Thirteen Heads of State, Government and political leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden, have made a commitment to “progress on concrete measures” for a “just and united ecological transition”, in a column published in Le Monde Wednesday, June 21. Leaders say they are working urgently to make the system do more for people and for the planet. This column was published on the occasion of the Paris Summit “for a new global financial pact”, scheduled for June 22 and 23.
The rostrum, additionally signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, advocates for “the transition to a net-zero emissions world”.
Alerting to the “existential risk to our societies and our economies” posed by the disasters caused by climate change, they pledge to “[work] to move forward on concrete measures in the service of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals , for our prosperity, for people and for the planet.” Also signatories, the President of the European Council, the Prime Minister of Japan and the Presidents of the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Kenya and Senegal.
All recognize the need to “invest everywhere for the long term”. They recommend prioritizing grants and concessional loans to act against poverty and “mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss”, then to put in place “long-term loans to invest in economic, social and cultural resilience”. infrastructure”.
They also emphasize the need to continue the reform of multilateral development banks and strengthen financial instruments, including debt deferral mechanisms, and “a new, more stable funding model for humanitarian aid”.
Heads of state are meeting in Paris on Thursday at the initiative of the French president with the aim of reimagining a global financial system that can better arm fragile states against climate change and poverty. Around a hundred countries will be represented, including around fifty Heads of State and Government.