Global migrations are a relevant issue in the Mediterranean Sea and all over the world. You know very well the problem since you have been the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. What should the European Union do in order to help frontline countries in dealing with the migration issue?
«As we speak, more than 70 million people are forcibly displaced – double the level of 20 years ago, and 2.3 million more than just one year ago. It is a shocking and harrowing number. Conflicts have become more complex and combined with trends such as climate change, population growth, rapid urbanization, and food insecurity, we can, unfortunately, anticipate that forced displacement and humanitarian needs will continue to increase. The number of people displaced has been growing faster than our capacity to find durable solutions. On January 17th in Geneva, world leaders gather at the first Global Refugee Forum, hosted by the UN Refugee Agency, to discuss ways to better cope with present realities and prepare for future challenges.
I believe we have to fulfill the promises of responsibility-sharing set out in the Global Compact on Refugees. We must re-establish the integrity of the international refugee protection regime. And we have to collaborate to counter the smugglers and criminals who enrich themselves on the backs of vulnerable people. Deadly shipwrecks cannot become the new normal. Solutions should also address the root causes leading to these dangerous journeys. As long as conflicts and development challenges persist, people will continue to seek a more secure and brighter future for themselves and their families. Cooperation and international solidarity are key to bring sustainable solutions to the men, women, and children affected. We also need a real commitment to sharing responsibilities among Member States. In this context, I welcome the new policies of the Italian Government and I reaffirm what I said so many times in my past capacity as High Commissioner for Refugees: There must be effective European solidarity with the countries that are on the frontlines like Italy and Greece».
On the eve of the COP25 in Madrid, you said that we are close to the «point of no return» on the climate change issue, and yet important global players like the United States don’t even recognize the emergency and the COP25 ended without an agreement. What is your plan to overcome this opposition, and convince all the countries to do more than what was agreed in Paris in 2015?
«Let’s be clear. I am disappointed with the results of COP25which just concluded in Madrid. The international community lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation, and finance to tackle the climate crisis. We must not give up and I will not give up. I’m more determined than ever to work for 2020 to be the year in which all countries commit to do what science tells us is necessary to reach carbon neutrality in 2050 and a no more than 1.5-degree temperature rise. The climate crisis is a race against time for the survival of our civilization. It is, unfortunately, a race that we are losing. While many people already face the dire consequences of the climate crisis, the reality of an environment that is becoming uninhabitable is still not obvious to everyone. But we can still reverse the trends. Solutions exist. We have science on our side, we have new models of cooperation and we also have a growing momentum for change. Next year, we must deliver what the scientific community has defined as a must. All countries must commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Here, I must welcome the European Union’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and I urge countries worldwide to follow this example of climate action. So, in the crucial 12 months ahead, it will be essential that we secure more ambitious national commitments – particularly from the main emitters – to bring us on the path to immediately start reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a pace consistent to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050».
After the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and other international arms control measures, a new arms race appears to be taking shape. Do you see the risk of a new arms race and how could it be prevented?
«During the Cold War, mechanisms were created to limit the risk of nuclear confrontation and a disarmament framework was put in place. These mechanisms worked, leading to a remarkable reduction in nuclear arsenals and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. I am very concerned because this framework, essential to our collective security, is moving backward. Some of the very important agreements established during the Cold War have been eroded. The nuclear dimension of regional tensions is becoming more dangerous, as we can see in Northeast Asia and the Middle East. It is absolutely essential to bring nuclear disarmament back to the heart of the international agenda. It is also essential to make sure that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, or NPT, maintains its status as a fundamental pillar of the global order. As I laid out in my vision for disarmament, I will increase my efforts to help Member States to return to a common vision and path leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Developments in technology are also concerning. The growing frequency and severity of cyberattacks are undermining trust and encouraging States to adopt offensive postures for the hostile use of cyberspace. I worry that cyberattacks could trigger new conflicts. Autonomous weapons that could have the power to kill without human intervention are politically unacceptable and morally despicable. I strongly believe they should be prohibited but there is currently no consensus in the world on how to regulate these new technological developments. This is a challenge that we must address urgently».
-By Paolo Mastrolilli – New York
