Bogota, February 26, 2024. - Under the leadership of the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, Colombia arrives at the sixth edition of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) with the purpose of consolidating its international prominence in environmental matters, in the midst of an event where the challenges and urgent actions to face the climate crisis in the world will be addressed.
“We must advance in solutions that do not deepen other crises. For this reason, the role of the UNEA is fundamental, as it has a greater responsibility in defining environmental limits, making decisions and promoting the organization of the economy. We must stop thinking that the current model will solve the crisis it generated. Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions are the solution,” said the Minister of the Environment, Susana Muhamad, in her speech at the Assembly's opening plenary.
During her speech, the minister invited the world to face the triple climate crisis, make a transition from fossil fuels and rethink the current economic model.
Colombia's bets at UNEA-6:
-
Promotion of Colombia's international leadership as host of the COP16 on Biodiversity.
Invitation to the international community to COP16. As part of her agenda, the Minister will hold different meetings with executive directors of biodiversity and climate conventions, to work hand in hand on the road to the biodiversity summit. Likewise, the official presentation of the summit logo and the slogan 'Peace with Nature' will be made to the United Nations.
-
Review of debt, nature and climate experts.
With the purpose of advancing in the launching of the expert review, in the last COP28, Colombia, Kenya, Germany and France will hold a meeting to consolidate the technical panel of experts that will review the relationship between external debt and climate adaptation of nations. It is also expected that in this Assembly, more countries will join the initiative.
“I invite everyone to Colombia in this 2024. It is important to address conflicts. Let us make peace among ourselves and make peace with nature,” said Minister Susana Muhamad.
-
Conveying the message of Latin America and the Caribbean in her role as one of the vice presidents of the UNEA-6 bureau.
In her capacity as vice-president of the UNEA-6 Bureau and the only representative of Latin America and the Caribbean in this steering group, Minister Muhamad will extend to the nations the 6 agreements of the Climate Week, so that the nations of the world will embrace the visions of the region in the fight against climate change:
- Urgent adoption of the loss and damage fund.
- Regional union to define global adaptation targets and enable adequate financing of adaptation plans and nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
- Ensuring the strengthening of early warning systems for the entire region.
- Promotion of a climate fund for indigenous women to facilitate access to resources to finance climate adaptation projects.
- Promoting common approaches to increase debt-for-nature swap initiatives.
- The promotion of the recognition of the ecosystemic role of nature in Latin American and Caribbean countries, in order to be compensated for this role.
“I would like to invite you all to Colombia in 2024. It is important to address conflicts. It is important to stop the genocide in Palestine so that we can all focus on these other issues. Let's make peace among ourselves and let's make peace with nature,” said Minister Muhamad at the end of her speech.
In the coming days the Minister will present to the international community the official image of COP16 Colombia, Peace with Nature.