[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_margin=”-41px|||||” custom_padding=”33px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-19px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.14.8″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n
I am delighted to join you today at this important High-level side event on the occasion of World Water Day, focused on \u201cThe Melting Cryosphere.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Congratulations to all Member States, led by the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan, for organizing this event in partnership with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDESA, WMO, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵESCO and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Water.<\/p>\n
The cryosphere, the icy part of our planet, is so interconnected with other parts of the Earth system, what happens in the cryosphere affects the whole Earth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The polar ice sheets store more than 99\u2009% of earth\u2019s freshwater ice on land and even modest losses can raise the global sea level, increase coastal flooding and disturb oceanic currents.<\/p>\n The IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere tells us that our glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, less snow is falling and more permafrost is thawing across the polar regions than ever before.<\/p>\n In August last year, Greenland saw rain at the highest point of its ice sheet for the first time since scientists have been making observations there, the latest signal of how climate change is affecting every part of the planet. The rainfall coincided with two \u201cmelt events\u201d that the ice sheet witnessed in July and August last year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rising temperatures in the Arctic are already leading to shorter snow seasons. The thawing permafrost will result in enhanced natural emissions of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n The retreat of the region\u2019s sea ice, ice caps and glaciers is challenging the integrity of ecosystems and the sustainability of communities. Diminishing sea ice is changing shipping lanes and the availability of resources.\u00a0It also affects fish stocks, marine mammals and bird populations.<\/p>\n This situation has a profound impact on the future of water security; rather on humanity\u2019s very own survival.<\/p>\n In the mountainous regions of the world, snowpack serve as frozen reservoirs. As temperatures in the spring warm, the snowpack begins to melt, metering out water over the months of summer and fall. The recent widespread reductions in mountain snowpack around the globe affects summer stream flows critical for hundreds of millions of people for food production and other uses.<\/p>\n The IPCC report makes clear that we are at a critical crossroads: we can choose a more sustainable path towards global warming of 1.5 degrees or our current, unsustainable path.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Incremental steps will only lead to mass migration due to sea level rise, mass extinction of species and a world much hotter, and less stable than the one we currently live in. The time for bold and immediate action to fight climate change is now<\/p>\n We need an integrated water and climate approach for mitigation and adaptation. At the same time, we also need greater protection of glaciers and freshwater sources.<\/p>\n Protecting the cryosphere is an important element to accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs.<\/p>\n Colleagues,<\/p>\n As today\u2019s event emphasizes, science and big data are absolutely crucial for preserving freshwater sources and the cryosphere. Policy makers should rely on sound, regular, and thorough scientific analysis to better understand impacts, implications, and potential future risks. Only with this science-backed understanding can our policies be better targeted and effective.<\/p>\n This marriage between science and policy, was the reason the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was created. This was also the purpose of the Global Sustainable Development Report, which provides inputs into the High-Level Political Forum: it ensures that policy makers have the best and most recent assessments to make the best and most appropriate policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As has been said \u2018water unites us\u2019; threats and barriers to access to water affect us all.<\/p>\n Small Island Developing States, such as my home country, the Maldives, and other countries in special situations, will bear the brunt of this impending tragedy, at least the earliest impacts, if we do not act together \u2013 now. But rest assured that all others will experience impacts of their own. None are immune. From drying trends and sea level rise to frequent coastal threats, all of these will dramatically threaten water availability and, in turn contribute to geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic fragilities and social fragmentation.<\/p>\n Dear Friends,<\/p>\n I encourage all participants to help connect scientific research with policy developments and concrete action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This way, we will be able to develop a set of tangible recommendations to enhance synergy among different components and stakeholders of the cryosphere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Water is Hope. Water is Life. Water is our <\/i>Future. The choice is ours to make.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to join you today at this important High-level side event on the occasion of World Water Day, focused on \u201cThe Melting Cryosphere.\u201d Congratulations […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-262538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n