Madam Deputy-Secretary-General,Distinguished business leaders,Excellencies,Ladies and gentlemen,
I am honoured to address you at this fourth SDG Business Forum, organized in connection with the SDG Summit.
Let me start by thanking the UN Global Compact and the International Chamber of Commerce. Your efforts and excellent collaboration have made this Forum one of the major business-led events at the United Nations this year.
It is heartening to see so many leaders of sustainable business and sustainability champions in the room today.
Excellencies,
Four years have passed since the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by world leaders here at the United Nations. It is encouraging to see how the buy-in across governments and stakeholders – including from business and industry for this universal agenda – remains strong.
Yet, recent reports show that we are still far from achieving the SDGs at the global level, by their target year.
Too many people remain vulnerable. Too many are left behind in our sustainable development efforts, including those living in small island developing states, least developed countries and landlocked developing countries.
Yet, it is still possible to improve well-being and eradicate poverty for all people. However, this will require a fundamental and urgent change in the relationship between people and nature, and a significant reduction in inequalities both between and within countries.We also need to find entry points that allow us to take advantage of the interlinkages that cut across the 2030 Agenda. We need to apply the wealth of knowledge and technology we have at hand to accelerate progress.
The newly released Global Sustainable Development Report, prepared by an Independent Group of Scientists, has identified a number of such cross-cutting areas that could have catalytic potential and help get the SDG response on track.
The following areas can have catalytic potential and help get the SDG response on track.
1. Advancing human well-being along all its dimensions, with a special focus on building resilience and ensuring that no-one is left behind. 2. Ensuring the health of the global environmental commons – nature, the atmosphere, ocean and land systems. 3. Transforming economic systems towards more just and sustainable outcomes. 4. Changing food and nutrition systems towards greater health, more efficient resource use and lower environmental impact. 5. Securing universal access to de-carbonised energy services. 6. Developing cities, peri-urban and rural areas to sustainably serve their inhabitants’ needs. 7. Stepping up science-based research in all countries to deliver better understanding and improved solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.
I urge everyone to consider ways in which you can step up your efforts, including in these areas, for a better future for all.
The UN has made a call for all governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to launch their ambitious, game-changing SDG Acceleration Actions in the decade to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Excellencies,
In the first half of 2020, the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference will be convened from 5 to 7 May in Beijing. And the Second United Nations Global Ocean Conference will be held from 2 to 6 June in Lisbon. I am fully confident that these two Conferences will make their valuable contribution to the achievement of the SDGs. I count on the active participation and strong support from the business sector.
I look forward to hearing all the inspiring and innovative actions that will be announced and discussed today.
I wish you a fruitful meeting.
Thank you.
I am honoured to address you at this fourth SDG Business Forum, organized in connection with the SDG Summit.
Let me start by thanking the UN Global Compact and the International Chamber of Commerce. Your efforts and excellent collaboration have made this Forum one of the major business-led events at the United Nations this year.
It is heartening to see so many leaders of sustainable business and sustainability champions in the room today.
Excellencies,
Four years have passed since the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by world leaders here at the United Nations. It is encouraging to see how the buy-in across governments and stakeholders – including from business and industry for this universal agenda – remains strong.
Yet, recent reports show that we are still far from achieving the SDGs at the global level, by their target year.
Too many people remain vulnerable. Too many are left behind in our sustainable development efforts, including those living in small island developing states, least developed countries and landlocked developing countries.
Yet, it is still possible to improve well-being and eradicate poverty for all people. However, this will require a fundamental and urgent change in the relationship between people and nature, and a significant reduction in inequalities both between and within countries.We also need to find entry points that allow us to take advantage of the interlinkages that cut across the 2030 Agenda. We need to apply the wealth of knowledge and technology we have at hand to accelerate progress.
The newly released Global Sustainable Development Report, prepared by an Independent Group of Scientists, has identified a number of such cross-cutting areas that could have catalytic potential and help get the SDG response on track.
The following areas can have catalytic potential and help get the SDG response on track.
1. Advancing human well-being along all its dimensions, with a special focus on building resilience and ensuring that no-one is left behind. 2. Ensuring the health of the global environmental commons – nature, the atmosphere, ocean and land systems. 3. Transforming economic systems towards more just and sustainable outcomes. 4. Changing food and nutrition systems towards greater health, more efficient resource use and lower environmental impact. 5. Securing universal access to de-carbonised energy services. 6. Developing cities, peri-urban and rural areas to sustainably serve their inhabitants’ needs. 7. Stepping up science-based research in all countries to deliver better understanding and improved solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.
I urge everyone to consider ways in which you can step up your efforts, including in these areas, for a better future for all.
The UN has made a call for all governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to launch their ambitious, game-changing SDG Acceleration Actions in the decade to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Excellencies,
In the first half of 2020, the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference will be convened from 5 to 7 May in Beijing. And the Second United Nations Global Ocean Conference will be held from 2 to 6 June in Lisbon. I am fully confident that these two Conferences will make their valuable contribution to the achievement of the SDGs. I count on the active participation and strong support from the business sector.
I look forward to hearing all the inspiring and innovative actions that will be announced and discussed today.
I wish you a fruitful meeting.
Thank you.
File date:
Wednesday, September 25, 2019