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Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, has given a keynote address on 3 March 2024 at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.
In her speech, Ms. Al Mubarak, who is also President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, reflected on the theme of the annual global cultural event, “A Matter of Time,” saying it is poignant as a point of reflection about humanity’s relationship with nature.
Ms. Al Mubarak touched upon the “profound sense of urgency” which evokes the need for action. In addition, she said, by re-examining the concept of time, humanity can heal its relationship with nature.
“The pace of our modern life is out of sync with the rhythm of nature. In other words, we are using our planet’s resources approximately two times faster than the Earth can replenish or regenerate, and we are emitting more carbon than our planet is able to sequester.”
Solving the challenge requires urgent action to transform the energy sector, address the negative environmental impacts of food production systems, and reshape humanity’s relationship with nature with conserving and restoring habitats becoming a priority. Yes, despite the challenge, Ms. Al Mubarak said there was still time to act.
These tasks will require the engagement of all nations and sectors of society: “governments, private sector, scientists, indigenous people, visionaries.” Cultural institutions, she said, were key in supporting the needed shift in humanity’s relationship with nature.
“All of you around the room, including the incredible cultural institutions locally and globally bear a monumental responsibility and opportunity to profoundly connect these topics together, to inspire people to work together, to foster meaning and new narratives that will eventually and crucially manifest to behavioral shifts that culminate in the systemic reform that we all need and to turn the tide in favor of a sustainable, equitable and verdant future.”
Watch Ms. Al Mubarak’s full keynote address at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi here.