[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
11 January 2023<\/b><\/p>\n
Dear Friends in our\u00a0quest for sustainability<\/b>,<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Isaac\u00a0Asimov<\/b>, the American biochemist and science fiction writer once said: \u201dNo sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it\u00a0is<\/b>, but the world as it\u00a0will be<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He was right: the decision which path to follow now will have a\u00a0direct impact<\/b>\u00a0on the fate of\u00a0the forthcoming<\/b>\u00a0generations of humankind, too.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, we have entered the\u00a0Anthropocene<\/b>\u00a0era in the history of the Earth \u2013 but\u00a0are we<\/b>\u00a0up to the tremendous\u00a0responsibility<\/b>\u00a0of being the main shapers of life on our globe?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We usually make our decisions with the assumption that we have the relevant information for\u00a0the best possible<\/b>\u00a0outcomes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let me draw a parallel: If you need to cross a road and there is no traffic light, you assess the flow of cars.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are several factors for you to evaluate: the number or cars, the distance between them, their speed, the width of the road, the number and the location of banana peels, your abilities to walk, even the probability of a\u00a0police officer<\/b>\u00a0showing up\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What we know is that in our world today, we\u00a0need\u00a0<\/b>to get to the other side of the road, as on our side of the road, conditions for life and civilization are becoming\u00a0unsustainable<\/b>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The other side that is more\u00a0sustainable<\/b>, peaceful, respectful, inclusive, socially more just, and, therefore,\u00a0better<\/b>\u00a0for the current and future generations of humanity \u2013 and their only home, this fragile blue planet. Just as we agreed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In our\u00a0real\u00a0<\/b>world, the cars are the wars, the blatant disrespect for human rights, the depletion of our resources, the inadequate education of our children, the growing inequality of distribution of food and other resources, and, most alarmingly, the worsening water and climate crises.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It would be\u00a0self-deception<\/b>\u00a0to expect that a friendly policeman will suddenly show up in 2023.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In fact, in 2020 we had\u00a0a sort of<\/b>\u00a0a policeman called Covid-19. It introduced to us the prototype of the Anthropocene era crises but even that was\u00a0not enough<\/b>\u00a0to cause a speedy transformation. Despite our joint promise we gave earlier in the SDGs, the Addis Ababa Protocol, and the Paris Agreement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2023, we are providing science briefings to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly, the world\u2019s Number 1 deliberative and policy making body: an institution comprising 193 member states<\/b>, with a combined constituency of\u00a0eight billion<\/b>\u00a0people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We hope to see\u00a0a coalition of scientists<\/b>\u00a0that can advise the Assembly in shaping key decisions and validate how sustainable their implementation is:\u00a0how<\/b>\u00a0fast\u00a0<\/b>we are crossing the road and\u00a0how many<\/b>\u00a0cars are approaching.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We will have the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Conference on Water in March to agree and decide on\u00a0game changers\u00a0<\/b>for water and resilience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New financing models for water, and a global water information system are both\u00a0key elements<\/b>\u00a0of our new, integrated water\u00a0and<\/i><\/b>\u00a0climate agenda.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We will review our progress regarding the Sendai framework in May to lock in\u00a0early warnings<\/b>\u00a0for all, as well as\u00a0risk assessment and mitigation<\/b>.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The SDG summit in September will be\u00a0the<\/b>\u00a0moment\u00a0to synthesize it all\u00a0<\/b>for the whole sustainable development agenda \u2013 and to put the world on a \u201cBeyond GDP\u201d track, with scientific\u00a0guard rails\u00a0<\/b>approved by the international community.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear Friends, we have to\u00a0focus on the future<\/b>: we cannot get through the road based on how many cars went by\u00a0<\/i>yesterday<\/b>.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We can\u2019t build traffic lights: it would take\u00a0too long<\/b>\u00a0to agree on where to put them and on the side that will pay for them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But we\u00a0can\u00a0<\/b>get our act together and provide the basic scientific guidance we all need to cross that road: the road that divides humanity\u2019s\u00a0demise\u00a0<\/b>from its\u00a0second chance<\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Please\u00a0join me<\/b>\u00a0in this endeavor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While doing so, I ask you to be\u00a0mindful\u00a0<\/b>of the limitations of our knowledge, but, all the same, to be\u00a0resolute<\/b>\u00a0because time is evidently\u00a0not<\/b>\u00a0on our side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How to do that? How to resolve this basic dilemma of the 21st<\/sup>\u00a0century? Well, to quote the immortal words of Hamlet, \u201cthat\u00a0<\/b>is the question\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And it is with\u00a0this question<\/b>\u00a0that I wish you thought-provoking discussions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I sincerely hope to get positive, impactful and\u00a0game-changing outcomes<\/b>\u00a0from your deliberations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Good luck and a happy new year to all of you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks for your attention.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 11 January 2023 Dear Friends in our\u00a0quest for sustainability, \u00a0 Isaac\u00a0Asimov, the American biochemist and science fiction writer once said: \u201dNo sensible decision can be made any longer without taking […]<\/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":" 10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n