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19 September 2023
UN General Assembly adopts declaration to accelerate SDGs
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Story
19 September 2023
Ambitious and accelerated climate action: A blueprint for course correction
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Story
18 September 2023
Responding to cascading global crises, SDG Summit launches new phase of accelerated action on the Sustainable Development Goals
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The Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the Earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. The United Nations in the Caribbean is supporting delivery on all 17 goals:
Story
13 September 2023
Caribbean representatives UNGA78 schedule
It’s that time again! The global spotlight will shine on UN Headquarters in New York later this month when the General Assembly (UNGA) welcomes presidents, monarchs, prime ministers, and Heads of State from its 193 Member States.
UNGA 78 President Dennis Francis, from Trinidad and Tobago, will gavel open on 19 September the annual General Debate, where global leaders will discuss speeding up progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the theme "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all."
All UN Member States and observers have the right to deliver a speech in the storied General Assembly Hall where their representatives will present and explore solutions to myriad intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.
The General Debate will continue through Saturday 23 September, before pausing to resume on Tuesday 26 September for a final set of participants.
The provisional schedule for the participation of Caribbean leaders in the General Debate can be seen below.
Caribbean Leaders Provisional Schedule
Wednesday 20 September | 9 am – 2:45 pm
Suriname – 6th participant COMPLETE
Guyana – 13th participant COMPLETE
Thursday 21 September | 9 am – 2:45 pm
Dominica – 11th participant COMPLETE
Thursday 21 September | 3 pm – 9 pm
Trinidad and Tobago – 11th participant COMPLETE
Friday 22 September | 9 am – 2:45 pm
Barbados – 8th participant COMPLETE
Saint Lucia – 11th participant COMPLETE
Antigua and Barbuda – 16th participant COMPLETE
Friday 22 September | 3 – 9 pm
Grenada – 8th participant COMPLETE
Bahamas – 16th participant COMPLETE
Saturday 23 September | 9 am – 2:45 pm
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – 1st participant COMPLETE
Saint Kitts and Nevis – 3rd participant COMPLETE
Saturday 23 September | 3 – 9 pm
Belize – 7th participant COMPLETE
Tuesday 26 September | 9 am – 2:45 pm
Jamaica – 4th participant
Watch UNGA78 Live
The full provisional schedule for the Debate and the High-level Week meetings is here: https://www.un.org/en/ga/78/meetings/.
Live coverage of coverage of UNGA events can be viewed on UN Web TV.
Other Key UNGA Events
The High-level Week (18 to 22 September) key events will be:
At the SDG Summit (18th to 19th September) world leaders will review progress on Agenda 2030 and produce a negotiated political declaration.
The Financing for Development High Level Dialogue will assess implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (20th).
The Secretary-General will convene a Climate Ambition Summit to mobilise action to limit global temperature rise (20th).
A political declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response is to be adopted by Heads of State and Government (20th).
State leaders will also renew their 2019 declaration committing to achievement of Universal Health Coverage by 2030 (21st).
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To learn more about UNGA78, read this UN News Report.
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Story
06 July 2023
Boost global action and ambition to reach SDGs, urges new UN campaign
Ahead of the critical SDG Summit in September, the campaign will amplify an urgent call for ambitious new action, showcase the Goals as the blueprint for sustainable progress globally, and mobilise people everywhere around this shared agenda for our common future.
Crisis multiplier
Halfway towards the 2030 deadline, the promise of the SDGs is in danger. For the first time in decades, progress on development has gone into reverse due to the combined impact of climate disasters, conflict, economic downturn, and lingering COVID-19 effects.
The SDG Summit will bring world leaders together at UN Headquarters in New York on 18-19 September to reaffirm their collective commitments to the Goals and the promise to leave no one behind.
It’s being billed as a defining moment to urgently put the world back on track to achieving the SDGs.
Getting everyone on board
One core campaign component is the call for individual action worldwide on the SDGs through the UN’s ActNow initiative.
“We want to get everyone on board for the SDGs”, said Nanette Braun, Director of Campaigns in the UN Department for Global Communications. “Our hope is that decision-makers and individual citizens alike will feel inspired to join the conversation and contribute to achieving the Goals with new resolve and ambition.”
