New York, 28 September 2021 (TDI): The Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Monday. Garneau called on the Member States to strengthen the multilateral response to climate change and Covid-19 pandemics. He discussed the growing inequality, the humanitarian crises, and the rise of Authoritarianism.
The Minister mentioned how climate change affects Canada, for example, the heatwave that West Canada suffered. Garneau discussed the actions that Canada is taking to tackle climate change like increasing the price of carbon by 2030 and strengthening their emission reduction targets. Garneau referred to Canada’s double climate finance contribution to 5.3 billion dollars over the next five years, as well.
Also, he stated that in order to deal with the Covid-19, the governments moved backward on their sustainable development goals. According to Garneau, the result of it was that extreme poverty spiked for the first time in three decades.
The rise of Authoritarianism, as Garneau stated in his speech, happened due to the Covid-19 pandemics. Garneau stated that some elements took opportunities to erode civil liberties and freedom of expression.
The Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to stand against forces of lies and fear, oppression and hate, criminality and corruption. Last, Garneau expressed Canada’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
