Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
during the Bell-Ringing Ceremony at Nasdaq MarketSite
9 April 2024
[As delivered]
Ms. Nina Eisenman, Executive Vice President for Sustainability,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to join at the ceremonial ringing of the bell – at the iconic Nasdaq Market Site, nestled here in the heart of Times Square.
In just a few days, the United Nations General Assembly will host the first-ever Sustainability Week from 15 to 19 April 2024. The week will focus on how to strengthen sustainability in key sectors of the economy characterized by a high growth potential, including energy, transport, tourism, infrastructure, as well as debt sustainability and socio-economic equality for all, particularly for developing nations.
As the international community stands at the precipice of the need for change, the contribution of the private sector and of financial institutions, in partnerships with Governments, cannot be either ignored or overlooked in the dialogue on sustainable development.
The ringing of the Nasdaq bell today is therefore a clarion call for the private sector to bolster its commitment to adapting for sustainability in order to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth across diverse sectors. It is an opportunity to showcase to the world the power of corporate responsibility – and your contribution to driving the agenda for a more equitable, sustainable future.
My hope is that this moment will symbolize more than the commencement of the trading day, as important as that is for both the US and global economies; I hope it also marks the dawning of a new Twenty -first century era, in which sustainability constitutes a priority for the global economy.
Together, with the private sector’s dynamism and the global community’s resolve – we can initiate action now to usher in a shared future of longevity, built on a business model of sustainability, where economic prosperity and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive, but rather are interwoven threads of the same fabric.
So let us choose sustainability and reaffirm our dedication to innovation, collaboration and real action.
I thank you.
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