{"id":50858,"date":"2018-07-17T12:32:57","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T16:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=50858"},"modified":"2018-08-28T16:54:04","modified_gmt":"2018-08-28T20:54:04","slug":"progress-has-been-made-but-not-at-a-sufficient-speed-to-realize-the-sdgs-un-ecosoc-president-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2018\/07\/progress-has-been-made-but-not-at-a-sufficient-speed-to-realize-the-sdgs-un-ecosoc-president-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Progress has been made, but ‘not at a sufficient speed to realize the SDGs’: Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ ECOSOC President"},"content":{"rendered":"

One week after zeroing-in on how to build sustainable, resilient societies, key players from around the world debated on Monday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, how to keep up the momentum to turn the 2030 Agenda<\/a> for Sustainable Development into a reality.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking at the opening of the major ministerial meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF<\/a>) as well as the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC<\/a> President, Marie Chatardov\u00e1, cited progress that, at first glimpse, looked positive.<\/p>\n

She pointed to extreme poverty, saying that even at one-third of the 1990 value, it was still imprisoning 10.9 per cent of world\u2019s population. Moreover, while 71 per cent have access to electricity – a 10 per cent jump – a billion people still remain in the dark.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is progress, but generally not at a sufficient speed to realize the SDGs by 2030,\u201d Ms. Chatardov\u00e1 said.<\/p>\n

Despite that backdrop, Ms. Chatardov\u00e1 argued that the 2030 Agenda was being translated into concrete policies and measures: \u201cIt seems new ways of making policies are taking root, with many examples of more inclusive and evidence-based approaches,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Underscoring the importance of science and technology in advancing the goals, she outlined how they are being used to close gaps, such as on investing in renewable energy production and lowering prices; and countering major challenges in cities, from boosting housing affordability to accessing public spaces.<\/p>\n

Ms. Chatardov\u00e1 stressed that the same level of engagement must be maintained in the years ahead, urging the world\u2019s leaders to reaffirm their political commitment to the Agenda in 2019, when the high-level forum will also meet in September during the General Assembly.<\/p>\n

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Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Photo\/Loey Felipe
General Assembly President Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k delivers remarks at the opening of the Ministerial segment of 2018 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe do not have any time to waste,\u201d General Assembly President Miroslav Lajc\u00e1k told the meeting, focussing on four main points where progress had been made: \u201cWe have taken a sledgehammer<\/a> to extreme poverty,\u201d he began. \u201cInnovations in healthcare are allowing people to live longer and healthier lives. Fewer children are forced to work \u2013 and more are where they belong: in school.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his second point, he spoke of \u201chuge challenges ahead,\u201d citing that gains made to reduce extreme poverty, have not benefitted everyone, with many are still dying from curable diseases. One-in-six people still lack safe drinking water; women and girls globally remain excluded or oppressed; and \u201cthe planet is, quite literally, melting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, we know that our demands for water, food, energy and housing are already unsustainable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, he painted a grim picture of how \u201cthe world would be a very scary place\u201d without the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs<\/a>). Without the 17 Goals \u201cunilateralism, protectionism and extremism would have even larger draws.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, he said better financing was as urgent priority as we \u201cdo not have enough money to meet our goals\u2026But it is out there,\u201d he stated. \u201cWe just need to go beyond our traditional models to get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Photo\/Loey Felipe
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed addresses the opening of the Ministerial segment of 2018 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.<\/p><\/div>\n

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed also highlighted progress in some areas, including maternal and child mortality; tackling childhood marriage; addressing global unemployment; and cutting the rate of forest-loss around the globe.<\/p>\n

She stressed that we are either moving too slowly, or losing momentum, citing that for the first time in a decade, the overall number of people who are undernourished has increased \u2013 from 777 million people in 2015, to 815 million in 2016 \u2013 fundamentally undermining our commitment to leaving no one behind.<\/p>\n

Taking the podium, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Envoy<\/a> Jayathma Wickramanayake, drew attention to the world\u2019s 1.8 billion youth between the ages of 10 and 24, who have a key role to play in the 2030 Agenda.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people will be the ones leading this agenda in the years to come. In fact, in many places they already are,\u201d upheld the youth envoy, arguing that having been brought up in a world of technological innovation, today\u2019s digitally-savvy youth are the world\u2019s most interconnected generation ever.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo solve the most pressing issues of our time, we must tap into the dynamism of young innovators, activists, entrepreneurs and advocates, who have the potential to disrupt the status quo and be a strong force for positive change,\u201d Ms. Wickramanayake declared.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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