Recovery from pandemic must be ‘green’, better access to resources, UN
San Jose, Dec 21 (EFE).- Latin America’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic must be “green” and with better access to resources, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, told Efe in an interview.
“The recovery must be green, must be green and blue in the case of Costa Rica, if we are really to see how to take the opportunity of meeting a 1.5 degree world,” Mohammed said at the end of a two-day visit to Costa Rica.
“Costa Rica has led in this, you have a NDC that commits to a net zero by 2050. You’ve recently again achieved the 30 by 30 marine protection and continue to have ambitious goals and targets in your nationally determined contributions.”
Mohammed referred to Costa Rica as an international example of sustainability. The country generates up to 99% of its electricity from clean energy sources.
“For us the voice and leadership of Costa Rica from many different levels, especially on the climate agenda, has been an example to many on how we can recover better from Covid,” she told Efe.
Mohammed said the pandemic is a health problem, but also a socioeconomic one that is affecting countries’ fiscal spaces, with a consequent increase in debt, poverty, inequality and unemployment.
“What we want is an inclusive economy as it grows, more jobs, women seen in positions of leadership but also in the workforce, a care economy addressed, human rights, the gender based violence we see that is extreme, not just in Costa Rica but as a phenomenon within the region and the world as a result of Covid,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Mohammed is optimistic and believes that with “political will” and a more “flexible” international community, recovery can be facilitated.
“We see much more opportunity than we see challenges, of course they are there but they can be overcome, we have the partnerships, we have the abilities but we need political will, we need the international community to be much more flexible around financing frameworks and opportunities to access resources.” EFE
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