Tag: Antonio Guterres

  • Overconsumption created three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution: UN chief

    By PTI

    KEVADIA: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said overconsumption has resulted in a three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and called for the need to treat the earth’s resources judiciously and respectfully.

    Guterres, who jointly launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, lamented that in the current times, greed was prevailing over need, and urged people to adopt a sustainable way of living.

    “In this perilous time, we need all hands on deck. There is no greater challenge than climate change.  Overconsumption has resulted in a three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” he said.

    “We are using the equivalent of 1.6 planet earths to maintain our lifestyles. That great access is compounded by great inequality. The combined greenhouse gas emission of the richest one per cent is more than twice of the poorest 50 per cent,” he said.

    Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Guterres said, “The world has enough for everyone’s needs but not everyone’s greed. Unfortunately in recent times, greed is prevailing over need and we need to reverse it.”

    “Each one of us has to learn to live sustainably and reduce our environmental footprint,” he said.

    He expressed hope that the initiatives of the LiFE movement spread throughout the world.

    “I am immensely encouraged by the commitment that India has made to pursue environmentally sound policies and its pledge to significantly increase investment in renewable energy, championing International Solar Alliance. We need to unleash the renewable revolution and I look forward to working with India in driving this agenda forward,” the UN chief said.

    In a few weeks’ time, world leaders will meet for COP 27 in Egypt. COP 27 will present a key political opportunity to renew trusts and accelerate actions on all pillars of Paris climate agreement, he added.

    Guterres noted that with its vulnerability to climate impacts and its massive economy, India can play a critical bridging role.

    “We must treat the earth’s resources with wisdom and respect,” he said while pledging to alter the economies and lifestyles so that people are able to share earth’s resources fairly and only take what they need.

    He also urged everyone to count on India as it assumes G20 Presidency to help usher in a new era of sustainability, fully in line with its history, culture and tradition.

    Guterrus earlier held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi.

    He also offered floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the ‘Statue of Unity’ at the venue.

    KEVADIA: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said overconsumption has resulted in a three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and called for the need to treat the earth’s resources judiciously and respectfully.

    Guterres, who jointly launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, lamented that in the current times, greed was prevailing over need, and urged people to adopt a sustainable way of living.

    “In this perilous time, we need all hands on deck. There is no greater challenge than climate change.  Overconsumption has resulted in a three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” he said.

    “We are using the equivalent of 1.6 planet earths to maintain our lifestyles. That great access is compounded by great inequality. The combined greenhouse gas emission of the richest one per cent is more than twice of the poorest 50 per cent,” he said.

    Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Guterres said, “The world has enough for everyone’s needs but not everyone’s greed. Unfortunately in recent times, greed is prevailing over need and we need to reverse it.”

    “Each one of us has to learn to live sustainably and reduce our environmental footprint,” he said.

    He expressed hope that the initiatives of the LiFE movement spread throughout the world.

    “I am immensely encouraged by the commitment that India has made to pursue environmentally sound policies and its pledge to significantly increase investment in renewable energy, championing International Solar Alliance. We need to unleash the renewable revolution and I look forward to working with India in driving this agenda forward,” the UN chief said.

    In a few weeks’ time, world leaders will meet for COP 27 in Egypt. COP 27 will present a key political opportunity to renew trusts and accelerate actions on all pillars of Paris climate agreement, he added.

    Guterres noted that with its vulnerability to climate impacts and its massive economy, India can play a critical bridging role.

    “We must treat the earth’s resources with wisdom and respect,” he said while pledging to alter the economies and lifestyles so that people are able to share earth’s resources fairly and only take what they need.

    He also urged everyone to count on India as it assumes G20 Presidency to help usher in a new era of sustainability, fully in line with its history, culture and tradition.

    Guterrus earlier held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi.

    He also offered floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the ‘Statue of Unity’ at the venue.

  • Three-day India tour of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres begins on Tuesday 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be on a three-day visit to India starting Tuesday, during which he will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, besides holding talks with his Indian interlocutors.

    It will be the first visit of Guterres to India since his second term in office commenced in January.

    He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office.

    The UN secretary general will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat’s Kevadiya on October 20.

    His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds two-day deliberations in India.

    “Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    It said Guterres will commence his visit to India by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.

    He will also deliver a public address at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject — “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation.”

    The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks nearly 14 years ago.

    The MEA said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through the country’s upcoming presidency of the G20.

    It said Guterres will attend the launch of the Mission LiFE booklet, logo and tagline in Kevadiya on October 20.

    The concept of LiFE was introduced by Modi during the COP26 at Glasgow in November last year.

    The prime minister had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

    “Mission LiFE will be India’s signature initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the MEA said.

    “Its central idea reflects India’s ethos of respect for mother nature and aims at piloting a focused programme that will mobilise one billion (100 crore) Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practise simple environment and climate-friendly behaviour and actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet,” it added.

    In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country’s first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area.

    The UN secretary general will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination, according to the MEA.

    NEW DELHI: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be on a three-day visit to India starting Tuesday, during which he will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, besides holding talks with his Indian interlocutors.

    It will be the first visit of Guterres to India since his second term in office commenced in January.

    He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office.

    The UN secretary general will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat’s Kevadiya on October 20.

    His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds two-day deliberations in India.

    “Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    It said Guterres will commence his visit to India by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.

    He will also deliver a public address at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject — “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation.”

    The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks nearly 14 years ago.

    The MEA said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through the country’s upcoming presidency of the G20.

    It said Guterres will attend the launch of the Mission LiFE booklet, logo and tagline in Kevadiya on October 20.

    The concept of LiFE was introduced by Modi during the COP26 at Glasgow in November last year.

