Your Excellency Ambassador Chatardová, President of ECOSOC,Excellencies,Madam Deputy Secretary-General,Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to join you for this retreat on “Fulfilling the vision of the 2030 Agenda: integrated support from ECOSOC and its system”.
Madam President, your initiative to convene this open dialogue is greatly appreciated by us all.
This is indeed a valuable and timely opportunity to share insights and ideas, as we launch this ECOSOC cycle to support sustainable and resilient societies.
It is also a pivotal year for the future of the Council’s work, as the General Assembly will soon begin review of its resolution 68/1 on the strengthening of ECOSOC.
Excellencies,
These are challenging times.
For example, inequalities among and within countries are deep. Addressing inequalities is important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – and for peace and security.
International support for sustainable and resilient societies is based on the recognition that we cannot overcome global challenges in isolation.Poverty eradication, shared prosperity and protection of the environment is the way forward.
And collective support for the poorest and most vulnerable is essential to leave no one behind.
In challenging times, solidarity, shared responsibility and open dialogue are more important than ever.
Multilateralism and shared responsibility are embodied in the recent major global agreements:
– the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;– the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development;– the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; and– the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Together, they form an action plan for people, planet, peace, prosperity and partnership.
These historic agreements demand new thinking, innovation and action at all levels.
They also require strong, integrated analysis and policy guidance -- which is the unique and critical contribution of this Council.
This ECOSOC cycle can further these efforts.
Excellencies,
Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires integrated responses and engagement by all actors.
The range of actors is diverse – including governments as well as non-state actors from civil society and business.
We know that the SDGs are more effectively realized when they are supported by a comprehensive and integrated policy approach.
Achieving sustainability and delivering on the 2030 Agenda means addressing complex policy interlinkages.
It requires building synergies across all relevant dimensions of sustainable development and making difficult trade-offs while at the same time prioritizing marginalized and vulnerable people and communities to leave no one behind.
And it means investment that is commensurate with the ambition of the SDGs.
The FfD follow-up process will help us stay focused on getting the financing right for the timely achievement of the SDGs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This Retreat provides an opportunity to discuss options for enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the Council’s work to fulfil the vision of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.
The Economic and Social Council, its various forums and segments, and the entire ECOSOC system have a key role to play in nurturing these vital opportunities.
ECOSOC can support implementation through the sharing of integrated, holistic and results-oriented approaches.
Our discussions today and tomorrow will address how the Council and ECOSOC system can further support integrated implementation of the SDGs.
For UN-DESA, it is our honour and privilege to support you. I am currently taking steps, in response to General Assembly resolution 70/299, to implement reforms, so that the Department can provide stronger support to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level.
DESA has extensive knowledge and expertise relevant to all the dimensions of sustainable development. We conduct impartial and neutral policy analysis on substantive issues, and work to connect this effectively with strong support to the UN intergovernmental processes.
In line with the Secretary-General’s vision for DESA, I am committed to strengthening the leadership role of the Department in supporting Member States on the path towards sustainable development. In this regard, DESA has, for example, initiated work on frontier issues and their potential impact on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
We stand ready to serve you and the cause of sustainable development for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I trust your discussions today and tomorrow will generate ideas, insights and policy recommendations on how to advance sustainability and resilience and integrated ECOSOC support for the 2030 Agenda.
I call on everyone to draw on your ingenuity, expertise and political will – and your strong spirit of solidarity.
The Secretariat stands ready to provide full support.
I wish you fruitful discussions. Thank you.
I am pleased to join you for this retreat on “Fulfilling the vision of the 2030 Agenda: integrated support from ECOSOC and its system”.
Madam President, your initiative to convene this open dialogue is greatly appreciated by us all.
This is indeed a valuable and timely opportunity to share insights and ideas, as we launch this ECOSOC cycle to support sustainable and resilient societies.
It is also a pivotal year for the future of the Council’s work, as the General Assembly will soon begin review of its resolution 68/1 on the strengthening of ECOSOC.
Excellencies,
These are challenging times.
For example, inequalities among and within countries are deep. Addressing inequalities is important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – and for peace and security.
International support for sustainable and resilient societies is based on the recognition that we cannot overcome global challenges in isolation.Poverty eradication, shared prosperity and protection of the environment is the way forward.
And collective support for the poorest and most vulnerable is essential to leave no one behind.
In challenging times, solidarity, shared responsibility and open dialogue are more important than ever.
Multilateralism and shared responsibility are embodied in the recent major global agreements:
– the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;– the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development;– the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; and– the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Together, they form an action plan for people, planet, peace, prosperity and partnership.
These historic agreements demand new thinking, innovation and action at all levels.
They also require strong, integrated analysis and policy guidance -- which is the unique and critical contribution of this Council.
This ECOSOC cycle can further these efforts.
Excellencies,
Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires integrated responses and engagement by all actors.
The range of actors is diverse – including governments as well as non-state actors from civil society and business.
We know that the SDGs are more effectively realized when they are supported by a comprehensive and integrated policy approach.
Achieving sustainability and delivering on the 2030 Agenda means addressing complex policy interlinkages.
It requires building synergies across all relevant dimensions of sustainable development and making difficult trade-offs while at the same time prioritizing marginalized and vulnerable people and communities to leave no one behind.
And it means investment that is commensurate with the ambition of the SDGs.
The FfD follow-up process will help us stay focused on getting the financing right for the timely achievement of the SDGs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This Retreat provides an opportunity to discuss options for enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the Council’s work to fulfil the vision of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.
The Economic and Social Council, its various forums and segments, and the entire ECOSOC system have a key role to play in nurturing these vital opportunities.
ECOSOC can support implementation through the sharing of integrated, holistic and results-oriented approaches.
Our discussions today and tomorrow will address how the Council and ECOSOC system can further support integrated implementation of the SDGs.
For UN-DESA, it is our honour and privilege to support you. I am currently taking steps, in response to General Assembly resolution 70/299, to implement reforms, so that the Department can provide stronger support to the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level.
DESA has extensive knowledge and expertise relevant to all the dimensions of sustainable development. We conduct impartial and neutral policy analysis on substantive issues, and work to connect this effectively with strong support to the UN intergovernmental processes.
In line with the Secretary-General’s vision for DESA, I am committed to strengthening the leadership role of the Department in supporting Member States on the path towards sustainable development. In this regard, DESA has, for example, initiated work on frontier issues and their potential impact on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
We stand ready to serve you and the cause of sustainable development for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I trust your discussions today and tomorrow will generate ideas, insights and policy recommendations on how to advance sustainability and resilience and integrated ECOSOC support for the 2030 Agenda.
I call on everyone to draw on your ingenuity, expertise and political will – and your strong spirit of solidarity.
The Secretariat stands ready to provide full support.
I wish you fruitful discussions. Thank you.
File date:
Saturday, February 3, 2018