Deputy Secretary-General's video message to World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders-UCLG Congress

Watch the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/ondemand/2942073_MSG+DSG+AMINA+MOHAMMED+UCLG+30+SEP+22.mp4

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank United Cities and Local Governments for convening this pivotal meeting.

And I thank the City of Daejeon for hosting it.

The Sustainable Development Goals are in jeopardy.

Intersecting and cascading crises are reversing years of progress.

Conflicts have pushed 100 million people from their homes.

Poverty and hunger are on the rise.

The climate crisis continues apace.

And some 20 per cent of people globally still endure inadequate, crowded and unsafe housing.

We need radical change to put the world back on track.

Many of the solutions begin with local leaders like you.

The world needs your leadership to:

• leverage urbanization for sustainable development;
• make the shift to a green economy and boost renewable energy;
• transform food systems;
• make full use of the opportunities of digitalization;
• and provide adequate sanitation and housing, including to migrants and refugees.

To succeed, local governments need power and resources.

By strengthening local authorities, we can rebuild trust in the institutions people depend on and mend today’s social and political polarization.

The United Nations is committed to supporting local leaders to drive the transformative change the world needs.

We urge all Member States and international partners to follow suit.

Last year, we launched the Local 2030 Coalition to localize the SDGs.

The Coalition will soon be fully operational and will be working closely with all of you to strengthen every local government worldwide.

I look forward to your contribution to the SDG Summit next year.

Together, let us make a difference for all our local communities.

I wish you a fruitful World Congress.

Thank you.