Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to address you today at this year＊s special event by the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI).
Today, we have a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and successes of the higher education community to support efforts to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Allow me to thank the co-partners of HESI for their strong commitment and for entrusting the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to be in the lead of this network together with the Sulitest Association, namely UNESCO, UNEP, Global Compact＊s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, UN University, UN-HABITAT, UNCTAD, UNITAR and UN Office for Partnerships.
Colleagues,
We are meeting in the midst of the annual session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 每 the central place for Member States and stakeholders to review progress on the implementation of the SDGs, to learn from each other of successes and challenges faced, and build momentum for collective and individual actions.
This year, the HLPF is reviewing in-depth SDGs 4 on quality education, 5 on gender equality, 14 on life below water, 15 on life on land, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals.
In addition, 44 countries are presenting their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) on their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The ensuing days are an opportunity for the global community to share information about new and ambitious SDG actions and initiatives.
Colleagues,
The HESI partnership was established in the lead-up to the Rio+20 Conference between several 51勛圖 entities and the higher education community to highlight the critical role of higher education in achieving sustainable development.
Today, HESI is comprised of several UN entities and hundreds of networks and higher education institutions. We have come a long way since Rio +20. But, much more work remains to be done.
As the world enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, its catastrophic effects on people＊s lives and livelihoods, and on global efforts to realize the SDGs are beyond dispute.
The most recent assessment on the progress towards the SDGs shows that years or even decades of development progress have been halted or reversed.
In 2021, the global economy started to rebound, with global output expanding by 5.5 per cent.
However, new COVID-19 variants and continuing vaccine inequity, together with rising inflation, major supply chain disruptions, policy uncertainties and unsustainable debt of developing countries, caused the global economy to again slow down at the end of 2021.
The multiple and interlinked global crises we are facing 每 the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine and elsewhere 每 are putting the very viability of achieving the SDGs by 2030 at great risk.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today＊s event is an opportunity to shine light on the unwavering commitment by inspiring institutions and individuals to pursue the implementation of the SDGs despite the many ongoing challenges. These include:
? promoting green and sustainability careers through the Education for Green Jobs initiative;
? the great work of the Rankings, Ratings, and Assessments Action Group to improve assessments of the performance of higher education institutions to include contributions to the SDGs;
? the SDG Publishers Compact work to build momentum for the wider publishing sector to include sustainability more broadly;
? the efforts of Sultitest to improve sustainability literacy for all; and
? The work of the Green Gown Awards to recognize the exceptional sustainability initiatives that are being undertaken by universities and colleges globally.
I am also pleased to announce that we are establishing a new HESI Action Group on Integrating SDGs into higher education, as an advisory service to develop tools and guidance for integrating and mainstreaming the global goals into curricula, research and programmes of higher education institutions, by leveraging the broad HESI network of UN partners, universities and other institutions of higher education.
Colleagues,
As the global community once again convenes at the HLPF this week, let us show the world the good work that is being done by so many inspiring actors.
Let us continue be ambitious and bold.
Together we can deliver meaningful progress for people and the planet by 2030.
I wish this Special Event a great success.
Thank you!