Mr. President of the General Assembly,Mr. Chair,Distinguished delegates,Colleagues,Ladies and gentlemen,
The second committee’s work this year is closely related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda was adopted less than a month ago and we all know that business as usual is no longer an option. The SDGs are ambitious and we need to rethink our development models and policies to ensure its implementation.
Since the first Rio Conference in 1992, this Committee has kept reviewing and enriching the debate on sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda has poverty eradication and sustainable development as its overarching objectives. We are of course all in agreement that, in a two day debate, we can only scratch the surface of the many facets of sustainable development.
While the Second Committee cannot exhaust this topic, it can provide an impetus for the implementation of 2030 Agenda. It can look at the implementation of the Rio+20 outcome document in selected areas. It can take stock of the third meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) last July and 2030 Agenda mandates regarding institutional issues and global review, notably the GA process, which will be conducted on this issue. It can provide further guidance if needed.
Sustainable development is not confined to one item on your agenda. Agenda 2030 is the lens through which you should approach all areas before you.
In order to inform your discussions, you have before you today a number of reports that I have the pleasure of introducing today.
Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (A/70/283)
The report provides an update on the follow-up to the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and new developments, taking into account the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Addis Ababa in July this year, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also provides a number of proposals regarding the role of the HLPF, highlighting proposals discussed by Member States at the 2015 HLPF held under the auspices of ECOSOC in July 2015. Among other developments since the Rio+20, has been the monitoring by the Secretariat of the implementation of partnerships and the voluntary commitments made there.
Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (A/70/269)
This report reflects activities and programs initiated by Member States and different UN system agencies with a view to integrating the SAMOA Pathway into their national and regional policies and sustainable development strategies. It also discusses the framework to monitor and ensure implementation of partnerships for SIDS launched at the Samoa Conference. The SG made proposals on what such a framework should be. You will need to consider them. The report concludes by summarizing the initial findings of the Joint Inspection Unit’s contribution to identifying the parameters of a study mandated in Samoa of UN system support to SIDS.
Role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development (A/70/262)
This report offers a summary of views of Member States, relevant regional and international organizations and entities of the United Nations system, including regional commissions, on issues relating to the development of transport and transit corridors. It reflects ongoing work in the field of transport and transit corridors. This includes projects on infrastructure and road safety, institutional and legal frameworks and activities, regional dialogues and cross-border cooperation. The report also reflects policy recommendations suggested by Member States and UN system organizations on transport and transit corridors. The recommendations include strengthening transport capacities and developing international transport and transit facilities - with a focus on facilitating transport, simplifying border-crossing procedures, introducing modern transport logistics technologies, and ensuring effective implementation of UN agreements and Conventions, as well as regional and bilateral agreements in this area.
Report of the Secretary-General on the mainstreaming of the three dimensions of sustainable development throughout the United Nations system (A/70/75–E/2015/55)
This report highlights the role of the sustainable development goals at the core of the 2030 Agenda to inject new impetus to UN system organization for embracing integrated approaches to development. The SDGs are stirring the marshalling of a range of policy tools and guidance for collaboration. The report examines accelerated efforts within the inter-agency work of the UN system to prepare for implementation of the 2030 Agenda, building on collective efforts that helped to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Lastly, the report presents conclusions and recommendations. Those include mapping UN support in the areas addressed by the SDGs and reflecting on how to break working in silos and integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development into their strategic plans when addressing SDGs.
Report of the Secretary-General on Agriculture technology and development (A/70/298)
This report analyses the current status and trends of agricultural technologies, and provides suggestions for transitioning to sustainable agricultural systems. It addresses related challenges. Sustainable agricultural technologies—particularly agroecology—will have an important role to play in successfully achieving the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda. Increased public investment in research and development of sustainable agriculture and food systems, financing from diverse sources including the private sector, sound institutions particularly in rural areas, effective monitoring systems and better data collection are all needed to ensure that agricultural technologies can realize their full potential.
Report of the Secretary-General on Harmony with Nature (A/70/268)
This report focuses on the relationship between humanity and nature and explores ways to achieve the sustainable development goals including addressing climate change as leaders committed to in the 2030 Agenda, through harmony with nature. It also reflects the main issues that were discussed in the fifth Interactive Dialogue of the General Assembly on Harmony with Nature held on 27 April 2015 to commemorate International Mother Earth Day. Those include the regeneration of ecosystems, biodiversity and nature's environmental functions. In this regard, the co-generation of knowledge, including indigenous, investigative, political, empirical, emotional and spiritual dimensions, are important for understanding the relationship of humankind with nature.
Report of the Secretary-General on the International Day of Forests (A/70/214)
This report focuses on activities conducted in support of the International Day of Forests. It draws upon information from voluntary input from Member States and other relevant stakeholders. GA resolution in 2012 proclaimed 21 March as the International Day of Forests in order to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests. It is supported by governments, DESA, FAO, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and major groups.
This, Mr. Chair, completes presentation of the reports from DESA. I wish you successful deliberations. We in DESA will follow carefully your deliberations to inform the continuing work on implementing 2030 Agenda.
