Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

After the successful consideration of the first cluster last week, I would like to thank you for joining today’s second thematic consultation on Our Common Agenda, this time under the theme of “Accelerating the SDGs through sustainable financing and building trust.”

The proposals contained in the Secretary-General’s report seek to give renewed vigor and vitality to the roadmap for a sustainable and more inclusive future up to, and beyond, 2030.

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted not only the importance of delivering our promises to future generations, but also the urgency of ensuring the viability of the means of implementation for the SDGs.

The SDGs are interconnected and interdependent. They are enabled by a strong multilateral system, with the United Nations at its center.

We must therefore strengthen our resolve to ensure a United Nations that is fit-for-purpose through greater political will from Member States and with broad multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Building trust in the multilateral system, international law and the United Nations is central to achieving our common goal of a better world.

Trust is the foundation of international diplomacy, and at the core of maintaining international peace and security.

Excellencies,

For the second thematic cluster, allow me to convey three (3) key points:

First, human rights and the rule of law are fundamental elements to building trust.

There is no alternative to the full respect of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Failure to adhere to those principles of law runs the risk of gross violations of human rights, insecurity, instability, and depletion of our natural resources, leading to more crises and conflicts.

As has been stated by the General Assembly, the advancement of the rule of law remains essential for the realization of sustained economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger, and the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Second, adequate financing for sustainable development is also a fundamental element to building trust.

As a global community, we have long regretted the inadequacy of financing for sustainable development, particularly in the most vulnerable and least developed countries. This has been a persistent and perplexing reality.

Sustainable financing for development has fallen far short of the ambition of the global goals in terms of both quality and quantity of financial resources. This issue is closely linked to the challenges we face with trust across all levels and layers of the global financial system.

Present and future generations will find it difficult to trust any multilateral organization that lays out a blueprint for development without addressing the issue of resources to implement it.

Similarly, they will also find it difficult to trust governments which do not ensure adequate financial resources with effective regulatory frameworks to meet the development goals those governments have agreed to.

Third, financing and trust are crosscutting concerns under Our Common Agenda.

We must keep in mind the cross-cutting nature of financing the SDGs and building trust.

Operating in silos is simply unacceptable.

The set of proposals for consideration under this cluster, on Accelerating the SDGs through sustainable financing and building trust, include bold ideas that require equally as bold action.

Some require new initiatives, while others build upon and strengthen what already exists.

Financing and trust are two issues that must be fully addressed in meaningful ways if we are to move beyond the rhetoric of the past, while being mindful of the present, and hopeful for the future.

Excellencies,

We are duty-bound to realize the promise, potential, and possibilities of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This is our moral imperative.

This is our common ground, Our Common Agenda.

And judging by last week’s consultations, I trust that Member States will have another round of meaningful discussions on this important thematic issue.

I thank you.