Starting today, in a major digital activation across platforms and countries worldwide, the UN campaign aims to re-energise the conversation about the Goals.
Stellar circle of supporters
A curated group of high-profile influencers from entertainment, sports and beyond, the Circle of Supporters, will mobilise their social media communities with a combined reach of more than 80 million globally.
Some of the names lending their support are Grammy award winner Ciara, Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, and former captain of the Argentinian national football team, Javier Zanetti.
From advocating for public transport, to fundraising for schools or speaking up for equality, the platform lists steps that everyone can take to accelerate progress on the SDGs and create better lives on a healthier planet for all.
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Story
20 June 2023
Beyond borders: Why new 'high seas' treaty is critical for the world
The UN’s 193 Member States adopted a landmark legally binding marine biodiversity agreement on Monday following nearly two decades of fierce negotiations over forging a common wave of conservation and sustainability in the high seas beyond national boundaries – covering two thirds of the planet’s oceans. Here are five key points on why it is important for the world.
1. Fresh protection beyond borders
While countries are responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of waterways under their national jurisdiction, the high seas now have added protection from such destructive trends as pollution and unsustainable fishing activities.
Adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the “high seas” treaty aims at taking stewardship of the ocean on behalf of present and future generations, in line with the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The new agreement contains 75 articles that aim at protecting, caring for, and ensuring the responsible use of the marine environment, maintaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems, and conserving the inherent value of marine biological diversity.
“The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet, and today, you have pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance,” the UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates on Monday.
2. Cleaner oceans
Toxic chemicals and millions of tons of plastic waste are flooding into coastal ecosystems, killing or injuring fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, and making their way into the food chain and ultimately being consumed by humans.
More than 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the world’s ocean in 2021, making up 85 per cent of marine litter, and projections are expected to double or triple each year by 2040, according to the latest Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report.
According to UN estimates, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish unless action is taken.
The treaty aims at strengthening resilience and contains provisions based on the polluter-pays principle as well as mechanisms for disputes.
Under the treaty’s provisions, parties must assess potential environmental impacts of any planned activities beyond their jurisdictions.
3. Sustainably managing fish stocks
More than one third of global fish stocks are over-exploited, according to the UN.
The treaty underlines the importance of capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, including the development and strengthening of institutional capacity and national regulatory frameworks or mechanisms.
This includes increasing collaboration among regional seas organisations and regional fisheries management organisations.
4. Lowering temperatures
Global heating is pushing ocean temperatures to new heights, fuelling more frequent and intense storms, rising sea levels, and the salinisation of coastal lands and aquifers.
Addressing these urgent concerns, the treaty offers guidance, including through an integrated approach to ocean management that builds ecosystem resilience to tackle the adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, and maintains and restores ecosystem integrity, including carbon cycling services.
Treaty provisions also recognise the rights and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities, the freedom of scientific research, and need for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
5. Vital for realising 2030 Agenda
The new agreement “is critical to addressing the threats facing the ocean, and to the success of ocean-related goals and targets, including the 2030 Agenda, the UN chief said on Monday.
Some of the goals and targets include Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims at, among other things, preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds by 2025, and ending overfishing through science-based management plans in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible.
The new agreement will enable the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably manage vital habitats and species in the high seas and the international seabed area.
The treaty also considers the special circumstances facing small-island and landlocked developing nations.
“We have a new tool,” UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi told the Intergovernmental Conference delegates on Monday. “This landmark achievement bears witness to your collective commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Together, you laid the foundation for a better stewardship of our seas, ensuring their survival for generations to come.”
Learn more about how the UN is working to protect the world’s oceans here.
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This article was first published by UN News and can be viewed here.
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Story
13 June 2023
UN chief calls for new era of social media integrity in bid to stem misinformation
Alarm over the potential threat posed by the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) must not obscure the damage already being done by digital technologies that enable the spread of online hate speech, as well as mis- and disinformation, he said.
The policy brief argues that they should be integral players in upholding the accuracy, consistency and reliability of information shared by users.
