Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the Opening of the High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Transport
17 April 2024
[As delivered]
Mr. Li Junhua, Under Secretary General for UN-DESA,
Your Excellency, Mr. Batyr Annayev, Minister and Chairman of the “Turkmendenizderyollary Agency” under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan,
Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We gather here today, at what we hope will be the threshold of a monumental shift in acceleration towards sustainable development.
The upcoming United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport and our meeting today beckon us to chart a course that aligns with the aspirations laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – calling for nothing short of a comprehensive implementation plan to harness the transformative power of sustainable transport.
The crucial significance of the transport sector in our global economy cannot be overstated; transportation is an industry in its own right, but it is also a vital input into considerable other industries and sectors, that themselves add to global output and growth.
Transportation is a lifeline – connecting communities and markets, facilitating trade, and thus driving economic growth.
But the unprecedented global challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the vulnerabilities inherent in our transport systems and supply chains.
Virtually, the entire world bore witness to the drastic consequences of inadequate and inaccessible transportation – disrupted supply chains, economic downturns, and crippled tourism sectors, that were the subject of discussion yesterday during the tourism thematic debate.
The fact is – sustainable transport is not merely an option, but rather it is an imperative for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development.
Excellencies,
The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport – so declared by this General Assembly in December 2023 – presents a unique opportunity to recalibrate our approach.
With its impending commencement in 2026 – coupled with the drafting of an implementation plan to which I hope to contribute during my Presidency – we have a rare chance to galvanize global action towards efficient, safe, and inclusive mobility, with a reduced climate footprint.
Today’s meeting serves as a crucial juncture to lay the groundwork for this transformative decade, as well as for processes on the road to get there – namely the Summit of the Future in September.
With over one billion people – or one-eighth of humanity – lacking access to all-weather roads, our foremost priority must be to ensure equal access to sustainable transport, particularly for countries in special situations and vulnerable communities.
For the Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States, and Least Developed Countries, the road to sustainable transport is fraught with obstacles – from inadequate infrastructure to impaired resilience to climate change, through to lack of maintenance capabilities.
As we gear up for the SIDS4 conference in May and LLDC3 in June, it is incumbent upon us all to ensure that these vulnerable countries – and the people who inhabit them – are not left behind.
Strengthening the resilience of these countries’ transport and infrastructure systems – and promoting socio-economic inclusivity – are imperative steps towards the achievement of sustainable global development.
From public transport to maritime transport, we must embrace innovation-driven approaches – to make sustainable transport a reality for all.
This includes honestly confronting head-on the negative impacts and consequences of transport– whether greenhouse gas emissions, road traffic accidents, or exorbitant maritime logistics costs.
Conversely, we should not overlook the myriad benefits of sustainable transport.
Consider, for instance, how improving access to sustainable transport can considerably enhance school enrolment rates, especially amongst the most impoverished and vulnerable – including girls and economically disadvantaged learners, in far-flung rural and remote areas plagued by unreliable and costly forms of transportation.
This does not only address poverty eradication and inequality, including gender disparities – but also underscores the profound interconnectedness of the SDGs.
Remember, the interconnected and indivisible nature of the 2030 Agenda means that advancements in one area can catalyse progress across multiple fronts.
Let us, therefore, bear in mind and harness this understanding of sustainable development as comprising numerous components of an integrated whole – as we deliberate today and throughout this week.
Excellencies, Honourable Ministers.
Distinguished Colleagues,
Let me end by expressing the full confidence that your discussions today will immensely contribute to paving the way for a better world – one characterized by efficient supply chains, free movement of people, and equitable access not only to sustainable transport services, but by the equitable sharing of the benefits of sustainable development by all people, everywhere.
Together, let us seize this opportunity to shape a shared future that is sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for the present and future generations.
I thank you.
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