NEW YORK, OCTOBER 28 – Speaking in front of the General Assembly’s Second Commission, Italy presented a resolution on ‘Sustainable Mountain Development’, co-facilitated with the delegation of Kyrgyzstan. The resolution, described as “well-balanced, focused and action-oriented” by an Italian delegate, argued for the centrality of sustainable mountain development for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
“As many as 670 million people living in high mountain regions depend on them for food and water, energy, trade, transport, recreation and tourism, for health and wellbeing, culture and identity,” Italy explained, noting that mountain regions are especially vulnerable areas in the face of climate change imposed hazards and natural disasters.
Italy argued for the primacy of scientific knowledge and concrete action in safeguarding mountain regions from rising global temperatures: “In a nutshell, the following holds true for mountains regions: stable, sustainable and durable economic and social development cannot be achieved without a scientifically based, action-oriented and concrete commitment to combatting environmental degradation and protecting biodiversity and natural resources”.
The Italian delegate proceeded to explain how this goal is to be achieved through a multi-stakeholder, inclusive approach, which enjoys the participation of not only the central government and local authorities, but also international organizations, the academic world, the scientific community, civil society, local communities and the private sector. Italy stressed also the importance of supporting gender equality, “as women are often the primary managers of mountain regions’ natural resources” and should thereby be “at the center of the international community’s action”. (SB@OnuItalia)
