United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres admitted on Monday that there is a “risk” of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being “left behind”, and called for a “global rescue plan”.
At the start of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New YorkGuterres noted that only 15% of the SDG targets are on track by 2030 and that some targets are even showing signs of regression.
“Rather than leaving no one behind, we risk leaving the SDGs behind. Excellencies, the SDGs require a global rescue plan,” Guterres told the assembled world leaders.
During this forum, the UN hopes to achieve a new commitment from all world leaders, which will be consolidated in a declaration of intent under discussion and which should be approved today.
With this political declaration, the former Portuguese Prime Minister said he felt “deeply encouraged”, especially given the commitment he proposed to improve developing countries’ access to the financing needed to achieve the SDGs.
“This includes support for an SDG stimulus of at least US$500 billion (€468.8 billion) per year, as well as an effective debt relief mechanism that supports payment deferrals, longer loan maturities and lower interest rates,” the UN leader said.
It also includes a call for recapitalization and a change in the business model of multilateral development banks so that they can mobilize massive private financing at affordable rates for the benefit of developing countries.
The statement also includes support for a reform of the current “outdated, dysfunctional and unfair” international financial architecture, in a combination of commitments that the Secretary General said could be “a turning point” in accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
António Guterres also pointed out to leaders present at the forum six specific areas where urgent transitions are needed, starting with action against hunger.
“In our world of plenty, hunger is a shocking stain on humanity and an epic violation of human rights. The fact that millions of people are going hungry in our time is an indictment on each of us,” he said. to the leaders.
Secondly, the head of the United Nations indicated that the transition to renewable energy is not happening fast enough and thirdly that the benefits and opportunities of digitalization are not sufficiently communicated.
The large number of children and young people who are victims of poor quality education or do not have access to education is the fourth area highlighted by Guterres, who ranked access to decent work and social protection in fifth place.
Finally, the UN Secretary General urged an end to the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Guterres also emphasized that the SDGs “are not just a list of goals,” but that they “embody the hopes, dreams, aspirations and expectations of people around the world.”
Moreover, they provide the safest path to meeting obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he added.
“Halfway through the SDG deadline, the eyes of the world are once again on you. This weekend, young people and civil society groups came to the UN – or marched around the world – demanding urgent action. Now it’s time to prove that you’re listening. We can prevail if we act now. If we act together. If we keep our promise to the billions of people whose hopes, dreams and futures you hold in our hands. Now is the time,” he concluded.
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) opened today in New York with dozens of heads of state and government from around the world.
According to official data, 99 heads of state, six vice presidents, 48 heads of government, four deputy prime ministers and 35 foreign ministers will attend the UNGA, in addition to other members of the leadership.
The SDG Summit, which takes place between today and Tuesday and is one of the most important events of the entire week, marks a waypoint in the SDGs towards 2030.
Source: DN
