Transcript

Christiana Figueres, Former executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change and The Paris Agreement:

Before the COVID-19 crisis
crashed into our world,
governments were already facing
the convergence of the climate crisis,
the inequality crisis
and the oil price crisis.

Now,
the fourth.

The global health crisis
has not only converged on us
as well
but has accelerated the impacts
of the previous crises,
deepening economic disorder
and accentuating social suffering.

In emerging from this,
everyone can play their part,
individually
and collectively.
The future we choose
should be one of resilience,
starting with aligning the food system
to the four principles set out by the F.A.O.:
Availability,
Access,
Utilization
and Stability.

Energy is another sector
that must be transformed.
Well before COVID-19,
fossil fuels were already showing signs
of irreversible decline.
They will recover somewhat
from the historically low prices,
but they will not recover their previous place
as the engine of
growth and development.

We now know
that their use is polluting our lungs
and loading our atmosphere,
both
at life threatening levels.

Financing the transition
to a clean, healthy economy
requires that
businesses,
investors,
and citizens
each play their part
alongside governments.

Governments can be excellent first movers
and their development finance institutions
often are.

There has never been
a more critical role
for them
than now.

The social fabric of our world,
the health of democracies
and the well being of people
can either be destroyed
or made stronger
by a crisis
such as the one we are living.

We need to choose this crisis
as the moment
to anchor ourselves back
into the reason
humans
live in collectives.

We are stronger
and more resilient
together.

We will need this solidarity
to face what’s ahead.

Rise to the crises
and thrive
beyond them.

It’s a unique privilege
that our generation
can forge a healthy,
bustling
future
through our actions today.

The future we choose
is in the hands
of each of us
alive
right now.