- The leaders made this call during a high level segment of the sixth session of the UN Assembly in Gigiri
- Ruto said the reform agenda must first attend to fundamental structural dimensions to re-align multilateral institutions with the core values of the international community
Image: ENOS TECHE
Five heads of state have called for transformative global cooperation to address triple planetary crises of climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Led by Kenya’s President, William Ruto, the leaders said no economy, community, or nation can successfully tackle the challenges single-handedly.
The leaders made this call during a high level segment of the sixth session of the UN Assembly in Gigiri.
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Djibouti President Ismail Guelleh, President of the Transition, Head of State of the Gabonese Republic Brice Oligui, and Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud were present.
Other leaders President of UNEA6 Leila Benali, President of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis, President of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Paula Narvaez, and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.
“Our present highly challenging circumstances demand transformative global cooperation as a matter of great urgency. From experience, we know that the existing multilateral system is not up to the task," Ruto said
"It is imperative for us to confront this truth with honesty and rectify glaring deficiencies that impede effective multilateralism.”
Ruto said the reform agenda must first attend to fundamental structural dimensions to re-align multilateral institutions with the core values of the international community.
This includes sovereign equality and effective democratic representation as the basis of enhanced effectiveness and inclusivity.
“If we fail in this critical endeavour, multilateralism in its present state might falter, struggle and collapse in the face of dire global crises, overwhelmed by pervasive distrust, skepticism, and disengagement,” Ruto said.
The president warned that countries are off-track and off-target when it comes to fulfilling critical parameters on many indicators of action and delivery.
He said despite increased awareness and efforts, global greenhouse gas emissions are still on the rise.
“Pollution patterns are veering in an alarming direction and biodiversity is confronted with multifaceted and escalating threats, along with the risk of an accelerating rate of loss," Ruto said.
He emphasised the need for urgent reform of the global financial architecture to rectify its current deficiencies and modernise the entire system to meet the development needs of the majority in the 21st century.
African countries and many other developing countries, pay significantly higher costs—up to five times more than others.
“Those seeking investments in private projects face high capital costs driven by real and imaginary risks. This arbitrary, unjust, discriminatory and unequal state of affairs is untenable given the pressure of time, limited resources and the imperative to actualise fairer and more inclusive development and responsive global governance,” Ruto said.
Botswana President Masisi urged the developed world to provide resources they had pledged.
Developed countries have not met the US$100 billion (Sh14.7 trillion) per year mobilisation goal by 2020.
The money was to help developing countries adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Guelleh echoed Masisi’s sentiments, saying the money was still little.
Somalia President Mohamud said his country is no longer in a crisis but in an emergency.
Somalia has been hit by a four year drought with devastating impacts on lives and livelihoods.
It is projected that droughts and floods are set to increase in Somalia.
Mohamud said his country will ban the importation of plastics by June as a way of addressing the impacts of climate change.
World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said the health of humans, animals and the environment are woven together in a fragile bond.
He emphasised the need for one health approach that recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and shared environment.
“Now we are paying the price, with a triple planetary crisis: climate, change, biodiversity loss and pollution. If our planet were a patient, it would be admitted to intensive care. Its vital signs are alarming,” Ghebreyesus said.
Andersen said countries cannot push back with the force of the crisis required if we are divided.
“True strength comes from unity. So, I ask this Assembly to do what it does best,” he said
The UN General Assembly Dennis Francis warned that SDGs were offtrack.