Thank you.
The second committee’s work this year is closely related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda was adopted less than a month ago and we all know that business as usual is no longer an option. The SDGs are ambitious and we need to rethink our development models and policies to ensure its implementation.
Since the first Rio Conference in 1992, this Committee has kept reviewing and enriching the debate on sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda has poverty eradication and sustainable development as its overarching objectives. We are of course all in agreement that, in a two day debate, we can only scratch the surface of the many facets of sustainable development.
While the Second Committee cannot exhaust this topic, it can provide an impetus for the implementation of 2030 Agenda. It can look at the implementation of the Rio+20 outcome document in selected areas. It can take stock of the third meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) last July and 2030 Agenda mandates regarding institutional issues and global review, notably the GA process, which will be conducted on this issue. It can provide further guidance if needed.
Sustainable development is not confined to one item on your agenda. Agenda 2030 is the lens through which you should approach all areas before you.
In order to inform your discussions, you have before you today a number of reports that I have the pleasure of introducing today.
Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (A/70/283)
The report provides an update on the follow-up to the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and new developments, taking into account the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Addis Ababa in July this year, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also provides a number of proposals regarding the role of the HLPF, highlighting proposals discussed by Member States at the 2015 HLPF held under the auspices of ECOSOC in July 2015. Among other developments since the Rio+20, has been the monitoring by the Secretariat of the implementation of partnerships and the voluntary commitments made there.
Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (A/70/269)
This report reflects activities and programs initiated by Member States and different UN system agencies with a view to integrating the SAMOA Pathway into their national and regional policies and sustainable development strategies. It also discusses the framework to monitor and ensure implementation of partnerships for SIDS launched at the Samoa Conference. The SG made proposals on what such a framework should be. You will need to consider them. The report concludes by summarizing the initial findings of the Joint Inspection Unit’s contribution to identifying the parameters of a study mandated in Samoa of UN system support to SIDS.
Role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development (A/70/262)
This report offers a summary of views of Member States, relevant regional and international organizations and entities of the United Nations system, including regional commissions, on issues relating to the development of transport and transit corridors. It reflects ongoing work in the field of transport and transit corridors. This includes projects on infrastructure and road safety, institutional and legal frameworks and activities, regional dialogues and cross-border cooperation. The report also reflects policy recommendations suggested by Member States and UN system organizations on transport and transit corridors. The recommendations include strengthening transport capacities and developing international transport and transit facilities - with a focus on facilitating transport, simplifying border-crossing procedures, introducing modern transport logistics technologies, and ensuring effective implementation of UN agreements and Conventions, as well as regional and bilateral agreements in this area.
Report of the Secretary-General on the mainstreaming of the three dimensions of sustainable development throughout the United Nations system (A/70/75–E/2015/55)
This report highlights the role of the sustainable development goals at the core of the 2030 Agenda to inject new impetus to UN system organization for embracing integrated approaches to development. The SDGs are stirring the marshalling of a range of policy tools and guidance for collaboration. The report examines accelerated efforts within the inter-agency work of the UN system to prepare for implementation of the 2030 Agenda, building on collective efforts that helped to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Lastly, the report presents conclusions and recommendations. Those include mapping UN support in the areas addressed by the SDGs and reflecting on how to break working in silos and integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development into their strategic plans when addressing SDGs.
Report of the Secretary-General on Agriculture technology and development (A/70/298)
This report analyses the current status and trends of agricultural technologies, and provides suggestions for transitioning to sustainable agricultural systems. It addresses related challenges. Sustainable agricultural technologies—particularly agroecology—will have an important role to play in successfully achieving the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda. Increased public investment in research and development of sustainable agriculture and food systems, financing from diverse sources including the private sector, sound institutions particularly in rural areas, effective monitoring systems and better data collection are all needed to ensure that agricultural technologies can realize their full potential.
Report of the Secretary-General on Harmony with Nature (A/70/268)
This report focuses on the relationship between humanity and nature and explores ways to achieve the sustainable development goals including addressing climate change as leaders committed to in the 2030 Agenda, through harmony with nature. It also reflects the main issues that were discussed in the fifth Interactive Dialogue of the General Assembly on Harmony with Nature held on 27 April 2015 to commemorate International Mother Earth Day. Those include the regeneration of ecosystems, biodiversity and nature's environmental functions. In this regard, the co-generation of knowledge, including indigenous, investigative, political, empirical, emotional and spiritual dimensions, are important for understanding the relationship of humankind with nature.
Report of the Secretary-General on the International Day of Forests (A/70/214)
This report focuses on activities conducted in support of the International Day of Forests. It draws upon information from voluntary input from Member States and other relevant stakeholders. GA resolution in 2012 proclaimed 21 March as the International Day of Forests in order to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests. It is supported by governments, DESA, FAO, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and major groups.
This, Mr. Chair, completes presentation of the reports from DESA. I wish you successful deliberations. We in DESA will follow carefully your deliberations to inform the continuing work on implementing 2030 Agenda.
Thank you.
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File date:
Monday, October 19, 2015