Bettel spoke on Friday at the general assembly in New York, which continues in hybrid format until 30 September. The annual event this year is held under the theme “Building resilience through hope” calling on a sustainable recovery from the covid-19 crisis.

“The pandemic forces us to recognise the need and urgency to change our way of living,” Bettel said during his speech. “Business as usual is no longer an option.”

The premier highlighted the EU’s climate goals to become carbon neutral by 2050, saying that the COP26 meeting in Glasgow in November will be a “moment of truth” where tough decisions to protect the climate must be made.

“Unicef estimates that more than a billion children are exposed to climate shocks. The climate crisis is therefore also a crisis of children’s rights,” Bettel said.

Luxembourg is one of 33 nations taken to court by a group of six young climate activists who argue that the countries are violating their human rights by not doing enough to prevent the climate crisis.

The case is pending at the European Court of Human Rights where countries cited in the case have submitted their arguments, which the defendants now have until January to respond to. Luxembourg said the .

Bettel did not address the case in his speech but made his case for Luxembourg to be voted onto the UN Human Rights Council where three seats are becoming available in the Western Europe and other states group.

“The promotion of human rights at the national and international levels is a priority area of action for us and we want to continue to take our responsibilities in this area,” the premier said. “Luxembourg is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of all human beings, in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation.”

The seat is all but guaranteed as it is a clean slate election with only two other candidates--Finland and the US--in the running. Luxembourg campaigned on four priority areas of action: strengthening the rule of law, sustainable development and climate action, gender equality, rights of the child.

“Human rights are also the human rights of migrants and refugees,” the Luxembourg prime minister said, adding that Luxembourg would support at-risk people from Afghanistan being resettled in the EU. The so-called High-Level Resettlement Forum on Afghanistan, where member countries will discuss the matter, is scheduled for 7 October.

“There are reasons to be hopeful. Let's not give up. Let’s persevere. Let's take action. Let us cooperate to overcome the trials facing mankind,” Bettel said, citing conflicts around the globe, the pandemic and the risks of climate change among these challenges.