ENERGY TRANSITION STATEMENT

JUNE 3^RD 2021 – ONLINE STAKEHOLDER THEMATIC DEBATE ON ENERGY part of the High-Level Dialogue on Energy from UN Secretary.

Thank you.

I'm delivering this statement on behalf of the Indigenous People’s Major Group, and the Renewable  Energy Partnership  with Indigenous Peoples.

The world's Indigenous Peoples is estimated at  6.2 but 15 % of the global poor. 70 % live in rural areas of which the majority does not have access to energy and other social services.   However,  many energy projects such as large dams, geothermal plants, windmill and solar farms  were and are being developed in our lands and resources without our consent. This imposition have resulted to conflicts, forced displacements, destruction of livelihoods  and sacred sites  and undermined our right such as in México, Brazil, Paraguay, Honduras, Chile,  Kenya, Indonesia, Philippines.

While indigenous peoples fully support the just transition to renewable energy, it is essential to ensure that renewable energy development will respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and adhere to social equity. This needed actions are in line with the pledge of leaving no one behind and advancing Goal 7 which is also linked to achieving other SDGs.  The IPMG has thereby initiated the Right Energy Partnership-REP with indigenous peoples as a multi-stakeholder platform led by indigenous peoples to ensure inclusion of indigenous peoples in achieving Goal 7 while advancing equity and empowerment of indigenous women. We thereby call states, the private sector and development actors to actively support the Right Energy Partnerships with the following principles and actions in the development of renewable energy:

1. Adhere to international standards and laws on human rights and indigenous peoples' rights. Specially the ILO 169 Convention, and the United Nation Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples, UN Guiding principles on business and Human Rights.
2. Provide funding mechanism for community-based renewable energy to support health and education facilities and sustainable livelihoods of indigenous peoples.
3. Provide assistance to strengthen indigenous peoples' capacities and empowerment of indigenous women to pursue sustainable development, particularly in relation to access to renewable energy technologies  
4. Strengthen knowledge sharing, solidarity, collaboration and partnerships between indigenous peoples and other actors in advancing Goal 7 and interlinked SDGs

Indigenous Peoples as rights holders and development actors are offering real solutions to advance sustainable development. The Right Energy Partnership provides the opportunity  and platform for constructive engagement and partnerships with states, the private sector, civil society organizations, UN agencies and other development actors to work together to ensure that those left behind are empowered and  given central role in  advancing  the just transition and  sustainable development. Thank you. 

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Spanish Version

DECLARACIÓN SOBRE LA TRANSICIÓN ENERGÉTICA

3 DE JUNIO DE 2021 - DEBATE TEMÁTICO EN LÍNEA SOBRE LA ENERGÍA parte del Alto Diálogo sobre la Energía del Secretario de la ONU.

Hago esta declaración en nombre del Grupo Principal de los Pueblos Indígenas y de la Alianza por el Derecho a la Energía con los Pueblos Indígenas.

Se estima que los Pueblos Indígenas del mundo son el 6,2 pero el 15 % de los pobres del mundo. El 70 % vive en zonas rurales, de las cuales la mayoría no tiene acceso a la energía ni a otros servicios sociales.  Sin embargo, muchos proyectos energéticos como grandes presas, plantas geotérmicas, molinos de viento y granjas solares fueron y están siendo desarrollados en nuestras tierras y recursos sin nuestro consentimiento. Esta imposición ha dado lugar a conflictos, desplazamientos forzados, destrucción de los medios de vida y de los lugares sagrados y ha socavado nuestro derecho, como en México, Brasil, Paraguay, Honduras, Chile, Kenia, Indonesia y Filipinas.

