The Group of 77 countries plus China is an important platform for developing countries to make their collective voices heard, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Claver Gatete has said, at a time the world is facing multiple crises.
The platform is key to the principle of “leaving no one behind”, Gatete said.
“As we prepare for the Summit of the Future, the unified voice of the G77 plus China will be a critical factor for success. The convening role of the regional commissions will also be essential,” said Gatete at the South Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, recently.
He was speaking on behalf of five UN Regional Economic Commissions.
“If there was ever a time when multilateralism demanded more from us, now is the time, and the leadership role of the G77 plus China will become even more critical.
The ECA executive secretary noted that the regional commissions, established by resolutions of the Economic and Social Council to promote regional development remain committed to the spirit of partnership across the global divide, “as we work together to leave no one behind.”
The regional economic commissions are ECA, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
Gatete said there are three key areas illustrating the regional commissions’ role in contributing to the principle of Leaving No one Behind and assessing the sources of vulnerabilities in developing countries.
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One is the deficit of industrialisation which prevents the creation of decent jobs to tackle poverty adequately.
“Many developing countries, especially in Africa, still export primary commodities and import manufactured goods, leading to significant external deficits, high debt levels and narrow fiscal space for basic social needs,” he said.
The second is the exposure to the negative effects of climate change.
“It is ironic that those in the global south who contribute the least suffer the worst consequences. And the global response falls short, leading to protectionist policies,” Gatete said.
The third is the deficit in technological development that could lead to further global divide.
He recognised the efforts of all the regional commissions in working together to advance the global discussions on loss and damage that led to the pledge of more than US$700 million to the loss and damage fund.
“ECA has been working to strengthen the capacities of our member states to establish carbon credit markets. It does not make sense for African countries to earn less than US$10 per ton of carbon whilst countries in Europe earn over US$100,” Gatete said.
