Good morning.
It is a pleasure to be with you as we launch The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020.
We are now one third of the way into our goal to meet the SDGs by 2030. This report provides an authoritative picture of how far we have progressed in this time, making use of the very latest data and estimates.
Unfortunately, the news is not good. Even before the pandemic, the world was not on track to meet the Goals. And now with COVID-19, the news is worse.
There had been some progress, however. Maternal and child health was improving, access to electricity was expanding, and women’s representation in government was increasing.
But in many cases, even these advances were too slow. At the same time, food insecurity was rising, the natural environment continued to deteriorate, and inequalities remained both persistent and pervasive.
The report shows how COVID-19 is having a catastrophic impact on efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The pandemic has disrupted implementation efforts for many of the SDGs and, in some cases, is threatening to turn back the progress that many have worked hard to achieve.
In particular, we can see that, although the virus has impacted everyone, it has not done so equally. Instead, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable who are being affected the most.
As a result of COVID-19, an estimated 71 million people are expected to be pushed back into extreme poverty in 2020. This would be the first rise in global poverty in over 20 years.
COVID-19 is already affecting vulnerable workers in the informal economy, who make up half the global workforce, with underemployment and unemployment rising. And it is increasing the vulnerability of the world’s one billion slum dwellers. Women and children are among those most affected.
Indeed, this is a global crisis that requires a global response. That is why governments and stakeholders are gathered here at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development – to accelerate action and a transformative pathway to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Their continued commitment will ensure the recovery leads to a safer, more equal, inclusive and sustainable world for all.
At the same time, our response to COVID-19 should also serve to address global climate change, which, as this report highlights, is happening much faster than anticipated. The year 2019 was the second warmest on record, and the end of the warmest decade of 2010 to 2019.
Timely and disaggregated data and statistics are vital for the design and implementation of effective and equitable measures and policies. This is now more important than ever. Even though the pandemic has caused considerable interruptions to data and statistical operations, the global statistical community has acted quickly. It has put the necessary response mechanisms in place to ensure continued data collection. However, leadership and support are needed to ensure statistical organisations have the tools and resources to continue to operate. It is vital to inform both the immediate response to the pandemic and the ongoing delivery of the 2030 Agenda.
In closing, let us remember, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, that the commitment to the purpose and principles of the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda remains strong. That is why the COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the need for global cooperation and solidarity. It is a reminder to strengthen our efforts to leave no one behind, and to forge the transformative pathways needed to create a more liveable world.
Thank you.
It is a pleasure to be with you as we launch The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020.
We are now one third of the way into our goal to meet the SDGs by 2030. This report provides an authoritative picture of how far we have progressed in this time, making use of the very latest data and estimates.
Unfortunately, the news is not good. Even before the pandemic, the world was not on track to meet the Goals. And now with COVID-19, the news is worse.
There had been some progress, however. Maternal and child health was improving, access to electricity was expanding, and women’s representation in government was increasing.
But in many cases, even these advances were too slow. At the same time, food insecurity was rising, the natural environment continued to deteriorate, and inequalities remained both persistent and pervasive.
The report shows how COVID-19 is having a catastrophic impact on efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The pandemic has disrupted implementation efforts for many of the SDGs and, in some cases, is threatening to turn back the progress that many have worked hard to achieve.
In particular, we can see that, although the virus has impacted everyone, it has not done so equally. Instead, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable who are being affected the most.
As a result of COVID-19, an estimated 71 million people are expected to be pushed back into extreme poverty in 2020. This would be the first rise in global poverty in over 20 years.
COVID-19 is already affecting vulnerable workers in the informal economy, who make up half the global workforce, with underemployment and unemployment rising. And it is increasing the vulnerability of the world’s one billion slum dwellers. Women and children are among those most affected.
Indeed, this is a global crisis that requires a global response. That is why governments and stakeholders are gathered here at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development – to accelerate action and a transformative pathway to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Their continued commitment will ensure the recovery leads to a safer, more equal, inclusive and sustainable world for all.
At the same time, our response to COVID-19 should also serve to address global climate change, which, as this report highlights, is happening much faster than anticipated. The year 2019 was the second warmest on record, and the end of the warmest decade of 2010 to 2019.
Timely and disaggregated data and statistics are vital for the design and implementation of effective and equitable measures and policies. This is now more important than ever. Even though the pandemic has caused considerable interruptions to data and statistical operations, the global statistical community has acted quickly. It has put the necessary response mechanisms in place to ensure continued data collection. However, leadership and support are needed to ensure statistical organisations have the tools and resources to continue to operate. It is vital to inform both the immediate response to the pandemic and the ongoing delivery of the 2030 Agenda.
In closing, let us remember, as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, that the commitment to the purpose and principles of the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda remains strong. That is why the COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the need for global cooperation and solidarity. It is a reminder to strengthen our efforts to leave no one behind, and to forge the transformative pathways needed to create a more liveable world.
Thank you.
File date:
Tuesday, July 7, 2020