“My hope is that it will provide a gold standard for guiding action to strengthen information integrity,” he wrote in the introduction.
Connecting and dividing
Digital platforms – which include social media channels, search engines and messaging apps – are connecting billions of people across the planet, with some three billion users of Facebook alone.
They have brought many benefits, from supporting communities in times of crisis and struggle, to helping to mobilize global movements for racial justice and gender equality. They are also used by the UN to engage people worldwide in pursuit of peace, dignity and human rights on a healthy planet.
Yet these same digital platforms are being misused to subvert science and spread disinformation and hate, fuelling conflict, threatening democracy and human rights, and undermining public health and climate action.
"Some of our own UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid operations have been targeted, making their work even more dangerous," he said.
Deceitful, dangerous and deadly
Although misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are related and overlap, they are distinct phenomena.
Hate speech refers to abusive or threatening language against a group or person, simply because of their race, colour, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or similar grounds.
The difference between mis- and disinformation is intent, though the distinction can be difficult to determine. In general, misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of inaccurate information, while disinformation is not only inaccurate but intended to deceive.
Regardless, they have all proved to be dangerous and even deadly.
“While traditional media remain an important source of news for most people in conflict areas, hatred spread on digital platforms has also sparked and fuelled violence,” the report said. “Some digital platforms have faced criticism of their role in conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.”
Safer digital space
Given the threat, the Secretary-General has called for coordinated international action to make the digital space safer and more inclusive while also protecting human rights.
Constructive responses have largely been lacking. Some tech companies have done far too little to prevent their platforms from contributing to the spread of violence and hatred, while Governments have sometimes resorted to drastic measures – including internet shutdowns and bans – that lack any legal basis and infringe on human rights.
Code of Conduct
The report puts forward the framework for global action though a Code of Conduct for information integrity on digital platforms, that outlines potential guardrails while safeguarding the rights to freedom of expression and information.
It will build on principles that include respect for human rights, support for independent media, increased transparency, user empowerment and strengthened research and data access.
The Secretary-General also provided recommendations that could inform the Code of Conduct.
They include a call for Governments, tech companies and other stakeholders to refrain from using, supporting, or amplifying disinformation and hate speech for any purpose.
Governments should also guarantee a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape, with strong protections for journalists.
Meanwhile, digital platforms should ensure safety and privacy by design in all products, alongside consistent application of policies and resources across countries and languages.
All stakeholders should take urgent and immediate measures to ensure that all AI applications are safe, secure, responsible and ethical, and comply with human rights obligations, he added.
Advertisers and digital platforms should ensure that ads are not placed next to online mis- or disinformation or hate speech, and that ads containing disinformation are not promoted.
Our common future
The policy brief is the latest in a series of 11 reports based on proposals contained in Our Common Agenda, the Secretary-General’s 2021 report that outlines a vision for future global cooperation and multilateral action.
They are intended to inform discussions ahead of the SDG Summit in September, marking the midpoint towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and the related Summit of the Future next year.
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This story was first published to UN News.
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Story
13 July 2023
UN Delivering As One To Harness Blue Finance In The Caribbean
With Caribbean Islands traditionally viewed as playgrounds of the rich and famous, due to pristine beaches and crystal blue oceans, regional Governments, with the support of the United Nations, are exploring ways to maximise the Blue Economy to promote economic recovery and growth.
For a region of more marine space than land territory, that is characterised by undiversified economies, limited fiscal space, rising unemployment, and burgeoning debt, the pursuit of economic diversification through Blue Growth, is a natural step in the right direction.
"As vulnerable Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to grapple with multiple shocks and emerging threats, including climate change and the Triple Crisis of food, fuel, and finance, through the Harnessing Blue Economy Finance for SIDS Recovery and Sustainable Development Joint Programme, we are helping countries to enhance livelihoods and promote economic growth,” says UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq.
Under the Resident Coordinator’s leadership, and through the collective efforts of participant UN Agencies, UNDP, the lead Agency, FAO and UNEP, the Joint SDG Fund-supported programme has laid the foundation for creating an enabling environment for financing the Blue in Barbados, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Despite challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, and the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano, phase I of this 2-year initiative made tangible strides aimed at placing pilot countries on the path towards a sustainable financing and policy framework.