    The prime minister had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

    “Mission LiFE will be India’s signature initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the MEA said.

    “Its central idea reflects India’s ethos of respect for mother nature and aims at piloting a focused programme that will mobilise one billion (100 crore) Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practise simple environment and climate-friendly behaviour and actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet,” it added.

    In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country’s first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area.

    The UN secretary general will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination, according to the MEA.

  • PM Modi speaks with UN secy-gen; calls for speedy probe into attack on peacekeepers in Congo

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Ministry Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation on Friday with the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres. 

    He discussed the recent attack on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where two Indian peacekeepers lost their lives. 

    Modi also urged the UN Secretary-General to ensure expeditious investigations, to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice. He underscored India’s commitment to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 2,50,000 Indian peacekeepers having served under UN Peacekeeping Missions so far.

    Nearly, 177 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving in UN peacekeeping Missions, the largest by any Troop Contributing Country.

    Meanwhile, Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the two slain Indian Border Security Force personnel, as well as to the government and the people of India. He reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of the attack against MONUSCO and assured all possible action in conducting speedy investigations.

    PM Modi also underscored India’s unwavering support for peace and stability in the Democratic People of the Congo, where nearly 2040 Indian soldiers are presently deployed at MONUSCO.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Ministry Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation on Friday with the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres. 

    He discussed the recent attack on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where two Indian peacekeepers lost their lives. 

    Modi also urged the UN Secretary-General to ensure expeditious investigations, to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice. He underscored India’s commitment to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 2,50,000 Indian peacekeepers having served under UN Peacekeeping Missions so far.

    Nearly, 177 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving in UN peacekeeping Missions, the largest by any Troop Contributing Country.

    Meanwhile, Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the two slain Indian Border Security Force personnel, as well as to the government and the people of India. He reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of the attack against MONUSCO and assured all possible action in conducting speedy investigations.

    PM Modi also underscored India’s unwavering support for peace and stability in the Democratic People of the Congo, where nearly 2040 Indian soldiers are presently deployed at MONUSCO.

  • Vaccine and other issues in Jaishankar’s talk with UN Secretary General

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to the US, on Tuesday met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and underlined the importance of urgent and effective global vaccine solutions for the coronavirus pandemic.

    “A warm & comprehensive meeting with UN Secretary General @antonioguterres. Discussed the Covid challenge, underlining the importance of finding urgent & effective global vaccine solutions. Critical to ramp up the vaccine supply chain to ensure greater production & fairer distribution,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting,

    They also held discussions on India’s challenges in its neighbourhood and agreed on adequately protecting the gains of the last two decades in Afghanistan. “Countering terrorism and radicalisation remain priorities for the region. Also, discussed recent developments in Myanmar. India values UNSG’s leadership of the UN, especially in these challenging times. Conveyed our support for his candidature for a second term,” the minister tweeted.

    Climate change was discussed and Jaishankar said greater resources are essential for larger ambitions, while financing will determine seriousness and credibility. “Highlighted India’s constructive role in UNSC and conveyed priorities of our Presidency in August. Maritime Security and Technology for Peacekeeping address the needs of the day. Welcomed SG’s appreciation of India’s Peacekeeping operations including at Goma, DRC recently,” Jaishankar said in a tweet.

    Earlier in the day, the minister held discussions with India’s permanent representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, and his deputy K Nagaraj Naidu, where he expressed confidence that India will continue to shape the ‘big debates of our times’. “A productive strategy session with @ambtstirumurti and our UN team in New York @IndiaUNNewYork. Confident that India will continue to shape the big debates of our times,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting.

    After his meeting with Guterres, Jaishankar will travel to Washington DC to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meeting is likely on May 28, as Blinken is on a trip to West Asia and will return on May 27. A State Department spokesperson said both leaders would discuss a wide range of issues, including Covid-19, efforts to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad grouping, enhancing the UN and multilateral cooperation.

  • Saddened by loss of life in fire at Serum Institute: UN

    Five men died after a fire broke out in a five-storeyed under-construction building in the Serum Institute of India #39;s Manjari premises in Pune on Thursday, police said.

  • India hopes for early resumption of dialogue between Palestine, Israel

    Expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India hopes for an early resumption of dialogue between Palestine and Israel for moving towards a comprehensive and negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    In his message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, Modi said, “I wish to convey India’s strong support for the Palestinian cause and to express our solidarity with the Palestinian people in their efforts to establish a sovereign, independent and united State of Palestine co-existing peaceful with the State of Israel.

    He said as the Day is marked, “we hope for an early resumption of dialogue between Palestine and Israel for moving towards a comprehensive and negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

    Modi underscored that historical ties between India and Palestine have further strengthened in recent years, adding that his visit to Ramallah in February this year was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine.

    “The visit was an assertion of India’s strong commitment for the development of Palestine.”

    India has announced an increase in the annual scholarships for Palestinian students, six new projects including construction of a specialty hospital and an increase in its annual contribution to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).

    “Our financial and technical assistance is an expression of our strong resolve to strengthen Palestinian institutions,” Modi said.

    In his message Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a two-State solution where Israel and Palestine live side-by-side as sovereign nations is still “the only option” for lasting peace, and “containing the situation is not sufficient.”

    Guterres said more than 40 years ago, the General Assembly established an International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people to remind “us of our collective, unfinished task of resolving the question of Palestine. Over the decades, this has become one of the most intractable challenges for the international community, and we know only too well the tragic results.”

    He called on Palestinian and Israeli leaders “to restore faith in the promise” of the UN General Assembly resolution of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, fulfilling the legitimate national aspirations of both peoples, with borders based on the 1967 lines and Jerusalem as the capital of both states – East Jerusalem being the capital of the Palestinian state.”