Hailing Solutions by Youth Leaders, Deputy Secretary-General Urges Governments, Businesses, Cities to Take Decisive Climate Action

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to congratulate winners of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2020 United Nations Global Climate Action Awards, today:

I am pleased to join you today to congratulate the winners of the 2020 UN Global Climate Action Awards.  Your work provides tangible proof that climate action is under way around the world.

It is exciting to see your climate solutions, which reinforce the Secretary-General’s call for decisive leadership on climate change by Governments, businesses and cities, and for a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tomorrow, we will commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.  And although it has not yet unleashed its full potential, we are seeing encouraging progress and leadership at all levels.  This is especially so with our youth leaders and activists across the globe.

Nothing exemplifies this better than the winners of the 2020 UN Global Climate Action Awards.  Each of the winning activities is a real-world example of climate action — and a reminder that this is the path we must follow to achieve the goals laid out in Paris.

Let us keep pressing ahead to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.  Thank you.