Unearthing the hindrances to Blue Economy
Financing The first step towards financing this integral driver for resilient economic recovery and growth in the Eastern Caribbean is to beer understand it. In this regard, key constraints, policy and regulatory gaps, and institutional shortcomings to Blue Economy development were identified, through baseline research and sector diagnostics, and recommendations were made for addressing these gaps at the stakeholder as well as institutional levels.
With staggering debt-service obligations rendering Governments unable to invest in Blue Growth, and local financial institutions perceiving Blue Economy investment opportunities to be risky, the UN also presented recommendations to support the delivery of Blue Economy initiatives. These included greater incentive-based private sector investment, Public-private partnerships, and venture capital financing, an underdeveloped aspect in the region, as an alternative to conventional funding methods. Engagements and training targeting diverse stakeholder groups also contributed to increased awareness and comprehension of the potential of the Blue Economy and highlighted the importance of technical assistance to support project design, capacity building, and mobilisation of international funding for Blue Economy development. Reports produced under the project also underscored the need for multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms to help implementation of the Blue Economy at the local and regional levels. The JP also supported the development of tools and mechanisms to identify and monitor potential Blue Economy opportunities. Development Finance Assessments (DFA) were also conducted for all three participant countries, to support the creation of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) aligned to the SDGs and national priories. Efforts were also made to define a potential project pipeline for the Blue Economy and recommendations were made for specific financing mechanisms to facilitate resilient growth. Developing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors Another major output of the Blue Finance joint programme was the development of a Public and private sector Blue Economy Finance Strategy for the fisheries and aquaculture sector for Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines. When speaking of Blue Economy growth, the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of small island developing states (SIDS) must be a part of the conversion, given the potential for significant impact. With Caribbean countries boasting high fish consumption rates, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of SIDS are under increased pressure to maintain the supply of fisheries products, while being challenged by the increasing prevalence of severe weather phenomena and environmental decline. These shocks adversely impact the industry either by liming revenue generation or discouraging investment in this vital sector, thus increasing the vulnerabilities of those most at risk of being left behind. Solutions aimed at long-term sustainable development, offered under this strategy, include nature-based solutions, specifically improving the capacity of marine and coastal environments to deliver ecosystem services, the improved management of ecosystems that underpin the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, industry support, and improved market access and regulation and coordination of shared resource use. Finance and financing mechanisms remain key, and should include policy mechanisms that improve available finance, payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes, natural capital as publicly traded equities, debt swaps, blue and other sovereign bonds, and advancements in financial technology. All of these seek to increase available capital and encourage investment both from local and international sources, to facilitate cross-sectoral development. This project has highlighted the fact that an enabling environment that simultaneously prioritises sustainability and the protection of the environments that underpin the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, is critical to encourage growth in these sectors, with benefits that redound to the entire blue economy. The establishment of sustainable blue economy finance principles, integrating fisheries and aquaculture into the wider blue economy, the increased use of available development tools and reporting structures, and the facilitation of public-private partnerships all need to be prioritised to ensure the greatest potential for successful sustainable development. Stronger Together Against the backdrop of the adage that ‘no man is an island’, the JP also supported the establishment and expansion of partnerships with a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including the private sector, academia, and development partners, to promote transformative change regarding the funding of the SDGs. These partnerships have helped to harness UN capacity, resources, and assets to elevate and scale up SDG financing initiatives in the countries while also boosting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and alignment with more prominent UNCT partnership approaches. Note: The Joint SDG Fund's joint programmes are under the prestige leadership of the Resident Coordinator Office and implementing United Nations Agencies. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the 🇪🇺 European Union and Governments of 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇨 Monaco, 🇳🇱 The Netherlands, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
