Lebanon, Secretary-General/Transport & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (14 October 2021)

The United Nations of Earth reporting on this issue: "Lebanon, Secretary-General/Transport & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (14 October 2021)"
The topics: Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: LEBANON Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the current violence in Beirut, Lebanon. The UN calls on all concerned to immediately cease acts of violence and to refrain from any provocative actions or inflammatory rhetoric. The Secretary-General reiterates the need for an impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the explosion at the port of Beirut that took place last year. The Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, also responded to the violence today. She condemned the use of armed violence outside of state authority and underscored the need for restraint, for maintaining calm and stability and ensuring the protection of civilians. The Special Coordinator underscored the utmost responsibility of Lebanon’s leaders to place the interests of the country first and foremost at this critical juncture. She said, and I quote: “Now is the time for all sides to support judicial independence in the interest of the people.” SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRANSPORT This morning, the Secretary-General delivered remarks virtually to the Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference that is taking place in Beijing. He said the door is closing for action on climate, nature and pollution, noting that transport, which accounts for more than one quarter of global greenhouse gases, is key to getting this on track. The Secretary-General stressed that we must decarbonize all means of transport, in order to get to net-zero emissions by 2050 globally. We know how to make this happen, he said, pointing to the need to adopt more ambitious and credible targets to decarbonize the entire transport sector. He noted that the current commitments made by Member States to address emissions from shipping and aviation are not aligned with the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement, but rather are more consistent with warming way above 3 degrees Celsius. The Secretary-General said that this Transport Conference is an important opportunity to galvanize action by all, to build the sustainable transport systems we need for a green, inclusive and equitable future. SECRETARY-GENERAL/CLIMATE CHANGE The Secretary-General today spoke via a pre-recorded video message to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund event on “Making Climate Action Count.” He stressed in his remarks that, as COP26 approaches, it is essential for all humanity that we fulfil the promise of the Paris Agreement. But, Mr. Guterres says, we are not there yet. The Secretary-General says he is especially concerned over the lack of progress on public climate finance. He underscored that $100 billion dollars a year from public and private sources for mitigation and adaptation for the developing world is the bare minimum, and that much more will be needed. Mr. Guterres pointed to the essential role of development banks in spearheading the transition of energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables, while also ensuring universal access to energy. These banks, he said, must lead the way in supporting credible and just transition plans and in funding green, resilient, and inclusive recoveries, without worsening the sovereign debt crises that cripple low- and middle-income countries. The Secretary-General also stressed the need for donor countries and multilateral development banks to allocate at least 50 per cent of their climate finance to adaptation and resilience. GENERAL ASSEMBLY This morning, the Secretary-General spoke in person at the General Assembly’s tribute to Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the former President of the General Assembly, and also, of course, former President of Algeria. The Secretary-General reiterated his condolences to the Government of Algeria, and recalled that, as President of the 29th session of the General Assembly, in 1974-75, Mr. Bouteflika was particularly active in the area of decolonization and is remembered for giving a voice to the liberation movements in Africa, Asia and South America. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=14%20October%202021


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