PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 25 May 2021 <\/strong><\/p>\n 9:00 am \u2013 12:00 pm EDT<\/strong><\/p>\n Live-streamed at <\/strong>http:\/\/webtv.un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n New York, 25 May 2021\u2014<\/strong>United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres will convene leaders and ministers from 18 countries that heavily rely on extractive industries in a roundtable discussion today.<\/p>\n The leaders\u2019 meeting comes as the world continues to suffer from the grave social, environmental, and economic impacts of COVID-19. On the table are options for transforming the sector to support sustainable development and a just transition to the green economy.<\/p>\n \u201cThis sector can avoid exacerbating inequalities by ensuring the fair distribution of the benefits of the development of extractive industries, in line with the right to development,\u201d said United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres. \u201cWe need to improve extractive resource governance through more effective rules and enforcement related to environmental sustainability, transparency, inclusive decision-making, accountability, access to information and respecting and protecting human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n Many developing countries that depend on extractive industries are facing severe fiscal deficits due to COVID-19 and have rolled back social and environmental safeguards to attract investments and boost their economies in the short-term.<\/p>\n Often these countries are rich in the commodities needed for the renewables revolution and clean technologies, including lithium, graphite, manganese, cobalt, and critical raw materials, providing a window of opportunity to capitalize on this rising demand.<\/p>\n The production of some of those minerals could increase by nearly 500 percent by 2050 as clean energy technologies use increase, while the carbon footprint associated with their production will account for 6% of emissions generated by fossil fuels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alignment of the sector with sustainable and circular practices is a necessity.<\/strong><\/p>\n Presently, mineral resource extraction plays a dominant role in the economies of 81 countries that account for a quarter of global GDP. Yet these countries are also home to half of the world\u2019s population and nearly 70 percent of those living in extreme poverty\u2014a glaring sign that extractive industries are not contributing to poverty reduction or the SDGs. Governance and revenue mismanagement, corruption, and illicit financial flows continue to undermine these collective efforts.<\/p>\n The over-dependence of many economies on extractives has brought new awareness about the need for greater diversification and redistribution of revenue to enhance inclusion and resilience.<\/p>\n It is also necessary that vulnerable communities and segments of the population such as women, indigenous peoples, and youth, are adequately supported to benefit from the sector and have access to reskilling when necessary to ensure a successful energy transition.<\/p>\n The Roundtable will look at how countries, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders can come together to address a range of issues in the extractives sector that affect economic and social development and the protection of the environment.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n New United Nations policy brief on transforming extractive industries <\/strong><\/p>\n In a new policy brief issued today, \u201cTransforming Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development\u201d<\/strong>, the Secretary-General noted that the abundance of raw materials has often, counterintuitively, locked many developing countries into patterns that serve as a barrier to long-term economic development.<\/p>\n \u201cExtractive industries,\u201d he said, \u201chave immense potential to drive growth, support sustainable development, and reduce poverty in developing countries. Yet, the actual contribution of extractive industries to sustainable development in countries rich in raw materials has often been mired by financial, economic, governance, social and environmental concerns, leading to the so-called resource curse or paradox of plenty.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A shift in mindset is needed<\/strong><\/p>\n A shift in mindset is needed away from short-term economic considerations to long-term financial risks and broader-based benefits associated with a just transition to a net-zero future, that accounts for social, environmental and cultural externalities.<\/p>\n Member States are invited to establish a Working Group on Extractive Industries to lead international efforts to transform extractive industries to support sustainable development and to implement the outcomes of this Initiative at the country-level.<\/p>\n The policy brief lays out 18 recommendations over six areas that include financing for development; governance and revenue management; the green economy; a just transition to sustainable systems; technology, innovation, and a circular economy; and regional and global collaboration<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Financing for Development<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Governance and revenue management<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Green Economy<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n A just transition to sustainable systems<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Technology, Innovation, and a Circular Economy<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Regional and Global Collaboration<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Participants at the High-level meeting \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The 爆料网 Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres invited Heads of States and Government, and major stakeholders from extractive industries, civil society, the private sector, and 爆料网 officials. The event will feature opening remarks by the 爆料网 Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres and closing remarks by 爆料网 Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. It will be moderated by SABC 爆料网 Bureau Chief Sherwin Bryce-Pease.<\/p>\n [END]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n About the High-level meeting <\/strong><\/p>\n The high-level meeting will be webcast at: http:\/\/webtv.un.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n The full list of speakers will be posted on the High-Level Event website, which can be found at: https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/coronavirus\/financing-development<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An embargoed copy of the Secretary-General\u2019s Policy Brief can be found here<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n爆料网 Secretary-General calls for sea-change in extractive industries as crucial ingredient in COVID-19 recovery, addressing inequalities and climate action <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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