Aunque los pueblos indígenas apoyan plenamente la transición justa a las energías renovables, es esencial garantizar que el desarrollo de las energías renovables respete y proteja los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y se adhiera a la equidad social. Estas acciones necesarias están en consonancia con el compromiso de no dejar a nadie atrás y avanzar en el Objetivo 7, que también está vinculado a la consecución de otros ODS.  Por ello, el IPMG ha puesto en marcha la Alianza por el Derecho a la Energía (REP) con los pueblos indígenas como una plataforma de múltiples partes interesadas dirigida por los pueblos indígenas para garantizar la inclusión de los pueblos indígenas en la consecución del Objetivo 7, al tiempo que se promueve la equidad y el empoderamiento de las mujeres indígenas.

Por lo tanto, hacemos un llamamiento a los Estados, al sector privado y a los actores del desarrollo para que apoyen activamente las Alianzas para la Energía Correcta con los siguientes principios y acciones en el desarrollo de la energía renovable:

1. Adherirse a las normas y leyes internacionales sobre derechos humanos y derechos de los pueblos indígenas. Especialmente el Convenio 169 de la OIT, y la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho de los Pueblos Indígenas, los principios rectores de la ONU sobre las empresas y los derechos humanos.
2. Proporcionar un mecanismo de financiación para la energía renovable basada en la comunidad para apoyar las instalaciones de salud y educación y los medios de vida sostenibles de los pueblos indígenas.
3. Proporcionar asistencia para fortalecer las capacidades de los pueblos indígenas y el empoderamiento de las mujeres indígenas para perseguir el desarrollo sostenible, en particular en relación con el acceso a las tecnologías de energía renovable
4. Fortalecer el intercambio de conocimientos, la solidaridad, la colaboración y las asociaciones entre los pueblos indígenas y otros actores para promover el Objetivo 7 y los ODS interrelacionados.

Los pueblos indígenas, como titulares de derechos y actores del desarrollo, están ofreciendo soluciones reales para avanzar en el desarrollo sostenible. La Alianza por el Derecho a la Energía ofrece la oportunidad y la plataforma para el compromiso constructivo y las asociaciones con los Estados, el sector privado, las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, los organismos de las Naciones Unidas y otros actores del desarrollo para trabajar juntos y garantizar que los que se quedan atrás sean empoderados y tengan un papel central en el avance de la transición justa y el desarrollo sostenible. Gracias.

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

20^th Session, 19-30 April,  2021 

Agenda Item 6: Thematic dialogues: Follow up to the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Friday 23 April 9-11 AM (EST) 

Presentation by the Janene Yazzie, International Indian Treaty Council, Co-Convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group

Respectful Greetings and thank you (Madame Chair),

I'm coming to you from the occupied territories of my people the Dine, also known as Na Nizhoozi (or Gallup) in New Mexico. I have the honor of serving as Co-Convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group on behalf of International Indian Treaty Council, I appreciate the opportunity to address the members of the Forum on the 2030 Agenda. With the impacts of the pandemic, which we have heard about this first week of the Forum, it is critical that the United Nations Economic and Social Council (or ECOSOC) and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on the Sustainable Development Goals are more impactful as our globe wrestles with the economic and educational inequalities, food insecurities, health disparities and increase in gender-based violence , among other issues exacerbated by the impacts of the pandemic. These disparities impact all the areas addressed by the 2030 Agenda, and the interventions this past week have shown the disproportionate impact to the world’s Indigenous peoples regardless of whether they are in so-called developed countries or developing nations, indicating that Indigenous Peoples are still being furthest left behind in all areas addressed by the 2030 Agenda.

Part of the challenge we face in making meaningful progress, is the voluntary nature of commitments to implementation. When it comes to developed nations, it is particularly disparaging that the United States has yet to meaningfully engage in the implementation of the SDGs. With the new administration making bold commitments to address climate change and rejoining the Paris Agreement, we hope that the same enthusiasm can be extended to implementing the interlinking goals of the 2030 Agenda. This week we witnessed the historic address of Secretary Debra Haaland, becoming the highest-ranking Indigenous Women in the United States Government to address the forum. We appreciate the Forum members adopting the theme on SDG 16 as the remarks shared by Secretary Haaland sparks hope that her appointment can usher in a new era of federal relations with Indigenous Peoples in implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and that the United States truly fully adopts and implements, without conditions, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We look forward to any opportunity to work with Secretary Haaland on the realization of the administrations climate goals and agree with her statement that “It is Indigenous resilience and worldview that every government, country, and community can learn from”.

