Your Excellency Ambassador Andrej Logar, Chair of the Second Committee,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election. I also thank Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi and the members of the Bureau, who so ably led the work of this Committee during the 69th Session of the General Assembly.
Ten days ago, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In the words of the Secretary-General, the 2030 Agenda “is a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world.”
The 2030 Agenda builds on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals, and marks the start of a new era.
The new Agenda is defined by integration: we must move beyond the traditional silos and think holistically.
It balances the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development.
And it underscores the important relationship between development, human rights, humanitarian issues, and peace and security.
Mr. Chairman,
The 2030 Agenda comes at a time when the international community is facing important challenges.
Economic growth remains weaker than before the global financial crisis, which has, in turn, contributed to a slow-down in job creation.
While growth prospects have improved in some economies, many continue on an uneven path of recovery seven years after the crisis.
Over the past year, the growth outlook for many developing economies has deteriorated considerably.
In part, this reflects adverse global factors, such as subdued trade volumes, a decline in the prices of oil and other commodities, and volatility in international capital flows and exchange rates.
Moreover, geopolitical tensions and their human and economic consequences have led to a dramatic increase in numbers of refugees and international migrants around the world.
Finally, climate change is having an increasingly significant impact on the world around us. Weather-related disasters are becoming more frequent and intense, sea levels continue to rise, and the poorest and most vulnerable people often bear a disproportionate burden of the consequences.
Mr. Chairman,
As we face these challenges, we must take certain steps to fulfil the promises of the 2030 Agenda.
The overarching goal of the Agenda is to “leave no one behind,” and its success will ultimately be measured by its impact on the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in all countries.
We need policy frameworks that place the global economy on a stronger and more balanced growth trajectory, and enhance coherence and coordination at the domestic, regional and global levels.
We must continue to dedicate special attention to the poorest and most vulnerable countries, granting them policy space and opportunities for constructive engagement in all intergovernmental processes.
We have to revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development by engaging civil society, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, and the citizens of the world to work with governments to mobilize resources and help to implement the 2030 Agenda.
We need to continue the engagement of Member States on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. We look forward to the deliberations on the establishment of the Financing for Development Forum.
The Addis Agenda will complement the 2030 Agenda on a number of key themes including domestic public resources, domestic and international private business and finance, international development cooperation, international trade as an engine for development, and debt and debt sustainability.
We need an ambitious outcome of the climate change conference in Paris in a few months time.
Mr. Chairman,
I am pleased to inform you that DESA is supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in a number of key areas.
DESA will assist Member States in preparing for the 2016 session of the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development, which has a central role in overseeing the global follow-up and review processes. These reviews will require the engagement of the whole UN System.
We are also preparing the Secretary-General’s report on the 2030 Agenda, which will outline these processes. We will soon seek your views on this critical issue.
In addition, we are working to improve the availability and quality of basic data, which are essential to the monitoring process. This month in Bangkok, DESA is organizing the second meeting of the United Nations Statistical Commission’s Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators to begin to develop a global indicator framework for the 2030 Agenda.
Moreover, we are assisting several pilot countries to strengthen institutional capacity, including on integrated planning and policy-making for implementing the SDGs.
Furthermore, we will support the implementation of the technology facilitation mechanism.
We also continue to support Member States in providing strategic guidance to the United Nations Development System.
Mr. Chairman,
You will also be leading the efforts to align the Agenda for this Committee with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We look forward to the Committee guidance on the report that DESA should prepare for the next session.
I would like to assure you of our full support in your work on the agenda.
Mr. Chairman,
This year could well be remembered as the year when policy integration for sustainable development truly became a common global vision.
We have seen unprecedented global cooperation to address some of the most challenging issues of our times.
Before the year is over, we will have added Climate Change and this year’s review of the World Summit on Information Society to these impressive outcomes.
We are at a crucial juncture in our efforts to end poverty and promote sustainable development.
And we have laid the foundation for stronger global partnerships for sustainable development.
There is great optimism, therefore, as we look beyond 2015.
I am confident that your discussions will build on this momentum for a prosperous and peaceful future.
I wish you success in your deliberations.
Thank you.