Ministerial Luncheon and Dialogue on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

As delivered

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly, at the Ministerial Luncheon & Dialogue on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: Year 2 and Looking Ahead
Delegates Dining Room

19 July 2017

IMG_1218President of ECOSOC,
Secretary-General,
Distinguished Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, thank you to Ambassador Shava, the President of ECOSOC, for organizing this discussion on our progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

18 months into the implementation phase of the Sustainable Development Goals, we see from the high levels of interest in the HLPF from Governments, the UN, civil society, and the private sector; and indeed from the Secretary-General’s Progress Reports on the SDGs; that across the world there is energy, determination, and early momentum in efforts to implement the SDGs.

While this progress is welcome, it is equally clear that if we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030, far more needs to be done to ramp up implementation at the speed and scale required.

Strong political will is vital, with the primary focus needed in coherent and integrated action on-the-ground.

And at this early stage, a number of key cross-cutting measures have to be prioritized in order to build the foundation needed to accelerate implementation across all 17 SDGs.

Firstly, when we consider the scale of the SDGs, it is clear that innovative strategic partnerships have to be forged to leverage comparative advantages, and ensure we achieve optimum coherence for effective delivery. The positive will and interest in forging these partnerships definitely exists, so the work at hand is to get on with the business of enabling and facilitating them.

Secondly, awareness-raising efforts on the SDGs and their inherent logic must be stepped up. The SDGs are humanity’s pathway to a sustainable future on this planet. For that pathway to be faithfully followed, SDG awareness has to be universal.

The SDGs represent both rights and responsibilities for us all, but their power can only be maximised if all are aware of them. In particular, their logic must be taught to young people so that they can take ownership. It is they who have the most to gain from the SDGs.

Thirdly, we have established that sustaining peace and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin. In prevailing conditions, it is clear we must invest more of our resources into sustaining peace.

With 2 billion people living in countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence, we will not succeed in achieving the SDGs without more effective conflict prevention. All of us have a role to play in this endeavour and none should shirk from it.

Fourthly, financing for the SDGs must be mobilized, through a mix of ODA commitments, the acceleration of resource allocations in national budgets, and, critically, by connecting the financial and business sectors with bankable infrastructure and development projects attractive to investors. Building the necessary capacities at country level, and within the UN system is the work at hand to make this happen.

Fifthly, opportunities to harness the unprecedented power of technology, innovation and interconnectivity must be pursued in support of SDG implementation.

And sixthly, with many of the SDG targets reflecting well-established human rights, a rights-based approach has to be adopted in implementing the SDGs. Particular attention must be given to ensuring development benefits reach women and girls, as well as the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our societies.

Of course, in all of this, the United Nations has a central role to play in promoting effective cross-sectoral action to achieve all 17 SDGs.

Through its convening power, and its access to world-leading expertise, UN assistance has the potential to help countries leap forward in their SDG implementation.

To unleash the UN’s full potential and capability in this regard, the reform of the UN Development System recently set out by the Secretary-General must be supported.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

When it comes to shifting humanity’s trajectory away from its current course towards unsustainability, it is clear that time is not on our side.

Let us therefore engage openly and honestly at events such as this to understand our priorities and clarify the next steps to be taken in order to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s vision of a sustainable way of life for our people on this planet.

I thank you for your attention.

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