(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), co-hosted a virtual event on the sidelines of the 2021 High-level Political Forum (HLPF). The Forum was held under the theme of ‘Building back better to realize the SDGs in LDCs: Accelerating action to achieve inclusive, sustainable, resilient recovery – approaches on the road to the LDC5 conference in Doha’.
Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chairperson of QFFD, H E Lolwah Al Khater in a keynote speech stressed the importance of solidarity, multilateralism and collective action in the face of global challenges faced by least developed countries (LDCs).
“Now is the moment, to design bold actions and invest in building the resilience of individuals and communities to overcome the long-term development challenges and prepare better for future crisis. We will strive to realise the sustainable development goals ambitions and work hand in hand to put together a strengthened framework to support LDCs,” she said.
A panel discussion featured high level speakers including H E Ban Ki moon, President and Chair of GGGI and Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations; Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, the newly appointed UN High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS); and H E Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director-General of QFFD.
The aim of the event was to bring together high-level representatives from LDCs and leading experts from international organisations to discuss ways in which the international community could help speed up the acceleration of climate action post-COVID-19, especially in LDCs and Small Island Developing States. It also served as a platform to reflect on the importance of ensuring international support measure, building back better policies and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Given that most LDCs have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the progress on advancing the SDGs has declined or reversed. During the event, panellists emphasised the importance of taking urgent action to deliver inclusive and tangible solutions to build back better to achieve the SDGs, especially in key areas such as reducing poverty, improving health, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and taking action to combat climate change.
“This pandemic has added yet an additional burden to the already existing challenges faced by LDCs, making the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 a far-fetched goal. In order to rise to this challenge, the international community must invest in a global coordinated response for LDCs. One that goes beyond recovery, and that ensures inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery, to overcome the long-term development challenges and prepare better for future crises,” said Khalifa Al Kuwari.
“Least developed countries are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change but have the least access to technology or finance to increase their climate resilience and achieve carbon neutrality. GGGI supports countries from the planning stage, to setting climate policies, to developing green and climate investment projects, and to mobilizing green investment and climate finance.
"GGGI will continue to accelerate the green transformation in its member countries and regional integration organizations to stop the climate crisis and build back better,” said Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of GGGI.
This virtual event provided an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to address a sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19 with a focus on SDG 2, 3, 8 and 13. The outcome of the discussion will feed into the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) to be hosted by the State of Qatar in Doha in early 2022.
MENAFN15072021000063011010ID1102453194
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.