Officials address Russia-Ukraine conflict impact at UN summit

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The ongoing war in Ukraine remains a pressing matter and has significantly impacted the whole world, officials at the UN summit told Rudaw on Thursday, emphasizing that the conflict should not steer attention away from challenges facing the globe, such as climate change.
 

The 77th edition of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City sees world leaders and officials come together to address the UN on global issues. This year’s assembly is largely overshadowed by the war in Ukraine which after nearly seven months seems to be taking a concerning route following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move to mobilize reservists in the fight with Ukraine embarking on a brazen, swift offensive to take back territory.

Samuel Werberg, an Arabic language spokesperson of the US State Department, stated that climate change remains a priority for the US despite the war in Ukraine, and Washington has addressed the topic at the UNGA.

“We are coordinating with different countries in the region, including Iraq and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa,” Werberg told Rudaw’s Majeed Gly on Thursday, adding “We know the effects of climate change know no boundaries, and does not limit itself to one country but includes all the countries of the world.”

US President Joe Biden said during his speech at the UNGA on Wednesday that he has signed the “biggest, most important climate commitment” in the history of the country, which will allocate 369 billion dollars towards tackling climate change.

“The United States will work with every nation, including our competitors, to solve global problems like climate change.  Climate diplomacy is not a favor to the United States or any other nation, and walking away hurts the entire world,” Biden added.

Dominican Foreign Minister Kenneth Darroux voiced condemnation against Russia’s war in Ukraine, but cautioned that the conflict must not distract from other challenges that the world is encountering at the moment.

“We are just coming from the Covid-19 pandemic and then we now have the Russia-Ukraine war. And Dominica like the rest of the international community have condemned the war,” told Rudaw’s Roj Eli Zalla, “Yes the Ukraine and Russia war is ongoing but climate change continues.”

 

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, leading to a global incline in food, oil, and petrol prices as exports from the neighboring countries diminished due to the war, in addition to worldwide distress over the prospect of nuclear escalation.

Francis M. Kai-Kai, Sierra Leone's planning and economic development minister, stressed that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been focal of the UNGA discussions, but that does not mean that the other significant issues have been neglected.

“Ukraine [war] has distracted everyone but everyone remains focused,” Kai-Kai said while attending the UNGA.

 

The legally binding 2015 Paris agreement has set a goal of limiting global warming to below two degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. More than 190 countries that have signed on to the accord must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of rising temperatures. Financial assistance for countries who need it is built into the accord.

Ioannis Kasoulidis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, told Rudaw that UNGA is an "opportunity" for countries to meet one another.