Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
15 June 2022
Dear friends,?
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I thank the organizers for the kind invitation to today¡¯s International Summit on Psychology and Global Health: Leadership for Emerging Challenges.??
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This event is both timely and opportune, taking place against the backdrop of a triple planetary crisis ¨C climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss ¨C as well as a continuing pandemic, which together are triggering a deluge of mental health challenges.?
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The pandemic, in particular, has compounded existing challenges brought on by rapid urbanization, communal disintegration, and growing disparities in wealth.??
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Meanwhile, our news stories are dominated by headlines of political strife and conflict, social inequality and exclusion, and the existential dangers posed by the climate crisis.?
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My dear Friends,?
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Climate change is creating a generation of despair and hopelessness.??
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We must act urgently to counter the dispiriting narrative that the future will bring only more alienation, tragedy, and loss.?
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A narrative of HOPE reminds us that humanity can take control of its own destiny.??
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Hope reinforces the belief that it is in our hands to recover better from the pandemic and rescue our planet from climate disaster.??
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Hope renews partnerships with the coalitions needed to create the future we want.?
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To inspire hope, we must draw upon and demonstrate our successes, and our examples of goodwill and cooperation.?
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Empowered by hope, we can tackle global environmental challenges with refreshed energy, mindful that we have both the capacity and the political will to make a meaningful difference.??
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This in turn will help us heal from the massive mental health crisis affecting our communities and our societies.?
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My friends,?
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I will convene, on 19 July, a High-Level Thematic debate entitled, ¡°The Moment for Nature,¡±.??
This event will help build cohesion across the global environmental work streams. It will look at successful and promising initiatives to tackle common bottlenecks.??
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Our goal is to remind people that it is indeed possible to tackle climate change, to address the challenges we face.?
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In the remaining tenure of my Presidency and beyond, I will do all that I can to support efforts to combat the climate crisis through the lens of psychology, and alleviate its negative impacts on mental health.??
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In a world defined by complex challenges and interdependence, let us continue to make use of every opportunity to give hope to our children through greater political will and transformative leadership.?
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And yes, with clear minds and clarity of purpose.?
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I thank you.?