New York: With only five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda, speakers at the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council warned of uneven progress amidst shrinking budgets and rising nationalism. The segment, featuring the three-day ministerial meeting of the High-level Political Forum, focuses on advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the SDGs, with a commitment to leaving no one behind.
According to EMM, Bob Rae, President of the 54-member Council, emphasized the importance of solidarity and obligations to one another, recalling the decade-old adoption of the 2030 Agenda. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted recent international agreements in health, ocean protection, and global finance as examples of successful cooperation. He stressed the need for immediate actions in conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine, and the importance of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
The reality, Guterres noted, is stark: only 35% of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are lagging and 18% are regressing. Economic challenges, rising trade tensions, and increasing inequalities are complicating efforts, with aid budgets shrinking even as military spending rises. He called for long-term thinking and cooperation to turn aspirations into action.
Philémon Yang, President of the General Assembly, highlighted the role of science and evidence-based solutions, emphasizing the importance of harnessing data and local knowledge. He encouraged the use of voluntary national reviews to translate global commitments into national actions, pointing to the Pact for the Future and the Sevilla Commitment as frameworks for progress.
Youth leader Carolina Rojas called for systemic reform, not just inclusion, in UN processes, stressing the importance of integrating migrant youth into workforce plans and investing in gender equality and youth-led initiatives.
Government leaders shared their countries' progress and challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Finland's Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, underscored the necessity of multilateralism, while Uganda's Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, detailed her country's localized approach to the SDGs. Representatives from ASEAN and CARICOM reaffirmed commitments to sustainable growth and multilateralism, emphasizing the need for international partnerships.
The 80th anniversary of the UN is seen as an opportunity to reassess its role in global development. Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Muhammed Ali Tamim, emphasized development as a right, not a privilege, and highlighted the importance of Iraq's upcoming census for development planning.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, called for debt relief to bridge financing gaps in aligning national strategies with the SDGs. Other speakers stressed the need for progress in areas like climate change, child development, healthcare, and justice.
CARICOM's Minister Joyelle Clarke highlighted the ocean's significance for Caribbean countries and warned of declining official development assistance. Tuvalu's representative called for accelerated implementation of Ocean Conference commitments, while Bulgaria's Minister Zhecho Stankov emphasized the importance of investing in social protections for children.
Healthcare and tuberculosis were also focal points, with Indonesia's Vice Minister Febrian Alfianto Ruddyard advocating for increased financing to combat the disease. Nepal's Vice President Shiva Raj Adhikari pointed out the economic vulnerabilities of least developed countries, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Deputy Prime Minister Guylain Nyembo Mbwizya reported economic recovery efforts.
The importance of justice in development was underlined by Luis Madera of the Dominican Republic, who noted that the economic costs of not investing in justice exceed those of delivering it, as unresolved legal issues exacerbate poverty and inequality.