Lula: Climate change, inequality world’s top challenges
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday (Sep. 19) that the fight against climate change and inequality are the main challenges to be overcome by world leaders. During the debate of heads of state at the 78th United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, he recalled the first time he took part in the event, back in 2003.
“I return today to say that I still have my unwavering confidence in humanity. At that time, the world had not yet realized how serious the climate crisis was. Today, it knocks on our doors, destroys our homes, our cities, our countries, kills, and brings loss and suffering to our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest,” the Latin American leader stated.
He expressed his condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Morocco and the storms that hit Libya and the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.
In order to overcome inequalities, he said, the resignation and lack of political will of those who govern the world must be overcome.
“Today, hunger—the central theme of my speech in this world parliament 20 years ago—affects 735 million human beings who will go to bed tonight not knowing if they will have anything to eat tomorrow. The world is increasingly unequal. The top ten billionaires have more wealth than the poorest 40 percent of humanity,” he added.
This year, the theme of the general debate is “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals Towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability for all.” In it, the heads of UN member states are invited to give speeches on their perspectives and concerns about the multilateral system.
The Brazilian government delivers the first speech at the UN General Assembly, followed by the President of the US, a tradition that dates back to the organization’s beginnings in the late 1940s.
This is the eighth time that President Lula opens the debate of heads of state.
During his two previous terms in office, he took part in the event every year between 2003 and 2009. In 2010, he was represented by then Foreign Minister and current Special Advisor to the President Celso Amorim.
The president landed in New York Saturday night (16), and participated in meetings with investors and foreign authorities. Tomorrow (20), he should meet Ukraine President Volodimir Zelensky. President Lula will also be received by US President Joe Biden, with whom he is expected to launch a global initiative to promote decent work.
