In a meeting with the European Parliament, President of the 69th UN General Assembly (UNGA) Sam Kutesa highlighted the “historic responsibility” to ensure successful outcomes from the UN summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda, the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3) and the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 21).
3 June 2015: In a meeting with the European Parliament, the President of the 69th UN General Assembly (UNGA), Sam Kutesa, highlighted the “historic responsibility” to ensure successful outcomes from the UN summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda, the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3) and the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 21).
The meeting took place during the European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels, Belgium, on 3 June 2015.
On the post-2015 development agenda, Kutesa underscored the need for engagement and commitment at all levels. He highlighted the important role of national and regional parliaments in helping to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and included in the global process, and said parliamentarians can use their oversight function to ensure that commitments are met.
On financing, the UNGA President commended the EU for “continuing to be a vital partner for many countries around the world.” He also welcomed the reaffirmation by EU Member States to achieve the target of 0.7% Gross National Income (GNI) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), and meet the target of 0.15-0.20% of GNI to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the short term and reach 0.20% within the time frame of the post-2015 development agenda. Adding that the scale of resources required to implement the agenda will go well beyond what can be provided through ODA, he said the EU’s work on blended financing is an example of innovative financing mechanisms that can leverage additional resources and increase the impact of aid.
On climate change, Kutesa stressed the need to “urgently” move ahead and work toward a universally binding agreement that can be finalized in Paris during COP 21, and welcomed the EU’s resolve to combat climate change as shown in its “climate targets” issued in March. He informed parliamentarians that he will convene a high-level event in New York, US, on 29 June 2015, to take stock of progress at the mid-way point between COP 20 and COP 21, and said the event will provide UN Member States and stakeholders a platform to exchange views and solutions for addressing climate change issues. [UNGA President’s Statement] [UNGA President’s Press Statement] [European Parliament News]