[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-21px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,<\/b><\/p>\n
H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/b><\/p>\n
at the opening of the High-Level Breakfast on \u201cHarnessing Climate Mobility for Adaptation and Resilience\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
[As Delivered]<\/b><\/p>\n
20 September 2023<\/b><\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Distinguished Guests,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n It is an honour and privilege to address this august gathering, of which I am delighted to co-host.<\/span><\/p>\n And it is a propitious occasion indeed to be in a room full of leaders who are on the frontlines of climate change \u2013 from the Caribbean,\u00a0<\/span>Africa and Middle East to Latin America, Scandinavia, and the Pacific.<\/p>\n We are here because we have one thing in common: the climate crisis is\u00a0fundamentally<\/b>\u00a0altering the fabric of our societies.<\/span><\/p>\n Homes are becoming uninhabitable.<\/span><\/p>\n Millions are on the move.<\/span><\/p>\n And precious cultural heritage \u2013 nurtured over centuries \u2013 is gradually slipping away.<\/span><\/p>\n By 2050, estimates show that over\u00a0200 million people<\/b>\u00a0could be forced to leave their homes due to the adverse impacts of climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n This crisis is threatening to increase loss and damage.<\/span><\/p>\n It is eroding the very cohesion of our communities, from East to West and North to South.<\/span><\/p>\n We cannot sit idly by while our seas rise, our air becomes clogged and once plentiful lands that gave life to generations past degrade before they can nurture the next.<\/span><\/p>\n We must recognise the\u00a0magnitude<\/b>\u00a0of the forces at play \u2013 and find real solutions that serve both people and planet.<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n We know too well that developing countries \u2013 especially\u00a0small island developing States\u00a0<\/b>\u2013\u00a0<\/b>are suffering most from the deleterious effects of this crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n Yet, they have contributed the least to it.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Women and girls, young people, persons living with disabilities and indigenous peoples are among those who are particularly at highest risk.<\/span><\/p>\n As we approach the\u00a0first global stocktake at COP28,\u00a0<\/b>let us\u00a0<\/b>scale up\u00a0<\/b>our ambition\u00a0<\/b>to achieve the Paris promise.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n COP28 must drive accelerated action across the spectrum of mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation.<\/span><\/p>\n Timely and adequate mobilization of resources for climate finance is\u00a0imperative<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Focus must shift towards\u00a0building resilience<\/b>, taking decisions that are\u00a0risk-informed\u00a0<\/b>and actions that place\u00a0people at the centre\u00a0<\/b>of all that we do.<\/span><\/p>\n This will be especially important in frontline communities.<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Today\u2019s climate mobility summit is more than just another high-level event.<\/span><\/p>\n It is a testament to our shared vision for a future anchored in\u00a0adaptation and resilience<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Let us come up with integrated and action-oriented solutions:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the end of the day, these questions are about: Dignity. Solidarity. Justice.<\/span><\/p>\n Answering them will require a bottom up that stretches across the whole of our societies.<\/span><\/p>\n We must involve local authorities, civil society, the private sector, the scientific community, and academia in finding actionable solutions, while always keeping\u00a0people at the centre<\/b>\u00a0of our response.<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n It is absolutely critical that we get this\u00a0right.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n I invite you to rise to this existential challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n I also encourage the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system to rally in support of national efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n My Office will work closely with the Global Centre for Climate Mobility to ensure that people-centred climate action is at the core of our efforts and fully elevated in the international agenda.<\/span><\/p>\n When done right, climate mobility can offer avenues for growth, adaptation, and shared prosperity.<\/span><\/p>\n Embracing this journey together is not just a choice.<\/span><\/p>\n It is an\u00a0imperative<\/b>\u00a0for our collective resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n Thank<\/span><\/b>\u00a0you<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, at the opening of the High-Level Breakfast on \u201cHarnessing Climate Mobility for Adaptation and […]<\/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":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-272549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n\n