South, from financial support for the green transition to reforming the dysfunctional global financial architecture. The Secretary-General welcomed the consensus, SDG-focused New Delhi Declaration. Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Amina Mohammed also paid an official visit to India for the first time in her second term. During her visit, the DSG met with the External Affairs Minister, Finance Minister, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and many other leading officials. The DSG also visited Bengaluru where she interacted with experts in premiere technology research institutions to learn how digital technology can drive development in the Global South. Among a number of celebrity advocates and Goodwill Ambassadors, football legend and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham thrilled fans with a trip to India, joining hands with cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to celebrate UNICEF’s partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to empower girls and women through cricket.Read more In the last year, we have also continued to implement the UN’s new systems-wide strategy to combat sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). We have adopted new measures and strengthened existing ones, including the appointment of PSEA focal points in all agencies, to better prevent, detect, report and take action against personnel who commit abuse. We have also continued to walk the walk by making our own operations more sustainable – earlier in the year, the UN compound was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum Certification, marking it as exemplary in energy efficiency, health, and sustainability. I would like to thank the longstanding commitment of our operations team to making the UN House greener and more accessible. With this in mind, it was a great honour for the UN House to host the fifth Circular Design Challenge by R|Elan™ at Lakmé Fashion Week. The sustainable fashion show, a celebration of creativity and colour, as well as circular solutions, was an unforgettable night for all involved, and remains one of the highlights of our year. I also had the opportunity to help strengthen the partnership with the Indian Army Peacekeeping leadership and the Centre for UN Peacekeeping on several important occasions. One of the highlights was accepting nearly 150 Made-in-India armoured vehicles, an excellent example of‘ Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, on behalf of the UN for the UN peacekeeping operation in South Sudan. I was also privileged to participate in the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping celebration, recognizing India’s role having contributed more personnel to UN Peacekeeping since the beginning than any other country, and joining the Indian Army in paying homage to fallen heroes at the National War Memorial. The UN in India was also honoured to partner with the International Indian Film Academy Awards held in Abu Dhabi. We are always looking for new platforms to get our message across, and the award show was an opportunity for the UN to amplify the message on climate action and sustainability to an entirely new audience, leveraging the power of India’s cultural ‘soft power’ for good. Our own UN family was also strengthened by the opening of the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Centre in Delhi in March 2023, with the goal of promoting advanced technologies within the region and beyond. We look forward to India’s hosting of the ITU World Assembly in 2024.
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Story
24 January 2024
'A gift to India and to the world’
The President of the General Assembly has witnessed first-hand the transformative power of technology during a visit to a prosthetic limb centre in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on the second day of his official visit to India.
Dennis Francis met some of the staff at the Jaipur Foot NGO as well as young recipients of prosthetic limbs from the centre, which for decades has been providing high-quality prosthetic limbs at low cost.
"It’s a gift to India and to the world," he later posted on social media, describing the limb technology as a testament to Indian ingenuity and an innovative pinnacle that restores hope and dignity to recipients.
Touring the city of Jaipur, a World Heritage Site, he also explored multiple historic landmarks, including Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort, and City Palace.
The President also met Princess Diya Kumari, the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan state. He explored a traditional crafts store of the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation, which helps local women artisans gain financial independence by providing a platform to market and sell their work.
The day-long visit to Jaipur is part of a five-day trip he is undertaking in India. Today, he is in Delhi, where he will meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, before traveling to Mumbai for the final leg of his trip.
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Publication
29 September 2023
United Nations in India Annual Report 2022
The UN India Annual Report 2022 covers the final year of the UN - Government of India Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) 2018-2022, which continued to guide our support to India’s development priorities, even as we repurposed a significant part of our planned activities and budget towards the COVID-19 response.
The UN pulled together as a system with remarkable response support efforts during the darkest days of COVID-19, and we
continued to support the Government of India’s response to the health and socioeconomic impact of the fast-spreading
Omicron variant in the early months of the year.
Yet, just as a fragile recovery took root, new shocks emerged from a senseless conflict in Ukraine, driving increasing scarcity of life’s basic necessities such as food and fuel, and wiping out years of progress in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read the full report.
continued to support the Government of India’s response to the health and socioeconomic impact of the fast-spreading
Omicron variant in the early months of the year.
Yet, just as a fragile recovery took root, new shocks emerged from a senseless conflict in Ukraine, driving increasing scarcity of life’s basic necessities such as food and fuel, and wiping out years of progress in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read the full report.
