Excellencies, Colleagues, and Friends,

The 2023 Special Edition of the Global Assessment Report goes to the heart of the challenges we face in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, economic turmoil, the climate and ecological crises, conflicts, and geopolitical tensions have hobbled hard-won development gains. 

And many investment decisions and regulatory policies have failed to shield against systemic risks –  reacting when disasters hit, rather than taking a preventive approach to build resilience.

As a result, there are gaps in our resilience, that increase vulnerabilities to shocks and disasters. Gaps that could have been prevented.

If we are to achieve the SDGs, it is vital that we act to build resilience through our societies and governance models.

Otherwise, poverty and inequality will continue.

This report demonstrates that action is possible in every region. Both to reduce risk and create positive feedback loops.

But it shows that countries must transform how they measure, understand and act on risk. And invest in prevention, resilience and adaptation.  I want to thank the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for leading the production of this report, together with UNDP;

And to express my gratitude to additional agencies and partners who contributed to it.

I hope you will take its lessons, and those of the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework, to the SDG Summit in September. And accelerate action to realize the 2030 Agenda.

In an increasingly complex and risky world, we must strive for resilience together. To help us secure a more peaceful, prosperous world for all.

Thank you.