Ambassador Luisa Fragoso, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives
Distinguished Ambassadors, Excellencies, colleagues
Happy Lunar New Year! Let the strength of the tiger be what guides us in this important year of environmental action.
Warm greetings to you from beautiful Nairobi where we begin an important stock-take: as we sprint towards the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives; the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly; and the special session of UNEP@50. In this context allow me to express my deep thanks to Ambassador Fragoso, CPR Chair and Ambassador Martinez, Vice-Chair. My thanks also to the Ambassadors that convene the resolution clusters.
Before we delve deep into the preparations for these meetings, allow me to first to say a few words on the tragic developments in Tonga. Excellencies as many of you are aware, in mid-January this year, an underwater volcano erupted in Tonga, causing widespread devastation. Within minutes, the volcanic eruption triggered a 1.2 metre tsunami that crashed ashore the coastal areas of Tonga’s capital city of Nuku’alofa. The Government of Tonga has stated that the entire population of the country has been impacted by ash and the tsunami. Relief efforts have been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have seen several countries make “contactless aid” deliveries to the country. At the request of the UN system in Tonga, the UNEP-OCHA Joint Unit has assembled a team of international experts ready to support the government as and when requested by the government.
At the same time, an oil spill at a refinery in Lima, Peru, has caused a catastrophic environmental emergency in an ecologically sensitive region. At the request of Peru, the UNEP-OCHA Joint Unit has dispatched a team of international experts, including colleagues from the UNEP regional office in Panama. The team is currently undertaking field visits to assess the extent of the damage.
As we are seeing far too frequently – single, catastrophic events are wiping out decades of progress, leaving people to rebuild amidst environmental devastation. With eight years left to reach the sustainable development goals, we have our work cut out for us. The Common Agenda released by the UN Secretary-General last year, provides us a useful framework within which to “turbocharge integrated and collective action” towards the SDGs.
Excellencies, a year ago, I spoke before you about UNEP’s intention to also “turbocharge action” through our new Medium-Term Strategy. We have done a lot of homework to get “MTS-ready”. In 2021, we worked to provide greater clarity on functions, form and finance through embedding across UNEP, strong internal accountability structures. In the context of the new MTS, we sharpened our approach on how we will deliver the Programme of Work for you, the Member States, including how we will deliver through the reformed UN Development System. In the context of the new MTS, we have laid the foundations of our strategy on digital change, to put into place institutional mechanisms that will allow us to harness the digital transformation and take UNEP forward. In the last year, we stepped up our game on gender parity in UNEP’s work force and worked to significantly enhance women’s empowerment across the UNEP Programme. In all these parallel tracts of action, we seek to remain operationally agile and flexible. Over the next four years, our aim is to take on board the lessons we learn along the way. To swiftly adapt to meet emerging environmental priorities. This is UNEP’s mantra.
Turning to the environmental priorities on the horizon – I am so pleased that we are within sight of the trail-blazing trio of UNEA 5.2; UNEP@50 and Stockholm plus 50. Allow me to spend a few minutes on UNEA 5.2 and the special session on UNEP@50. My deep thanks to Member States for their constructive engagement on the timing of both these milestones. As you know, we explored various options but following a rich discussion with the UNEA and CPR bureaus and at the CPR subcommittee in early January, and after a thorough assessment of the pros and cons of rescheduling, it became clear that most Member States were of the view that we should keep the dates unchanged.
I assure you, we at UNEP are in absolute over-drive mode as we seek to deliver a series of meaningful and high-impact events. And we will do so while also seeking to ensure the safety of all personnel and delegates with clear COVID-19 protocols in place. I am pleased to extend my sincere appreciation to the Host Country, Kenya, for the excellent support they are providing in this regard.
At the same, I wish to remind us that the resumed session of the Assembly will be not only shorter than previous editions, but also confront unique challenges given the online component. I therefore call on Member States to exercise restraint and to focus on achieving a manageable number of high-impact outcomes. Towards this end, I am so pleased to see growing momentum by our Member States to take decisive global action on plastic pollution. I salute Member States who are raising their hands, calling on us to be ambitious, to be determined. To act rapidly. To deliver for people, a world with less plastic. So, I thank you. And you can be assured that UNEP will stand with you, on every step of this journey, as we seek lift off on the plastic pollution agenda. It is my belief that an agreement on the establishment of an International Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastic pollution could be the most important moment for the environmental community since the adoption of the Paris Accord in 2015. I also firmly believe that UNEP and UNEA will be judged for years to come by the world on how bold and clear we were and the decisions we took on this issue.
Through UNEP@50, we seek to invigorate international environmental governance because this milestone serves as an important reminder that no one can go it alone. As you will hear later today, we have an exciting mix of leadership dialogues, multi-stakeholder conversations and side-events. I am delighted that His Excellency President Kenyatta has invited heads of state and heads of government to the resumed session of UNEA 5 and the special session on UNEP@50. Once again, my deep appreciation to our host country Kenya for their leadership. Thanks to Ambassador Haddadi for her coordination and leadership of the preparations for UNEP@50 and to co-convenors Ambassador Lõhmus and Ambassador Syedah for their work on the political declaration.
Allow me to also reflect a moment on the political declaration which is the outcome of deliberations on 73/333 and which will be agreed at the momentous 50th anniversary celebration of UNEP. In this context I appeal that delegates try to view this through the eyes of history. This is not just another resolution where member states can juggle to place their preferred phrases. This one is for the history books. This is a “we the peoples” moment for environmentalism. And so, in the draft, and having re-read previous declarations from such momentous moments, I am still searching for the poetic, the visionary and the soaring to great heights, on the wings of environmental governance, with a clear-eyed ambition for environmental sustainability, equality, justice, peace and prosperity for all. Because fifty to a hundred years from now, scholars and diplomats will be studying this text. This is the moment to land in the spirit of the Secretary-General’s Common Agenda – with determination, to reach the SDGs, placing the world on an ambitious path for environmental multilateralism.
Excellencies, as I close, I want to take a minute to acknowledge – that as we enter this busy period – we will do so without our friend, our colleague and our confidant – Joyce Msuya. As you are aware, Joyce has been appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and will be leaving UNEP in a few short days. Joyce, I know I speak for everyone in this room and the virtual room beyond, when I express my heartfelt thanks for the last three years. It has been a true pleasure to serve alongside you and I wish you all the very best in your appointment, which I see as an important recognition, that humanitarian and environmental agendas must come far closer together, if we are to have any chance of alleviating the misery and suffering of millions around the world. Thank you, Joyce, and farewell.
I am pleased to announce that Sonja-Leighton Kone, who is currently the Director of the Corporate Services Division will step in as Acting Deputy Executive Director. Sonja needs absolutely no introduction to this gathering. Suffice to say that with her at the helm, and with our dedicated team, I have no doubt that we will rise to meet the expectations of Member States and deliver UNEA 5.2 and UNEP@50 that in turn, rise to meet the needs of a planet and people in emergency.
Thank you.