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Story
03 August 2022
UN News Hindi
Visit the UN News Hindi site for news, stories, opinions, interviews, videos and audio stories from across the UN system in Hindi: https://news.un.org/hi/
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Story
07 May 2024
Inspiring India's Youth for a Just Tomorrow
In Guwahati's Sarla Birla Gyan Jyoti school, over 1200 students unite daily to pledge for peace and justice. Khyati Baruah a 15 year old, credits UNODC's RiseUp4Peace initiative for enhancing her leadership skills and fostering enthusiasm for SDG16."Being a part of the RiseUp4Peace project has enhanced my leadership skills to a new level," says Khyati. "As a student leader in my school, I have been collaborating with students from different classes and feel a new spark of excitement in the students for SDG16."RiseUp4Peace, led by UNODC in collaboration with Kamla Nehru Public School, engages over 1,000 educators and youth. It focuses on fostering integrity and promoting SDG16 values.“With RiseUp4Peace, I am able to spread awareness about the impact we as students can make to build a just and peaceful world. This project has also helped me to develop my leadership and communication skills,” says Lekisha Jain, aged 14."Working for this cause has enabled me to harness digital tools for meaningful social impact," says Srishti Sen, aged 15, a student of the Funlish online education platform. 5th Monthly RiseUp4Peace capacity-boosting dialogue in April, facilitated by UNODC's youth mainstreaming specialist Paloma Munne, involved over 150 educators, promoting youth mainstreaming. Educators from around the world shared practical ways to strengthen SDG 16 education, highlighting the importance of a “collaborative spirit.""With this network, the idea is to foster cross-fertilization of expertise and ideas between educators and educational institutions," says Ms. Paramjit Dhillon, Principal (Admin and Innovation), KNPS Phagwara.Through direct knowledge support, 316 educators, 5,100 young people, and 12 educational institutions were empowered on SDG 16-related themes and youth mainstreaming on the rule of law. This led to over 14,000 young people engaged and empowered in various initiatives. These include the 'Run4Peace' campaign by Little Kingdom School (Madhya Pradesh), virtual student assemblies at Funlish Language School, and setting up a 'peace tree' at Sri Seshaas International Public School Salem (Tamil Nadu), among others,"In today's interconnected world, the significance of SDG16 education cannot be overstated," asserts Samarth Pathak, UNODC Communications Officer for South Asia."I have always wanted to make a difference in society," shares Anubhab Siddhanta, aged 13. "Engaging with UNODC has made me realize that small acts too can have a big impact.”With RiseUp4Peace paving the way, young people are not just dreaming of a better tomorrow—they're actively working towards it, one pledge and one action at a time. Join the RiseUp4Peace initiative: t.ly/lh9T7This activity contributes to SDG 4, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/
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Story
06 May 2024
Bridging Cultures Through Jazz
Jazz cuts across languages, cultures and continents, weaving together art and the message of unity with its innovative notes and sophisticated melodies. Since 2012, International Jazz Day, celebrated annually on 30 April, has highlighted the power of this musical art form as a force for freedom and creativity, promoting intercultural dialogue through respect and understanding and uniting people from all corners of the globe.
This year, the UNESCO South Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Alliance Française de Delhi, the Polish Institute, and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, came together to organize an International Jazz Concert at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre.
From Dutch, French, and Polish musicians to Indian ensembles, the concert featured a diverse lineup of talented performers, offering a dynamic exploration of jazz's rich cultural and musical heritage from around the globe.The evening featured a performance by 'Soundscapes,' a fusion ensemble comprising Frank Bilsen from the Netherlands, Julien Perez from France, and Karan Chitra Deshmukh and Debasmita Bhattacharya from India, showcasing their fusion of Indian and Western music.
Drummer Tarun Balani and guitarist Siddharth Gautam mesmerized with Indian jazz, while Kuba Wójcik and Piotr Damasiewicz brought innovative Polish jazz to the stage.“Our goal is to transcend the musical and mental boundaries by drawing inspiration from the variety of cultures and environments” said the guitarist, Kuba Wójcik.The evening wrapped up with a collaborative jam session led by Dhruv Sangari, joined by Sahil Vasudeva, Makrand Sanon, Suhel Saeed Khan, Siraj, and Arina, blending Indian musical heritage with jazz improvisation and innovation. “It is evident from the event that young Indian musicians are willing to experiment and take risks. If more support and systems can be set up to support this, it has a lot of potential given the incredible talent and history of music India possesses,” said Sahil Vasudeva, on the growing jazz movement in India. The event also featured a preview of the exhibition ‘From New Orleans to Bombay: The Journey of Jazz in India’, curated by the American Institute of Indian Studies, in collaboration with UNESCO and the India International Centre. This exhibition is open to the public from 1 to 10 May between 11 AM and 7 PM at the India International Centre Annexe in New Delhi. Contributed by Shraddha Chauhan (UNIC Intern)
This year, the UNESCO South Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Alliance Française de Delhi, the Polish Institute, and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, came together to organize an International Jazz Concert at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre.
From Dutch, French, and Polish musicians to Indian ensembles, the concert featured a diverse lineup of talented performers, offering a dynamic exploration of jazz's rich cultural and musical heritage from around the globe.The evening featured a performance by 'Soundscapes,' a fusion ensemble comprising Frank Bilsen from the Netherlands, Julien Perez from France, and Karan Chitra Deshmukh and Debasmita Bhattacharya from India, showcasing their fusion of Indian and Western music.