With staggering debt-service obligations rendering Governments unable to invest in Blue Growth, and local financial institutions perceiving Blue Economy investment opportunities to be risky, the UN also presented recommendations to support the delivery of Blue Economy initiatives. These included greater incentive-based private sector investment, Public-private partnerships, and venture capital financing, an underdeveloped aspect in the region, as an alternative to conventional funding methods. Engagements and training targeting diverse stakeholder groups also contributed to increased awareness and comprehension of the potential of the Blue Economy and highlighted the importance of technical assistance to support project design, capacity building, and mobilisation of international funding for Blue Economy development. Reports produced under the project also underscored the need for multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms to help implementation of the Blue Economy at the local and regional levels. The JP also supported the development of tools and mechanisms to identify and monitor potential Blue Economy opportunities. Development Finance Assessments (DFA) were also conducted for all three participant countries, to support the creation of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) aligned to the SDGs and national priories. Efforts were also made to define a potential project pipeline for the Blue Economy and recommendations were made for specific financing mechanisms to facilitate resilient growth. Developing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors Another major output of the Blue Finance joint programme was the development of a Public and private sector Blue Economy Finance Strategy for the fisheries and aquaculture sector for Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines. When speaking of Blue Economy growth, the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of small island developing states (SIDS) must be a part of the conversion, given the potential for significant impact. With Caribbean countries boasting high fish consumption rates, the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of SIDS are under increased pressure to maintain the supply of fisheries products, while being challenged by the increasing prevalence of severe weather phenomena and environmental decline. These shocks adversely impact the industry either by liming revenue generation or discouraging investment in this vital sector, thus increasing the vulnerabilities of those most at risk of being left behind. Solutions aimed at long-term sustainable development, offered under this strategy, include nature-based solutions, specifically improving the capacity of marine and coastal environments to deliver ecosystem services, the improved management of ecosystems that underpin the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, industry support, and improved market access and regulation and coordination of shared resource use. Finance and financing mechanisms remain key, and should include policy mechanisms that improve available finance, payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes, natural capital as publicly traded equities, debt swaps, blue and other sovereign bonds, and advancements in financial technology. All of these seek to increase available capital and encourage investment both from local and international sources, to facilitate cross-sectoral development. This project has highlighted the fact that an enabling environment that simultaneously prioritises sustainability and the protection of the environments that underpin the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, is critical to encourage growth in these sectors, with benefits that redound to the entire blue economy. The establishment of sustainable blue economy finance principles, integrating fisheries and aquaculture into the wider blue economy, the increased use of available development tools and reporting structures, and the facilitation of public-private partnerships all need to be prioritised to ensure the greatest potential for successful sustainable development. Stronger Together Against the backdrop of the adage that ‘no man is an island’, the JP also supported the establishment and expansion of partnerships with a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including the private sector, academia, and development partners, to promote transformative change regarding the funding of the SDGs. These partnerships have helped to harness UN capacity, resources, and assets to elevate and scale up SDG financing initiatives in the countries while also boosting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and alignment with more prominent UNCT partnership approaches. Note: The Joint SDG Fund's joint programmes are under the prestige leadership of the Resident Coordinator Office and implementing United Nations Agencies. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the 🇪🇺 European Union and Governments of 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇨 Monaco, 🇳🇱 The Netherlands, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
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Story
19 September 2023
UN General Assembly adopts declaration to accelerate SDGs
Now is the time for a global plan to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are woefully off-track halfway towards their 2030 deadline, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday in New York.
Mr. Guterres was speaking at the opening of a high-level forum at UN Headquarters where world leaders adopted a political declaration to accelerate action to achieve the 17 goals, which aim to drive economic prosperity and well-being for all people while protecting the environment.
“The SDGs aren’t just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere,” he said.
Concerted, ambitious action
World leaders adopted the SDGs in 2015, promising to leave no one behind. The goals include ending extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, as well as green energy, and providing quality universal education and lifelong learning opportunities.
UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis noted that despite commitments, 1.2 billion people were still living in poverty as of 2022, and roughly eight per cent of the global population, or 680 million people, will still be facing hunger by the end of the decade. The international community cannot accept these numbers, he said.
"With concerted, ambitious action, it is still possible that, by 2030, we could lift 124 million additional people out of poverty and ensure that some 113 million fewer people are malnourished," he said.
