Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the Ministerial Opening of 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and High-level Segment of ECOSOC
15 July 2024
[As Delivered]
Your Excellency, Paula Narváez, President of ECOSOC,
Ms. Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Mr. Sameh Kamal, Organizing Partner of the Major Group for Children and Youth,
Excellencies, Delegates,
Let me begin by commending the President of ECOSOC on the successful convening of this 2024 High Level Political Forum.
Indeed, the theme of reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises speaks to the fragile – and yet special moment in which we live.
Likewise, the theme makes clear that it is up to us – as a united international community – to find sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions that would enable us to effectively deliver on our 2030 commitments.
Because deliver we must.
We are six years away from our 2030 target.
And we must leverage the urgency of our charge.
Today, 1.1 billion people are living in multidimensional poverty.
And if we do nothing impactful, eight per cent of the global population – or 680 million people – will still languish in hunger by 2030.
We, therefore, must do much more, and do it now.
Much more to tackle the root causes of poverty and hunger and their wider links to conflict, climate change and economic shocks.
Much more to reinforce the strength of our institutions – and promote peace and justice for all. I repeat, for all.
Much more to forge the strong partnerships that will undergird the success of our efforts.
Much more, because a heightened sense of urgency is the strongest motivation we have to help us deliver transformative results.
Excellencies,
The 2023 SDG Summit saw the adoption of a strong political declaration and launched a new phase of accelerated action to realize the SDGs by 2030.
As contribution, I convened the first-ever General Assembly Sustainability Week in April – spotlighting the importance of sustainable tourism, transport, infrastructure, energy, while also underlining that debt sustainability is an inhibition to required fiscal space to achieve sustainable development especially in the most vulnerable developing countries.
The Sustainability Week offered a broad platform for the Member States and stakeholders to reflect on ways to drive progress across the SDGs – especially for those most vulnerable countries – in a way that infuses a sustainability dimension.
Today, this forum – the main UN platform for follow up and review the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development – is a pivotal moment, now, to take this progress forward and advance confident, optimistic action, among other things, to:
- tackle poverty in all its dimensions and manifestations,
- to ensure sustainable food systems to end hunger,
- to ensure access to food for all, everywhere, and
- to adapt our systems for the efficient delivery of global public goods, especially health and education.
I look forward – with optimism – to a strong outcome of this Ministerial and high-level segment.
Because it is you – Honourable Ministers and decision-makers, acting at both at the national and here at the global stage – who can drive real transformational change to achieve our 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
Despite that we are significantly lagging behind, I firmly believe we have tremendous opportunities ahead.
The Summit of the Future – now around the corner in September – is part of a continuum of efforts to deliver faster and smarter on the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The Summit’s anticipated outcome – a Pact for the Future – must be transformative enough to justly telegraph the political will that will usher in a brighter tomorrow for all, everywhere.
It must also choreograph the direction towards a more equitable international financial system – one that addresses the crippling debt crisis and improves the chances for the achievement of the SDGs by developing countries, especially LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.
Perhaps most of all, the Summit of the Future must reignite public confidence from our 8 billion constituents and mend the deficit of trust among Member States, and between Governments and the peoples.
The expectations from this Summit are understandably high – especially among those with the most to lose if we fail to meet the moment.
I take this opportunity to call on Member States to be creative, inclusive and above all, bold in ensuring that the Pact for the Future is genuinely transformational.
Excellencies,
Building on this anticipated success, we will work to ensure that all elements come together for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development next year.
This event will be another pivotal chance – coming a few years before 2030 – to close the widening gap to finance the SDGs.
At the General Assembly, the 2024 quadrennial comprehensive policy review of the UN development system will further bolster our chances for impact.
I conclude by also thanking Their Excellencies Sanita Pavļuta-Deslande and Paul Goa Zoumanigui, Permanent Representatives of Latvia and Guinea, respectively, for effectively steering the process on the strengthening of ECOSOC and the review of the HLPF during this session to a successful outcome.
We cannot be numb to the glaring facts and figures – that demand a stronger ECOSOC and impactful HLPF.
To the reality that less than one fifth of the SDGs are on track.
And that the gaps in our systems translate to lives lost on our watch.
We literally have no more time to lose.
Like Benjamin Franklin, we must use the keys we have to harness the speed and electric atmosphere within this forum to achieve a future that is safe, equitable and bright – and the shared vision of peace, progress, prosperity and sustainability for all, everywhere.
I thank you.
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