As delivered
Closing remarks by H.E. Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly , at National Model United Nations
13 April 2017
Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the United Nations.
I would like to thank the organisers of the National Model United Nations for inviting me to address you all.
Over the last few days, you have had the opportunity to gain a snapshot of the breadth and complexity of issues facing our world. Issues that the United Nations has to deal with each and every day.
These issues cover everything from addressing the high number of international peace and security threats, to responding to the largest refugee and humanitarian crisis since World War II.
From countering the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, to responding to the social unrest caused by population growth, urbanization, and rising inequality.
From combatting the destructive impacts of climate change that are increasing the frequency and intensity of catastrophic weather events, to promoting and protecting human rights across the world.
In considering all these issues, the message is clear – the world is facing global challenges of an unprecedented scale, and we will have to act collectively in order to achieve sustainable peace, prosperity and development for all.
I should tell you to know that this morning I convened a briefing of Member States on the catastrophic drought and famine currently making its way across Africa and in the neighbouring country of Yemen – a climate event that is threatening the lives of more than 20 million people.
Sadly, this devastating situation demonstrates all too clearly how quickly hard-won peace, development, and human rights gains can be reversed by climate and lack of resilience. It also demonstrates how a lack of peace cascades into lack of development, and hence lack of resilience.
This is why I have chosen to focus my remarks this afternoon on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2030 Agenda, together with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, provides humanity with a universal masterplan to shift our current trajectory away from unsustainability, towards a future that is safe, secure and prosperous for all.
Implemented urgently, effectively and at scale, the 17 mutually-reinforcing Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda will transform our world. It will do this by eliminating extreme poverty, building peaceful and inclusive societies and advancing gender equality. It will combat climate change, and protect our natural environment, including the Ocean from further degradation.
In order for this future to be realised, these ambitious global commitments have to be turned into action – action that is driven by bold new ways of thinking, collaborating and operating.
Indeed, the scale of the challenge means that all of us will have to work together to make SDG implementation happen. This will requires Governments at all levels along with the UN system to partner with international institutions, civil society, the private sector and academic and scientific communities. Grassroots organizations and individuals should all feel empowered to do their part as well.
And in this regard, you – as young people and the inheritors of the successes or failures of the 2030 Agenda, have the most to gain or lose.
Around the world, young people’s ideas, creativity, and commitment to succeed are already driving many of the solutions that are transforming our world for the better.
As President of the General Assembly, I have had the opportunity to move around the world to meet with many such young people working to create a more sustainable future for us all.
The expanse of the issues they are addressing, and the communities they are affecting, is truly inspiring.
Whether it be the extraordinary young women from Nigeria who survived after being kidnapped by Boko Haram militants and have gone on to become advocates for girls’ education, or the young Dutch engineer who has made it his mission to clean up the gigantic gyres of garbage circulating out in our high seas.
Whether it be 8-year old Carter and 7-year old Olivia who through their ‘One More Generation’ organisation are working to save endangered species, or the participants of the recent ‘SDG Hackathon’ who are finding technological solutions to achieve the SDGs.
Or whether it be the efforts of the two teenagers that I met in Indonesia who through their ‘Bye Bye Plastic Bags’ campaign secured a commitment from the Provincial Government for Bali to become plastic bag-free by 2018, I have been inspired by young people across our world who are making already making a difference in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Ladies and gentleman,
We live in an era when innovation and technology are driving social and economic change at a pace and scale the world has never seen before. I believe the coming together of the creative minds, and will to succeed of young people, with the power of technology and innovation is what holds the key to the solutions that will exponentially transform our world for the better.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Ocean that we love so much is in deep trouble. Around the globe, marine pollution is cluttering the Ocean and choking marine-life.
There will be more plastic in the Ocean than fish by 2050. Meanwhile destructive fishing practices are pushing fish-stocks to the limits of sustainability. Be it rising Ocean acidity, rising Ocean temperatures or rising sea levels, the end results for humanity cannot be good.
We must reverse the cycle of decline humanity’s accumulated habits have imposed upon the marine environment. The best chance we have to do so will come at The Ocean Conference to be held at the United Nations in New York from 5-9 June.
The Conference is the first in many steps aimed at supporting implementation by 2030 of Sustainable Development Goal 14, The Ocean Goal.
The conference will convene Member States, multilateral agencies, civil society, the scientific community, and the business sector for a week of deliberations to create the action required to take SDG14 to fulfilment.
Critical to that action is the Register of Voluntary Commitments that has been opened to gather commitments to action in support of SDG14. Please look it up as soon as can on the website for The Ocean Conference.
All who care about the health of the Ocean are encouraged to make a pledge for action on this register.
I urge all of you to consider what actions you can take, and then register your undertakings: you have a stake, 50 % of the oxygen we breathe comes from the Ocean. So please help us maintain the Ocean’s health.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In closing, I agree the Sustainable Development Goals are undoubtedly ambitious.
But they have to be, and their success is an intergenerational imperative for the future well-being of people and planet.
I therefore call upon each and every one of you today to join with us in driving the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. I call on you to understand the logic behind them. Understand their universal and integrated nature. And then help us in transforming the world for the better by faithfully implementing them in your countries and your communities.
Be educators and role models who share your knowledge of the importance of the SDGs, and embody what sustainable living involves.
Be agents for global change to drive new and disruptive ways of thinking and consuming in order to transform our societies towards sustainability.
And be active citizens who demand responsible change from those around you.
I believe it is young people who will be the driving force in making the changes needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
I wish you all safe travel back to your homes and every success in your efforts thereafter to implement the Sustainable Development Goals in your lives.
I thank you.