President Zuzana Čaputová made a speech to the UN General Assembly for the first time. She said, among other things, that it is important for our future that we also respect the rules at the international level, because that is the only way to restore broken confidence. In her words, it is important to remember that if one country deprives another country of territory, it must be called an occupation and not mistaken for peacekeeping. The spread of hatred or false propaganda must not be called freedom of expression and the fight against terrorism is no excuse for using chemical weapons against innocent civilians. “Populism won’t help us. The best way to be a patriot is not based on national selfishness but on cooperation with others.” In the President’s view, this duty extends to climate change. We must get ready for far-reaching changes in the way we do business and generate energy, but also in our personal lifestyles. At the same time, it is an opportunity to unite.

Full text of the president’s speech: 

Dear Mr President,

Mr Secretary General,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour for me to make my first address to this important assembly. The United Nations can pride itself on many spectacular achievements down the years. One thing that all of them have in common is adherence to rules and principles. Principles are still needed today, but we also need trust and responsibility. The best way to earn trust is to play by the rules. To live and act in conformity with them. Only then will we be able to anticipate each other’s behaviour when unexpected events occur and be able to prepare for them. I see mutual trust as the invisible bond that holds our societies together.

In this context, I see two major challenges:

The first is that we do not uphold our rules and principles. As a lawyer and long-term activist for justice, I cannot ignore the fact that many of these rules and principles are under enormous pressure, including dangerous efforts to distort or violate them. 

Therefore, when one country occupies the territory of another, it must be called an occupation and not mistaken for peacekeeping.  The suppression of the human rights of minorities must not be mixed up with the fight against extremism, and the spread of hatred and false propaganda cannot be called freedom of expression. The use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians cannot be justified as a measure to fight terrorism. These and many other examples justify the existence of a strong United Nations to uphold the rules. To uphold trust.

I see the second challenge in the fact that we have great difficulty in agreeing on new rules. We often fail to agree on anything. This applies to new areas that are arising as a result of our successes and progress. The prime examples are climate change, new technologies, cybernetics and artificial intelligence.

We will have to deal with difficult times. More than ever, we need responsible governments that derive their legitimacy from people’s trust. Governments that do not surrender to populism and manage to keep their ego under control. Governments that give their people the hope that justice still exists and that it pays to play by the rules. Our future depends on whether we are able to rebuild such trust.

We increasingly hear from world leaders that national interests must take precedence over the global good. In fact, the best way to be a patriot is not based on national selfishness but on cooperation. I see climate change as a key issue here.

 If I had to name the one thing that I find most disturbing, it is the DENIAL.   Denying the existence of the climate crisis or claiming that it is not really so serious. 

The scientific evidence is clear: climate change is a fact and time is running out. However, if we act now and reduce carbon emissions within 12 years, we can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. If we can succeed locally thanks to activists and NGOs, if we have successful green businesses, why shouldn’t we achieve the same on the global level?

It is as if businesses’ fear of losing competitive advantage or profits, or governments’ fear of losing popular support could outweigh all rational arguments.

Fear can only be overcome if we change our old ways of thinking. If we stop thinking that green is expensive and unprofitable. And if we learn that in the long run, green is actually much more beneficial and efficient.

Let me mention one specific example: For years it was politically unthinkable to close the old and inefficient coal mines in our country. Instead, we had to subsidise the mining industry to keep it alive. 

But in the end, we realised we had to act, and we made this difficult decision. I am very proud that at yesterday’s climate summit I was able to present a realistic plan for shutting down the coal mines and transforming the whole mining region. In addition, Slovakia has committed itself to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Every country can contribute its fair share to the task. We do not have the time to make excuses such as that we have to wait for the bigger and richer countries.  

This is why I highly appreciate your initiative, Mr Secretary-General, and thank you for your leadership and your personal commitment to convening yesterday’s summit. 

If we can combine our knowledge and resources with leadership, we can create a new politics. 

However, in this context, we must start by fulfilling the commitments we have already made. The Paris Agreement is an indicator that should keep us on course. The obligations it laid down are far from being fulfilled. We need to do more.

We need a rapid and fundamental change in the way we do business, generate power, manage transportation and invest our wealth. We have to change our way of life.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It seems that our young people understand the urgency of the situation better than we do. What future are we preparing for our children? What example are we setting for them?

We have a debt to this planet and to our children that we have to repay. The good news is that we have technological progress on our side. Green energy is continuously becoming more competitive. Private companies and investors are beginning to realize that investing in a green economy can be profitable and make economic sense. Because taking action on the climate does not undermine economic growth, it creates new business opportunities and new jobs for our people.

We must ensure that the fight against climate change ultimately benefits everyone. Especially the most vulnerable, who have to bear the burden, but also those affected by transformation. Because development’s foundation is first and foremost the prosperity and dignity of every human being.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We know what we need to do. We have been talking about it for years. We have all the knowledge and resources at our disposal. The time has come for us to stop tolerating excuses.

I propose that we should put aside our fear and take the next step. I believe that if we can move forward together on the climate issue, our sense of solidarity and common purpose will be rekindled. It is a chance for us to bridge the divides between nations and create new opportunities.

Our citizens are already moving in this direction. But the primary responsibility lies in our hands. It is our job to lead. Let us seize this opportunity and become the generation that lays the foundations for cooperation based on mutual recognition of our common destiny.

Thank you.