A/RES/74/240
Natural plant fibres and sustainable development
Reaffirming the commitment to achieve sustainable development in its three
dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner,
Recognizing that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including
extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement
for sustainable development,
Reaffirming the need to achieve sustainable development through sustainable
production and use, including through protecting and sustainably managing natural
resources,
Emphasizing that the sustainable production and use of natural plant fibres can
make a positive contribution towards the efforts to achieve sustainable development,
poverty alleviation, improved human well-being and addressing environmental
degradation and climate change,
Stressing that natural plant fibres, like any other agricultural product, need to be
produced in a manner that respects the environment,
Welcoming the 2019 Climate Action Summit convened by the Secretary-General
on 23 September, and noting the multi-partner initiatives and commitments presented
during the Summit,
Emphasizing that nature-based solutions can contribute, among other strategies,
to climate change mitigation and reversing biodiversity loss, and in this regard
recognizing the important role of nature-based solutions in promoting the sustainable
production and use of natural plant fibres,
Noting the contributions and the challenges to sustainable development arising
from the use of plastic and artificial fibres, and noting also the role that natural plant
fibres can play in addressing certain economic, social and environme ntal challenges
to sustainable development,
Taking note of resolutions 4/6 of 15 March 2019, entitled “Marine plastic litter
and microplastics”, 7 and 4/9 of 15 March 2019, entitled “Addressing single-use
plastic products pollution”, 8 adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly
of the United Nations Environment Programme,
Recalling the ministerial declaration of the United Nations Environment Assembly
at its third session, entitled “Towards a pollution-free planet”, 9 and the ministerial
declaration of the Environment Assembly at its fourth session, entitled “Innovative
solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production ”,10
Recalling also the proclamation of the United Nations Decade for Deserts and
the Fight against Desertification (2010–2020), the United Nations Decade on
Biodiversity, 2011–2020, the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable
Development”, 2018–2028, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for
Sustainable Development, 2021–2030, the United Nations Decade of Family Farming
(2019–2028), the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and
the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027),
Recognizing that natural plant fibres can be easily recyclable, biodegradable and
renewable and can foster energy efficiency and relatively low levels of greenhouse
gas emissions, and thereby may contribute to promoting sustainable development,
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UNEP/EA.4/Res.6.
UNEP/EA.4/Res.9.
UNEP/EA.3/HLS.1.
UNEP/EA.4/HLS.1.
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