Miljø- og Fødevareudvalget 2020-21
MOF Alm.del Bilag 485
Offentligt
Statement by Ms. Joyce Msuya, Deputy Executive Director of the United
Nations Environment Programme, delivered at the adjournment plenary of the
online meeting of the 5
th
United Nations Environment Assembly, 23 February
2021
Summary of key messages from the Leadership Dialogue:
Contribution of the environmental dimension of sustainable development to
building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world
22 and 23 February 2021
Excellencies, we enjoyed two inspiring sessions of dialogue focused on the
centrality of the environmental dimension of sustainable development to the
post-pandemic recovery.
A total of
87 Ministers and high-level representatives
participated over two
days of the Leadership Dialogue, including the engagement of UN Resident
Coordinators.
I would like to briefly share some of the salient points emphasized.
1.
The health of nature and human health are inextricably linked.
The
COVID-19 pandemic is the reason why we are having to meet remotely. More
importantly, the pandemic demonstrates the consequences of the harm we have
done to nature. For our own well-being we must make our peace with nature in
a way that demonstrates solidarity. If we do not, we will increase the risk of
future pandemics through zoonotic diseases.
2.
The nature crisis is inter-linked with the climate and pollution crises.
Degrading nature both contributes to increased emissions and makes us less
resilient to the impacts of climate change. Pollution damages our health and
undermines the ability of natural processes to regulate the climate. We must
address these three crises together, in a coordinated, integrated and equitable
way.
3.
The pandemic is both a threat and an opportunity.
It has exposed our
vulnerability and it is undermining the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals. But it also provides an opportunity. We now have the
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 MOF, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 485: Orientering om resultaterne af første del af FN’s 5. Miljøforsamling, United nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), den 22.-23. februar 2021
chance to put in place a green recovery that will transform our relations with
nature and heal our planet. We need to address the three crises in a way that we
failed to do until now.
4.
The green recovery should put us on a pathway towards low carbon,
resilient and inclusive post pandemic world.
It should invest in the transition
to a circular economy to achieve sustainable consumption and production and
make full use of the role that nature-based solutions can offer to address
climate change, nature loss and pollution.
5.
The green recovery must address the needs of the poorest and most
vulnerable.
It must generate new, green jobs and work to bridge the digital
divide. Recognising the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities, the green recovery will need to ensure that countries have the
means of implementation that they need.
6.
Many Member States are already putting in place key components of a
green recovery.
These include actions on chemicals and waste, plastic
pollution, oceans, the energy transition, including enhanced Nationally
Determined Contributions, sustainable cities, resilience and nature protection.
These actions need to be scaled up and accelerated. But the green recovery is
not the responsibility of national governments alone. Regional approaches are
often effective. And a whole-of-society approach is needed that fully engages
youth, local communities and business.
7.
2021 is the year when we must consolidate the transformation.
The
meetings of the Rio Conventions, the Food Systems Summit and the launch of
the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration provide opportunities to raise
ambition and, more importantly, catalyse action.
8.
UNEP, as the leading global environmental authority, has a crucial role to
play.
The adoption of the Medium-Term Strategy, founded on good science,
provides the necessary tools. The three planetary crises know no boundaries.
Our response too must be globally coordinated. Multilateralism has never been
more important.
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