Dear Mr. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs,
Dear Colleagues,
It is my pleasure to join you at this Regional Cooperation Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean Retreat. I thank the organizers for convening such an important gathering.
Colleagues,
We are currently off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Many factors contributed to this bleak picture, such as the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and uneven recovery, huge shortfalls in SDG financing, and unabated climate change. However, the commitment of countries to address these problems and cooperate across borders show a hopeful way forward.
I would like to share a few points.
First, we must advance with renewed ambition in key negotiations and processes, including the Summit of the Future, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and the Second World Summit on Social Development.
A key commitment in the Pact for the Future is to finalize an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by 2024. Beyond these laudable commitments, we need to urgently make progress on climate change and work together to reach net-zero emissions globally by 2050. It is therefore crucial that we agree on goals to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and ultimately phase out fossil fuels extraction.
The Second World Summit on Social Development presents an opportunity to build the political will to reinforce the social dimension of sustainable development. By focusing on investments in human capabilities, social protection, and decent work, we can end poverty, reduce inequality, and ensure no one is left behind.
Second, coherence among these processes is essential to mutually reinforce each other and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
At the recent preparatory meeting for FfD4, the clear message was that urgent and ambitious reform is needed to unlock the financing required to achieve the SDGs. Member States emphasized the importance of aligning the Summit of the Future and FfD4 to support International Financial Architecture reform and SDG financing.
We must also ensure that the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, FfD4, and the Social Summit are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. In particular, we need to secure ambitious commitments on financing all aspects of social development, including universal social protection.
Third, UN Country Teams (UNCTs), Resident Coordinators (RCs), and country-level engagement are crucial to make tangible impact on these processes.
For example, the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean adopted the Regional Agenda for Inclusive Social Development. This is a comprehensive action plan that deserves recognition and other regions have yet to match.
The Social Summit presents an opportunity to solidify this region’s leadership in building inclusive, equitable, and resilient societies. The documents prepared by ECLAC will amplify the region’s voice for preparing the Summit.
The UN system in regional countries can assist Member States to get ready for those events. RCP LAC members can ensure that the region’s priorities, namely poverty eradication, inequality reduction, and financing for inclusive social development, are central to the outcomes. UN Country Teams can also support Member States in conducting broad consultations to inform their preparations and make contributions.
I will stop here. Thank you for the invitation and for considering my proposals. I wish you a successful retreat. My Department, UN DESA, stands ready to support your efforts.
Thank you!