Dear friends,

I welcome you to the Ecumene 2022: Global Financial Forum!

Bringing together representatives of the academic, expert and business communities in Moscow, this forum raises serious and exceptionally important topics that are of concern for all of humanity, without exaggeration. These issues include consequences of the pandemic that affect many countries and have changed the lifestyle we knew for years ahead, as well as military conflicts, economic sanctions, manufacturing that cause irreparable damage to the environment and have a disastrous impact on nature and life on Earth in general. These and other global challenges require coordinated, responsible and measured solutions that will help preserve our planet for future generations and make the world stable, safe and comfortable.

I am convinced that this forum will be an influential platform for discussing key issues of long-term and sustainable development of the world economy, harmonising and improving the finance agenda and developing new approaches to the main goals of the Paris Climate Accords.

Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

All indicators on climate are trending in the wrong direction. Global emissions are at their highest levels and continue to rise. This July and August were the hottest months ever recorded. We are witnessing unprecedented climate impacts on every continent in every region and in every country. Science tells us that the battle to prevent a climate catastrophe will be won or loss during this decade.

The good news is we have never had more clarity on what needs to be done, by whom and within what timeframe. We know that we need to urgently accelerate the pace of decarbonization of the global economy and deliver climate justice to those on the frontlines of the climate crisis. And we have the financial and technological tools to get the job done.

Renewables have never been cheaper and there has never been more liquidity in the global financial system, but this will require governments to provide policy and regularity certainty and predictability on the direction of travel. And governments, businesses, financial institutions, local authorities and civil society must work together in ways that they have not done before. International cooperation, collaboration and solidarity will be key to solving the climate crisis.

This is why the Secretary-General has proposed an Acceleration Agenda aimed at turbocharging global efforts to reduce emissions and deliver climate justice. The Acceleration Agenda calls on developing countries and emerging economies to advance the net zero targets to as close as possible to 2040 and 2050 respectively. It calls on all OECD countries to face up call by 2030 and 2040 for the rest of the world. It also calls for the phase-out of the fossil fuels in line with global net zero by 2050 and a whole to call oil and gas expansion in line with the recommendations and findings of the IEA and IPCC.

We know that the phase-out of the fossil fuels will not happen overnight, but every country, business and financial institution needs a transition plan out of fossil fuels to ensure an orderly, managed, just and equitable transition. A transition that leaves no one behind.

These are big challenges, but they are not insurmountable. We can do better; we must do better. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get the job done. I thank you.

Dear friends,

I am happy to welcome all participants of the third Global Financial Forum Ecumene 2023.

Over the years it has become an influential platform that brings together Russian and international experts, representatives of scientific and business circles, government agencies, and public organizations. It provides a unique opportunity to discuss the key challenges of long-term sustainable development of the world economy and strengthen partnerships for joint implementation of projects. This year you will be looking for answers to the most urgent issues, including the use of artificial intelligence and digital currencies, environmental disorder, reduction of biodiversity, and climate change.

The state of the environment is one of the most pressing topics for the global community today. The search for solutions requires consolidated efforts to select the main focus for reducing the major risks and threats, as well as the exchange of knowledge and tools.

The President of the Russian Federation has set the goal of achieving carbon neutrality of the country by 2060. The strategy of socio-economic development with low greenhouse gas emissions until 2050, approved by the Government, defines measures for decarbonization. This includes supporting the implementation of breakthrough technologies in the field of energy conservation, CO2 capture and utilization, promoting the use of recyclable resources, green financing, preserving and increasing the absorption capacity of forests and other ecosystems.

I am confident that only through joint efforts we will be able to reduce the effects of global warming and preserve the Earth for future generations.

I wish all of you interesting and productive meetings, constructive dialogues, success, and achievements.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and friends,

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to address the Third Ecumene Global Financial Forum, which during the three years’ time became an important international platform for discussing key issues of long-term sustainable development, harmonization and improvement of the financial agenda, development of new approaches to implementation of the main objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Nature loss, climate change and pollution are aspects of the same planetary crisis. They are profoundly interconnected and reinforcing each other’s impact, and in the past decades due to our unsustainable consumption and production patterns, they have escalated.

Draughts and water shortages, drastic reduction in fish stocks and loss of forests peatland, mangrove and coral habitats worldwide are all driving climate change and made more likely by it. Waste and pollution are poisoning terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Inaction on biodiversity loss and climate change leads to real-life consequences such as climate, weather events and economic impacts, such as rising food prices and GDP decline.

The unsustainable use of plants and animals is not just threatening survival of 1 million species around the world. It also impacts the livelihood of billions of people who rely on wild species for food, fuel and income.

The more nature we lose, the less opportunity we must mitigate and adapt to climate change. Expect a decline of 2.7 trillion USD per year of gross domestic product due to nature loss by 2030, disproportionately impacting low-income countries.

There’s a good row of international frameworks: the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and many others. A key issue of all the times are the means of their implementation, and this include resource mobilization, finance for implementation, monitoring and accountability.

Finance is a key question. As with climate and biodiversity. The world already knows many of the solutions to the challenges facing the planet and humanity: renewables, energy efficiency, ecosystem restoration, food systems reform and much more. Solutions that can be quickly implemented to build resilience to climate change. Solutions that can kick start the long-term systems transformations that will wash us up to the shores of the net-zero, nature positive, resilient world.

Yet, to be honest, we haven’t put these solutions into practice at the meaningful scale and speed. We need to look at the positive side of nature conservation. Nature is a source of beauty and the enjoyment is shared amenity, and we are part of it. Nature is also a source of economic opportunity. Ecosystems and wild species help regulate the metrological cycles, water resources, soil fertility and pollination. By investing in nature conservation and restoration we can build resilient value within our society for the benefit of the people. Scientists are telling us this is their last chance we cannot go back to business as usual, and this is what the international frameworks are intended for.

It's about creating the pathway to enable the world to reach their 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature, with goals and targets for 2030. We should insist on the value of nature for everyone. Economic, cultural, spiritual. It is the very foundation of our society. This must be understood from political leaders and businesspeople and to everyone within the society.

I believe the outcomes of the discussions of this Forum will contribute to upcoming milestones such as the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) and the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly to be held at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya early next year, and help to deliver effective and inclusive solutions that can turbocharge the achievements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Let me wish you all a very fruitful meeting and look forward to hearing about your deliberations and receiving the Forum’s outcomes.

Thank you very much.