Remarks by the President of the UN General Assembly,
H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang,
Opening of the Ministerial session of the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation
for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum)
Wednesday, 7 May 2025
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished co-chairs,
I am pleased to join you today for the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, which is particularly momentous given its 10th anniversary.
My sincere appreciation goes to His Excellency Bob Rae, President of the Economic and Social Council, for the kind invitation.
Today, we have an opportunity to reflect on a decade of work in this Forum.
A decade of work in leveraging the immense benefits of science, technology and innovation to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
We have seen incredible advances:
Number 1: Renewable energy capacity has surged – empowering hundreds of millions of people and giving us the potential of a cleaner, greener world.
Two: The internet and mobile phones continue to change every facet of our existence, permeating how – or whether – we work, play, bank, produce or consume.
Three: Social media has become the global commons, for better or worse, with dialogue and debate on every issue imaginable. and
Four: Breakthroughs in science have reshaped the world through the rapid development of vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases.
Each of these advances has had an impact on sustainable development, including, for instance, by
- One: Boosting economic growth and development,
- Two: Expanding access to education and healthcare,
- Three: Empowering women and girls, and
- Four: Expanding innovation opportunities for young people.
Of course, these gains have not come without challenges – and to be frank, they are many challenges.
The rise of misinformation and disinformation, alongside the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence, are just two of the many concerns.
Added to this reality: the digital divide has grown wider and more entrenched.
It is now a deep rift that cuts across development goals, denying the profound benefits of science and technology to those who need it most.
Make no mistake, the pace of development in these sectors is rapid and their potential immense.
And as a society, we have a stark choice:
Capitalise on their potential to deliver equally for all,
Or continue to hoard that potential for the advantage of a privileged few.
Our discussion today invites us to reflect on these choices we have to make.
For my part, the choice is clear:
We simply must strengthen cooperation and partnership.
Together, we must create a global environment where science flourishes, innovations are nurtured, and technologies are within reach of all people.
To get there, we must invest in the policy and regulatory frameworks that facilitate this future-looking ecosystem.
We must bring together innovators and scientists, policymakers and practitioners,
Reach across divides between Government, civil society, and the private sector,
And make the most of advances where and when they happen.
Your Excellencies,
We have only five years remaining on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
With the Pact for the Future as our guiding light, we must move forward, in unity.
We must build a future where science, technology and innovations pave the way to shared prosperity and global sustainability.
As President of the General Assembly, I am pleased to be doing my part.
I am convening Member States in interactive dialogues on the implementation of the Pact for the Future, including its annex, the Global Digital Compact.
I am lending my voice and support to global calls for reform to the international financial architecture.
My hope is that we remove this immense and stubborn impediment to shared success.
The upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain is a critical moment to deliver and win effectively.
I understand that there is much to be discussed today.
I wish you a successful meeting.
Thank you.
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Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org
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