LocationsThink Globally, Act Locally: Summary of Stockholm + 50 National Consultations in Timor-Leste
August 22, 2022
A healthy Planet is Everyone Responsibility
This year we commemorate the 50th anniversary of UN Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm. With a global slogan “A Healthy Planet for the Prosperity of All: Our Responsibility, Our Opportunity”, over 160 Stockholm+50 national events took place across more than 50 countries[1] to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the international, national and local level. In support from the Government of Sweden, UNDP Timor-Leste facilitated the Stockholm+50 national consultation leading inclusive dialogues on: 1) reflecting on the urgent needs of action to achieve a healthy planet and prosperity for all, 2) achieving a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and, 3) accelerating implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development in the context of the decade of action. The inclusive dialogue, encouraging active participation of “whole-of-society and whole-of-government”, is a core method of the Stockholm+50. Voices from marginalized groups of people, such as youth, woman, LGBTQI, people with disabilities are heightened during the consultations to identify actual problems and find substantial solutions with the government, local authorities, private sectors and civil society organizations.
[1] Outcomes of Stockholm+50 National Consultations
In Timor-Leste, four national consultations were conducted during April 27th -May 12th. At the inauguration ceremony, UN Resident Coordinator, Roy Trivedy stated “We should take action to mitigate the environmental impact. We also contributed through consolidate, interconnected action for a healthy planet by drawing inspiration and highlight the connectivity. Hope the discussion in Stockholm+50 is not only for today, beyond by sharing ideas or experiences on how best we as human being can do better to protect our planet for our generation and most important for the future generation.” Also, “The leadership dialogues in collaboration with multi-stakeholders strength our solidarity to promote dimension and substantial actions towards the SDGs, including a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Together we can protect our planet for the prosperity of all.” addressed by UNDP Resident Representative, Tuya Altangerel.
Stockholm+50 National Consultation in Timor-Leste
There are five areas focused in the consultations of Timor-Leste; (1) biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, (2) natural resources management, (3) waste management, (4) sustainable energy consumption, and (5) quality of infrastructure. Watch a video to find key voices and opinions generated during the Stockholm+50 leadership dialogues.
How does the civil society view on climate change affect to Timor-Leste? “When we observe the environmental issues of Timor-Leste, we faced many challenges in the last decade, such as long dry season, heavy raining, and disastrous floods which were exacerbated by climate change. It also effects on people’s access to natural resources, especially water supply” mentioned by Ermenia de Jesus Pinto, Coordinator of Reducing Plastic Waste Project-PREMATEL. She added “we all are living in one planet. We live in different parts of the planet, interconnecting one another. What you are doing now will affect to the whole planet and our future” What are the actions that Timor-Leste would take to scale up the change towards a healthy planet? What policies/structures need to be in place for Timor-Leste to take such action? One of the opinions generated in the consultation was that the Secretariat of State for the Environment should take a leadership to establish a strong partnership with local environmental groups, particularly with groups of women, youth and marginalized people across the country. In addition, it is important for governmental institutions and development partners to identify potential lands for plantation and accelerate conservation of the valuable fields to support sustainability of agricultural products and people’s livelihood. How can we safeguard the rights of people and nature, including among others, indigenous peoples and local communities, environmental defenders, women, youth, future generations? One of the key actions is to integrate environmental education with school curriculums while strengthening the cooperation with Ministry of Education and Secretariat of State for the Environment. It leverages social inclusion of local community to conduct environmental projects, such as conservation programs for forests and water resources, and energy transition projects promoting biogas for emission reduction. Moreover, we see majority of people dedicating to agricultural job in Timor-Leste. It is crucial for the Government and relevant development partners to increase their capacity of local farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices which safeguard the global environment as well as basic human rights for people across the country.
*************** All inputs obtained throughout the consultations were submitted to the Government of Sweden to present in the Stockholm+50 Conference during the World Environmental Week. It was significant that those issues, challenges and potential sustainable solutions discussed during the national consultation have significantly increased the awareness of various stakeholders, and motivated individuals to undertake actions. Now, we are moving forward to the Stockholm+50 Post-Consultation phase to leverage implementation of critical issues underlined throughout the national consultations at the local level. Through inclusive approaches in collaboration with Secretariat of State for the Environment, we will accelerate the substantial actions towards a healthy planet and prosperity of all in Timor-Leste; after all, it is not only our responsibility, but also opportunity for the better future. 【Stockholm+50 National Conference in Timor-Leste】 April 27 – National Consultation for Youth and Academia April 29 – National Consultation for women, LGBTQI, Associations for people with disabilities and Civil Society groups (In-Person and Livestreaming) May 4th – Official Launching and National Consultation (In-Person and Livestreaming) May 12th – Consultation in Municipality of Baucau for local authorities, post administrators, woman and youth groups (in-person) 【SparkBlue Timor-Leste】 Stockholm+50 National Consultation: Timor-Leste (sparkblue.org)
