I thank the Government of Spain for inviting me to this very important first meeting of this newly established Sustainable Development Council.
 
Let me start by commending Spain’s remarkable track record in support of sustainable development.
 
Through initiatives like the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, established together with the United Nations, Spain has proven itself a steadfast supporter of sustainable development from day one.
 

I am pleased to join you today.
 
I commend Spain’s Congress of Deputies and its Senate for coming together to create this Joint Parliamentary Committee for the 2030 Agenda.
 
Your high-level commitment to the 2030 Agenda is a great testament to the importance that all political elements in Spain attach to the Sustainable Development Goals.
 

The 2030 Agenda has given us a once-in-a-generation chance to drive inclusive economic prosperity, protect our planet and improve the lives of billions of people, leaving no one behind.
 
This year, heads of State and Government will meet in New York at the High-Level Political Forum to complete the first review cycle of progress toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 
 

We are in the midst of technological change unprecedented in pace and scope and we cannot predict where it will lead. 
 
What we do know, is that we need to start working much better together if we are to steer change for the good of all. 
 
Within our lifetime, we’ve gone from digital technology being virtually unknown to now more than half of all humanity being connected to one another through the internet and mobile carriers.