As the world community continues to grapple with the economic and financial crisis, leadership and foresight remain very much in need on two other major fronts: climate change and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This point was brought home by two recent events at the United Nations (New York) in which the IPU also intervened.
A thematic debate on energy efficiency, energy conservation and new and renewable sources of energy was one of two high-level events convened at the United Nations this year to help mobilize political support for crucial negotiations on a new climate change agreement at the end of the year in Copenhagen. The debate was opened by the President of the General Assembly and the United Nations Secretary-General.
Speaking on behalf of the IPU, Danish member of parliament Mr. Steen Gade made it clear that a switch to renewable energies is not only desirable but entirely possible. His country, which went from near total dependency on fossil fuels 30 years ago to an energy supply in which renewables account for some 30 per cent of the mix, is a case in point. All it takes, Mr. Gade said, is political will and a legislative package of strong incentives and regulations. He also called for the new post-Kyoto deal to include targets on renewable energies, and not just on cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Other statements focused on the needs of developing countries, where efforts at energy efficiency hinge on technology transfers and financial support from developed countries.
The need for parliaments to help remove many of the obstacles that still stand in the way of key international commitments on HIV/AIDS was highlighted at the General Assembly’s annual review on HIV/AIDS, which took place in June. The meeting was the last stock-taking opportunity before next year’s XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, when a global assessment will be made of progress in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care.
In a statement delivered by Ms. Sapana Pradhan Malla, a member of parliament from Nepal and an advocate for the rights of people living with HIV, the IPU renewed its call for the end of laws that discriminate based on HIV status, including travel bans, and for a fairer regime of drug production, distribution and pricing The statement also pledged continuing parliamentary support for the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, which sets important targets to be achieved by 2010, and announced plans for a parliamentary meeting on the occasion of next year’s high-level conference.
