Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

Excellencies,

"… An important biological species is in danger of disappearing due to the rapid and ongoing destruction of its natural conditions of life: mankind (…) The solution can not be to impede development for those who most need it (…) If we want to save humanity from self-destruction, we must better distribute the available wealth and technologies of our planet. Fewer luxuries and less waste in a few countries in order to ensure less poverty and hunger across the majority of the Earth (...) We must make use of all the necessary science for sustainable development without contamination."

The ideas I just mentioned were expressed by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, on the occasion of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

At that time, some thought that he was exaggerating and others considered him prophetic. Twenty-two years later his words remain completely valid.

Today the scientific evidence is indisputable: climate change is unequivocal and the influence of mankind is increasingly clear. The Earth’s ice is diminishing; global surface temperature is rising and gradually so too are sea levels; there are numerous phenomena associated with extreme weather and the effects of the acidification of the seas and oceans. World emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming have continued to grow over the past four decades.

In the short-term, the small island developing states will be the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This was reiterated at the recently held Samoa Conference.

It falls to all of us to urgently seek a solution to this reality, on the basis of our common yet varied responsibilities. For this to happen, the political will of the developed countries is necessary, as they have both the historic responsibility and the greater capabilities.

Mr. President:

The key cause of the global environmental crisis, including climate change, continues to be the irrational and unsustainable patterns of production and consumption that support the system of capitalist economic domination and generate greater inequality and poverty.

How can we speak of sustainability when the richest 85 people on the planet possess the equivalent of the total economic resources of the 3.5 billion poorest inhabitants?

Almost 1.5 billion people in 91 developing countries live in multidimensional poverty, lacking in healthcare, education and living standards. In the underdeveloped world, 827 million human beings suffered chronic hunger between 2011 and 2013.

The responsibility of the industrialized countries for the poverty that exists in many countries of the South is indisputable. They imposed trade liberalization among unequal actors and financial recipes for structural adjustment. Their transnational agribusinesses led to the ruin of small producers and transformed countries that were once self-sufficient and exporters of food into net importers.

Climate change will exacerbate global environmental problems, poverty and food insecurity. The lack of effective measures and the necessary international funding to eradicate these problems is in contrast to the irrational military expenditure imposed on the world, which in 2012 reached 1.7 trillion dollars. The United States alone accounted for 37% of this figure.

The industrialized countries should fulfill their commitments, without conditions or delays in funding, technological transfer and the building of capacities.

This high level event should support the intergovernmental efforts undertaken according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. With the participation of all Member States, we hope to adopt a new agreement next year, based on the principles of the Convention and incorporating mitigation and adaptation actions.

Mr. President,

Cuba is undertaking numerous efforts to combat climate change; despite the limitations imposed on the nation by the illegal economic, commercial and particularly the financial blockade, imposed by the United States.

Within this framework, Cuba is advancing in its National Program to Confront Climate Change, which prioritizes measures in the coastal areas of the archipelago and incorporates adaptation through other related programs; such as those on food security, comprehensive water management, territorial legislation, sanitary precautions, reforestation, among others.

We have adopted additional measures to save energy, in both the industrial and residential sectors. We have planned for over half of the growth in electricity to be generated using renewable sources.

Since 2007, our scientists have intensified their investigations into the current and future dangers and vulnerabilities of our coastline, with particular attention given to the rise in sea levels over this century. Cuba is willing to share its modest results in this field.

Excellencies,

Great efforts and clear commitments are required. The true political will of the governments of the industrialized states, who will ultimately share the destiny of the impoverished South, is needed.

We will work to reach an ambitious, just and balanced agreement. It will be necessary to meet the legitimate demands of the countries of the South in order to guarantee the rights of all humanity, including the right to life, to peace, to food and to development.