Today, the fifth high-level thematic meeting held within the framework of the activities of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries discussed the best ways to address climate change and support the environment, and the implications of lack of success in this endeavor for all countries of the world, especially the least developed ones.
The discussion focused on the importance of building consensus to renew and revitalize international partnerships, mobilize resources and mobilize energies, and adopt additional international support measures to support the least developed countries to enhance their resilience to multiple shocks and accelerate the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
At the beginning of the meeting, Her Excellency Mrs. Natasha Berk Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, made introductory remarks on ways to address climate change and support the environment, pointing out that climate change is not only a matter of human security, but rather a major international security issue. "It exacerbates security risks in conflict areas, imposes severe sources of instability and exacerbates vulnerabilities".
She stressed that no country alone can avoid climate change, therefore international cooperation and solidarity is necessary to avoid all, including the least developed countries, the risks of climate change, and"I hope that we will use this round table to discuss past mistakes from which we must draw lessons to address current challenges and to identify obstacles that undermine effective treatment, in addition to examining ways to effectively implement the vision of the Doha Work Program". She stressed that the international community will not make real progress in these efforts without the effective and inclusive participation of all parties, including the most marginalized women, youth, indigenous peoples and various minorities, and noted the importance of relying on appropriate tools to confront challenges such as warning systems, appropriate financing and reform of the financial system. international.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Corsia Ntano, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, said: "The issue of climate change and environmental support is of great importance to the least developed countries, especially to the countries of the Pacific region, including Tuvalu, because they are affected more than others by climate change and the disasters it causes. It also poses a major challenge to the sustainable developing economies of most of the least developed countries, especially the State of Tuvalu.".
He added that the Doha Work Program constitutes a road map for the path that must be taken for the least developed countries in order to recover and recover what they lost in the field of sustainable development goals as a result of the (Covid-19) pandemic, in order to reach a structural transformation that guarantees high rates of economic growth, build their productive capacities and enhance their share of economic growth. global exports. And he felt that there is an urgent need to also help in collecting and disseminating data about the losses caused by disasters and adopting early warning systems for various accidents, and"It is also important that we move from “Potential to Prosperity” as stated in the slogan of this conference".
He stated that his country, like other least developed countries, dealt with a number of disasters such as droughts and hurricanes, and at a time when the recent pandemic imposed great challenges on it and its direct, indirect and colossal consequences, however, climate-related disasters continue to undermine these societies, economies, and local and national governments, and all of that. It proves that the least developed countries need help.
For her part, Her Excellency Mrs. Chrisola Zakaropoulou, Minister of Development of the French Republic, called for moving from the logic of helping the least developed countries to the logic of investment, solidarity and economic partnership. She said that the least developed countries have great opportunities in the field of climate change, as 60 percent of the capabilities on the planet are present in them, calling on them and other countries in the world to ensure the transition to green energy and the protection of biodiversity.
She added "We have made great progress in the twenty-seventh United Nations Conference of the States Parties held in Egypt, and today we must implement what we pledged to do.. The basic elements are access to financing, these elements determine whether the least developed countries will undertake strategic transitions.. We pledged financing Mali during the conference, the frameworks are in place, and now these promises must be implemented and turned into tangible results".
But she stressed that this must pass through consistent national policies and a stable institutional framework "Public and private investors need trust and transparency, which is why it is essential that LDCs have access to solutions to define a long-term low emissions strategy, national adaptation plan and biodiversity plans in order to facilitate access to financing, and these plans must have numbers and must be translated into national budgets".
It is noteworthy that the least developed countries, although they are rich in biodiversity and natural resources, are among the countries most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. To meet these and other challenges by enhancing adaptability and flexibility.
The 10-year United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the fifth of its kind, focuses on putting the needs of the 46 least developed countries at the forefront of the global agenda and supporting them in efforts to return to the path of sustainable development.
It is the least developed countries, on the list of the United Nations, that show the lowest indicators of social and economic development across a range of indicators. As the per capita gross national income in these countries is less than 1018 dollars, compared to about 71 thousand dollars in the United States, according to World Bank data, and low scores are recorded for indicators of nutrition, health, school enrollment, and reading and writing skills, and at the same time scores are recorded High in indicators of economic and environmental vulnerability that measure factors such as geographical remoteness, in addition to dependence on agriculture and risks of exposure to natural disasters. The list of least developed countries currently includes 46 countries, including 6 Arab countries, the vast majority of which are located in Africa. The list is reviewed every three years by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Six countries graduated from the least developed country category between 1994 and 2020.