Drummer Tarun Balani and guitarist Siddharth Gautam mesmerized with Indian jazz, while Kuba Wójcik and Piotr Damasiewicz brought innovative Polish jazz to the stage.“Our goal is to transcend the musical and mental boundaries by drawing inspiration from the variety of cultures and environments” said the guitarist, Kuba Wójcik.The evening wrapped up with a collaborative jam session led by Dhruv Sangari, joined by Sahil Vasudeva, Makrand Sanon, Suhel Saeed Khan, Siraj, and Arina, blending Indian musical heritage with jazz improvisation and innovation. “It is evident from the event that young Indian musicians are willing to experiment and take risks. If more support and systems can be set up to support this, it has a lot of potential given the incredible talent and history of music India possesses,” said Sahil Vasudeva, on the growing jazz movement in India. The event also featured a preview of the exhibition ‘From New Orleans to Bombay: The Journey of Jazz in India’, curated by the American Institute of Indian Studies, in collaboration with UNESCO and the India International Centre. This exhibition is open to the public from 1 to 10 May between 11 AM and 7 PM at the India International Centre Annexe in New Delhi. Contributed by Shraddha Chauhan (UNIC Intern)
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Story
02 May 2024
Investing for a resilient tomorrow for all
Asia was the world’s most disaster-hit region in 2023, with floods and storms claiming the highest number of casualties. Recent satellite reports from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) show that glacial lakes in the Himalayas are expanding at a rapid scale, threatening lives of downstream communities. And just last month, parts of India recorded heatwave conditions, with day temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in several places. Rising climate-related uncertainty has accelerated calls to invest in financial and human resources to boost disaster resilient infrastructure. “Communities that contributed the least to climate change are paying the highest price,” United Nations in India Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp told the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which was hosted by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in New Delhi.Weather extremes have greatly reduced the productivity of the vulnerable, journalist Jayashree Nandi said, as she moderated a high-level discussion on the theme ‘Investing today for a more resilient tomorrow’ at the conference, which brought together representatives from government bodies, the private sector and civil society. The most important infrastructure for climate change adaptation is infrastructure that has not been built yet, GeoHazards International Chief Operating Officer Dr. Janise Rodgers said during a panel discussion that also featured European Commission DG-INTPA Green Deal and the Digital Agenda Director Carla Montesi, Asian Development Bank Country Director for India Mio Oka and Miyamoto International CEO Dr. Kit Miyamoto. “When countries are forced to choose between the right to development and climate mitigation, they will choose development. We must together ensure the two go hand in hand, with resilience and climate justice for all through ample access to finance and technology,” Mr. Sharp said. CDRI Director General Amit Prothi lauded UN Women for highlighting the potential role that women play in their communities in responding to disaster, saying: “Adaptation is very local and often affects women a lot more. They may have a better understanding of how to come up with solutions on the ground and we need to look into building capacity”.Mr. Sharp stressed that the Summit of the Future, to be held at UN Headquarters in New York in September, will be an opportunity for Member States, communities and civil society to come together and contribute inputs about the reforms we need to strengthen multilateralism and partnerships.
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Story
29 April 2024
Lights out on fossil fuels, lights on for sustainable green energy
The rising frequency of climate-related disasters has intensified global calls for a rapid shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The United Nations has established a new panel to ensure that the transition is equitable and transparent. India is among the 38 government, intergovernment and non-state members of the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, which has been tasked with protecting the human, environmental, and financial rights of resource-rich developing countries.Critical energy transition minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are key components of clean energy technologies spanning solar panels to electric vehicle batteries. For developing countries with large reserves, the critical minerals boom presents an opportunity to create jobs and boost revenues. However, soaring demand has heightened fears of potential fallouts, ranging from adverse impacts on human rights and the environment to geopolitical tensions and market volatility.“The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor. The renewables revolution is happening – but we must guide it towards justice,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the launch of the panel. Besides eyeing a 30% Electric Vehicles share of all car sales by 2030, India has been actively working to engage with resource-rich countries for access to critical minerals as pathway to achieving the target of global net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
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Story
18 April 2024
New report flags terror, Internet links to drug trade in South Asia
The illegal drug trade is rising in India and across South Asia, according to a new report that also warns that the trade is being used to fund terrorism. The annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2023 shows that 39% of the world’s opiate users reside in South Asia. The report also highlights India's prominence as the primary market for opiates, noting an increased number of incidences of trafficking and the illicit opium cultivation in the country’s northeastern region. It also cautions about the influx of heroin from South-West Asia, particularly Afghanistan. Presenting key findings from the report at a special event this week at UN House in New Delhi, Jagjit Pavadia, INCB member and Chair of the Committee on Finance and Administration, stressed the importance of evidence-based treatments for drug users, especially those from vulnerable demographics. Ms. Pavadia also highlighted the environmental hazards linked to the drug trade, such as the detrimental impact of spraying illicit substances on crops and the carbon footprint associated with drug production. The report outlines a worrying trend: more drugs are being sold online, making them easier to get. Cyber-enabled drug trafficking is on the rise, which means illegal drugs are being sold on the dark web and crypto-markets. There are also more illegal online pharmacies selling drugs without needing a prescription. Senior Indian Government officials from the Department of Revenue, the Narcotics Control Bureau, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS) participated in the report launch. The discussions disclosed how profits from drug trafficking are increasingly being funneled into funding terrorism and supporting armed groups. On rising incidents of narco-terrorism, the Deputy Director General of India’s Narcotics Control Bureau, Ms. Monika Ashish Batra, said: “Investigations indicate that proceeds of drug trafficking are increasingly being used to fund terrorism, and to support armed groups.”The UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Regional Representative for South Asia, Marco Teixeira, noted that the UN has been providing local officers with hands-on training sessions on interdictions, investigations, seizures and prosecutions. “The collaboration between the Government of India, INCB and UNODC South Asia has allowed us to stay ahead of the curve by enriching officers' expertise with capacity building and training,” said Mr. Sunil Kumar Sinha, Principal Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Professor Yatan Pal Singh Balhara of the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS New Delhi emphasized a balanced approach, identifying effective prevention, treatment, and harm reduction as key to addressing the drug problem. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India, underlined how the efforts to combat drugs are inter-connected to broader initiatives aimed at enhancing public health, reinforcing the rule of law, and fostering peace and security. UNODC works to educate people throughout the world about the dangers of drug abuse and to strengthen international action against illicit drug production and trafficking and drug-related crime. ***
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Press Release
13 May 2024
Secretary-General’s Press Conference Ahead of the Closing UN Civil Society Conference
Secretary-General: It is a pleasure to be back in Nairobi.Kenya is a critical partner of the United Nations, a powerful force on the global stage, and a pioneer of peace regionally and internationally. I am particularly grateful to Kenya for agreeing to lead international efforts to quell the violence in Haiti. But this visit comes at a very difficult time for the country. I extend my deepest condolences to all those affected by the devastating floods that have swept through Kenya and neighbouring countries. The United Nations stands in solidarity with the Kenyan people. And we will continue working hand-in-hand to support government relief efforts in any way that we can. I am here for the United Nations’ Civil Society Conference, focussed on September’s Summit of the Future in New York. Civil society is central to the Summit’s aims: advancing sustainable development; unlocking finance; and reshaping multilateralism for the 21st century. I am delighted by the diverse participation at this conference, including many young people and representatives from African countries. Their contribution is vital. Because our world is facing multiple crises. And Africa is suffering – disproportionately. This continent is being blasted by extreme weather, turbocharged by a climate crisis it has done next to nothing to create: From lethal floods in the East, to deadly droughts in the South. Africa could be a renewables giant. It is home to thirty percent of the minerals critical to renewables, and sixty percent of the world’s best solar resources. Yet, in this unfair world, in recent decades, it received just two percent of the investments in renewables. And too often, countries and communities with critical energy transition minerals are exploited, and relegated to the bottom of the value chain. Others take the profits somewhere else. The United Nations is fighting for climate justice: Our new Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals – co-chaired by Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa – will develop voluntary principles to ensure developing countries receive maximum benefit. We are calling for developed countries to honour their promises on climate finance – including funding to help countries prepare for the worst of climate chaos; For significant contributions to the new Loss and Damage Fund; For action to reform the multilateral development banks so that finance flows to climate action; And for the G20 to lead efforts to slash emissions and accelerate a just global phase-out of fossil fuels. I ask African leaders to support these efforts. And I urge all governments to create ambitious new national climate plans by next year. Plans that drive sustainable development, attract investment, and align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid the worst of climate chaos. Africa’s fate rests on meeting that limit. Conflicts are raging around the world, causing enormous pain and suffering. The fate of Palestinians, Israelis and the entire region hangs in the balance. I reiterate my appeal for the Government of Israel and the leadership of Hamas to demonstrate political courage and spare no effort to reach agreement to stop the bloodshed – and to free the hostages. The situation in Rafah is on a knife’s edge, as airstrikes continue throughout southern Gaza. Over one million Palestinians, half of whom are children, have crowded in the Rafah Governate for shelter. We are actively engaging with all involved for the resumption of the entry of life-saving supplies – including desperately needed fuel – through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. Meanwhile, our health partners tell us that all the key medical facilities in Rafah could soon become inaccessible or inoperable – including the only dialysis department still operating in Gaza. Around 100,000 Palestinians are moving north from Rafah, yet humanitarian partners have no tents or food stores left in south Gaza. A massive ground attack in Rafah would lead to an epic humanitarian disaster and pull the plug on our efforts to support people as famine looms. International humanitarian law is unequivocal: civilians must be protected. In particular, vulnerable people unable to relocate from active fighting must be protected wherever they seek shelter – pregnant women, children, the injured, the sick, and older people, and people with disabilities. International humanitarian law is a must. It must be respected by all parties. And, of course, what happens in Gaza has profound repercussions in the occupied West Bank, where we see a deeply disturbing spike in settler violence, excessive use of force by the Israeli Defense Force, demolitions and evictions. All of this speaks to the need for the international community to speak with one voice for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and a massive surge in life-saving aid. The conflicts raging on African continent are tearing lives and communities apart. The United Nations fully supports the African Union’s work to silence the guns. We are ready to cooperate and mobilise the international community to support peace from the Sahel, to the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes and beyond. I am particularly concerned about the ongoing war in Sudan where we are witnessing indiscriminate attacks against civilians, grotesque sexual violence against women and girls, and humanitarians blocked, attacked, and killed. Close to nine million people have fled their homes. And the World Food Programme warns that the window of time to prevent starvation in Darfur is closing rapidly. Violent clashes in El Fasher are preventing aid getting through. An attack on the city would have devastating consequences for civilians. And would likely see the conflict tear across Darfur. I am also very concerned by reports of escalating violence in North and South Kordofan and Al Jazirah States. I call