“We should also seek to establish a global information technology regime that seeks to bridge the divide and enable the developing countries to leapfrog into the future global digital economy.”
On Friday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari thanked G77 countries for their “generous support” in providing relief to Pakistan during the catastrophic floods and urged industrialised nations of the world to compensate their developing counterparts for the loss from damage caused by climate change.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he made these comments about G77 members.
In his speech, Bilawal said that these were difficult times for developing countries.
A series of shocks, including the Covid-19 virus, rising commodity prices, the proliferation of wars, and the effects of climate change, have disproportionally harmed us.
He said that due to a lack of solidarity among developed country partners, the world now faced the triple interlocking crises of food, fuel, and finance, adding that our problems had grown worse as a consequence.
“In order to restore our economies and achieve the SDGs [sustainable development goals], we need to implement a series of emergency measures and simultaneously work towards structural changes in the unequal and unjust international economic system.”
Bilawal suggested emergency measures to address the crisis.
He called for increased aid and concessional finance for more than 50 developing countries in economic distress. He also welcomed the Secretary-General’s proposal for a “$500 billion stimulus” to help those countries overcome financial problems and achieve their development goals.
“In addition to providing emergency food supplies through the WFP to the 250 million people in food distress, further lower food prices by expanding food production and supplies, and support small farmers to access seeds, fertilizer, and finance.”
The foreign minister mentioned the third point in his speech when he said that energy, especially gas, must be made available for developing countries and explored ways to reduce the financial burden of energy imports.
He mentioned the availability of Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, as well as the increase in vaccine production, as steps to end the Covid pandemic decisively;
“Help countries impacted by climate change by providing urgent and adequate assistance.”
Bilawal said that while Pakistan produces less than one percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, it is now experiencing the consequences of global warming.
An area the size of the United Kingdom has been submerged, killing 1,000 people and injuring thousands more; 33 million people are affected and 6 million are homeless. Damage to 1.7 million houses, 350 bridges, and 5 million acres of crops, crops, and vegetables amounts to over $30 billion, almost 10 percent of Pakistan’s GDP.
He said that the government, the armed forces, and the common people had come together to provide relief to their compatriots.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhary, thanked members of the Group of 77 and China for their “generous support” in Pakistan’s relief efforts.
He said we are hopeful of their support as Pakistan embarks on the daunting task of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
In addition to the immediate measures, Bilawal also suggested long-term goals that were required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
He stressed the need to follow the climate change agenda in accordance with the principles of “common but differentiated responsibility”.
“At COP27, we must obtain the $100 billion-plus annually pledged by industrialised countries for climate finance, half of which must go to climate adaptation, and a financing facility must be established to compensate developing countries for the damage caused by climate change.”
The minister said the developed nations should bear the burden of reducing emissions before 2050 in order to reach net zero emissions. He recommended that the international trade system be restructured so that developing countries can grow through exports.
Bilawal argued that developing countries needed fair international tax regimes, including digital trade, in order to mobilise larger domestic resources for development.
“It is necessary to create an international agreement aligned with SDTs that gives preferential access to relevant advanced technologies to developing countries and eliminates discriminatory restrictions.”
Global research, scientific breakthroughs, and development should be focused, the minister said.
“It is also important that we seek an international information technology regime that bridges the global digital economy of the future with the developing countries.”
