New York
UN
Deputy Secretary-General's video message on the occasion of the Opening of the 2023 SDG Global Business Forum
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Excellencies,
Business leaders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining the eighth annual SDG Business Forum.
This year’s event has provided a much-needed space for business leaders to share their experiences and insights to overcome our collective challenges.
As you have heard today, decades of development progress is reversing under the combined impacts of climate disasters, conflict, the Covid-19 pandemic, economic downturn and rising inequality.
In the wake of these crises, the wellbeing of society, the health of the planet and the long term sustainability of businesses,are interconnected.
We are at a crucial mid-point in the 2030 Agenda, with only seven years left to shift the world onto a 1.5°C trajectory, reduce global inequalities, and achieve the SDGs.
The upcoming SDG Summit during the UN General Assembly’s High-level Week in September must be a rallying cry to the entire world to pivot from crisis to development, from fear to hope, and from losses to gains.
Public- private partnerships are critical. We must work collectively, credibly and transparently to drive key transitions across climate and biodiversity, energy, food systems, education, jobs, and social protection as well as digital connectivity.
The private sector has a vital role to play in bringing the relevant technology, innovations, data, human capital, financing and the access to markets needed to achieve these transitions.
Building on today’s discussion, I urge companies to come to the SDG Summit ready to make specific, and credible public commitments to more ambitious actions and investments in line with these transitions, underpinned by clear accountability and oversight mechanisms and plans for how you will measure and track your progress.
The Ten Principles of the Global Compact remain important relections of public commitment and accountability.
I would like to echo calls made today for any companies that have not already done so to sign on to the Ten Principles as the foundation and the springboard to improving your sustainability performance and long-term business success.
Our ambition and action must match the scope of our challenges. The time is now.
Thank you.
Business leaders,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining the eighth annual SDG Business Forum.
This year’s event has provided a much-needed space for business leaders to share their experiences and insights to overcome our collective challenges.
As you have heard today, decades of development progress is reversing under the combined impacts of climate disasters, conflict, the Covid-19 pandemic, economic downturn and rising inequality.
In the wake of these crises, the wellbeing of society, the health of the planet and the long term sustainability of businesses,are interconnected.
We are at a crucial mid-point in the 2030 Agenda, with only seven years left to shift the world onto a 1.5°C trajectory, reduce global inequalities, and achieve the SDGs.
The upcoming SDG Summit during the UN General Assembly’s High-level Week in September must be a rallying cry to the entire world to pivot from crisis to development, from fear to hope, and from losses to gains.
Public- private partnerships are critical. We must work collectively, credibly and transparently to drive key transitions across climate and biodiversity, energy, food systems, education, jobs, and social protection as well as digital connectivity.
The private sector has a vital role to play in bringing the relevant technology, innovations, data, human capital, financing and the access to markets needed to achieve these transitions.
Building on today’s discussion, I urge companies to come to the SDG Summit ready to make specific, and credible public commitments to more ambitious actions and investments in line with these transitions, underpinned by clear accountability and oversight mechanisms and plans for how you will measure and track your progress.
The Ten Principles of the Global Compact remain important relections of public commitment and accountability.
I would like to echo calls made today for any companies that have not already done so to sign on to the Ten Principles as the foundation and the springboard to improving your sustainability performance and long-term business success.
Our ambition and action must match the scope of our challenges. The time is now.
Thank you.