Mr. President,
We welcome the convening of this interactive dialogue on Harmony with Nature in commemoration of the International Mother Earth Day. It is commendable that the Organization should focus its attention on international cooperation for the care of our Mother Earth and accordingly, we thank the panelists for their presentations.
We agree that the environmental crisis plaguing the planet today and its devastating impact on populations, particularly in developing countries, is largely the result of current unsustainable production and consumption patterns. It is a self-destructive phenomenon that feeds on the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources and poses a serious threat to the very existence of the human species.
Cuba is convinced that the only way to achieve sustainable development in harmony with nature will be through a radical change in the use of the planet's resources and production and consumption patterns in developed countries, which have been imposed on the rest of the world.
On a global basis, it is imperative to transform the existing unjust international economic order and to eliminate inequalities and poverty in all its forms and dimensions.
It is important not only to generate and foster social awareness, but also political will on the part of the developed countries in fulfilling their international commitments on technology transfer, official development assistance, as well as in providing additional financial resources for climate change adaptation and mitigation actions.
It will also be essential for developed countries to meet their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of their historical responsibility and to honor their ecological debt to humanity.
Above all, the right to development of the countries of the South and their involvement in global agreements should be recognized in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Mr. President,
On the basis of our national experience, Cuba seeks to strengthen the coordination and harmonization of national public policies in order to promote responsible production and consumption patterns at all levels, with the full support of the government and society as a whole.
In our country, the principles of sustainable development are embodied in the constitution, with a highly humanistic approach and recognizing people as the core element of all processes. The Conceptualization of the Cuban Economic and Social Model and the National Plan for Economic and Social Development until 2030 sets out among its foundations that "Economic, social and environmental sustainability is associated with development, and requires economic growth rates and structures that ensure prosperity with social justice and equity in harmony with the environment, the rational use and preservation of natural resources, as well as the care and enrichment of the nation's heritage".
The country has set out to strengthen international cooperation to move towards more sustainable patterns in areas such as tourism, investment, agrifood and energy systems, as well as the lifestyle of its citizens through education. To this end, the National Program for Sustainable Consumption and Production and Efficiency in the Use of Resources is currently in force, also aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy sources, the rational use of resources and recycling, supported by science, technology, innovation and effective fiscal policy.
Mr. President,
The tremendous national efforts that could be developed will not be sufficient to achieve economic and social development in harmony with nature and to confront the pressing global challenges that affect all human species with no geographical distinction. This also requires strong international cooperation and renewed and effective political commitment.
We could therefore ask ourselves: What can be done to reverse the world order where only a few accumulate wealth and resources, while many others suffer from hunger and poverty in the developing world and even within developed countries? How can we make sustainable a world order where poor countries continue to be victims of unequal exchange, unfair and exclusive trade, unpayable debts, burdensome conditionalities, exclusion from the most important decision-making processes at the global level and systematic non-compliance of industrialized countries with their development commitments? The status quo is neither acceptable nor sustainable.
For our part, we will persist in our efforts to pursue a consistent environmental, social and economic policy for ensuring the achievement of our legitimate right to development, and we will continue to defend the right of our species to exist in harmony with nature.
I conclude with a phrase from the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, and I quote: “Let human life be more rational. Let a just international economic order be implemented (...) Let the ecological debt be paid and not the foreign debt. Let hunger disappear and not man", end of quote.
Thank you very much.