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2 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n His Majesty Carl Gustaf, King of Sweden,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her Royal Highness Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her Excellency the Prime Minister of Sweden,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Distinguished Heads of State and Government,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His Excellency the Secretary General of the United Nations,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His Excellency, the President of ECOSOC,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We meet here, half a century following the historic Stockholm Conference in 1972. The legacy of that conference still endures.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It launched the United Nations Environmental Programme.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It started the conversation around human impact on the environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Its discussions and outcomes have provided a template for every major environment programme, every major climate and environment related international treaty since then, from Rio to Kyoto to Paris.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And it continues to inspire new generations of activists and policymakers who cherish our earth, and work to protect its climate and ecosystems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I commend Sweden and Kenya\u2019s leadership role in hosting this conference and for providing us this space to reflect, to review, and to recommit to bolder action.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, we confront many interlinked global crises \u2013 from geopolitical, to environmental – which have once again illustrated the deep correlation between human progress and prosperity, with a healthy environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our ability to resolve these crises, and to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is directly linked to our ability to address the planetary challenges we face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As an example, the pandemic\u2019s disruptions to the global economy and to supply chains affected our livelihoods, our food security, and our well-being. Yet, as the climate crisis continues, and grows exponentially in scale and severity, our ability to effectively address those consequences further diminish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our food systems worldwide are struggling under the strain of climate-induced consequences and the destruction of ecosystems. Drought, soil erosion, desertification, the loss of biodiversity, including marine life, and the depletion of crucial natural resources, are only some of the issues we confront. We owe it to our own children and grandchildren, to do much better.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let us face the truth: human progress cannot occur on an earth that is starved of its resources, marred by pollution, and is under relentless assault from a climate crisis of our own making,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thirty years ago, in 1992, when I was a young diplomat, I was privileged to attend the Rio Summit – a summit, as you all well<\/p>\n know, that was a result of the same Stockholm conference we are commemorating today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is true that since then, we have still not properly repaired our relationship with nature. However, I still retain that sense of hope that was kindled in me at Rio. I have kept that hope alive by reflecting on the progress I have witnessed in my lifetime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For example, the 1.5-degree target was once only a priority for Small Island Developing States; yet now the whole world has converged around the urgency of meeting that target. I salute the work of the Alliance of Small Island States in championing this cause for the past 32 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And just recently we agreed to start working on an ambitious and legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We are seeing global, regional and national initiatives take shape – such as the African Green Wall, the Middle East Green Initiative and many more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These initiatives and accomplishments give me hope, but to deliver on that hope they must be integrated into a much broader effort. These commitments must be followed by action.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We need greater coordination than ever if we are to achieve the Paris Agreement\u2019s 1.5 degrees target, if we are to safeguard humanity and this planet\u2019s future, and if we wish to protect our biodiversity, restore life to degraded land, and tackle pollution and achieve circular economies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We need solutions that address the common bottlenecks affecting the entire environment agenda, which will in turn accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and promote resilient and sustainable recovery from the pandemic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stockholm+50 provides us an opportunity to rekindle the sense of urgency that will be needed to save our planet and leave its climate and rich biodiversity intact. That is the bare minimum we owe to our youth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many of them are participating in this conference. They have begun to take matters into their own hands, because they know what is at stake. We need to follow their lead. I am inspired by today\u2019s earth-conscious younger generations. By their sincerity, commitment, and energy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is their spirit we must emulate if we want to conserve our environment and ecosystems. If we want to temper our raging climate. If we truly care about the world that we leave for our children to inherit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stockholm+50 is a critical milestone to accelerate a new kind of multilateralism, one geared towards a sustainable future\u2014 as envisioned in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General\u2019s Our Common Agenda.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I look forward to the outcomes of this meeting, and hope that they will be weaved into General Assembly discussions, and future global processes, such as the upcoming Ocean Conference, the Education Summit this September, and the Summit of the Future next year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will also be convening a \u2018Moment for Nature\u2019 in the General Assembly on the 19th of July. This will be a Moment for the membership, and the wider community of stakeholders, to reflect on the outcomes of the multiple initiatives and conferences that have taken place this year, and to reflect on how to achieve greater synergies and cohesion across the environmental workstream.<\/p>\n I hope it will ignite fresh resolve on the part of all states and stakeholders and mobilize a whole of government and whole of society approach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By working together, we can indeed fully resolve the planetary challenges we face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I close with those sentiments, and I wish everyone participating, a very successful conference.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Stockholm, Sweden<\/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-266768","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