Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
15 June 2022
Dear friends,?
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I thank the organizers for the kind invitation to today’s International Summit on Psychology and Global Health: Leadership for Emerging Challenges.??
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This event is both timely and opportune, taking place against the backdrop of a triple planetary crisis – climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss – as well as a continuing pandemic, which together are triggering a deluge of mental health challenges.?
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The pandemic, in particular, has compounded existing challenges brought on by rapid urbanization, communal disintegration, and growing disparities in wealth.??
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Meanwhile, our news stories are dominated by headlines of political strife and conflict, social inequality and exclusion, and the existential dangers posed by the climate crisis.?
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My dear Friends,?
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Climate change is creating a generation of despair and hopelessness.??
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We must act urgently to counter the dispiriting narrative that the future will bring only more alienation, tragedy, and loss.?
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A narrative of HOPE reminds us that humanity can take control of its own destiny.??
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Hope reinforces the belief that it is in our hands to recover better from the pandemic and rescue our planet from climate disaster.??
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Hope renews partnerships with the coalitions needed to create the future we want.?
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To inspire hope, we must draw upon and demonstrate our successes, and our examples of goodwill and cooperation.?
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Empowered by hope, we can tackle global environmental challenges with refreshed energy, mindful that we have both the capacity and the political will to make a meaningful difference.??
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This in turn will help us heal from the massive mental health crisis affecting our communities and our societies.?
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My friends,?
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I will convene, on 19 July, a High-Level Thematic debate entitled, “The Moment for Nature,”.??
This event will help build cohesion across the global environmental work streams. It will look at successful and promising initiatives to tackle common bottlenecks.??
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Our goal is to remind people that it is indeed possible to tackle climate change, to address the challenges we face.?
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In the remaining tenure of my Presidency and beyond, I will do all that I can to support efforts to combat the climate crisis through the lens of psychology, and alleviate its negative impacts on mental health.??
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In a world defined by complex challenges and interdependence, let us continue to make use of every opportunity to give hope to our children through greater political will and transformative leadership.?
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And yes, with clear minds and clarity of purpose.?
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I thank you.?