As the head of the UN development programme, Achim Steiner has been fighting for years for a fairer and more sustainable world. With DW, he spoke about extremism, climate change and the dangerous inaction of political leaders.
Deutsche Welle: The number of nationalists who shy away from any kind of internationalism is on the rise. What do you say to these people?
Achim Steiner: First of all, I don’t blame you, you know, for what the populists really. Mostly, populism has a real origin. If you are treated poorly or alienated feel, or if you believe to lose the control over one’s own fate, then it shows a reaction. In many people the feeling that you have lost somewhere in the context of globalization of control. In this score, the extremists and populist punch then most. The least people are, by nature or Conviction, a racist; but you can easily be manipulated and become a negative force in society.
Tend not to supporter of multilateralism: U.S. President Donald Trump
How to get started in the face of global problems at all to change things for the Better?
I am committed to something that, in my view, is fundamental for all of us: the knowledge of, Belief in and a commitment to multilateralism. Or, simply put: the idea of the United Nations. My decision to return in 2016, the United Nations, particularly at the Moment, as I’ve seen, in which a nationalist and isolationist in the direction of the policy developed at the time, was very aware of it.
I also believe that global development has the power to save the company from collapse. So, it has shown me a great deal of sense to take the opportunity to lead the largest UN organization – the one that is dedicated to sustainable development.
Can you give an example of how attempts to work with the UNDP to implement this?
The economic System in which we are, in a way, trapped, destroyed our planet. Therefore, it is important to remind ourselves that we need to make decisions. We can help Nations around the world to tackle the problems and fight. The UNDP offers the largest selection of deliberations on climate change in the UN family. We are actually helping more than 170 countries, climate protection, measures to stimulate, with a view to the national interest. We tackle the Problem of Migration in the countries in which it arises.
Digitization could help to accelerate sustainable development in hitherto under-developed areas
But the young people living in the digital age. You are aware of the opportunities that the world has to offer. If the countries are not the hopes of this people, pack your things and go. With these movements, we are at the Moment not finished.
They believe that the United Nations still effective?
Firstly: the United Nations and our individual bodies, funds and programmes, a model for efficiency and effectiveness? No, we are not. We are public institutions that have controlled costs and, first of all, to continue what you are doing.
The second point is that the member States fulfilling their commitment to pay. This resulted in a liquidity crisis arose.
And thirdly, we are working hard to make our institutions more efficient and effective. I think sometimes the world would be surprised if they would realize, with how few resources we actually meet the missions of the United Nations, keep the peace, humanitarian assistance, and help countries, their development needs to meet.
How little is it?
Let me draw a comparison. The residents of New York pay per year of 2.5 billion euros in taxes for their own safety. This corresponds approximately to what the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in order to combat the major crises of the world. It is a totally inadequate sum of money.
You are in spite of everything, an Optimist. Or are there things you can be frustrating?
One of the reasons why I’m optimistic is that I meet almost every day, extraordinary people, doing extraordinary things.
Greta Thunberg inspired hundreds of thousands of students for more stringent climate measures
Look at the young woman from Sweden, Greta Thunberg,. I admire people like you a lot, and there are actually tens of thousands of them around the world. Most of all a lack of frustrated me in the moment of time. We live in an age in which the influence we humans have on our planet, change is truly the basis of life on earth. This is no longer a product of ignorance, but of self-complacency, and above all, it demonstrates an irresponsible attitude to the future of our children.
Also, they helped to bring the Paris climate agreement. They believe that the goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, can still be achieved?
There is every reason to believe that we can do it, but our leaders lack the Courage and decency to engage with their communities in contact, and to change the way how we define the responsibility of our actions,. The Extraordinary thing is that we are at the beginning of the 21st century. Century – in an age in which we are richer, more educated and more capable than ever before – still political leaders have that tell us that perhaps it is not yet time to act. It is an age of irresponsibility, we are challenged by life and the need in question.
Achim Steiner is a Brazilian-German environmental activist and the current under-Secretary-General of the United Nations development programme (UNDP).
For better readability, the Interview was shortened. The questions were asked by Anke Rasper.