Going backwards
Each of the 17 goals contains targets, with 169 overall, but the Secretary-General warned that currently only 15 per cent are on track, while many are going in reverse.
The political declaration "can be a game-changer in accelerating SDG progress," he said.
It includes a commitment to financing for developing countries and clear support for his proposal for an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion annually, as well as an effective debt-relief mechanism.
It further calls for changing the business model of multilateral development banks to offer private finance at more affordable rates for developing countries, and endorses reform of the international finance architecture which he has labelled "outdated, dysfunctional and unfair."
Millions still starving
The UN chief highlighted the need for action in six critical areas, starting with addressing hunger, which he called “a shocking stain on humanity, and an epic human rights violation.”
“It is an indictment of every one of us that millions of people are starving in this day and age,” he added.
The Secretary-General said the transition to renewable energy isn’t happening fast enough, while the benefits and opportunities of digitalization are not being spread widely enough.
Education cannot wait
At the same time, too many children and young people worldwide are victims of poor quality education, or no education at all, he continued, before shining a spotlight on the need for decent work and social protection.
Finally, he called for an end to the war on nature and “the triple planetary crisis” characterized by climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Ensure gender equality
“Cutting across all of these transitions is the need to ensure full gender equality,” he said. “It’s long past time to end discrimination, ensure a place at every table for women and girls, and to end the scourge of gender-based violence. “
Mr. Guterres highlighted UN response to each area, including initiatives to transform global food systems so everyone can have access to a healthy diet.
Other efforts focus on boosting investment in the renewable energy transition, promoting internet access for all, creating 400 million new “decent jobs”, and extending social protection to over four million people.
Testament to commitment
The President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Paula Narváez, was heartened by the adoption of the declaration, calling it a testament to leaders’ unwavering commitment towards implementing the SDGs.
ECOSOC is at the core of the UN system’s work on all three pillars of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental – and provides a platform for follow-up and review of the goals.
The two-day SDG Summit is the centrepiece of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, the annual gathering of Heads of State and Government, and Ms. Narváez also pointed to two other events on the agenda.
Seize the moment
She said the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development will address the need for an international financial architecture that can respond to current needs and emerging challenges.
Meanwhile, the Climate Ambition Summit presents an opportunity for decisive progress on climate action and to raise the bar for more timely and targeted efforts.
“This week should serve as a turning point to rescue the SDGs,” she said. “We must not let this moment slip away.”
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Story
21 September 2023
Ambitious and accelerated climate action: A blueprint for course correction
The year 2023 is on track to be the hottest year in recorded history. Emissions of greenhouse gases continue to grow and are at record levels. And this year we have seen extreme weather all over the planet. Heatwaves on land and in the sea. Devastating wildfires, droughts and floods. The climate chaos that scientists have been warning about for years is here.
But we have the chance to put it right. This is a critical decade to take the actions needed to stabilize our climate and build prosperous, resilient societies. The Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that we still have a narrow window to do that. It sets out the necessary pathways and the options we can take. The twenty-eighth United Nations Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) , beginning at the end of November, must be the point from which we start to course-correct. The first global stocktake shows us where we are falling short in our efforts to limit global warming to 1.5ºC and meet the other targets set out in the Paris Agreement. There can only be one response to this alarming assessment: renewed ambition and accelerated action—climate action that charts a course to 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5ºC.
The Climate Ambition Summit convened by the Secretary-General is a critical moment to prepare for a COP that delivers strong and concrete outcomes. We need to do more, faster. The Secretary-General’s accelerated agenda shows us the way.
Renewed ambition means commitments marked by specific and concrete targets and milestones that will deliver the unprecedented social and economic transition to keep 1.5ºC alive, even if we temporarily breach that limit over the next five years. We must accelerate action through implementing these solutions-oriented commitments faster and credibly, mobilizing all economic actors and sectors of society to the benefit of all. There can be no wavering on the path to this goal: half of humanity lives in areas vulnerable to climate change.
Let’s look at how this will work in detail.
Firstly, we must bend the curve on emissions. IPCC shows that a pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5ºC means emissions falling 43 per cent from 2019 levels by 2030, and reaching net-zero by mid-century.
