AT the general debate of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, leaders of the emerging economies called the Global South spoke on the need for more developed nations to provide adequate resources to common causes and meet their financial commitments.
In his speech, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed the assembly on efforts to combat climate change and preserve the Amazon.
Lula also urged nations to allocate their promised financial and technological resources and to implement the decisions of the Paris Agreement.
“We want to arrive at COP28 in Dubai with a joint vision that reflects, without any coaching, the priorities for preserving the Amazon, Congo, and Borneo-Mekong Basins based on our needs. Without mobilizing financial and technological resources, we cannot implement what we decided in the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework. The promise to allocate 100 billion dollars annually to developing countries remains just that, a long promise,” according to Pres. Lula da Silva, Federative Republic of Brazil
South African Cyril Ramaphosa, meanwhile, urged wealthy nations to meet the financial pledges they have made to the poor. He also condemned the excessive amounts of resources wasted on militarism.
“It is a grave indictment of this international community that we can spend so much money on war. And in fact, trillions are being spent on war, but we cannot support action that needs to be taken to meet the basic needs of billions of people in the world, needs such as addressing hunger, health, empowering women, and making sure that there is development in countries that are vulnerable,” Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa said.
The UN general debate brings together heads of state and government and high-level representatives from the 193 UN member states.
They all gathered to discuss key issues including advancing the sustainable development goals, addressing the climate crisis, and mitigating the deteriorating security situation.
