Developed nations were urged to assist in the technological advancement of more vulnerable nations to enhance their connectivity and capacity to innovate, while also helping them to transition to greener economies, the president of the United Nations General Assembly said.

 

Abdulla Shahid highlighted the stark discrepancies in technological capacity between the global North and South, which has exacerbated the challenges faced by developing nations in their attempts to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

“Covid-19 caused massive disruption in manufacturing and supply chains. But this was on the horizon before Covid-19 and was mainly driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution [4IR], climate change and the reconfiguration of globalisation," he said at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit in Dubai on Tuesday.

 

“The good news is 4IR technologies are playing a major role when it comes to cutting emissions, water and material consumption and the optimisation of waste management."

 

Climate change has become a sticking point among countries as the world grapples with its ill-effects. The Glasgow Climate Pact at the recent COP26, approved by almost 200 countries, came after a long list of promises and announcements aimed at reining in global warming.

 

Aside from those, there were important promises on greenhouse gas emissions and a surprise deal between the US and China, two of the world’s largest polluters.

 

"I call upon countries to invest in climate-friendly technologies that will spur recovery efforts by respecting out planet’s health and share these technologies with developing countries," Mr Shahid said. (The National)