UN Deputy Secretary-General calls for massive cuts in arms spending and urgent action to save Sustainable Development Goals
Speaking on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, Amina Mohammed call for immediate and decisive action to save the faltering Sustainable development goals (Sustainable development goals).
“Conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and elsewhere are causing enormous human suffering and diverting political attention and scarce resources from the urgent work of ending poverty and preventing climate catastrophe,” she told a ministerial meeting of the High-level political forum (HLPF) on sustainable development.
She stressed the need to cut military budgets and instead redirect money into peace and development.
SDG Critical Phase
Highlighting the critical state of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ms Mohammed noted that only 17 per cent of the targets are on track as the 2030 deadline approaches.
“Future generations deserve more than 17 percent of a sustainable future,” she stressed, outlining a four-pronged strategy to accelerate progress to meet the 2030 deadline for the Goals.
The first step is to establish peace, she stressed, stressing that political and financial resources should be redirected from conflict to development efforts.
She also stressed the importance of accelerating the green and digital transition, calling on countries to step up their climate action plans by 2025, in line with the 1.5°C limit under the UNFCCC. Paris Agreement and invest in expanding digital connectivity.
Investing in peace
Referring to the financial challenges hindering progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, Ms. Mohammed pointed to the widening financial gap and unstable financial conditions in many developing countries.
She acknowledged ongoing reforms to multilateral development banks and the reauthorization of special drawing rights but called for stronger measures.
“We must go further and faster to implement the Sustainable Development Stimulus Package,” she urged, calling for increased lending capacity, expanded access to contingent financing and comprehensive debt solutions.
Keep promise
Finally, Ms. Mohammed reiterated the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals to “leave no one behind.”
She stressed the need to prioritize vulnerable populations, protect the rights of people with disabilities and combat gender inequality.
“To achieve this agenda, we must put vulnerable people and groups at the forefront of national development plans, policies and budgets,” she said.
Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, speaks at the opening of the High-Level Political Forum.
Nations must act
General Assembly President Dennis Francis reiterated this urgency.highlights the plight of the 1.1 billion people living in multidimensional poverty.
“Today, 1.1 billion people live in multidimensional poverty. If nothing is done, eight per cent of the global population – or 680 million people – will still be hungry by 2030,” he warned, urging immediate and comprehensive action.
He stressed the need to tackle the root causes of poverty, highlighting their links to conflict, climate change and economic shocks.
Be creative and bold
Mr. Francis also stressed the importance of last year’s SDG Summit, which adopted a strong political declaration and launched a new phase of accelerated action to realize the global development goals by 2030.
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism for the future. Summit of the Futureis expected to be a transformative event that will strengthen political will and address inequality in the global financial system.
“The intended outcome of the Summit – a Compact for the Future – must be transformative enough to accurately convey the political will to usher in a brighter tomorrow for everyone, everywhere,” he said, calling on member states to be innovative, inclusive and bold, ensuring that the Compact is truly transformative and restores public confidence.
Paula Narváez Ojeda, President of the Economic and Social Council, speaks at the opening of the 2024 High-Level Political Forum.
Help achieve Goals
Paula Narváez, President Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has emphasized the important role of this body in guiding the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Throughout my tenure as Economic and Social Council officer, I have prioritised promoting transformative policies that the Council’s agencies can put in place to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.”
She stressed the importance of tailoring these policies to meet the diverse needs of people and the planet, while taking into account each country’s concerns.
In this context, she highlighted the important Voluntary National Reviews conducted at the HLPF, with 36 countries presenting this year. These reviews provide valuable insights into national experiences, lessons learned and obstacles encountered in the implementation of the SDGs.
“We were able to dig deeper into why implementation was delayed, but we were also able to hear from governments and stakeholders themselves about good practices that we could replicate,” Narváez noted.
Commitment to dialogue
ECOSOC President calls for renewed commitment to multilateralism and constructive dialogue.
“We must all commit to fully engaging in building a constructive dialogue and raising standards with a big vision from all stakeholders,” she urged, stressing the need for joint efforts to achieve the necessary transformations.
Concluding her speech, Ms. Narváez expressed hope that the actions taken today will inspire future generations.
“We hope that the boys and girls watching us today can see the opportunity to fulfill their potential in the future as we are demonstrating here today,” she said, reinforcing the long-term vision of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ministerial Segment
During the three-day ministerial segment, the HLPF will host a general debate on the theme From the SDG Summit to the Future Summit.
Ministers and high-level representatives of participating countries, as well as intergovernmental organizations, major groups and other stakeholders will take action to realise the Political Declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit and accelerate its implementation. Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
They will also contribute to the preparations for the Future Summit, which will be held in September this year.
The forum, held under the auspices of ECOSOC, will conclude on 18 July with the adoption of a ministerial statement.
