UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan called for debt relief and restructuring as part of a broader effort to address climate change and economic distress at a solemn ceremony marking the handover by Uganda of the Chairmanship of Group of 77 and China to Iraq.
“We are in a moment where inequality among and within countries is increasing, and we see 800 million plus people living in extreme poverty,” said Ambassador Munir Munir who twice led the G-77, an alliance of developing countries established on 15 June 15 1964. The group derives its name from the 77 original signatories, although it now has 134 members.
G-77 is the largest intergovernmental coalition of developing countries at the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the UN system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.
Ambassador Akram served as chairman of the group in 2007 and 2021 during his distinguished service at the United Nations.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Pakistan envoy added, “We are living in a time when the climate catastrophe visits the developing as well as the developed countries. And perhaps, this is awakening, finally, the realization that climate change is an existential challenge for the entire planet.”
Accepting G-77’s presidency on behalf of Iraq from Uganda, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein highlighted his priorities for the challenging year.
“We will work on enhancing collective efforts to deal with the effects of climate change on developing countries, and to ensure international support to implement climate adaptation changes, and to support climate financing for developing countries to adapt with climate change and the use of renewable and sustainable energy, and the protection of national resources and dealing with desertification and protecting biodiversity that many Member States are affected by, ” he said.
At the outset, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the importance of G-77 and said, “2025 must be the year of keeping promises to developing countries.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Akram, the top Pakistani diplomat at the UN, extended Pakistan’s congratulations to Iraq, expressing full support for its leadership of G-77.
He said that provision of development finance, revival of trade as an engine for growth and alignment of the technology regime with SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and climate targets were paramount priorities for the developing countries.
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There was a massive gap of $4.3 trillion and $1.5 trillion in financing SDGs and climate change action, respectively, it was pointed out.
