Making the United Nations Relevant to all People– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the 蘑菇视频 General Assembly
22 October 2018
Your Highness, princess Astrid of Belgium, Your Excellency, President Berset, Your Excellency Mr. Kituyi, Secretary-General of 蘑菇视频CTAD, Mr. Michael Moller, Director General of 蘑菇视频OG,
Excellencies, Distinguished Panelists, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honor to be here for the 10th anniversary of the World Investment Forum.
This year’s event is particularly important.? We live in a world experiencing transformations in all facets of human life: including, the impact of automation, digitization and financial derivatives on the real economy.
We are also in a period that is regrettably marked by uncertainty and characterized by uneven development, protectionism, and isolationism.
Our challenge, therefore, is to ensure that all of us work together, that is, governments, companies, civil society, academia and workers alike. Together we can demonstrate the importance and utility of multilateralism.
And we can do this by decisions and actions that enable the world to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals; and, build a fairer, more equitable world.
It is clear that in the even more interdependent world of today, we need more cooperation, to solve the global problems that affect all of us on this planet. Thus, my call for global leadership and shared responsibilities.
My friends,
On this allow me to make three key points.
- First, I would underscore the important role of the private sector in delivering Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development;
- Second, I would emphasize that empowering women and youth is key to economic development and ensuring peace and security; and
- Third, I will make a case for investing in areas that advance environmental protection and climate action.
First, let me be clear: we have a moral obligation to protect and advance the rights of billions of people around the world.
As it is, approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population continue to live on less than one dollar and ninety cents ($1.90) per day.
This is simply unacceptable.
We must work together to find common, multilateral solutions. Only in this way can we build societies that are more peaceful, egalitarian, sustainable and resilient.
The private sector can contribute to sustainable development with responsible investments that respect human rights, environmental regulations and fiscal regulations – all at the same time.
By fulfilling this moral and legal imperative, the private sector can have a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of a country; boosting employment, productive investments, and knowledge and technology transfer.
We stress the importance of promoting quality investment for sustainable development, with a clear balance of rights and obligations for all parties. Productive investments should not in any way hinder States? regulatory capacity to generate public policy for development and inclusion.
With our collective action, we can all contribute to build cohesive and peaceful societies that are much needed for prosperity and development.
The fact that it will take 5-7 trillion US Dollars per year, and 600 million new jobs would be created by 2030, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, gives us incredible opportunities to grow our economies and contribute to eradicate poverty, exclusion and inequality.
For my second point, I would stress the need to empower youth and women. Doing so offers an opportunity to fast track development, boost productivity, and contribute to peace and security.
Let’s start with youth: Young people between the ages of 18-29 years form the largest segment of the world’s population. ?They are also the most creative.
How we meet the needs and aspirations of this generation will define our common task and our common future.
Yet, according to the ILO, the total number of unemployed persons in 2017 has exceeded 192 million.
For the private sector, providing young people with decent work opportunities contributes to peaceful societies and stability. It also helps create a generation of experts and skilled practitioners.
In terms of gender empowerment, when women are empowered, everybody wins. A recent McKinsey study estimates that advancing women’s empowerment could add $12 trillion to global growth by 2025. It is unimaginable to think about development, if we leave half of the population behind.
Women?s contribution to development is abundantly clear in all our societies. Do not miss this opportunity to include more women in decision making positions in the economic and financial world.
My friends, poverty and its root causes are holding back some of our greatest minds and talents. They are also holding back the benefits all countries gain from a thriving global economy. Let us fix this.
My third point refers to the urgency of investing in environmental action.
From ever stronger and more frequent storms, to the deluge of plastic in our oceans, to the destruction of our forests, the evidence is clear: we must do more to protect the world we live in.
The private sector has both a moral and fiscal responsibility to contribute to combat climate change. This is a problem that is affecting every country, every community, every person on this planet. We all need to act with a sense of urgency.
The private sector can be part of the solution, through low carbon technologies, emissions reduction and support to reduce plastic pollution and deforestation.
And there is opportunity here as well. The private sector serves as the engine of technological innovation, as we continue our transition towards sustainable energy.
These innovations are not only significant profits, but are changing the lives of billions of people, literally ‘energizing’ progress across the SDGs.
We need more of this; more creativity, more innovation and more courage to tread into new, frontier technologies.
Our challenge, therefore, is to ensure that all of us work together, that is, governments, companies, civil society, academia and workers alike. Together we can demonstrate the importance and utility of multilateralism.
Colleagues, the current investment gap in developing countries stands at approximately 2.5 trillion dollars.
There is only so much that the public sector can provide; the private sector must play a role in advancing the development agenda.
Over the next few days of this Forum, I encourage you to devise solution-oriented ideas and approaches that are mutually beneficial for investors and nations alike.
Through my Presidency, I consistently and passionately advocate for multilateralism and for cooperation.
It is only through global leadership, shared responsibility and collective action that we can address challenging issues and seize timely opportunities.
Let me conclude by emphasizing our common interests as political leaders and business leaders. Inclusion and equality are preconditions for stable and thriving societies. Stability and skilled workforces are equally vital for robust markets and businesses to thrive.? The SDGs must therefore be an essential consideration for business decisions as they are for public policy.?? As Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra and Mahindra, stated at Davos: “The opportunity to raise the quality of life is the biggest business opportunity going”.
Thank you.