Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,

Mr. Dennis Francis,

at the Closing of the High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Transport

17 April 2024

[As Delivered]

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Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,

Distinguished Colleagues,

With the proclamation of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport, we embark on a collective endeavour to reshape our transport systems.

Heeding this important call of the General Assembly resolution, let us work collaboratively to prepare a robust implementation plan that reflects the aspirations and needs of all.

Non-renewable energy use continues to dominate the transport sector, exacerbating climate change and health issues. Ambitious goals are vital to cut greenhouse gas emissions, alleviate poverty and promote democracy. Financing for Sustainable Transport is crucial, covering technology, capacity building, and infrastructure ¨C and I was pleased to hear multiple Member States renew this commitment today.

To achieve the sustainable solutions we need, we must foster cross-sectoral and regional cooperation, bolstering resilience and ensuring that transport modes offer reliable, equitable, and affordable mobility.

These are especially critical for LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, as will be discussed further in the upcoming Fourth SIDS Conference in May and the Third LLDC Conference in June.

As an outcome of today¡¯s meeting and as a contribution to the implementation plan for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Decade on Sustainable Transport, I will submit an informal summary based on your reflections ¨C as well as substantive and action-oriented points that have emerged in this meeting in its annex.

Your valuable insights will thus be aptly reflected in this comprehensive submission.

Thank you once again for your valuable participation today. I am confident that together, we pave the road towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

To further sustain today¡¯s momentum, I encourage you all ¨C in fact I challenge you all ¨C to join my campaign #ChooseSustainability ¨C and in the meantime, I eagerly anticipate the tangible outcomes of our collective efforts, as we work towards ensuring sustainable transport and development for all, everywhere.

 

I thank you.

 

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