In his final official meeting with the SDG Advocates on 22 September, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon thanked them for their work over the past year in promoting the SDGs. He expressed in particular his gratification at their attendance during the high-level week of the General Assembly and for their participation in what he described as the ‘touching and inspiring SDG Moment’ that took place prior to the opening of the General Debate. He also urged the Advocates to continue engaging with broad constituencies to help make the SDGs famous.

“I am relying on you to continue to promote the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of the SDGs, and commitment to leave no one behind,” he said.

The Co-chairs of the SDG Advocates—Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway and President John Mahama of Ghana—thanked the Secretary-General for his leadership and commitment to the SDGs, and for his confidence in their role as co-chairs and in the other Advocates. The rest of the Advocates also took the floor to thank the Secretary-General, to recognize the SDGs as a roadmap to the future and to provide additional ideas on how to take the Group forward.