But there is much work to be done. The Voluntary National Reports submitted by other North America, Artic and Pacific Countries have served as starting points for evaluation of the meaningful involvement of Indigenous Peoples in developing sustainable solutions, leading in many cases, to more involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the VNRs such has been the case in Finland and Norway. However, in the case of Canada, whose 2018 VNR mentioned Indigenous Peoples 112 times, consultation in SDG processes does not necessarily lead to the advancement of Indigenous Rights on the ground as many First Nations peoples continue to struggle for the recognition of their land rights and right to water in protection of their Lands, territories and resources from harmful pipeline development. These realities demonstrate the importance of enhanced participation of Indigenous Peoples in the High-Level Political Forum, as often that is the main avenue for Indigenous Peoples to present the reality of their situation on the ground.

For all these reasons I present the following recommendations to the Forum members:

1. In alignment with the statement offered by Secretary Deb Haaland we ask the forum members to advise ECOSOC on the importance of Indigenous Peoples representation in the High-Level Political Forum. Right now, we share limited spots in Expert Group Meetings, informal and formal meetings on the 2030 Agenda, and other activities of the HLPF with the other nine major groups representing Civil Society. This severely limits representation of Indigenous Peoples from the 7 socio-cultural regions represented by the Indigenous Peoples Major Group, which is further limited by the lack of language translation in Expert Group Meetings and informal meetings. We recommend that all High-level formal and informal meetings include a reserved seat for Indigenous Peoples and further recommend the provision of translation services so that participation is not only limited to English-speaking peoples; and
2. As the theme of this year’s forum is SDG 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”, we echo the call to end the criminalization of land rights and human rights defenders. There can be no meaningful involvement of Indigenous Peoples in implementing the 2030 Agenda if they face state-sanctioned violence and criminalization when exercising their right to protect their lands, territories, resources, and peoples when it comes to development issues; and
3. We recommend that Forum members work with the Indigenous Peoples Major Group to further provide guidance to ECOSOC on how to fully implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, build off best practices for meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples in meeting the 2030 Agenda, and to address long-standing issues and challenges around the need for disaggregated data, recognition for Indigenous Peoples’ Land and Resource rights, recognition of collective Rights and Traditional Knowledge, and recognition of the inherent rights to self-determination, treaty rights, and the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent in all development activities and plans.

Indigenous Peoples must be involved in monitoring and implementing the SDGs at both the country and UN levels to address these shortfalls and ensure that these and other rights are protected. As goal measured objectives the 2030 Agenda represents the opportunity for the operationalization of global commitments. Let us use that opportunity to the best of our ability to further enhance the rights of Indigenous Peoples at a time when the world most needs our solutions and wisdom.

 UN PERMANENT FORUM INDIGENOUS ISSUES- 2021

Agenda Item 6: Thematic dialogues: Follow up to the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development                                                       

Friday 23 April, 2021

Presentation on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Joan Carling, co-convenor, Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development

According to the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR)  of 2019,  the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  in the past 4 years was not on track for a single  goal of the 17 SDGs. Further, there was even regression in four key  elements reflected in the Goals, which are rising  inequalities, worsening climate change  and biodiversity loss, and increasing amounts of waste from human activity that are overwhelming capacities to process them. This worrisome scenario also reflects  the realities of indigenous peoples across the globe, who are not only being left behind but also pushed behind further. 

