Speaking in her capacity as an SDG Advocate on 20 December, HM Queen Mathilde of the Belgians urged a call to action in supporting sustainable development during her keynote speech at the High-Level Policy Summit on Europe’s Response to Sustainability Challenges. “Aren’t we all developing? More even than the Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs must also apply to ourselves,” Queen Mathilde said. “We all fight in solidarity against poverty, wherever it manifests itself. We all work for a better environment and on measures to combat global warming. We share the same aspirations: equal opportunities for men and women, the protection of vulnerable people in society, and keeping everyone on board. We must try to manage migration flows adequately. We must ensure access to healthcare, education and mental wellbeing.”
Echoing these remarks, a member of the audience thanked the Queen and the EU for supporting the SDGs and what she called “an umbrella of hope in these hard times”.
Also present for keynote speeches were Erik Solheim, Head of United Nations Environment Programme, and Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the European Commission. Solheim stressed that “In the SDGs, together is the key word. Together, the EU and the UN can bring a new shared vision. Together one can solve anything; divided one will solve almost nothing.” Timmermans emphasized education as key to the success of this agenda and that only through education can we create a new generation able to see opportunities and wake up to the sustainability challenges that we face today.
Organised in Brussels, Belgium, the Summit was attended by more than 600 European partners and stakeholders.
Story via: https://www.unric.org/en/latest-un-buzz/30435-europe-at-the-helm-of-the-sdgs