Speeches
6 Nov 2012Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and current Coordinator of the five United Nations Regional Commissions, speaks to the new mandates flowing from Rio+20, as well as to the regional challenges of and opportunities for shaping the sustainable development agenda to 2015 and beyond. In the context of persistent threats to development, and emerging transboundary challenges, Dr. Heyzer addresses the need for greater South-South cooperation, the power of regional solutions, and a selection of ESCAP’s initiatives to drive the post-Rio+20 agenda for inclusive and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.
24 Oct 2012Universal peace, security, regional and international cooperation, equal rights, self-determination, respect and fundamental freedoms. These are the purposes of the UN, as set down in our Charter, which for 67 years has remained the living, beating heart of our organisation. It directs our efforts, guides our work, and inspires our commitment to a better, shared future.
24 Oct 2012Launching the 2012 Asia-Pacific Disaster Report in Bangkok on UN Day, ESCAP Executive Secretary, Noeleen Heyzer said that despite the positive trend of reduced deaths, disaster risks are rising in Asia-Pacific. The region is confronted by the twin challenges of increasing exposure of people and economic assets, and the inability of the most vulnerable groups to cope with disasters.
15 Oct 2012Our challenge is not only to accelerate growth, but also to change the nature of growth, making it more inclusive, more sustainable, and ultimately more supportive of people and our planet. In the future we want, the future for business is one of partnership, leadership and shared, sustainable prosperity. Speech Type: Economic
10 Oct 2012The transport decisions of today impact the livelihood's and lifestyles of tomorrow. Inclusive and sustainable transport policy and investment decisions help to shape the paths to prosperity for our people and our planet. Planning for a more inclusive and sustainable future is needed, to ensure that we are not locked into transport modes that become unworkable, unaffordable, or which will be environmentally untenable.
8 Oct 2012As we celebrate non-violence and Gandhi's legacy today, it is our shared responsibility to rise to challenges of poverty, to eliminate exclusion and discrimination, and to reject the notion of second-class people and communities in the 21st century.
16 Jul 2012To deliver effectively within the evolving development context, we cannot continue from a traditional aid perspective. Regional initiatives have evolved from a means to improve the capabilities of countries to what can be described as a ?new regionalism? in the context of multilateralism, driven by issues such as trade, connectivity, and financial coordination. At a time when the Member States are preparing to define a development agenda for the UN post-2015, it is clear that the UN system, with its various assets, remains deeply relevant.
- 19 Jun 2012
Greener economies are smarter economies – they approach resource and climate crises as opportunities to generate economic, social and environmental gains. The big question is how best do countries implement green development strategies in a way that builds more inclusive and equitable prosperity, helping the millions who still live in poverty and easing the pressures on our over-stretched ecosystems?
- 8 Jun 2012
Myanmar is a country of great spirit and promise ? our responsibility is to assist the Burmese people in their efforts to realize this potential. As someone who has been part of the process, and witness to many of these developments, I want to share my personal reflections on when the changes began and some perspectives on what I believe helped to motivate the changes, and how to build on these foundations.
