By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

"Less spending on armament or accumulation and more investment in the fight against poverty, inequality and climate change is the smartest thing the world could do today," said President Carlos Alvarado on Wednesday in his speech at the 47th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, USA.

In his 20-minute speech, President Alvarado called on all countries to promote joint peace and progress projects for humanity.

Throughout his discourse, he mentioned the threats to democracies, which must be addressed with agile and concrete responses. The urgency to put in place global mechanisms to face the devastating effects of climate change, respect for human rights, and the impulse of economic and social development to address migratory flows, and the imperative that all countries have to transform in the face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The president also spoke about the importance of gender equality and the fight against all forms of discrimination.

He also referred to the challenges facing democracy, peace, and human rights in Nicaragua and Venezuela.

In his speech, President Alvarado gave his opinion on the need to end the economic blockade on Cuba.

Alvarado also spoke about the actions implemented by Costa Rica, referring to his National Decarbonization Plan to achieve in 2050 an economy free from the use of fossil fuels.

He also talked about a challenge for the international community to solve the migratory flows suffered by millions of people around the world. According to Alvarado, this migration is the result of the effects of climate change, inequality, poverty and in many cases violence.

“From a human rights perspective, we must give joint and sophisticated answers,” said President Alvarado, proposing to solve migration in Central America by bringing economic and social development to rural areas, from where most migrant populations leave.

Alvarado also called for members to think about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, known as the Information Revolution.

"Managing technological change in favor of decent work and closing technological and gender gaps will be key to getting ahead of history and preserving democracy," he said.


On Monday, as A.M. Costa Rica previously reported, President Carlos Alvarado gave a speech at Climate Action Summit 2019.



President Alvarado said in his speech that Costa Rica supports its economy with 100 percent renewable electricity, and the deforestation rate was reversed and that economic growth and welfare were achieved while investing in nature.

"We are at a turning point marked by science that emphasizes that we are running out of time to solve the climate crisis and its effects on the survival of species," President Alvarado said in his speech. "Today, young people claim us urgent actions to accelerate the transformation of our economies towards decarbonization and to reduce the scale of affectation of the most vulnerable populations. "

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, asked member countries for concrete plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 45 percent over the next ten years and to zero by 2050.

In response to Guterres’s request, President Alvarado listed his government’s actions to reverse the effects of climate change, including:

- The Decarbonization Plan sets a goal for zero emissions in 2050.

- The oil exploration and exploitation moratorium were extended to 2050.

- Country invests $30 million annually derived from the fossil fuel tax into green programs.

- Country also invests $5 billion in infrastructure to guarantee renewable energy.

- Government's commitment to be 60 percent forested area in 2030.

- Government's commitment that 30 percent of public transport be zero emissions in 2035.

During his visit to U N, the president met actor Harrison Ford, who is also vice president of the conservation organization. "I spoke Harrison Ford, Vice President of Conservation about our achievements as a country and vision in Climate Action Summit".

President Alvarado is in the big apple with the first lady, Claudia Dobles, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Ventura and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez.

The president and other authorities are scheduled to return to the country on Friday, September 27th.



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Do you agree with the opinions of President Alvarado in his speech to the United Nations?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com

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