THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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REMARKS TO THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
New York, 18 September 2023
[Bilingual, as delivered]
Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Eight years ago, Member States gathered in this Hall to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals.
With the world watching — including 193 young people in the balcony holding blue lamps of hope — you made a solemn promise.
A promise to build a world of health, progress and opportunity for all.
A promise to leave no one behind.
And a promise to pay for it.
This was not a promise made to one another as diplomats from the comfort of this chamber.
It was — always — a promise to people.
People crushed under the grinding wheels of poverty.
People starving in a world of plenty.
Children denied a seat in a classroom.
Families fleeing conflicts, seeking a better life.
Parents watching helplessly as their children die of preventable disease.
People losing hope because they can’t find a job — or a safety net when they need it.
Entire communities literally on devastation’s doorstep because of changing climate.
So, the SDGs aren’t just a list of goals.
They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere.
And they provide the surest path to living up to our obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, now in its 75th year.
Yet today, only 15 per cent of the targets are on track and many are going in reverse.
Instead of leaving no one behind, we risk leaving the SDGs behind.
So, Excellencies, the SDGs need a global rescue plan.
I am deeply encouraged by the detailed and wide-ranging draft political declaration under discussion here today — especially its commitment to improving developing countries’ access to the fuel required for SDG progress: finance.
This includes clear support for an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion a year, as well as an effective debt-relief mechanism that supports payment suspensions, longer lending terms, and lower rates.
It includes a call to re-capitalize and change the business model of Multilateral Development Banks so they can massively leverage private finance at affordable rates to benefit developing countries.
And it includes the endorsement of the need to reform the international financial architecture that I consider outdated, dysfunctional and unfair.
This can be a game-changer in accelerating SDG progress.
I have been calling for a new Bretton Woods moment, and the development of practical solutions by the Summit of the Future next September.
But countries can act right now to get the SDGs on track.
Together with businesses and financial institutions, local authorities, the UN development system and more, you have helped point the way with high-impact initiatives to support six targeted areas where urgent transitions are needed.
First — we must take action on hunger.
In our world of plenty, hunger is a shocking stain on humanity, and an epic human rights violation.
It is an indictment of every one of us that millions of people are starving in this day and age.
Building on July’s Food Systems Summit Stocktake, we are marshalling finance, science, data, innovations, and policy and governance support to help countries transform food systems so all people can access a healthy and nutritious diet.
Second — the transition to renewable energy isn’t happening fast enough.
We are putting forward new Energy Compacts in which governments, businesses and global organizations join forces to invest in decarbonizing energy systems, and ensuring a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Third — the benefits and opportunities of digitalization are not being spread widely enough.
To close the divide, we have launched an initiative to spur digital transformation across 100 countries, supporting stronger technology capacities, better governance, and innovative financing.
Our proposed Global Digital Compact will also help countries build safe digital systems that provide internet access for all — including for students in hard-to-reach communities.
Quatrièmement, trop d’enfants et de jeunes pâtissent d’une éducation de mauvaise qualité, ou ne reçoivent aucune éducation.
Nous devons bâtir de véritables « sociétés apprenantes » ancrées dans une éducation de qualité, et notamment sur la formation continue – dès le plus jeune âge et tout au long de la vie, réduisant la fracture numérique et soutenant les enseignants à chaque étape.
Un groupe émergent de « pays pionniers » montre la voie pour stimuler les investissements et transformer les systèmes éducatifs du monde entier.
Cinquièmement, chaque personne a besoin d’un travail décent et d’une protection sociale.
Grâce à la collaboration avec les gouvernements et le secteur privé, notre Accélérateur mondial pour l’emploi et la protection sociale pour des transitions justes vise à créer 400 millions de nouveaux emplois décents – en particulier dans l’économie verte, les services à la personne et l’économie numérique – ainsi qu’à étendre la protection sociale à plus de quatre milliards de personnes. Les investissements dans la protection sociale doivent massivement augmenter.
Sixièmement, la guerre menée contre la nature doit cesser.
Nous devons mettre fin à la triple crise planétaire du changement climatique, de la pollution et de la perte de biodiversité.
Nous mettons sur pied un groupe de pays champions qui étudiera les mesures à prendre pour réformer les politiques économiques et placer la nature et la biodiversité au cœur de toute décision.
Le besoin d’assurer une égalité totale entre les hommes et les femmes est au cœur de toutes ces transitions.
Il est grand temps de mettre fin à la discrimination, de garantir la pleine participation des femmes et des filles à la prise de décisions et de mettre fin au fléau des violences fondées sur le genre.
Excellences,
À mi-parcours de l’échéance pour la réalisation des Objectifs de développement durable, les yeux du monde sont de nouveau rivés sur vous.
Au cours du week-end, des jeunes et des groupes de la société civile se sont rendus à l’ONU – ou défilé à travers le monde – pour réclamer une action urgente.
L’heure est venue de prouver que vous êtes à leur écoute.
Nous pouvons réussir.
Si nous agissons maintenant.
Si nous agissons ensemble.
Si nous tenons notre promesse envers les milliards de personnes dont les espoirs, les rêves et l’avenir sont entre vos mains.
L’heure est venue, et je vous remercie.