In spite of the commitments made by states to a balanced implementation of the three intertwined dimensions of the SDGs (the economic, social and environmental), the main priorities and  targets are more on unsustainable economic growth in the name of “national development” in partnership with business and investors, which are hardly regulated in terms of  social and environmental policies and safeguards. This is a major factor for the  continuing  disregard and outright violations of the collective rights of indigenous peoples across the globe, which result in widespread grabbing of indigenous peoples’ lands and resources, conflicts over resource-use and development, forced displacements or evictions, increasing poverty and hunger, destruction of cultural heritage, increased violence against women and girls. All of these areas  are linked to the SDGs. It is also a major factor contributing to the  worsening inequality, pollution and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity in indigenous territories as corporations and investors scramble to take control and extract the  indigenous peoples remaining resources.  

Goal 13 on combatting climate change is another major challenge for indigenous peoples. Mining for coal, oil and gas in indigenous territories  is still a priority for a number countries. Likewise, renewable energy projects such as windmills, geothermal plants and large dams are implemented in indigenous territories without  the consent of affected indigenous peoples.  Adding insult to injury; the energy generated by these projects are more for urban and town centers, and not for the  host indigenous communities. This skewed implementation of the just transition to combat climate change and advance the SDGs  remains under the  ‘business as usual approach’ instead of  taking transformational actions for sustainability and equity.  Deforestation for agribusiness  expansion on one hand, and fortress conservation on the other  hand is  pushing  millions of indigenous peoples further behind.

As the theme of the ongoing session of the Permanent Forum is Goal 16 relating to peace, justice and strong institutions, this Goal is in fact a central element for indigenous peoples’ inclusion in the SDGs as it encompasses the respect and protection of human rights including the collective rights of indigenous peoples,  peace, access to justice and good governance.

Many of the challenges mentioned above pertains to Goal 16 which also has the  most number of recommendations in the Human Rights system of the UN relating to indigenous peoples. In fact, there are more than 1,700  recommendations from treaty bodies, the UPR, and special procedures relating to the need to fully recognize the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources; to free prior and informed consent in order to  prevent land grabbing and destruction of their resources; the need to ensure access to justice against the  criminalization of indigenous peoples, including the   disproportionate number of indigenous peoples  in jail in many countries;  the need to ratify ILO Convention 169 for the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples as state obligation, among other recommendations.

These recommendations clearly demonstrate the direct link of indigenous peoples’ rights to advancing sustainable development that is also just, equitable and sustainable. If states will abide by their human rights obligations and commitments to indigenous peoples by implementing these recommendations, then it will provide the enabling environment for indigenous peoples’ inclusion in the SDGs within the context of advancing their self-determined development that is not only sustainable  but also holistic.

From last year to this year, the COVID 19 pandemic is causing major and severe  setbacks to the implementation of the SDGs. For indigenous peoples, this has amplified the existing inequality and discrimination, which are key factors that will   leave indigenous peoples further behind in achieving sustainable development. Millions of  indigenous children already struggling to pursue their education are not able to cope with the shift to e-learning,  home study and other restrictions.  Likewise, indigenous women became more vulnerable to violence and abuse given the lockdowns and indigenous persons with disabilities are further marginalized. 

The global call now under the UN  is to build back better and advance sustainable recovery to achieve the SDGs. While indigenous peoples need to be part of the recovery, it is important  for indigenous peoples to pay attention to the recovery plans  by the respective governments, as well as clear attempts for green-washing for example in the name of “nature-based solutions” being promoted by corporations. A growing number of countries are justifying unsustainable economic recovery plans to cope with the impacts of the pandemic. These plans are again largely based on resource extraction with the expansion of agribusiness, coal mining and renewable energy projects with adverse impacts on indigenous peoples ’livelihoods and cultural heritage. Even environmental safeguards are being weakened to fast-track investments and  projects for economic growth.  Likewise, many authoritarian states are imposing more restrictions to fundamental rights and freedoms to prevent opposition to their plans and actions in the name of COVID 19 recovery.

