Álvaro Moerzinger:  The most urgent measures are related to health and education

— Ambassador Álvaro Moerzinger, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the UN-Geneva, kindly agrees to answer questions from PuntoLatino in the framework of the pre-podium interview round conducted by Luis Vélez Serrano of PuntoLatino.

 

—How do you see the current state of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean?

— First of all, the idea of ​​sustainable development contains an interesting paradox: although it is one of the most cited and established terms in UN resolutions, academic studies and conferences, it still lacks full acceptance by the international community. In principle, we can understand it as the search to identify and satisfy the needs of humanity, taking into account the interests of future generations. This definition includes the interrelation of dimensions such as the environment, social, economic, financial, institutional and cultural.

If we analyse the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean from these dimensions, we find, from a general point of view, a great disparity in the situation of these dimensions, which also include the states.

However, as ECLAC points out, there are a number of common obstacles to achieving sustainable development in accordance with the 2030 Agenda.
These include:

a) the persistence of poverty, with a higher incidence among women, children, and indigenous, Afro-descendant, and peasant communities;
b) the region continues to be the most unequal in the world;
c) disparities related to education, health, and access to basic services among different populations;
d) limited and unstable job opportunities;
e) fragile institutions related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda;
f) deficiencies in citizen security.

In short, it is not likely that the region will achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda, as they have been defined by the UN so far.

 

— What priorities do you consider most important in the action of international organizations in the field of sustainable development?

— At first glance, it is difficult to prioritize the dimensions inherent to the concept of sustainable development mentioned in the first question. However, we understand that, due to the characteristics of the different mandates of international organizations, the most urgent measures that they are able to promote or cooperate in their implementation are related to health and education. Without national health systems that guarantee adequate minimum care, both in the prevention and development of diseases, the other dimensions take a backseat, as demonstrated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, the other fundamental pillar for being able to meet the objectives of sustainable development is related to education, the only effective tool that allows us to moderate inequalities and lack of opportunities.

 

— What points do you think are the most relevant in the context of health and the environment?

— Ensuring survival is the main task for achieving sustainable development, and to do so, unjustifiable dangers and risks to health arising from human activity must be avoided. For example, in Latin America, health is threatened by the consumption of contaminated water, environmental disasters such as landslides and floods, limited sanitation networks, and hazardous waste from the health and industrial sectors.

Regarding the environment, it must be ensured that future generations have the right to use natural resources in a similar way to the present. To achieve this, among other measures, the following should be taken: preserving existing reserves of non-renewable natural resources, ensuring that their use does not exceed their natural regeneration capacity; the release of waste and emissions cannot exceed the absorption capacity of the environment and ecosystems; and finally, technological risks that could have insurmountable consequences must be avoided.

 

— What points do you think are most appropriate for the panel that you will moderate?

— The lessons and challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed for the region seem to me to be the core issue. After the appearance of COVID, state relations changed substantially and the world understood that it is not prepared for a challenge of this magnitude. How to react is the question that the entire international system is asking itself today, having once again experienced the accumulation of challenges that can only be resolved through efficient cooperation between all parties.

 

— Thank you very much, Ambassador Moerzinger!

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