World Environment Day

Distinguished Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen
Students:

I am pleased to meet with you as we mark World Environment Day 2012. I am especially pleased that we are able commemorate this day together with such distinguished representatives from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland, the Canton of Geneva, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the International School of Geneva. Equally important are the number of our young colleagues joining us today. Welcome to the Palais des Nations!

I would like to begin by delivering the message of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for this occasion:



“As the world gears up for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), World Environment Day is an opportunity to highlight the need for a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable world. This year’s theme, “Green Economy: Does it include you?”, underscores the need for everyone to play their part in keeping humankind's ecological footprint within planetary boundaries.

The world’s population stands at 7 billion and may rise to more than 9 billion by 2050. This means greater pressure on already crowded cities – where more than half of all people now live – and on natural resources, as demand for food, water and energy rises. It also means more people in search of decent jobs. Globally, 1.3 billion people are currently unemployed or under-employed. An estimated half billion more will join the job market over the next decade.

Sustainability entails providing opportunity for all by balancing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. We have to rebut the myth that there is conflict between economic and environmental health. With smart policies and the right investments, countries can protect their environment, grow their economies, generate decent jobs and accelerate social progress.
Rio+20 is our opportunity to deepen global commitment to sustainable development. In Rio, we should agree that measuring growth and wealth by Gross Domestic Product alone is inadequate. We should agree that the world needs a set of sustainable development goals that will build on the Millennium Development Goals. And we should make progress on some of the building blocks of sustainability – energy, water, food, cities, oceans, jobs and the empowerment of women.

Sustainability is gaining prominence on the public policy agenda in both developed and developing nations. The UN itself is working towards climate neutrality and sustainable management of our offices and activities. In Rio, we must mobilize the partnerships we need to shift the world onto a more sustainable trajectory of growth and development. On this World Environment Day, in advance of this historic conference, I urge governments, businesses and all members of society to make the holistic choices that will ensure a sustainable future – the future we want.”

That was the end of the Secretary-General’s message.

I would now like to make a few remarks on the progress that we have made and how we chart the way forward.
Over the past 20 years, we have made many steps forward in terms of sustainable development. Overall poverty rates almost halved in developing regions between 1990 and 2005. Access to many types of health services has been expanded and more people have access to education. Now, more than four out of five children in developing countries are able to read and write and attend primary school.

What is more, the economy has progressed over the past 20 years, specifically with regard to developing countries. There are of course large regional and national differences, but largely, developing countries have increased their economic performance even more than developed nations.

There is good news regarding environmental protection, too. The number of multilateral environmental agreements has grown exponentially, which demonstrates political recognition of environmental issues.

Perhaps most importantly, sustainable development has become part of the international lexicon. It is now firmly incorporated into international agreements and is a top priority of the United Nations.

While it is true that we have made much progress, we continue to face critical challenges. Climate change, conflict, economic uncertainty, the lack of respect for human rights, and as the Secretary-General noted - an ever-growing population – all pose social, economic and environmental challenges. The international community needs to address these issues together. Because global challenges require global solutions.

That is why world leaders will meet in Rio this coming June. This opportunity will serve to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, assess the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments, and address new and emerging challenges.

At the United Nations, sustainable development is a top priority. My colleagues in the various United Nations agencies, programmes, funds and entities are working to foster economic growth, social equity and environmental protection in all its forms. I am sure my colleague from UNEP will elaborate further on the work of that particular agency in this area.

It is important to lead by example. To do so, the United Nations also pays special attention to the sustainable management of its offices and activities.
Here at UNOG, the largest duty station outside our Headquarters in New York, we have incorporated an environmental dimension into all our procedures and practices. Over the past 10 years, we have put in place a number of measures to cut the consumption of water by 40 per cent, carbon emissions by 34 per cent and the use of electricity by 20 per cent. I also personally launched an initiative to reduce paper consumption at UNOG which reduced by 20 per cent the use and distribution of paper last year alone.

I am very pleased that you too have realized the urgency of protecting our environment. The large number of students who participated in this contest clearly demonstrates the importance you attach to protecting our planet. Beyond that, your creative thoughts – expressed through visual arts, writing, reporting, research and musical work – highlight your innovative ideas about how we can improve our consumption and production patterns.

You have an essential role to play in building our future. Change starts with you, and it can start today. Small gestures, such as the considerate use of resources, can make a real difference when they are multiplied around the world.

I hope that you will carry the spirit expressed in your artworks to your friends, families and peers. I count on your commitment to work together towards the future we want and the future that we deserve.

Thank you very much.