GA/EF/338
Sixty-seventh General Assembly
Second Committee
6th Meeting (AM)
Efforts in Agriculture, Energy, Disaster Risk Reduction Also Highlighted
The international community must launch a “fully fledged war” to eradicate poverty, the world’s greatest challenge, the representative of the Dominican Republic told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today, as it concluded its general debate.
Poverty denied people their right to a decent life, broke down democratic institutions and made full participation in society elusive, he said, adding that it was no coincidence that drastically reducing poverty was the major aim of the Millennium Development Goals. Pointing out that his Government was committed to a 15 per cent poverty reduction target over the next four years, he said it was developing employment, education, food and infrastructure policies as part of its strategy to fight poverty on all fronts.
Addressing the same theme, Zambia’s representative agreed that poverty was “endemic” and noted that her country was unlikely to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals. Nonetheless, Zambia remained fully committed to the Goals and to establishing a United Nations development agenda for the period after 2015, including the Sustainable Development Goals, which should draw on the successes, concerns and challenges encountered during the Millennium Development Goals era. The front on which Zambia would fight against poverty was the development and strengthening of the agriculture sector, which was particularly important because of its labour-intensive nature and the fact that it employed most rural dwellers, she said.
Israel’s representative pointed out several areas of agricultural development in which his country had expertise, saying it had offered assistance to developing countries. Israel was introducing agricultural technology across the world, he said, citing a drip-irrigation project in Senegal that was being extended to South Africa, Ghana and Niger, and a wastewater treatment project in Kenya that was reducing water pollution, creating economic opportunity and strengthening that country’s tilapia export industry.
On the link between education and sustainable development, Georgia’s representative focused on last month’s Tbilisi+35 Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education for Sustainable Development, which had restated the global appeal contained in the 1977 Tbilisi Declaration on environmental education as a means to sustainable development. The Conference had provided a platform for enhancing international cooperation, acknowledging achievements in the field so far and presenting recommendations in light of recent developments, especially the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
The Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) cited global unemployment figures amounting to approximately 200 million, including 75 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Roughly 40 million people were estimated to enter the labour force every year in economies that could not accommodate them, on top of which 910 million workers had jobs but earned less than $2 per day, she said, adding that the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda offered a coherent policy framework that could integrate the macroeconomic, employment, social and environmental dimensions into an effective development model. She urged Governments to place people and their livelihoods at the core of policymaking.
The representative of the Republic of Moldova said his country’s sustainable development efforts were directly linked to a strategic approach to energy efficiency, and had positive environmental, economic and social effects. The Government had adopted the comprehensive National Development Strategy “Moldova 2020”, which articulated a strategic vision for the creation of a competitive and efficient energy complex so as to bring about a new paradigm for economic growth. It was also expected to have a significant impact on poverty reduction by ensuring access to affordable energy sources.
Costa Rica’s representative noted his country’s location on the Central American isthmus and its consequent susceptibility to natural disasters. He called for increased investment in disaster risk reduction, especially given the current environmental disequilibrium, and pointed out Costa Rica’s membership of the Troika on Climate Vulnerability, alongside Bangladesh and the Maldives. With Bangladesh, Costa Rica had recently coordinated an event to call on the international community to address increased vulnerability due to climate change, and had also played a part in establishing the relevant trust fund.
Myanmar’s representative said recent political events in his country had not prevented the Government from undertaking a series of accelerated economic reform measures in order to improve the every day lives of its people.
Yemen’s representative, on the other hand, said that political events in his country had caused instability, damage and violence, doubling the Yemeni people’s suffering, and leading to a rise in poverty and a decline in employment.
Meanwhile, Tunisia’s representative had a different outlook on the “Arab Spring”, expressing hope that countries in transition would be given support to deal with new challenges more effectively.
Other speakers today were representatives of Ghana, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, United Republic of Tanzania, Georgia, Viet Nam, Armenia, Venezuela and San Marino.
The Second Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Monday, 15 October, to take up the United Nations operational activities for development.