South-South Cooperation Stands Out in the Climate Change Challenge – An Exclusive Interview with UNEP Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw

Concerted Efforts for a Shared Future

In September 2015, the UN published the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that aims to help define the future global development framework. The new development agenda envisions the environment as one of the three pillars of future sustainable development; the other two are the economy and society. The environmental element is thus fully integrated into the agenda's 17 goals and 169 targets.

Business as usual will not achieve the 2030 agenda, Thiaw said. "The new agenda requires that we transform our way of living, of transporting ourselves, and of heating, etc." He raised the example of food wastage. At the moment, the way we produce, process, and cook food wastes about one third of it. This is equivalent to around one billion tons every year, which could feed the whole sub-Saharan population. One of the 2030 Agenda targets is halving the amount of wasted food. It need not be difficult if everyone acts, but "In essence, it does require a change of mindset and lifestyle," Thiaw said.

But a radical transition needs full participation and concerted efforts by all countries, big and small, developed and developing. "No single country can succeed in the battle against climate change," Thiaw said, "as we have only one planet." He again stressed collaboration among countries, especially developing countries that are more vulnerable to changes in the natural environment. "China's experience is just as valuable to other countries as that which China needs to learn from other countries." Thiaw concluded that in facing these unprecedented global challenges, "We are all learning from scratch."