{"id":49915,"date":"2018-06-16T00:05:18","date_gmt":"2018-06-16T04:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=49915"},"modified":"2018-07-24T10:49:09","modified_gmt":"2018-07-24T14:49:09","slug":"un-secretary-general-towards-a-fairer-more-peaceful-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2018\/06\/un-secretary-general-towards-a-fairer-more-peaceful-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General: Towards a fairer, more peaceful world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Op-ed by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres for Impact Journalism Day<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Three years ago, world leaders unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.\u00a0 Negotiating this framework for a better future and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals spanned three years and involved hundreds of meetings, thousands of documents and millions of people.\u00a0 That was the easy part.\u00a0 The harder work is now under way: bringing the blueprint to life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Goals were adopted with justifiable enthusiasm.\u00a0 Covering everything from energy to education, infrastructure to institutions, urbanization to innovation, they offer a holistic roadmap for addressing the world\u2019s ills.\u00a0 They apply to all countries, reflect the priorities of all countries and were embraced by all countries, with presidents and prime ministers putting their weight behind the Goals\u2019 core promise: to leave no one behind.<\/p>\n

In this third year of implementation, momentum is still with us.\u00a0 Many countries are aligning their policies and budgets behind the Goals.\u00a0 More and more businesses are recognizing the opportunities to invest in new technologies, open up new markets and build the sustainable and inclusive economy of the 21st-century.\u00a0 Civil society organizations are using these global Goals to drive local change.<\/p>\n

At the same time, progress is too slow to meet the targets by the deadline of 2030.\u00a0 Armed conflicts and humanitarian crises are also throwing us off course.\u00a0 Action in three areas is especially urgent.<\/p>\n

First is climate change.\u00a0 The nine warmest years on record have all occurred since 2005. \u00a0Last year, the economic toll of climate-related disasters hit a new high: $320 billion.\u00a0 People\u2019s lives are being shattered.\u00a0 We need greater ambition, including a 25 per cent cut in emissions by 2020.\u00a0 These are the facts.\u00a0 Fortunately, there is another, more hopeful reality: Clean energy is more affordable and competitive than ever.\u00a0 The International Labour Organization reported recently that common sense green economy policies could create 24 million decent jobs globally by 2030.\u00a0 Climate change is still moving faster than we are; our challenge is to usher in a race to the top.<\/p>\n

Second, like global temperatures, inequality keeps rising.\u00a0 Globalization has brought remarkable benefits \u2013 increased wealth, a growing global middle class and major inroads against poverty.\u00a0 But \u00a0more than over 800 million people continue to live in extreme poverty. And many people, sectors and regions feel they are being left behind, unable to participate in this visible prosperity.\u00a0 This, in turn, undermines social cohesion and heightens the appeal of populists and xenophobes.\u00a0 Our responsibility is to invest in people and build a fair globalization that works for all.<\/p>\n

Third, we will neither conquer inequality, nor halt climate change, nor indeed achieve any of our shared goals, without empowering the world\u2019s women and girls.\u00a0 Yet gender-based discrimination remains entrenched.\u00a0 Representation in political life and the business world is growing, but slowly.\u00a0 Within their own households, women\u2019s voices are frequently stifled.\u00a0 And violence and harassment are pervasive, most often with impunity.\u00a0 The imperative is clear: change power dynamics as a matter of basic rights, but also because women\u2019s participation makes economies more dynamic, societies more resilient and peace agreements more durable.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sustainable development also depends on upholding human rights and ensuring peace and security.\u00a0 After all, leaving no-one behind means reaching the furthest behind first: those facing armed conflict, governance failures and political repression and instability.\u00a0 This is why the framework includes a dedicated goal on inclusive societies, access to justice and accountable institutions.\u00a0 Sustainable development is an end in itself, but it is also the best way to prevent crisis and build a safer world.<\/p>\n

The Sustainable Development Goals take us to the year 2030.\u00a0 But even today we must look to the farther horizon of frontier issues.\u00a0 Technological innovation continues to provide answers for many pressing challenges.\u00a0 Yet developments involving artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and cyberspace also have dark sides and will lead to upheavals in labour markets, global security and society in general.\u00a0 We must work across sectors to move forward in ways that ensure the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are enjoyed by all.<\/p>\n

The Sustainable Development Goals are our pathway toward a fairer, more peaceful and prosperous world on a healthy planet. They are also a summons to inter-generational solidarity.\u00a0 We have no greater duty than to invest in the well-being of young people so that they can realize their potential.\u00a0 I am determined to ensure that an effective, reformed United Nations is up to the task in enabling people everywhere, today and tomorrow, meet their needs and realize their aspirations.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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