By: Staff Writer
September 26, 2025
The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino Quintero, said in his address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly that his country is committing to restoring 100,000 hectares of priority ecosystems.
Quintero said: “Our region is the planet’s leading food exporter, has a strategic canal that links the Atlantic to the Pacific, and we hold more than 50 percent of the world’s biodiversity. We are major suppliers of minerals, we have the largest water reserves, we live together in peace, and we fight for it. All of these elements make us a major global player, and we must be represented commensurate with our role and global importance.
“In fulfilling its role of containing and preventing the tragic outcome of a global war, a fundamental mission of its reason for existing, the UN also faces the challenge of promoting urgent action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The world today faces three devastating crises: climate, pollution, and biodiversity loss, in a context of fragmented cooperation. The response to these crises must be swift and united.
“In response to this, Panama presented the Nature Pledge, our Pact with Nature. It is a new way of understanding environmental and climate policy, within a framework that unites our obligations regarding climate, biodiversity, and land in a single national commitment.
“In practice, Panama is committed to reducing its emissions by 2035. Even as a carbon-negative country, we believe that further steps can always be taken toward sustainability for future generations. Therefore, we will restore 100,000 hectares of priority ecosystems, including mangroves and watersheds, because nature is our first line of defense against climate change.”
The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Nature Pledge provides a pathway to transform our global systems to meet vital targets to protect and restore our planet, eradicate poverty, reduce gender and other inequalities, advance human rights, and accelerate overall progress on the 2030 Agenda. This flagship commitment will support over 140 countries to put their ambitious targets under the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into action.
At the Nature Summit in Panama City in May this year, the Government of Panama unveiled its Nature Pledge — a commitment to integrating climate, biodiversity and land objectives.
As countries tackle these interconnected crises, scaling up finance and investment for climate and nature will be key to driving real progress.
Quintero also said: “Panama trusts in a renewed UN, one that strengthens digital security and international cooperation with ethical criteria and participation; that supports just energy transitions and defends freedom of expression.
“In this sense, we reiterate our inalienable respect for freedom and democracy in our region, which continues to suffer instability from those who disrespect the popular will at the polls or simply do not allow open and transparent elections.”