GENERAL ASSEMBLY INFORMAL INTERACTIVE HEARINGS
ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
WWF
Jeremiah Michael Daffa
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Your Excellency Mr. President of the General Assembly. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this important event.
Mr. President, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Jeremiah Daffa. I am from Tanzania, one of the least developing nations in the world. I was born in the mountainous village that was once surrounded by rich tropical forest and biodiversity with clean flowing freshwaters all year around. I had the opportunity to work in both great lakes of Africa surrounding Tanzania, and spent many years working in the coastal and marine areas of Africa and in other countries worldwide while living in cities.
Mr. President, I am saying this purposely to share with you the experience of the present and the past that I hope many of us, especially the poor, have as we strive for sustainable development and eradicate poverty. When I visit my home village now, despite of existing governance efforts that are being taken, the once thick tropical forest surrounding the village is barely a quarter remaining, many water streams have dried up and the few remaining flow only for a maximum of four months in a year following the changed and unpredictable rain season. The biodiversity, specifically the wild animals and plants that we used to see and
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supporting livelihoods of my fellow citizens is today something of the past to the new generation, causing undescribed distress to the poor, especially our mothers, youth, children, aged and those with disabilities. The white beaches and clean coastal waters that were used by many are now few remaining due to beach erosion and pollution from urban areas and industries. While our economy mainly depends on agriculture, it in turns depends on natural rain, and tourism which depends on wildlife and extractives from nature, it is felt that in many developing nations, not only Tanzania, strong economies and poverty eradication can only be achieved by safeguarding the environment, protecting the ecosystems that sustain human well-being, and mitigate climate change and its impact. Environmental changes affect us all, especially the poorest people who are most vulnerable to food, water scarcity, energy, and impacts of climate change.
Putting ecosystems at the centre of development planning and managing natural resources in fair and accountable ways, will bring economic and social benefits and ensure food, water and energy security for all.
Your Excellency Mr. President, the Post-2015 Declaration will present the new global agenda for sustainable development to the world, to all nations, communities, and to each single individual on this planet. This Declaration needs to be close to the people, inspire everyone to change the way we look at the world and the way we behave for the future generations to come, our children, our grandchildren and our relatives. It needs to be owned by people and make everyone feeling involved and accountable to the success of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. Every human being, while reading the Declaration, should understand the importance and the urgency of the change of
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direction needed in our business-as-usual and in our daily life and strongly believe in it. This Declaration should be able to simplify and clearly communicate the complexity of the Post-2015 Agenda to make it understandable for everyone. In particular, the inter-linkages among the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development must be at the core of this Declaration to truly speak to all audiences. The Declaration should be able to make people feel part of the collective efforts made to change our world and improve our lives.
Mr. President, we have seen governance measures with good intention to raise people livelihoods and protect the Mother Nature, but let us agree that the efforts are too small compared to the breadth of the existing challenges.
This common global agenda, the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda, that we have been building together over the last many months from the local community, national and regional or economical blocks through our governments in close cooperation with CSOs and NGOs, has been very participatory, is inspiring and has hold tremendous potential. This agenda has the potential to change the way we think, the decision we make, and how we act and work together within and across countries. I am sure and convinced that this agenda as it is now passing the highest level of decision, will maintain and capture more potential of ambition to protect our planet and improve lives around the world.
Mr. President, We all live in one planet. Time has come for nations, communities, business, civil society and individuals to renew and muster all efforts to protect nature, produce and consume more wisely, guide financial flows to sustainable activities and ensure equitable resource governance. The Post-2015 Sustainable Development Framework for better choices at all levels for a thriving natural
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environment that supports good health, decent work, meaningful lives and prosperity for all.
I thank you, Your Excellency Mr. President.
