Protection of global climate for present
and future generations of humankind
A/RES/76/205
differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different
national circumstances,
Concerned that a prolonged economic downturn following the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic will adversely impact the implementation of the Paris
Agreement and the ability of countries, especially developing countries, to adequately
respond to the adverse impacts of climate change, emphasizing that, in the response
to the crisis, countries should keep the Sustainable Development Goals and climate
commitments in focus, taking note with concern of the findings in the contribution of
Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, taking note of the “United in Science 2021” report compiled by the
World Meteorological Organization, and emphasizing the importance of countries
keeping their commitments to the implementation of the Paris Agreement,
Noting with great concern the severe negative impact on human health, safety
and well-being caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as
the severe disruption to societies and economies and the devastating impact on lives
and livelihoods, and that the poorest and most vulnerable are the hardest hit by the
pandemic, reaffirming the ambition to get back on track to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals by designing and implementing sustainable and inclusive
recovery strategies to accelerate progress towards the full implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development and to help to reduce the risk of and build
resilience to future shocks, crises and pandemics, including by strengthening health
systems and achieving universal health coverage, and recognizing that equitable and
timely access for all to safe, quality, effective and affordable COVID -19 vaccines,
therapeutics and diagnostics are an essential part of a global resp onse based on unity,
solidarity, renewed multilateral cooperation and the principle of leaving no one
behind,
Acknowledging that action on adaptation to climate change is an urgent priority
and a global challenge faced by all countries, in particular dev eloping countries,
especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate
change, recognizing that the current need for adaptation is significant and that greater
levels of mitigation can reduce the need for additional adaptation efforts, and bearing
in mind that the provision of scaled-up financial resources should aim to achieve a
balance between adaptation and mitigation,
Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 3 the Johannesburg
Declaration on Sustainable Development 4 and the Plan of Implementation of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation), 5
the 2005 World Summit Outcome, 6 the outcome document of the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to
22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”, 7 the outcomes of the sessions of the
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and of the sessions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of
the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, the Programme of Action for the Least Developed
Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, adopted at the Fourth United Nations
Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 9 to
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3
4
5
6
7
2/10
Resolution 55/2.
Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South A frica,
26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and
corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
Ibid., resolution 2, annex.
Resolution 60/1.
Resolution 66/288, annex.
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