Striking Themes of Equality and Morality, Secretary-General, at Peoples World Conference, Urges Culturally Appropriate Development, Climate Solutions

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and the Defence of Life, in Cochabamba, Bolivia, 10 October:

Thank you for your warm welcome.

Es un gran placer estar de vuelta en Bolivia, en el corazón de Sudamérica.  [It is a great pleasure to be back in Bolivia, in the heart of South America].  Anchatapuni Kusikuni kay jatun llajtaman chayayta.  [I am very happy to be in this great land.]  I am pleased to be here to participate in the Peoples World Conference on Climate Change and the Defence of Life.

I thank President Evo Morales Ayma, the people of Bolivia and the representatives from different social movements and indigenous peoples gathered here for inviting me.  Muchas gracias.  Solpayki.  Yuspagara.

The subject of your conference is important and timely.

Climate change and the defence of life on Earth are at the top of the international agenda this year.  Last month, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  President Morales was there for this historic moment.

In December, world leaders will gather in Paris hoping to finalize a meaningful, universal climate change agreement.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a concrete plan of action for ending poverty in all its dimensions, irreversibly, everywhere.  It is a people’s agenda, agreed after many months of consultation between Governments and peoples everywhere.  It is designed to advance inclusion and shared prosperity and to preserve our Mother Earth.

Our goal is transformation.  No-one must be left behind.  No man.  No child.  And, especially, no woman.

Tomorrow is Women’s Day here in Bolivia, the birthday of Adela Zamudio.  Bolivia’s best-known poet did not allow discrimination and lack of education to hold her back.  She rose above society’s constraints to become a leader for women’s emancipation.  I urge all women — and men — to be inspired by her example.  We cannot achieve equitable sustainable development if we do not involve and respect half the world’s population.

We need a 50-50 planet by 2030.  Here in Bolivia, you are setting a good example.  Bolivia is one of the few countries in the world with as many women as men in its Parliament.

When women and men lead together, decisions better reflect the diverse needs of society.  Guaranteeing women’s participation in all levels of decision-making is crucial not just for gender equality, but for inclusive democracy and sustainable development.

Bolivia is notable, too, for its advocacy for the rights of indigenous peoples.  Indigenous peoples are among the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized people.  Yet their history, traditions, languages and knowledge are part of the very bedrock of human heritage.

There is much to be learnt from indigenous peoples as we seek to find solutions to the challenges of combatting climate change and managing Mother Earth’s resources in a sustainable way.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must realize the rights of indigenous peoples across all the Goals.  Indigenous peoples face a wide range of challenges to their well-being.  These challenges include inadequate access to education, sanitation and housing, lack of prenatal care and widespread violence against women.

Too often, indigenous peoples are not adequately consulted in projects carried out in their territories that affect the environment and their livelihoods.  Indigenous peoples are often among the poorest peoples in their countries.  In many nations, the poverty gap between indigenous and non-indigenous groups is increasing.  This is unacceptable.

As we implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must do so in culturally appropriate ways that meet the needs of indigenous peoples and their conceptions of well-being.  Indigenous peoples must not be left behind.

I have talked about how Bolivia speaks up for women and for indigenous peoples.  There is a third constituency for whom Bolivia provides a powerful voice.  Mother Earth.  I commend the Government of Bolivia and President Morales for introducing International Mother Earth Day to the United Nations General Assembly in 2009.

Bolivia has also inspired the discussions on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the principle of “vivir bien”.  In his recent speech to the UN General Assembly, President Morales explained “vivir bien”.

“Vivir bien” is living in solidarity with people and in harmony with Mother Earth.  “Vivir bien” reminds us that well-being is not only about material advantages, but social and spiritual well-being.  “Vivir bien” reminds us that well-being cannot be achieved without respecting and protecting our planet.  “Vivir bien” means that to achieve sustainable development we will have to adjust our own lifestyle.

These very sentiments were also recently and powerfully echoed by His Holiness Pope Francis.  The Pope came to speak to world leaders on the day they adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  His recent Encyclical highlights the direct link between caring for the environment and caring for the world’s poor and vulnerable.

Caring for Mother Earth is a moral issue.  We must change how we use Mother Earth’s resources, and live in a manner that is sustainable. 

This is especially true for the challenge of climate change.  We can no longer afford to burn our way to prosperity.  We have to transform our economies and seize the opportunities of a low-carbon future.  There is no plan B because there is no planet B.

In December, Governments will meet in Paris to finalize an agreement on climate change.  It must be ambitious.  And it must involve all nations.  There is no longer any time for delay.  Climate change is upon us.

Here in Cochabamba you know this well.  Your mountain Tunari used to be capped with snow all year round.  Nowadays, it has snow only a few weeks a year.

All around the world, the effects of climate change are apparent.  And they are growing.  Droughts.  Fires.  Floods.  Landslides.  Glaciers melting.  Oceans turning to acid.  Mother Earth is giving us a warning.  We must listen.  And we must act.

We know what we have to do to address climate change.  We need a robust global agreement in Paris that commits all countries to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resilience.

And we need action by all people everywhere — Governments, civil society groups, local authorities and businesses.  Everyone has a role to play.  Paris must be a turning point in our collective effort to protect Mother Earth.  We need an agreement that is durable and flexible so countries can increase their ambition at regular intervals.  It must be credible, transparent and accountable.  It must send a clear signal that the transformation of the global economy in a low-carbon direction is inevitable, beneficial, and already under way.

Developed countries must provide a politically credible pathway for meeting their pledge of $100 billion dollars a year by 2020.  This is critical for trust, solidarity and equity.

And before Paris, the Green Climate Fund must be up and running and approving projects in developing countries, in particular in small island developing States and the least developed countries.  These countries are among the most affected by climate change, but they have contributed least to the problem.  They are on the frontlines of climate change, and will suffer first, and worst.  This is why climate change is a moral issue, for this generation, now, and generations to come.

Climate change has been my priority and my passion since I took office.  I have attended all the climate conferences and engaged all world leaders relentlessly to make them aware of the urgency of action. 

I believe we are making progress, and a transformative deal in Paris is in sight.  But we must not let up our pressure.  I count on your leadership.  You can count on mine.

Let me close by echoing a pledge you make here in the Andes.  It is a pledge I will ask world leaders to make with us.  Ama suwa (do not be a thief).  Ama llulla (do not be a liar).  Ama qhilla (do not be lazy).  Let us not steal from our planet.  We should manage its resources wisely.  Let us not lie.

We must honour our commitments to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and reach a fair and ambitious global climate change agreement.  Finally, ama qhilla.  Let us spare no effort when working for a sustainable future for people and planet.  Let us work together for a better tomorrow and a life of dignity for all people, everywhere.  Muchas gracias.  Solpayki.  Yuspagara.