{"id":23191,"date":"2021-09-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-25T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23191"},"modified":"2021-09-25T10:02:52","modified_gmt":"2021-09-25T14:02:52","slug":"martin-calls-for-urgent-action-on-climate-change-and-covid-19-at-un","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23191","title":{"rendered":"Martin Calls For Urgent Action On Climate Change And Covid-19 At UN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach used a speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Friday to call on global leaders to respond without delay to the challenges of Covid-19 and climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a speech that echoed comments Mr Martin made at the UN Security Council on Thursday, he said that at meetings in New York this week a \u201cseries of alarms have sounded\u201d on conflict, Covid-19 and climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged the global community to face the “moral test” of Covid vaccine inequity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have heard the alarms \u2013 now we must respond,\u201d he told world leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin has been in New York all week for a series of UN engagements. On Thursday he presided over a debate on climate and security at the UN headquarters in New York, the first time an Irish Taoiseach has chaired such a meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach warned that countries can no longer deny the reality of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cClimate change is the single greatest challenge facing our generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIts impact is devastating on our environment and ecosystems and our collective security is at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have seen, time and time again, that the most catastrophic impacts disproportionately affect the most vulnerable and the least responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must deliver on the Paris Agreement commitments and we will shortly have important discussions at Cop26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we can see the adverse effects of climate change already exacerbating conflict and insecurity, compounding other drivers of conflict such as poverty, inequality and human rights violations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said that he was aware that \u201cnot all Council members are of one mind on this\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy hope is that by working together, we can and we will reach a shared understanding of how the Security Council can meet the challenge of climate and security,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no time to waste. For this reason, in the coming days Ireland will convene a discussion on a thematic Security Council resolution on climate and security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the address, Mr Martin said that the pandemic had \u201ccast a shadow over our world\u201d and appealed to states to back the Covax program, which aims to provide poorer states with vaccines from wealthy countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVaccine inequity is a moral test for our global community,\u201d Mr Martin told an audience that included UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach said that backing Covax was the \u201conly way we can meet the target of a fully vaccinated world by mid-2022\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin has used his week in New York to highlight the need for action on global conflict and climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Irish resolution is calling for UN agreement on the link between climate change and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also acknowledged the UN and the Security Council\u2019s failures, name checking the conflict in Syria as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProgress has not always been possible. Too often, the Council has been divided. It is a lesson hard learned that when we, in this building, are divided, it is the most vulnerable who suffer the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin also spoke about conflict in Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe escalation of the Israeli\/Palestinian conflict in May resulted in more lives lost, including the deaths of more than 70 children,\u201d he told the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIreland was deeply frustrated by the Council\u2019s inability to speak throughout this latest outbreak of hostilities. While we welcomed the press statement agreed on 22nd May, it was too little, too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach also used his speech to highlight the need to support the people of Afghanistan, following the Taliban takeover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most vulnerable \u2013 women, girls, boys, men, LGBTQI persons and persons with disabilities \u2013 must be protected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin also spoke about what he called the \u201cdeteriorating situation\u201d in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must stand firm and united in support of the secretary general\u2019s call for a negotiated ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and restoration of basic services to all affected areas, and a political solution to the crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>