PGA Opening Remarks at the 9th Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals

9 May 2024, 10 AM

Trusteeship Council Chamber

[As Delivered]

 

 

Your Excellency, Paula Narvaez, President of ECOSOC,

 

Excellencies, Christina Markus Lassen and Rhonda King – Permanent Representatives of Denmark, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Co-Chairs of the STI Forum,

 

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I am grateful for the opportunity to address you today at this ninth Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals Forum.

 

I extend a special acknowledgment to our esteemed stakeholders and dear colleagues from the academic and scientific communities – whose contributions are highly valued for the fulfilment of our collective objectives.

 

This annual STI Forum is more than just another meeting, for the sake of it.

 

It is an important flagship convening in the yearlong annual calendar of ECOSOC – offering us a critical opportunity to strategically align our global efforts toward achieving our sustainable development imperatives.

 

It provides a strategic platform to showcase and mobilize productive partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

It also represents the genuine collaborative spirit we urgently require – to improve the science-policy interface and promote the development, transfer, and dissemination of technologies essential to achieving the SDGs.

 

This Forum’s theme, “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and Eradicating Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises: The Effective Delivery of Sustainable, Resilient, and Innovative Solutions”, seamlessly aligns with the upcoming High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, to be convened under the auspices of ECOSOC in July.

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

We are well aware that the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs will not be achieved without expansive investment in the means of implementation – be it financial resources, technologies, and innovation, as well as leveraging scientific knowledge.

 

It is for this reason that our collective commitment to bridge the divides in science, technology, and innovation was once again reinforced at the September 2023 SDG Summit.

 

This long overdue commitment must now be transformed into tangible actions – that drive sustainable development and build much-needed capacities for impactful and long-lasting change.

 

Because, with the drawbacks of conflicts and the intensifying impacts of climate change, the pathway to achieving the SDGs is undoubtedly becoming more arduous.

 

With all 17 Goals significantly off track, it is imperative that we work much harder – and engendering the desired political will – to mobilize science, for accelerated action and innovative sustainable solutions.

 

The intensity of climate change, in particular, is particularly outpacing our capacities to cope – demanding urgent and coordinated action by governments, private sector, the scientific community and academia.

 

The technologies and insights provided by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning offer unprecedented opportunities to advance our knowledge and address complex global challenges – from improving climate modelling and enhancing renewable energy forecasts, to optimizing resource use and protecting biodiversity.

 

Yet, the reality remains that countries and populations around the globe are not equally equipped to harness the benefits of scientific advancements – a disparity most pronounced in countries in special situations, that is the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

 

These vulnerable groups of countries face unique and peculiar challenges that require prioritized attention – to improve their digital access, to foster technological entrepreneurship, and to develop sustainable infrastructure.

 

 

As I conclude I urge you all – as we approach the Summit of the Future in September – to use this Forum, and the upcoming HLPF in July, as steppingstones to leapfrog our sustainable development ambitions towards 2030.

 

As a contribution to our collective efforts, I recently convened the first-ever General Assembly Sustainability Week.

 

The deliberations highlighted the kind of transformative change that could accrue if we substantially infuse a sustainability dimension across key sectors of the economy – such as tourism, transport, infrastructure connectivity, and energy – coupled with debt sustainability.

 

Again, a recurring theme throughout the Week’s events was the disproportionate impact that manifold complex challenges have on countries in special situations.

 

This realization reinforced the necessity for global solidarity – ensuring that all countries, especially the most vulnerable, are well equipped with the resources and capacity required to develop robust science and innovation ecosystems.

 

By embedding the true spirit of leaving no one behind deeply into our strategic thinking, we can transition our societies from fragile to agile – making them more inclusive, integrated, and resilient against the shocks of tomorrow.

 

I, therefore, eagerly await outcomes of your deliberations under the strategic thematic areas – addressing the profound challenges created by climate change, and understanding and leveraging the potential of Artificial Intelligence.

 

Together, let us forge a future that fully embraces the potential of science, technology, and innovation to catalyse progress.

 

I thank you.