It would also be critical for indigenous peoples to build and strengthen partnerships with UN agencies in advancing the SDGs based on indigenous peoples’ perspectives, needs and aspirations. This should include engagement and collaboration  with UN country teams. A growing number of philanthropists are also supporting the SDGs on education, reducing poverty and ending hunger, access to renewable energy, among others. Indigenous peoples organizations and networks can leverage their work on these goals  to collaborate and partner with donors. Many local governments are also now becoming more sensitive to the needs of their constituents in localizing the SDGs.  This can be opportunities for indigenous peoples to engage with local governments and establish platforms for collaboration in addressing the needs and priorities of indigenous peoples.

To conclude, indigenous peoples need to continue to build and strengthen our capacities, organizations,  networks and solidarity relations  at all levels to amplify our voices, advance the respect and protection of our  rights  and wellbeing in the implementation of the SDGs as we continue to pursue our self-determined development and protect the future of the generations to come. 

Thank you.

Indigenous Peoples position during the Climate and Development Ministerial | 31 March 2021

Good morning, good afternoon Most excellent Co-President of the COP 26, Distinguished Ministers. On behalf of the International Indigenous Peoples' Forum on Climate Change and the Indigenous Peoples' Major Group on Sustainable Development, we appreciate the space to participate in the Climate Change and Development Ministerial event.

It is essential that the voices, rights, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples are prioritized in not only the discussions today, but in all discussion leading up, and beyond, COP26 to advance solutions to address the climate crisis.

We firmly believe that it is not possible to talk about climate crises, biodiversity loss, health pandemic, sustainable development, and response measures without the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, including women, men, Elders, the differently-abled, those who are gender-diverse and youth.

Day by day, we see the effects of the climate crisis on our lands, territories and resources. Effects that continue to worsen. In November of last year, the Caribbean Coast region of Nicaragua, where I come from, was impacted by two extreme hurricanes in less than 15 days. We have seen forest fires in in Brazil, Australia, Siberia, droughts and floods that have devastated our lives and ecosystems. Despite these disproportionate impacts, we continue to be leaders in adaptation, mitigation and reciprocal living with our lands, territories and resources, including oceans, ice, and water. These contributions have been confirmed by numerous studies and reports, highlighting the crucial role of Indigenous Peoples, the protection of our rights, and of our knowledge systems, science, and innovation have in contributing to the implementation of the Paris Agreement goals.

If efforts continue to the protection of our rights to lands, territories and resources, as well as the minimum standards contained with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we can increase the amount of carbon sequestered, expand agro-ecosystems for sustainable food production, improve capacities of communities to adapt and restore balance with nature and all forms of life. Clearly, we are uniquely positioned to lead transformational change in the face of a climate emergency. 

To lead this change, we need to shift our thinking towards Indigenous-led and Indigenous-governed institutions that emphasize the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. We reiterate here our call for establishment of a specially dedicated fund to be directly accessed and managed by Indigenous Peoples from developing and developed countries to enhance and further develop their adaptation capacities and to strengthen indigenous peoples’ knowledge and livelihoods and customary land tenure systems. We are appreciative of the progress made by the Green Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and the Forest Investment Program’s Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities but believe that much of the assistance is still too new and of insufficient amounts to address identified needs.

We stand ready to work with States and other key actors at all levels to support financially, politically and with policies the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples' long-term plan for Climate Action. In addition to these calls on finance, we, as Indigenous Peoples, want to reiterate our actions and commitments shared at the UN Secretary General's Climate Summit in 2019 to: 

1. Implement holistic plans to protect our biocultural diversity.

2. Develop actions and activities related to climate change that ensure our rights to lands, territories and resources, to the right to self-determination and to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) to any action that affects our lands, territories or resources. 

3. Implement and promote a rights-based approach to access and implementation of renewable energy development, for a just transition away from fossil fuels that respects our right to self-determination and Free Prior and Informed consent.

Indigenous Peoples have been consistently involved in international and national climate discussions for the last 2 decades, urging for urgent and transformative change to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. We remain willing to walk the path of solutions with States and other stakeholders.

