New York: With five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Economic and Social Council’s high-level segment commenced with urgent calls for enhanced global cooperation. The event, which includes a three-day ministerial meeting of the High-level Political Forum, is centered on advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to EMM, Bob Rae, President of the 54-member Council, stressed the importance of solidarity, recalling the adoption of the 2030 Agenda a decade ago. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted recent global successes, such as the Pandemic Agreement in Geneva and commitments made at the Third UN Ocean Conference and the Fourth International Financing for Development Conference, as examples of what can be achieved through collective effort.
The high-level segment also underscored the alarming reality that only 35% of SDG targets are on track, with nearly half progressing too slowly and 18% regressing. The global economy faces challenges such as slowing growth, rising trade tensions, and increasing inequality, compounded by declining aid budgets and escalating military expenditures. Philémon Yang, President of the General Assembly, emphasized the need for science, data, and local knowledge to guide efforts, calling for voluntary national reviews to reinforce commitment to the 2030 Agenda.
Carolina Rojas from the Major Group for Children and Youth advocated for systemic reform rather than mere inclusion of youth, stressing the need for their co-leadership in UN processes. She highlighted the importance of including migrant youth in workforce plans and called for investments in gender equality and youth-led initiatives.
Prime Ministers and Deputy Ministers shared their countries’ progress and challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Finland’s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, noted that despite leading in SDG implementation, much work remains. Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, detailed her country’s localized approach to SDGs, while a Vice Minister from the Philippines emphasized ASEAN’s commitment to sustainable growth and multilateralism.
The UN’s 80th anniversary was seen as an opportunity to reassess its global role. Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister, Muhammed Ali Tamim, pointed out the economic struggles of the Global South, while Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, called for debt relief and highlighted national strategies aligned with SDGs.
Joyelle Clarke, representing CARICOM, and Tuvalu’s representative stressed the critical role of the ocean for their regions and the need for sustainable management. Febrian Alfianto Ruddyard of Indonesia highlighted the ongoing fight against tuberculosis, while representatives from Nepal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo focused on the vulnerabilities and economic recovery of least developed countries.
Luis Madera from the Dominican Republic, on behalf of the Justice Action Coalition, emphasized the importance of justice in development, noting the high economic cost of unresolved legal problems. The high-level segment concluded with calls for renewed commitment to global partnerships and solidarity to ensure no one is left behind in the pursuit of sustainable development.