“Let’s preserve the SDG dedication alive,” he said in remarks to a high-level occasion at UN Headquarters geared toward shining a highlight on the 17 Objectives, which embrace ending excessive poverty, decreasing inequalities, attaining gender equality and combating local weather change.
Wealth and know-how exist
Though the SDGs symbolize a dedication to a greater, international future, they’re “going through huge headwinds”, he stated on the SDG Moment occasion, noting that greater than 4 out of 5 targets are off monitor because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, crushing debt burdens, conflicts, inequalities and different challenges.
“The world has the wealth, the expertise, and the know-how to realize the SDGs,” he insisted, earlier than urging leaders to concentrate on “three improvement drivers” that may speed up progress.
Financing progress
Mr. Guterres underscored the necessity for finance as a result of “crushing debt and inefficient tax techniques are ravenous investments in well being, training and meals in lots of creating nations.”
He stated the Pact for the Future, adopted by world leaders this previous Sunday, consists of assist for an SDG stimulus plan and reform of the worldwide monetary structure to assist ease the debt disaster confronted by many creating nations.
Local weather motion plans
Mr. Guterres additionally known as for governments to place ahead bold nationwide local weather motion plans that align with the purpose of limiting international temperature rise to 1.5 levels Celsius.
“This requires aligning nationwide power methods with a 1.5-degree world, ending fossil gas subsidies and placing a value on carbon,” he stated, whereas underscoring the necessity to section out fossil fuels and scale-up renewable power.
“Defending improvement beneficial properties from local weather upheaval can also be essential,” he added, whereas calling for brand new and beneficiant contributions to the Loss and Injury Fund, and for creating nations to maintain their promise to double adaptation funding by 2025.
‘We want peace’
Mr. Guterres harassed the necessity for peace, the third driver.
“All our improvement plans are rapidly erased by relentless conflicts that trigger demise, destruction, starvation, displacement and gender-based violence,” he stated.
“We want peace — from Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan and past. I name on international leaders to heal divisions, finish conflicts, and put money into individuals and peace.”
Keep targeted: Common Meeting President
The President of the UN Common Meeting, Philémon Yang, recalled that world leaders adopted a political declaration on the SDG Summit final 12 months, launching a brand new section of accelerated motion to realize the Objectives.
“The problem earlier than us as we speak is to maintain this focus,” he stated. “Success is born from decided motion. And this can be a second for ambition.”
Mr. Yang highlighted the necessity for dedication to daring and simply transitions that can advance meals techniques, broaden entry to renewable power, increase digital connectivity, and enhance alternatives for training and first rate work, particularly for girls and women.
He vowed to make this a precedence throughout his presidency, “with the purpose of unlocking the complete potential of everybody, in every single place.”
Search for SDG ‘multipliers’: Canadian Prime Minister
The SDG Second additionally noticed world leaders, civil society representatives and different outstanding individuals reflecting on what is required to speed up progress in direction of the Objectives.
“One of many issues that we have to actually take a look at is which of the Objectives are most related to so many others,” stated Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, considered one of 17 SDG Advocates appointed by the Secretary-Common.
His prime three “multipliers” are coping with local weather change, guaranteeing alternatives for girls and women, and rising youth participation, and he confirmed how they’re linked.
For instance, Mr. Trudeau famous that many younger individuals worldwide are involved about local weather change, “and that is why bringing of their voices to locations of management, bringing of their considerations, and empowering them to problem the established order, goes to be important – not simply in combating local weather change, however in attaining all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals.”