“Yet, we are woefully off track in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals – the only comprehensive blueprint that was designed to offer ambitious targeted solutions to address the converging challenges of our day by 2030.”

These were the statements made by H.E. Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, during the commencement of the High-Level segment of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya. The session focused on "Effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution."

While advocating for forward-thinking action, H.E Francis referenced a quote from Maurice Strong, UNEP's first Executive Director and a key figure in global sustainable development, who emphasized the importance of taking warnings seriously without succumbing to alarmism.

He emphasized the importance of recognizing that "we the peoples" are called to action, particularly those who have been underserved and are at the highest risk of being left behind – including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – as well as those who are underrepresented in negotiations, such as women, children, indigenous peoples, minority groups, and other vulnerable communities.

Turning commitments into tangible change requires a concerted effort to implement the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, he said, and this entails significantly increasing financing for sustainable development and providing the necessary means of implementation to developing countries. To achieve this, it is crucial to establish strong and diverse partnerships that will be essential to our success.

“I am equally convinced, with the desired unity of purpose, we can and must usher in a new era of planetary stewardship – one that catalyzes action across multiple fronts, to bring about peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all, everywhere. I stand ready to mobilize the General Assembly to that end.”

"Yes, we are facing formidable challenges," he acknowledged, but he believes that if the world can transcend the deepening geopolitical tensions and unite with a laser focus on our collective ambition– “we stand a better chance to succeed in overcoming the myriad of challenges we are up against.”

At the 2023 SDG Summit, global leaders affirmed their commitment to advancing progress across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), prioritizing action on environmental issues.

In a landmark political declaration adopted in September, they underscored the importance of enhanced implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, especially in areas like mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation.

Global leaders pledged urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, ensuring fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. They also recognized the serious threats of plastic, air, and chemical pollution, expressing strong support for a legally binding international instrument to address plastic pollution.

H.E. Francis remarked, ‘this is groundbreaking work that is already underway – and making history here in Nairobi. As the “world’s parliament on the environment”, the United Nations Environment Assembly is supremely well suited to advance these priorities – and to bring about the tangible integrated results we urgently need across the sustainable development continuum.”

The global temperature has increased by 1.5 degrees over a 12-month period, marking the first time on record such a rise has occurred. Additionally, plastic particles have been discovered in every ecosystem worldwide.

UNEP and various researchers have repeatedly cautioned that without intervention from world leaders, the production of plastic will continue to escalate uncontrollably. If left unchecked, projections indicate that by 2050, there will be more plastic in oceans than fish.

Simultaneously, biodiversity is deteriorating at an unprecedented rate, while pollution of air, water, and land collectively leads to approximately 9 million premature deaths each year.

“I repeat, 9 million pre-mature deaths each year,” H.E Francis stated.

He called upon world leaders to ensure that the results of the UNEA-6 summit uphold the fundamental human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. He emphasized the importance of fostering genuinely multilateral approaches to restore harmony with nature.

He also stressed the need for UNEA-6 outcomes to pave the way for a future that is more equitable, inclusive, and resilient for all individuals, regardless of location.

“As President of the General Assembly, I proudly embrace my duty to maximize convergence – to create spaces for constructive dialogue and encourage Member States and stakeholders alike to work shoulder-to-shoulder in advancing balanced progress.”