Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a press briefing at the Cities Summit of the Americas
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
US Representative to the United Nations
Denver, Colo
April 27, 2023
AS DELIVERED
AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Good evening everyone. I am very happy to be here at the Cities Summit. I had a truly exceptionally productive day with mayors from the United States and Latin American countries. This morning I held a session with the Mayor of Bogotá where we discussed the SDGs and how cities can be more actively involved in the implementation of the SDG goals. And then I had a chance to meet with three mayors from Latin America — I think it was Belize, mayor of Belize, Trinidad and Brazil, and then the mayor of Phoenix and Los Angeles, the deputy mayor — to talk about it how cities are engaging on issues related to the SDGs.
And what was especially important, and I said that in my panel today, is that cities actually stayed engaged when the United States pulled out of the Paris Agreement. The cities stayed committed. Los Angeles was a great example of a city that has pushed ahead with its SDG goals, but has also remained committed to climate commitments.
So I’m happy to answer your questions.
ASK: Why is such a commitment from all countries in the region so important?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: We talk about these goals from a global perspective. In New York, we are talking about these goals from a multilateral perspective. But in the end it’s cities, it’s mayors who touch people’s lives. It is the mayors who will address issues of poverty alleviation and tackling climate change at the local level. They actually have the task of implementing the SDG goals. And so hearing from these mayors that they are getting involved and that they are getting involved at a time when we are really behind on the targets – only 50 percent of the targets are even partially met; 30 percent are not addressed at all; only 13 have fully addressed them.
So we need to step up our efforts. We must step up our efforts. We need to take bolder action and take that action at the city level, and having all these mayors and local leaders here committing to doing that I think is a very powerful message to the world.
ASK: I would like to ask you about your trip to Brazil. Why this trip? And are you concerned about President Lula’s relationship with China, his relationship with China, with Russia?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Well, I’m flying to Brazil and leaving next week. Brazil is a member of the Security Council and plays a crucial role on the multilateral stage. Therefore, I will travel to Brazil to speak with Brazilian leaders on issues of common interest. And as we say anywhere in the world we’re asked about China, we don’t tell countries who to be friends with.
What we want to talk about with countries is the partnership that we have with those countries, how we can work with those countries to address common concerns. And one of those issues that we deal with regularly in the Security Council is the issue related to Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine, where Russia has been condemned by 141 countries in the United Nations and their actions affect how I, for example, today with a the mayor spoke from Brazil, food prices are extraordinarily high. We see these effects all over the world.
MODERATOR: sorry only one Yes continue.
ASK: Can you briefly explain the impact on immigration and climate change?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Well we see people, and I would say particularly in the Global South, and I’ve seen it particularly in Africa, where people are being forced to leave due to the effects of climate change. And we see a connection between climate and conflicts in many countries. For example, if you look at the impact in the Sahel, where you see farmers whose farms are being raided by herders who are moving further and further south because they cannot meet their grazing needs. So the climate affects migration decisions, and it is imperative that we work to tackle these issues together.
MODERATOR: And we still have time here for one last question.
ASK: Yes, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, we met at the Americas Summit last year.
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Yes.
ASK: I just have one question: What is your most important takeaway from everything you heard at this Cities Summit – what are you taking with you to the United Nations?
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Well, I was very impressed by how committed this city mayor is to the SDGs. And we have to listen to them. We must raise their voice at the United Nations. The mayor of Bogotá said for the first time – and she’s so impressive – said for the first time that the city’s mayors were allowed to speak before the United Nations two years ago. And I was asked what else can you do? And what they can do is increase their own advocacy with their national governments, because this is not just a matter for national governments; It is a local issue and mayors play a key role in ensuring the SDGs are implemented at the local level.
ASK: Wonderful. Thank you very much.
AMBASSADOR THOMAS GREENFIELD: Thank you very much.
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