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Brazilian president calls for more efforts toward sustainable development

Xinhua, September 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Brazil's new president, Michel Temer, told the United Nations on Tuesday that his country will deposit instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change on Wednesday.

In his first appearance at the high-level general debate of the UN General Assembly which started Tuesday, Temer also urged more national efforts to turn the 2013 Agenda into reality.

"The 2030 Agenda is the greatest United Nations endeavour in favour of development. Turning it into reality will require more than the sum of national efforts," said Temer, who took office on Aug. 31 after the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff.

The president noted that supporting developing countries will be crucial to achieving the sustainable development goal.

"We live in the same Planet. There is no plan B. We must take ambitious measures under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities."

"Tomorrow, I will deposit Brazil's instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change," he said.

As the world's most biodiverse country and displaying one of the world's cleanest energy matrices, Brazil is an environment powerhouse with an uncompromising commitment to the environment, he said.

The Paris Agreement, sealed in December, 2015 after nearly two weeks of hard bargaining, needs 55 nations that together account for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions to ratify before it can enter into force.

Temer also voiced strong opposition to protectionism, which he said is on the rise and poses a perverse barrier to development. "It subtracts jobs and makes men, women and families around the world - including in Brazil - fall victim to unemployment and despair."

The multilateral trading system, he said, is part of the fight against trade protectionism and ending protectionism in agriculture is particularly important for development.

Over 140 world leaders gather in New York to attend this year's general debate which lasts from Sept. 20 to 26. This year's theme for the General Assembly is "The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Universal Push to Transform our World." Endit