Focus on climate change, not conflicts: Ban Ki-moon

abu dhabi — Terrorism and hunger are killing more and more people in the world because governments focus not on sustainability goals but on military conflicts, former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.

He was speaking at the Future Sustainability Summit, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

As extremism and terrorism are spreading across the world, he said, “governments and people have not been able to engage wholly with the Sustainable Development Goals. That’s why still, there are more and more people who are suffering from abject hunger and many people needlessly die”.

“There are still 60 million children who are out of school in the 21st century,” said Ban, urging governments to show political will to implement sustainability goals.

“Each and every member-state will have different priorities and different means of implementing the sustainability goals for climate change. Some countries with resources, like the United Arab Emirates … you will have quite a balanced way of addressing the issues. But there are many poor countries who do not have enough resources. So, they really have to prioritise their targets.” Ban, 74, lauded the UAE for investing wisely to achieve sustainable goals and setting an example for other Middle Eastern countries.

While acknowledging that poorer countries might have to focus on having high-impact priority on education or poverty eradication, Ban said the roles of the United Nations and international organisations are important to support them.

“In each G-7 summit and G-20 summit, I have been urging political leaders to establish a task force that can oversee and coordinate between countries.”

Aside from reminding the decision-makers of their role, he also called on the youth to challenge their leaders to ensure that sustainability goals are not pushed back.

“Climate change is happening and approaching much, much faster. We have many global challenges, and global challenges require global solutions. We are all in this together,” he said.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals were launched when Ban was at the helm of the organisation between 2007 and 2016.

Climate change is happening and approaching much, much faster. We have many global challenges, and global challenges require global solutions.”

Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general, UN