Excellencies, Dear Partners and Friends,

It is a pleasure to address you on the first day of the SDG Summit.

I have felt a great sense of urgency at today’s meetings.

Leaders understand the complex challenges facing people and planet.
 
But I have also sensed a great deal of hope.

Hope based on the opportunities before us – opportunities to build a more sustainable, inclusive, just world for everyone, everywhere.

Now is the time to pull together our joint efforts for transformational change.

Now is the time to accelerate progress on the key SDG transitions.

These transitions are changes that will move us forward across the board, with an impact across multiple Goals.

One of these transitions is the move to digital economies and societies.

Digital transformation is critical for delivering public and private services, and to boost resilience against future crises.

Digital technologies can also drive other important transformations, from social protection to health and education systems.

They can drastically improve energy efficiency and reduce climate impacts.

And they are already shaping the future of employment.

Excellencies, Dear Partners and Friends,

We must urgently work to close the digital divide that threatens to deny digital services to entire sectors of the population.

And it starts with internet connectivity.

Today, almost 3 billion people, mostly in Least Developed Countries, still lack internet access.

Although the global price of mobile services is coming down, it’s still four times more expensive in developing countries.

The digital gender gap, especially in LDCs, remains significant.

But we have the tools, and we know the policies that will close the gap, harness digital potential, and drive transformation.

Building Digital Public Infrastructure is a perfect example. Done safely and inclusively, it will accelerate development and connect people and businesses.

We are also working with countries to use data and AI to anticipate, prevent and respond to crises more quickly.

Governments can foster inclusive digital development by investing in digital skills for women and digital education for girls, while making online spaces safer and more secure.

Examples abound.

The fact is that with frontier technologies like artificial intelligence, governments need to harness the incredible promise they offer while mitigating the risks.

AI and other new technologies will require innovative and agile governance, building on good practices and lessons learned from the EU.

I strongly encourage all countries to engage with the work of the Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on AI, which will begin work in the coming weeks and will deliver a first report on AI governance options by the end of the year.

A small number of wealthy countries and companies cannot be allowed to widen the chasm of the digital divide.

Dear friends,

Many countries have not been able to access the resources for investment in digital skills and tools for the public sector.

Partnerships with other countries, with the private sector, and with the United Nations, can help to deliver rapid progress.

The Joint SDG Fund, with its specialized window for digital transformation, is aimed at supporting such partnerships. 

It provides an opportunity for countries to accelerate digitalization strategies, tailored to their national priorities. The Fund is designed to ensure optimal support by the UN country teams, under the leadership of Resident Coordinators and in close coordination with the EU Delegations and Team Europe.

I thank the EU for its contribution of 30 million euros to this important funding tool.

The funding window for digital transformation will focus on enhancing e-government services, digital inclusiveness, use of digital financing and market-access, and leveraging the power of digital technology.

These are the tools and policies that will help close the digital divide and accelerate development.

Through our revitalized UN development system and stronger Resident Coordinator system, we are eager to scale up partnerships that support sustainable, human-centred digital transformations.

The First Funding Round will be launched in the coming days.  
           
I hope other governments will follow the EU’s example so that resources match the level of ambition needed for digital transformation.  

Dear Partners and Friends,

The Political Declaration, adopted at the SDG Summit this morning, clearly recognizes the critical role of digital technologies.

This declaration paves the way towards the Summit of the Future in 2024, where governments, the United Nations system, tech companies, academia and civil society will engage on the development of a Global Digital Compact.

That Compact, negotiated by governments, can outline shared principles for an open, free, and secure digital future for all. We are grateful for the EU’s active engagement in the consultations around the Compact.   

As we embrace the digital age, managing digital risks, digital harms and upholding human rights must remain central.

The digital future we seek cannot come at the expense of fundamental human rights: privacy, trust and inclusivity.

Now is the moment to renew our dedication to the SDGs and ensure our digital strategy reflects shared values and aspirations for a better, more inclusive world.

Thank you.