Mr. President, Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to give an overview of the Summit and its Leaders’ Dialogues.
World leaders came to this Summit, energized and reaffirming their commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
They highlighted steps they are taking to scale up actions to accelerate SDG progress, including through climate action and key transitions in areas such as energy.
Climate change was highlighted by many not only as a critical challenge, but as an existential threat.
Several speakers outlined commitments to build resilience.
Many underscored expanding social protection and improving education, stressing their commitment to leave no one behind.
They described national priorities in protecting the most vulnerable and in empowering women and girls, and youth.
Some called for development partners to support Government-led country platforms to localize SDGs in conflict-affected and fragile countries.
Leaders noted the possibilities for transformative action through science, technology and innovation, and highlighted achievements in enabling technology as an accelerator of the SDGs.
Many have made STI central to their SDG action plans.
Several called for STI to be developed to include women, girls and youth, citizen-science, local communities, and indigenous knowledge.
Countries also stated that governments should “double-down on digital”, as digital solutions can accelerate 70 per cent of the SDG targets.
World leaders emphasized the strengthening of integrated policies and the cross-cutting dimensions of governance as necessary to enhance SDG implementation. Many provided national examples.
Progress was highlighted in “nationalizing” the SDGs through various institutional mechanisms, accompanied by robust follow-up and review, including the Voluntary National Reviews.
Leaders stressed the need for global cooperation.
They pledged to strengthen multilateralism and the multilateral system as imperatives for effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda and follow-up and review.
They committed to strengthen cooperation and enhance global solidarity.
Mobilizing finance and investment and the means of implementation for SDG achievement underpinned all the discussions.
Many speakers declared their support for the Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus Plan. Several called for climate finance, debt relief and long-term mission-oriented lending.
Numerous calls were made for reform of the existing international financial architecture.
Financing through a more holistic view was advocated.
A group of donor partners announced their commitment to mobilize 600 billion US dollar by 2027, for a global infrastructure development plan.
Leaders also called for new forms of finance, such as through carbon pricing.
Unlocking private capital is another avenue, including through de-risking private investment. Such an initiative by one group that will result in the investing of 300 billion euros in developing countries over the next five years.
Some leaders called for measures of progress beyond GDP, and for the application of a multidimensional vulnerability index.
One country offered to host the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.
To conclude, I look forward, together with colleagues across the UN Development System, to working with you all to accelerate transformative actions to implement and achieve the SDGs.
Thank you.