New York: With just five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda, global leaders convened at the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council warned of significant setbacks due to shrinking national budgets, rising nationalism, and trade-disrupting tariffs. The meeting emphasized the need for global solidarity to address these challenges and accelerate progress.
According to EMM, the high-level segment, which features a three-day ministerial meeting of the High-level Political Forum, is focusing on advancing sustainable and inclusive solutions for the 2030 Agenda. Bob Rae, President of the 54-member Council, urged nations not to abandon their ideals but to strengthen their commitments to one another, recalling the global cooperation that led to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda a decade ago.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted recent achievements in global cooperation, such as the Pandemic Agreement in Geneva, commitments to marine protection at the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, and a new vision for global finance agreed upon in Sevilla. Guterres stressed the importance of renewing the commitment to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.
The Forum also addressed the stark reality that only 35% of SDG targets are on track, with nearly half moving too slowly and 18% regressing. The global economy is slowing, trade tensions are rising, and inequalities are growing, with aid budgets being cut while military spending increases. Guterres emphasized the need for long-term thinking and cooperation to turn aspirations into action.
Philémon Yang, President of the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, called for science and evidence-based solutions to guide efforts, emphasizing the importance of data, new technologies, and local knowledge. He urged nations to use the Forum as an opportunity to recommit to the 2030 Agenda and address pressing global challenges.
Carolina Rojas, representing the Major Group for Children and Youth, highlighted the demand for systemic reform and the full inclusion of migrant youth in national workforce plans. She called for investments in gender equality, healthcare, and grassroots initiatives, emphasizing the need for long-term funding and support.
Government leaders, including Prime Ministers and Deputy Ministers, outlined their countries’ progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda, while acknowledging challenges and the need for further advancement. Finland’s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, emphasized the necessity of multilateralism, while Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, highlighted her country’s localized approach to the SDGs.
The 80th anniversary of the UN was seen as an opportunity to reassess its role in the world, with speakers like Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister Muhammed Ali Tamim underscoring the need for development as a right, not a privilege. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, called for debt relief to bridge the financing gap for SDG implementation.
Joyelle Clarke, speaking for CARICOM, and representatives from Tuvalu and Bulgaria, emphasized the importance of sustainable ocean management and children’s rights, respectively. Indonesia’s Vice Minister for National Development Planning, Febrian Alfianto Ruddyard, called for increased commitment to fight tuberculosis.
Leaders from least developed countries, including Nepal’s Shiva Raj Adhikari, highlighted their continued vulnerability and the need for regional economic integration. The importance of justice in development was emphasized by Luis Madera from the Dominican Republic, noting the economic cost of not investing in justice.
Overall, the meeting underscored the urgent need for global solidarity and cooperation to address economic challenges and accelerate progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.