As German environmental policymakers grappled with the effects of air pollution on aquatic and forest ecosystems, commonly known as acid rain, in the 1970s, they articulated a new principle in their planning for environmental protection. The term is vorsogeprinzip, which can be translated as foresight principle, or responsibility principle. It was originally used as a principle to guide deliberate planning. For the purposes of this lesson, it is translated as responsibility principle.

Mr President, I have concentrated my statement at this year’s assembly on the COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Change because they are the two overarching issues that confrontmankind.Dealing with them successfully is what will give future generations a chance to live in peace, prosperity and safety.Those generations are our children and grandchildren.So what future do we want for them?Should we not act to give them the glorious future we want for them, and that they deserve?We certainly should

futuregenerations

And our grandchildren will know that we are the culpritsand that we were warnedand they will know that it was this generation that came centre stageto speak and act on behalf of posterityand that we missed our cueand they will ask what kind of people we were to be so selfish and so short sighted.