We need parties to the Convention to up their ambition in cutting emissions. Nationally Determined Contributions must go further than previous ones, involve absolute cuts in emissions and cover all sectors of the economy. They must also include updated net-zero targets.
A key element of emission cuts will be energy transitions: phasing out coal by 2040 (or 2030 for industrialized countries) and phasing down oil and gas in line with a mid-century net-zero target. Renewables are already the cheapest form of power in most parts of the world. A massive scale-up in renewables will power the energy transition and help move away from fossil fuels in a just and equitable way.
In some countries, net-zero is becoming politicized. But net-zero is not a political slogan. It encapsulates the hard truth that if we want temperatures to stop rising, then we must stop emitting greenhouse gases. It means decarbonizing economic sectors wherever possible. In cases where emissions will continue, we must compensate by withdrawing emissions: hence the net in net-zero. Keeping 1.5ºC alive means net-zero: it is a fact.
To be truly effective, climate action must be credible. It must involve everyone—cities, regions, businesses, households. And it must be built around specific targets.
But we are already experiencing the effects of climate change, so renewed ambition and accelerated implementation also mean doing more, and faster, in adaptation, to build climate-resilient societies. Adaptation is essential to dealing with the changes already underway or on the horizon.
From investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, adjusting the crops we grow and developing early warning systems for extreme weather, adaptation is as much a part of climate action as cutting emissions.
Climate action must work for everyone, with demonstrable long-term gains for all of society, even when there are short-term challenges and trade-offs.
It must be about a just transition to a stable climate that protects the most vulnerable and ensures that no one is left behind. We must remember that those who are suffering the most today, the most vulnerable, are those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis.
This transformation needs to mobilize funds on a huge but feasible scale. This means delivering on climate finance pledges already made, including the annual $100 billion from industrialized countries. We need to build on the historic decision at COP 27 and make the agreement on loss and damage a working reality. And there’s a need to build a global financial architecture that is fit for purpose, one that channels investment into renewable energy and sustainable living rather than subsidizing fossil fuels, aligns development banks with climate action, and incentivises private finance to invest in climate-friendly opportunities around the world. This transformation of the finance agenda is what will enable the climate course correction.
In the weeks remaining before the opening of COP 28, let’s take every opportunity to put ambitious and accelerated climate action front and centre on the agenda. Every government, every business, every civil society organization must make this their priority—to set the bar at a level to which others can aspire.
Every party to the Convention must come to COP 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to solve a global problem with a global mindset. Pushing for outcomes that can win support from others, not falling back on red lines. Developing ambitious proposals that can mobilize support from other constituencies. In a word: cooperation. The United Nations Climate Change secretariat is ready to play its part as an honest broker to help parties develop solutions that work for all.
We know what we have to do. Now we must mobilize the political will to do it, both ahead of COP 28, in Dubai and in the coming years. The Secretary-General’s Climate Ambition Summit (20 September) is our chance to prime COP 28 for action.
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The UN Chronicle is not an official record. It is privileged to host senior United Nations officials as well as distinguished contributors from outside the United Nations system whose views are not necessarily those of the United Nations. Similarly, the boundaries and names shown, and the designations used, in maps or articles do not necessarily imply endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
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22 September 2023
Responding to cascading global crises, SDG Summit launches new phase of accelerated action on the Sustainable Development Goals
New York, 18 September – Gathering at the SDG Summit on 18 to 19 September, world leaders agreed today to urgently step up their efforts to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our global roadmap out of crises, by 2030.
World leaders made an historic global promise to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet when they agreed to the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs in 2015. However, at midpoint of SDG implementation, the SDGs are in peril. Tens of millions have fallen into poverty since 2020. Over 110 million people are forcibly displaced. Inequalities have worsened, strikingly so for women and girls. Many governments are forced to choose between debt payments and investing in healthcare and education. The climate emergency is wreaking havoc on lives and livelihoods. Developing countries and the world’s most vulnerable people continue to bear the brunt of these crises.
“The SDGs aren’t just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Yet today, only 15 per cent of the targets are on track. Many are going in reverse. Instead of leaving no one behind, we risk leaving the SDGs behind.”