on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and facilitate full and unrestricted humanitarian access. Ultimately, we know that there is no military solution to this conflict. We need an urgent, coordinated international effort to deliver a political process that can get Sudan back on track. I welcome the steps taken to end the conflict in including efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development -IGAD-, the African Union, the League of Arab States, and through the Jeddah process. The United Nations – particularly my Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra – will continue working closely with all parties to advance coordinated efforts towards an inclusive and lasting peace: A peace spearheaded by the region, and owned by the Sudanese people. And I call on all countries to use their influence to get the warring parties to the negotiating table. The crises we face demand international solutions. The United Nations will never stop fighting to deliver – for Africa and for all humanity. And I thank you. [END] QUESTION AND ANSWER:Question: Good evening, everyone. My name is Gatwiri Purity from the standard. And my question today is why was Kenya chosen to host this event? What is the significance of choosing Kenya to host this event for the very first time? Secretary-General: For a very simple reason. Kenya is today a fundamental partner of the United Nations. In Kenya, we have the only country that hosts two UN agencies: UN-Habitat and UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme. Kenya is the country that has volunteered to assume responsibilities in one of the most dramatic situations we are living in the world, Haiti. And soon, Kenya police will be in Haiti protecting those that are victims of the most horrible violence of gangs. Kenya is a partner in all United Nations activities, from sustainable development to climate - I was here recently, in the African Climate Summit- from peace and security in the region, as a mediator, always available, to human rights and to all other aspects of our activity. We felt it was very important that the meeting will take place in Africa, because Africa is in the center of our concerns when we look into reforms of multilateralism. If the present multilateralism has failed anywhere in the world, it has failed in Africa. This must be corrected. So, we should do this in Africa. And doing it in Africa, it makes all sense to do it in Kenya as a privileged partner of the United Nations. Question: Thank you Mr. SG. My question is beyond Nairobi, post Nairobi, what are you doing? What is your commitment towards ensuring that the various issues that have been discussed in this conference, there is a kind of meaningful engagement and follow up on the issues as we move towards the Summit of the Future, because oftentimes, we come to these kinds of conferences and we talk, but then, not much happens beyond the conference. Thank you. Secretary-General: I was following from far away, but following very closely the work in this conference. And I have to say that from this conference is coming a very strong message for the member states that will be in the Summit of the Future. And the message that is clear. The multilateral institutions that we have today are the multilateral institutions created after the second world war: The Security Council of the United Nations, the Bretton Woods system, and others. They reflect the world of that time, not the world of today. There is not one single African permanent member in the Security Council. That is unacceptable.And the Bretton Woods institutions still reflect the economy of the post second world war situation, and doesn't take into account that the large majority of the African countries were not even represented then because they were under still colonial domination. So, these institutions must be renewed in order to have justice, equity, and to have the capacity to respond to the dramatic needs of the peoples in Africa, with countries that are drowning in, not only with the floods, but drowning in debt, because the international financial system has not worked in favour of them. Countries that have not received the financial support that was needed in order to invest in adaptation to climate change. And we see the results in the impacts of devastating floods in different African countries. Countries in relation to which there is not enough support to investment in the sustainable development goals. There are many African countries that spend more, paying interest of their debt than paying for education and health. So, there is a basic unfairness in today's world. And our systems are outdated, are unfair, and are dysfunctional. And, there was a very strong voice from this conference, from the civil society saying this must change. And at the same time, we must be much better equipped to deal with the problems of peace and security, to invest much more on prevention of conflicts. And prevention of conflicts means development, human rights. This is where we must invest much more in the international community. A very strong message about the need for gender equality. A very strong message about the needs to support developing countries to create the emergency platforms able to respond to dramatic impacts, like the ones of the recent droughts. So, there is a lot that needs to be changed in our international multilateral system to make it equitable, to make it fair, to make it correspond to the needs of the people of the 21st century. And the voice of the civil society here was very clear, telling the government: time to move. We cannot go on postponing decisions. We cannot go on resisting change. We need to change dramatically. The skeleton of all the international community creates the force that is necessary to provide the support that developing countries require to face the enormous challenges of our time. At the same time, a very strong message on the use of digital technologies, not as a privilege of the rich, but as something that will help developing countries to catch up more quickly, and to be able to provide to their citizens the same rights that richer countries are able to provide. Question: Yes, good afternoon, everybody, Secretary General, my name is Mercedes Ortuno, from the Spanish News agency EFE. Thank you for being here and answering our questions. I have two of them. After the recent unsuccessful negotiations about the ceasefire in Gaza, do you think we will see a ceasefire soon, at least a temporary one? And, is Israel committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza some countries and human rights organizations have denounced? Thank you very much. Secretary-General: First of all, we have been asking for a ceasefire, a humanitarian ceasefire, independently of any negotiations. We think that a ceasefire is necessary, as we think the release of hostages are necessary.And I strongly hope that it will be possible to go the extra mile and come to an agreement that would allow at least for an end of the bloodshed and for the release of the hostages, and for unimpeded humanitarian access. Now, it's for the courts to qualify the legal concepts. But I don't need, in relation to that, to say more than what I'm going to say. The number of civilians that were killed in Gaza is unprecedented. You have more civilians killed in Gaza during a few months, much more, more than double, than the civilians killed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in more than two