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The Statement was read by Eileen Mairena-Cunningham – member of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development and Civil Society Organisation southern active observer to the Green Climate Fund

8^th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

March 25, 2021

STATEMENT FROM THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CONSTITUENCY

Linking National, Regional, and Global Dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

I am Robie Halip from the Kalanguya and Kankanaey indigenous peoples in the Philippines and representing the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG) and the Indigenous Peoples constituency of the APRCEM. 

In this decade of action, political will “walking the talk” from states is needed.

The commitment by states of leaving no one behind should be put into action at the national and local levels to make meaningful change to the people especially for those left behind.

While progress is reported by some states, there is still a need to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women, youth, and farmers among others in national VNR processes and in the overall implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the SDGs.

Multi-stakeholder platforms at the country level that ensures all voices are heard and taken into account need to be institutionalized or where present strengthened to ensure that no one is left behind. The support of UN country teams to this is essential.

Digital divide needs to be seriously addressed and should not hinder states from reaching out and involving the people in the overall SDG process.

Integration of inputs to the VNR report of states from CSOs and major groups should be ensured and that reports from the civil society be included as part of the official documents of the VNR.

It is important that the participation in decision making processes in relation to COVID19 recovery of indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, workers, farmers, women, and urban poor among others is in place to ensure that our particular needs and priorities are addressed.

Further to this, we reiterate our previous recommendation for APFSD to:

• ensure adequate actions on issues affecting the region that impact the achievement of the SDGs such as cross-border issues, shrinking civil society spaces, and rising authoritarianism in the region;
• facilitate more interactive and action-oriented discussions and exchanges in addressing systemic barriers including unfair trade and investment relations and mechanism, authoritarian political systems, neo-liberal policies that is widening inequality and destroying the environment among others; and
• ensure the implementation of a rights-based approach to sustainable development that takes into account development justice. 


The full and effective participation and the critical voice, of the civil society and major groups in national, regional, and global SDG processes is important and must be strengthened. We are your partners in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Indigenous Peoples Statement on the Regional perspectives on accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

8^th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

March 23, 2021

I am Robie Halip from the Kalanguya and Kankanaey indigenous peoples in the Philippines and representing the IPMG and the Indigenous Peoples constituency of the APRCEM.

After six years of implementation of the SDGs, indigenous peoples in the region remain not only furthest behind in terms of poverty reduction and access to appropriate social services, among others, but also continue to suffer from land dispossession, rising inequalities, climate change, forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, conflicts on resource-use and lack of access to justice.  This situation is further compounded by the COVID19.

Our contributions to sustainable development as agents of change and the persistence of their sustainable lifeways, knowledge, skills and values as critical to advancing sustainable development are not protected and supported. 

On the contrary, indigenous peoples’ sustainable livelihoods and legitimate actions to defend their rights to lands, territories and resources are being criminalized with increasing cases of persecution, extra-judicial killings and other gross human rights violations.

With the spread of COVID19, many indigenous communities have revived and implemented  traditional community lockdowns to prevent contamination. This has been successful for indigenous communities that have secure land tenure, sufficient food supply and are able to continue their subsistence economy and other livelihood activities. This is not the case though for indigenous communities whose territories have been overtaken by illegal logging, mining, and other destructive projects implemented without their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.

Indigenous peoples play a critical role in the achievement of sustainable development and our sustainable resource management practices can help prevent the spread of emerging zoonotic diseases. On this, Indigenous peoples as rights-holders, actors and partners in development must be recognized including the full recognition, respect and protection of our collective rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Indigenous peoples, including indigenous women, youth, and persons with disabilities among others, must be able to meaningfully participate in decision- making related to response and recovery measures on the covid-19 pandemic and processes related to SDGs at all levels. Further, political will and resources are urgently needed to undertake data-disaggregation by ethnicity in the monitoring and reporting on the SDGs at all levels to make indigenous peoples visible and accounted for in the SDG implementation.

A shift from the current exploitative, extractive, and destructive development to a rights-based development that puts the people and planet first is urgently needed.