{"id":18132,"date":"2016-06-16T20:53:53","date_gmt":"2016-06-16T20:53:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=18132"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:59:18","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:59:18","slug":"in-russia-ban-spotlights-leadership-and-shared-input-in-advancing-global-commitments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2016\/06\/in-russia-ban-spotlights-leadership-and-shared-input-in-advancing-global-commitments\/","title":{"rendered":"In Russia, Ban spotlights leadership and shared input in advancing global commitments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Participating in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, United Nations Secretary-General<\/a> Ban Ki-moon highlighted the importance of translating the various landmark agreements made by the international community during the past year into action as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are gathering at a very important moment, when many people may be frustrated that we are living in an era of peril and many challenges. But at the same time, in a positive way, we can say that we are living with some great visions and hope for the better future,\u201d the Secretary-General said<\/a>.The UN chief noted that in 2015, world leaders agreed to four important visions and commitments, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction<\/a>, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda<\/a> on financing for development, and, most importantly, he said, two visions \u2013 the Sustainable Development Goals<\/a> (SDGs<\/a>) and the Paris Agreement<\/a> on climate change.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese four visions and frameworks give us quite a big sense of hope and expectation,\u201d Mr. Ban said. \u201cOur shared challenge is to translate these visions into action as soon as possible, at the latest by 2030,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The UN chief underscored that Russia, as a founding member of the UN and as a permanent member of the Security Council, has a very important role to play, adding that he counted heavily on the leadership of Russia.<\/p>\n

Thanking Russia for signing the Paris Agreement on climate change in April, Mr. Ban called on all countries to ensure that the Agreement is ratified as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the end of this year we need 55 countries and 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions accounted for to make this climate change agreement come into effect. That is most important,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

He also urged countries to diversify, particularly those countries \u2013 including Russia \u2013 that have been dependent on high commodity prices, such as those of gas or petroleum. Noting that this year\u2019s St. Petersburg Forum includes a session on \u201clife after oil,\u201d Mr. Ban said he had no doubt that Russia\u2019s engineers and entrepreneurs can help the world to usher in a new energy future.<\/p>\n

In addition, the Secretary-General stressed that there is an urgent need to protect Russia\u2019s vast forests, and to prevent illegal logging preserve such forests.<\/p>\n

Building stronger ties with the private sector<\/em><\/h5>\n

Turning to the private sector, Mr. Ban noted that as the UN continues to forge ever stronger ties the sector, one main platform for engagement is the UN Global Compact<\/a>, which has brought about 8,000 companies \u2013 including 100 big companies in Russia \u2013 together to advance sustainability through the adherence to some 10 principles.<\/p>\n

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