years. And there you have two of the most powerful armies in the world, using the most sophisticated weapons with bombardments all over. And this has caused much less civilian casualties than the civilians in Gaza, which means that something is fundamentally wrong in the way this military operation has been conducted. Question: Thank you, Secretary General. My name is Nyaradzo Mashayamombe. I am a gender advocate and a storyteller from Zimbabwe. My question is pertaining to the outcomes of the Civil Society conference with the feminist lens. As we speak, there is a petition from the global feminist that they are not happy with the with the outcome document. Which is it? The impact coalition. Yes. As we move forward, the impact coalition, they believe that they may not be as inclusive, they are not acknowledging what is already existing, the structures that have been existing, they may not be as inclusive, as I mentioned for everyone. So, I don't know what you think about that, is there a room to re-look, is the women speaking out? Secretary-General: Civil society is by nature diverse. This conference is not a conference in which we believe it would be possible that all members of the civil society would think exactly the same about all issues that are on the table. So, it's natural that different opinions exist in relation to several issues. But I must say that, beyond the questions that you raised, and others of the same nature, there was a fundamental movement in this civil society gathering, a fundamental movement claiming for justice and equity in the world, and for reforms of the international system to provide that justice and equity in the world. So, I fully respect that in some aspects, there are differences of opinion, we will take all into account. But, we are extremely encouraged by the very dynamic contribution that the civil society is giving in this conference. Question: Thank you very much, Secretary-General. My name is Injuruki Wanjiku, from the Mount Kenya Times. And my question for you, it's in light of the leave nobody behind in life, and the question is, what's your assurance to the being left behind African nations, where over 690 million people do not have access to water and sanitation. And 453 are living below the poverty line. And the speculation that gender equity could take about 300 years. Secretary-General: Well, I cannot give you the assurance that I will solve that problem, because I have not the power to solve that problem. But I can give you the assurance that the United Nations will be fighting hard to make it happen, for all Africans to have access to energy, and for the impact of poverty in Africa to be dramatically reduced, with the extinction of extreme poverty. And that is the reason why we committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. That is the reason why we are claiming for the reform of international financial architecture. That is the reason why we are claiming for debt relief. That is the reason why we are claiming for fairness, in trade, and in other aspects of international economic relations. So, we have not the power to give those things to the African continent. But we have the convening power to bring together, as much as possible, governments and societies to claim for the needs, for those that are still in the strongest position in the international institutions to understand that things have to change, that power must be better distributed, that wealth must be better distributed, and that fairness and justice must prevail in international relations. Question: Thank you so much. My name is Enock Sikolia, from CGTN Africa. I know you've talked about your concerns on the issue in Sudan, but of concern to Africa is the level of attention. When you look at the attention that is given to other conflicts across the world -we're talking about the Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But in Africa, we have decades-long conflicts where people are still dying: Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel region, and even the Sudan one that you've talked about. And yet, the attention that is being given by the United Nations, by the powerful nations that form the UN Security Council. So, the question is, and among Africans, is why little attention is given to African conflicts, as compared to other conflicts across the world? Secretary-General: The UN does not give less attention to the African conflicts. We have peacekeeping operations in Africa. We have practically no peacekeeping, or very small peacekeeping operations out of Africa. And we have had many, many UN members of those peacekeeping that have given their lives for peace in Africa. We have several political missions in Africa, we have regional offices in Africa dealing with conflicts, and we are permanently, permanently mobilizing the international community to be able to support populations victim of those conflicts, and at the same time to facilitate the capacity of these conflicts to ends. Let's be honest. Many of the conflicts are not only the responsibility of the Africans. Many of the conflicts are also the responsibility of those that, from outside Africa, have a negative influence in the way things are moving. And if you look at several situations that you've mentioned, you recognize that that is true. We give total priority to our engagement in the African conflicts, and they correspond to a permanent, central, concern of the United Nations. It is evident that the way the global media exists, and the different impact of the areas of the global media makes naturally stronger impact in relation to European media, or in relation to American media, or in relation to media conglomerates in the developed world, more attention to conflicts in the Global North than to conflict in the Global south. It is true. It is also true that many political leaders tend to look more to the conflicts that are close and forget those that are a little bit more far away, not being wise enough to understand that the conflicts that are more far away, can have a big influence in the peace and security situation of their own countries, even if they are in the Global North.And so, my appeal for the political leaders, and my appeal for the media organizations, is to give to the African conflicts of today the same level of priority that is given to other conflicts, because they represent the same kind of threat to global peace and security, and they are causing a volume of suffering that is unparalleled in the international community. Thank you very much. All the best.***
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Press Release
13 May 2024
UN Security Council Press Statement on mass graves in Gaza
The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over reports of the discovery of mass graves, in and around the Nasser and Al Shifa medical facilities in Gaza, where several hundred bodies, including women, children and older persons, were buried. The members of the Security Council underlined the need for accountability for violations of international law and called for investigators to be allowed the unimpeded access to all locations of mass graves in Gaza to conduct immediate, independent, thorough, comprehensive, transparent and impartial investigations to establish the circumstances behind the graves. The members of the Security Council reiterated their demand that all parties scrupulously comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in particular regarding the protection of civilians and civilian objects.The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the importance of allowing families to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing relatives, consistent with international humanitarian law.The members of the Security Council emphasized the imperative of all parties to immediately and fully implement resolutions 2728 (2024), 2720 (2023) and 2712 (2023).[END]
