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23 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It was an honor to be invited to this year\u2019s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. This is a first for a President of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I thank the Government of Rwanda, and the Government of the United Kingdom, together with the COP26 Presidency for organizing this event, and I commend your efforts to promote reflection on the outcomes of COP26, and to make progress on key climate commitments we have made.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This includes meeting our goals relevant to the Glasgow Climate Pact, to reduce coal usage, and to keep the 1.5-degree Celsius target alive.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n These efforts must be part of both our long-term endeavors to reduce carbon emissions, and to generate momentum as we look towards COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The CHOGM\u2019s theme this year is not just timely, it is urgent.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While we continue to grapple with the impacts and rebuilding efforts after the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis continues unabated.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We urgently need solutions if we are to meet our targets and keep our promises, not only to each other but to future generations as well.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today, we will discuss a range of critical issues, including the urgent need for countries to take immediate climate action. And we will discuss how we can propel and leverage our creative capacity and ongoing innovation to meet our climate targets.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must keep in mind that vulnerable countries such as LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDs, have been forced to divert many of their resources towards recovery from the pandemic. That is why we also need to discuss strategies to increase climate financing, so that those countries can simultaneously continue efforts to recover from the pandemic and to become more climate resilient.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n These are challenging tasks, but I remain optimistic.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My Presidency is one of Hope. Although our world is rife with inaction, inequality, and injustice, we must remain hopeful.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As I have continued to reiterate, we have the capacity<\/u> to meet all our climate commitments. We have the ingenuity<\/u>, we have the resources<\/u>, and we have the technology<\/u>. We can transition to renewable energy sources, we can reduce emissions, and we can preserve our earth and its ecosystems. All that is required is political will.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The reason I remain hopeful is that, despite the challenges, and the cynicism of years past, I have<\/em> seen progress in my lifetime.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 1.5\u00b0C target used to only be a concern for Small Island Developing States, but the world has since joined forces around this goal; it is now a core target for many Member States. This, to me, is progress.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n COP26 in Glasgow galvanized momentum in key areas that need collective work: upholding the 1.5\u00b0C target, communicating ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions, doubling climate finance towards adaptation and resilience, and completing the Paris rulebook.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To reiterate, we must continue to build on these goals as we move towards COP27 in Sharm el Sheikh, and beyond.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Alongside our commitment to keep our 1.5\u00b0C target alive and efforts to mitigate climate change, the international community launched the Glasgow-Sharm el Sheikh work program, introducing the global goal of adaptation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I commend the progress in outlining the scope, institutional arrangements, objectives, and activities of the work program to be concluded by COP28, for the first Global Stock take.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Building on what we learnt and committed to at COP26 and keeping in mind the reality of climate change that we have witnessed in the last year alone, I encourage Members States to submit ambitious NDCs at COP28.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I am hopeful that Member States will reaffirm their shared commitment to combat climate change and promote the development of sustainable, innovative solutions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/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":" Kigali, Rwanda<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"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-268223","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