Environmental issues and sustainable development

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the opening session of the eleventh Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-United Nations General Meeting today:

The Economic and Social Council concluded its high-level segment today, endorsing a sweeping Ministerial Declaration adopted a day earlier by the high‑level political forum on sustainable development — an outcome document reflecting Member States’ commitments to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and building back better through green, inclusive recovery plans.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon expressed deep regret over the inability of Lebanon’s leaders to reach agreement on the formation of a new Government that is urgently needed to address the country’s numerous challenges.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, to the closing of the 2021 Economic and Social Council’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development today:

The high-level political forum on sustainable development adopted a far‑reaching Ministerial Declaration reflecting Member States’ commitments to gather together in a global push to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better through inclusive, green recovery plans.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has launched a new Peace Fellows programme to increase participation in the country’s peace process.  It brings together representatives from all 10 states and three administrative areas to share information about the 2018 Peace Agreement, with a focus on education.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) cited a tight window for farmers in hunger-stricken northern Ethiopia to get crops in the ground ahead of upcoming seasonal rains.  It appealed for $30 million in urgent support, noting that farmers have seen seeds and animals looted and credit lines disappear.

The high-level political forum today examined the findings and recommendations from the Regional Forums on Sustainable Development, highlighting ways in which these organs are mobilizing regional action and leveraging regional frameworks on the road to 2030 and beyond.

The world has the means, money, skills and vaccines to strike a monumental post‑pandemic shift towards an inclusive, connected and healthy planet for all, and the time for hesitation is over, world leaders declared at the opening of the ministerial segment of the 2021 high-level political forum on sustainable development today.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as escalating conflict has displaced 270,000 Afghans inside the country since January, bringing the total uprooted population to more than 3.5 million.  UNHCR said the needs of those who have fled are “suddenly acute”.