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Press Release
13 May 2024
Global Round Table on Information and Communications Technologies Security Capacity-Building
Peace and security in the physical world demand new approaches to peace and security in the digital world. Your round table highlights this vital link.Unlocking the benefits of digital technology means closing the digital divide and ensuring its many benefits are shared by all people. But closing the digital divide also means closing the glaring gaps in the security of information and communication technology. Such gaps place countries and, most importantly, people at risk.More than ever, global security depends on the security of digital technology. We need to ensure that States fully implement the agreed norms of responsible behaviour in their use of digital technology. This is the only way to protect not only people, but the infrastructure they depend on. And we need to support developing countries to increase their digital security capacity.Digital security is a critical part of the New Agenda for Peace. We need strong frameworks for collaboration on threats to global peace and security, in line with international law, human rights, and the UN Charter.This round table is a key opportunity for countries to share their ideas, experiences, and commitment to this vital issue. Thank you all for being part of this essential work.[END]
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Press Release
13 May 2024
Secretary-General: Make Upcoming Summit of Future ‘Really Count’, urging Wide-ranging Action for Sustained, Fair Development
Allow me to begin by extending my deepest condolences to all those affected by the devastating floods that have swept through Kenya and neighbouring countries.I am heartbroken by the destruction, by the lives taken, by the families who have lost everything. I know that there are also many Brazilians in this room. I want to express to them also my deep solidarity. We honour all victims today on this public holiday -- The National Tree Growing Day.And we recognize that together, we can tackle the challenges ahead and prevent damage in the future. Determination to take that chance is what brings us together today.It is a pleasure to join you to close this civil society conference. And I thank the Government and people of Kenya for hosting us all so graciously. And the co-Chairs and organizing committees for all their work.I am delighted by the diversity of the delegations here with us: You represent the breadth of civil society -- from international organizations to local groups. More than half the representatives here are women. And young people have turned out in force. I thank every one of you for your work -- over the past two days and beyond.Time and again, I have witnessed the enormous impact of civil society in every corner of the world. I see you easing suffering, pushing for peace and justice, mobilizing for change. I see you feeding the hungry, standing up for truth, advancing gender equality, and propelling sustainable development.Many of you work at great personal risk. Climate activists are being criminalized and persecuted; human rights defenders are threatened; and humanitarians killed. I salute you. I thank you. And I ask you to keep working with us to build a better world.Today, we are entangled in crises: Sustainable development is under threat. Conflicts are erupting with alarming frequency and horrifying results. Inequality and poverty are tearing societies apart. Many developing countries are being suffocated by debt and a cost-of-living crisis. Climate chaos is knocking communities off their feet -- with the poorest suffering the most. And new technologies -- particularly artificial intelligence -- are creating new threats, while fuelling old bigotries and divisions.These terrible trends are playing out brutally here in Africa: Where conflicts rage; extreme weather turbocharged by the climate crisis is tearing through communities with appalling consequences -- the deadly floods here in Kenya are a prime example; and millions of people are on the far end of the digital divide.These crises demand international solutions. But the international system is not up to the task. The United Nations Security Council is paralyzed by geopolitical divides, incapable of acting together on clear violations of international law. The international financial system is outdated, dysfunctional and unjust. Debt relief mechanisms are totally inadequate, leaving countries marooned in a sea of exorbitant interest payments and debt service costs.Many international institutions mirror the world in which they were founded almost 80 years ago. Developing countries are underrepresented and under-served. And civil society is often marginalized.We need to reform and revitalize multilateralism so that it reflects the realities of today and is fit to face the challenges ahead. The report I presented on Our Common Agenda sets out the vision for a more inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism. A multilateralism where the contribution of civil society are recognized as central -- not a token or an afterthought. And this ambition reflects the vital role you play.I have long admired a brilliant German philosopher: Jürgen Habermas, probably the one that has had more influence in my political philosophical thinking when I was young. One of his key ideas is on intercommunication between civil society and the political realm in modern democracies: how that is essential to those democracies and how it shapes decision-making and is vital to creating laws and policies that are acceptable to citizens.In other words: at the national level, civil society is an essential bridge between people and their representatives -- part of the glue that holds democracies together. And what is true for national politics must be true for global politics.And so I believe it is crucial to establish dialogue between political decision-makers and civil society within all our international institutions. And this is key to rebuilding trust and restoring legitimacy; and to ensuring international decisions are shaped by the concerns, the values and the experiences of people across the globe.The Summit of the Future is a key moment to drive forward our vision for a renewed multilateralism. On the road to the Summit, we are striving to fully engage civil society. And the Summit itself aims to push progress on key issues. And strengthen and update multilateralism -- so that we can manage both the risks and opportunities ahead, for the good of all humanity: Turbocharging the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; unlocking finance for climate action and development; and driving progress towards deep reform of the international financial architecture -- so that it corresponds to the realities of today’s economy, and so that it can provide an effective safety net for developing countries in moments as difficult as the present one. And the same naturally applies to the Security Council of the United Nations. Together, we must create