Speaking at a two-day summit aimed at seeking better responses to tackle poverty and climate change issues by reshaping the global financial system, the UNICEF ambassador and campaigner was in a somber mood and asked for a moment of silence.
Macron called for massive investment for developing countries in his address, saying that no country should have to choose between "reducing poverty or protecting the planet." Macron praised the International Monetary Fund's initiative to allocate more funds to low-income countries through Special Drawing Rights, which are an IMF international reserve asset that can be exchanged for hard currency.
"The international financial system is in crisis," said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He praised the Special Drawing Rights initiative, but criticized how funds were allocated, with the European Union receiving $160 billion to Africa's $34 billion. The Paris summit has no mandate to make formal decisions, French organizers stressed, but it aims to give a strong political impetus to key issues to be discussed in upcoming climate conferences and other international meetings.