In his opening remarks to the听, held at UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, UN chief Ant贸nio Guterres outlined his听roadmap听for financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN鈥檚 blueprint for the transition to a healthier planet and a fairer world.
The Secretary-General began by reminding delegates that, currently, not enough financing is being mobilized to achieve the听Sustainable Development Goals听(SDGs), and that rising levels of debt are limiting spending. On a more positive note, he continued, financial markets are increasingly integrating sustainability into their operations, and banking institutions have committed to a more sustainable way of doing business.
Mr. Guterres broke the roadmap down into four areas: aligning the international financing system behind the SDGs; supporting individual countries in mobilizing domestic resources for sustainable strategies; addressing exclusion from financial services; and enhanced international cooperation.
Financing, concluded the UN chief, can help the world get back on track for the 鈥渄ecade of action鈥� leading up to the 2030 deadline: 鈥淟et us all raise ambition for development finance, climate finance, and finance that will enable markets to grow, businesses to thrive and people to live in dignity鈥�.
Let鈥檚 put words into action: General Assembly President
鈥淚t is time to transcend words to action, the only way to transform our world鈥�, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the General Assembly, declared. The High-Level Dialogue provides an opportunity to evaluate the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals, he said, noting that a funding gap of some $2.5 trillion had been identified at the听, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, as one of the biggest impediments to achieving the Goals.
Mr. Muhammad-Bande called on leaders to remain steadfast in their commitments, generate resources that can match ambitions, honour aid commitments, and increase private investments to generate further growth and provide decent jobs: 鈥淎 sustainable development future requires investing in the present. We have a clearly stated roadmap and due date. Let us act now and work together to take bold action to deliver for all鈥�.
Achieving development and self-reliance in Africa
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, and Sola David-Borha, CEO of Africa Regions Standard Bank Group, both delivered keynote speeches with a focus on shifting from aid to self-reliance and development. 听
鈥淲e have to harness effectively our own resources鈥�, said Mr. Akufo-Addo, 鈥渁nd deploy them creatively and efficiently, to finance the rapid economic and social transformation that we seek. We need a lot of resources, to generate the prosperity we want in Africa鈥�.
Ms. David-Borha told the meeting that banks, such as Standard Bank, which have signed the principles for responsible banking, have committed to aligning their business strategies to the SDGs.
Governments alone, she said, cannot fund the SDGs, and the financing that Africa has so far received is just 鈥渁 drop in the ocean鈥�, which is why the public and private sectors must work together: 鈥渢he engagement and dialogue between both sides must step up considerably, so that trust and mutual respect can be built鈥�.
Bill Gates, principal founder of Microsoft, and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, told delegates that no single solution exists to getting the听Sustainable Development Goals听back on track, but recommended a focus on targeting specific needs, geographies and groups of people.
Mr. Gates added that one third of the finance needed for sustainable development could come from new tax revenues, accompanied by more efficient spending and foreign aid, but he counselled countries to make their tax policies progressive, to ensure faith in financial systems, and provide essential health and education services.
Sustainable future 鈥榚ssential for life as we know it鈥�: Prince Charles
鈥淭he transition to a sustainable future is essential for the ultimate viability of life as we know it鈥�, said Charles, Prince of Wales (and first in line to the British throne), in a video message played to delegates.
Prince Charles said that he could 鈥渙nly pray鈥� leaders will embrace the 鈥渦tmost urgency鈥� of what is required, and that they will commit themselves, and inspire others, to practical action in order to finance the SDGs and climate action.
Vast number of young people around the world, he continued are 鈥渇ed up鈥�, in the face of an unprecedented global emergency.