a new emergency platform so we can collaborate as soon as crises hit; renew governance of outer space -- to reduce risks, and reap benefits; embed young people at the heart of decision-making in multilateralism; and agree on ways to consider the interests of future generations in today’s decisions. We must close digital divides and move towards new governance structures for new technologies -- harnessing artificial intelligence as a force for good for all humanity. Not just for the rich. And we must revitalize our collective approach to peace and security with a New Agenda for Peace.That means prioritizing prevention and changing our approach: Recognizing that conflicts do not spring from nowhere and embracing an expansive model -- one that encompasses human rights, gender, sustainable development, and the links between climate and security. That is the true prevention, not just simply talking to some politicians to see if they don’t start a war. Priorities are now backwards -- with record levels of spending for arms and budget cuts for social sectors, for people. We need to reposition disarmament at the centre of the international agenda and act urgently to create a world free from nuclear weapons.And we need to tackle the sinister danger of lethal autonomous weapons -- outlawing arms capable of taking human life without any human control and no accountability. Across all of these areas, human rights and gender equality are critical. And so is the contribution of the civil society.When we see the heartbreaking record number of civilians killed in Gaza with our appeals for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access falling on deaf ears. When we see a civil war ravaging in Sudan with two leaders that do not seem to care about the tremendous suffering of their own people. When we see conflict unabated in the Sahel, the Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa, we understand that something is fundamentally wrong in the present world order as if the Charter of the United Nations, international law, international humanitarian law, human rights and basic human decency no longer matter.We won’t give up in our struggle to change this situation to push for peace, justice and human rights, and I know that you won’t give up either. My best hope for the future is you.We need to be informed by your frontline know-how; We need your can-do attitude to overcome obstacles and find innovative solutions. And we need you to use your networks, knowledge and contacts to implement solutions, and to persuade Governments to act. Your contributions have been indispensable -- and I thank you.And your new ImPact Coalitions promise a new era of engagement. These models of collaboration span ages, regions and sectors. And focus civil society’s energy and expertise for maximum impact on the challenges we face.I invite you to bring with you this spirit to the Action Days we are holding as the Summit of the Future will begin. And I ask you to engage your national Governments -- using your channels and networks to demand ambitious commitments at the Summit, not business as usual.The Summit of the Future is a chance to push progress on the issues that matter to you -- and to us. A chance that cannot be missed. Our fight is one fight: Creating a better world and a brighter future for all. Together let’s seize this chance and make the Summit of the Future really count.[END]
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Press Release
09 May 2024
Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals
I am delighted to join you to launch our Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. And I thank you all for your involvement – particularly our co-chairs – Your Excellency Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa, and Your Excellency Ditte Juul Jørgensen of the European Commission. One principle shines from the heart of this initiative – justice: Justice for the communities where critical minerals are found; justice for developing countries in production and trade; and justice in the global energy revolution. That revolution is in full swing. New wind power was up sixty percent last year, compared to 2022; and new solar soared by eighty-five percent – according to the International Energy Agency. There’s no question: the lights are going out on the fossil fuel era. Delaying tactics from the fossil fuel industry can’t change that. Misinformation, distortion, and spin can’t change that – no matter how many billions of dollars are thrown at them. But to keep the worst of climate chaos at bay – by limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius – we must supercharge both the roll-out of renewables, and the phaseout of fossil-fuels. We need to flip the script. Between now and the end of this decade the share of electricity generated by fossil fuels must fall from sixty to thirty percent. And the share generated by renewables must rise from thirty to sixty percent – according to the IEA. Critical minerals are at the core of this shift. A world powered by renewables is a world hungry for copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth metals: Electric cars need six times more of these minerals than cars powered by fossil fuels. Offshore wind farms need thirteen times more than similar gas power plants. In a world heading to net zero by 2050, the IEA projects demand for critical minerals multiplying three and a half times over this decade. For developing countries with large reserves, critical minerals are a critical opportunity: To create jobs, diversify economies, and dramatically boost revenues. Critical minerals could be a golden ticket to sustainable development. But only if they are managed properly. Too often, production of these minerals leaves a toxic cloud in its wake: pollution; wounded communities, childhoods lost to labour. And developing countries and communities have not reaped the benefits of their production and trade. This must change. As we reshape how we power our societies and economies, we cannot replace one dirty, exploitative, extractive industry with another. The race to net zero cannot trample over the poor. Developing countries cannot be shackled to the bottom of the clean energy value chain – relegated to suppliers of basic raw materials. Little wonder that resource-rich developing countries are calling for urgent action to ensure that they, and their communities, benefit from the production and trade of critical minerals; and that people and nature are protected. This Panel is an important part of the United Nations’ response. You – our panel members – from across government, industry, civil society and more – are evidence that there is a real desire to do things differently. Every voice must be heard. And I welcome your engagement. Your task is to develop a set of voluntary global principles to guide governments, industry and others involved in critical minerals value chains. These should address fairness, transparency, investment, sustainability and human rights. And they should draw from existing standards and initiatives – strengthening and consolidating them. I have asked for initial recommendations ahead of the UN General Assembly in September. The whole United Nations system is behind you. This work is complex – but the world cannot wait. The renewables revolution is happening – but we must guide it towards justice. Your vital work to help make that a reality starts today. Thank you. ***
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