The Political Declaration
Leaders adopted a decisive, action-oriented political declaration at the Summit, highlighting their collective commitment to build a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous world by 2030.
With a strong focus on the means of implementation, and in particular, on financing for development, the declaration acknowledges that without a quantum leap in investments to enable just and equitable energy, food, digital transitions, and a transformation in education and robust social protection in developing countries, the goals simply will not be met.
Additionally, the Declaration urges immediate action to deliver an SDG Stimulus proposed by the UN Secretary-General, which calls for a massive increase in financing for the achievement of the SDGs to the tune of $500 billion each year. It also conveys strong support from all countries for a much-needed reform of the international financial architecture to better reflect today’s global economy.
“I am deeply encouraged by the detailed and wide-ranging draft political declaration under consideration here today — especially its commitment to improving developing countries’ access to the fuel required for SDG progress: finance. This can be a game-changer in accelerating SDG progress,” stated the Secretary-General.
Global and National Commitments
Over 100 Countries will present national commitments to SDG Transformation that include priority transitions and areas for investment, setting national benchmarks for reducing poverty and inequalities by 2027 and strengthening institutional frameworks to support SDG progress. In addition to these national commitments, developed countries and other countries who have the capacity, are expected to make individual global commitments drawing on the Secretary-General’s proposal for an SDG Stimulus and broader means of implementation, such as fulfilling ODA commitments, suspending debt payments and agreeing on innovative finance mechanisms.
SDG Action Weekend
The SDGs cannot be delivered by governments alone. The SDG Action Weekend on 16 to 17 September gave an opportunity for over 3000 people from all sectors of society to outline their commitments to accelerate progress on the SDGs. The SDG Mobilization Day on Saturday 16 September saw business, civil society, science, local authorities and young people making meaningful contributions to SDG implementation.
The SDG Acceleration Day on 17 September highlighted UN High-Impact Initiatives that show that transformation is possible and will help to drive momentum for action on the ground in the coming years. The initiatives focus on six major transitions that will drive progress across the SDGs: i) Social Protection; ii) Energy; iii.) Education; iv) Food Systems; v) Digital Transformation; vi) Biodiversity and Nature, underpinned by greater financing and other supports, as well as action to advance gender equality.
About the Summit
The opening of the Summit featured statements by the President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the Economic and Social Council Paula Narvaéz.
The 2-day Summit will feature a short plenary segment to hear the actions and commitments delivered on behalf of groups of States. Six Leaders' Dialogues will allow Heads of State and Government to report on progress and set out concrete national commitments to SDG transformation.
SDG Media Zone, 18-22 September, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
The SDG Media Zone is a key feature of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, bringing together world leaders, influencers, activists, experts, content creators and media partners to highlight actions and solutions in support of the SDGs. Organized by the UN Department of Global Communications, in collaboration with the PVBLIC Foundation, the Zone takes the conversation on advancing the 2030 Agenda into the public discourse through impactful in-depth interviews and conversations on global issues that matter to people everywhere. All sessions will livestream on UN WebTV.
SDG Pavilion, 15-22 September
The SDG Pavilion is a beacon for the Sustainable Development Goals. It was created to mark the halfway point of the Goals. To use a sporting analogy, we are down at halftime.
However, the good news is that any given match is won in the second half. Organized by the UN Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with Project Everyone, the SDG Pavilion will host a series of Halftime Talks and a high level gathering of women leaders to mobilize the world to keep the promise of the SDGs. Sessions will be livestreamed on UN WebTV.
Follow the SDG Summit
Please follow us on the SDG Summit, using the main hashtags: #GlobalGoals and #SDGs.
On Facebook: United Nations, Global GoalsUN, DESA, Sustainable Development
On Twitter: @UN, @GlobalGoalsUN, @UNDESA, @SustDev, @UN_Partnerships
For more additional information, please visit key links below:
The SDG Summit 2023 website and SDG Summit Programme
The SDG Summit Media Corner
The SDG Action Weekend
High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly Snapshot
The Sustainable Development Goals Website
Follow key events live on UN WebTV.
Media contacts (interviews available upon request):
Francyne Harrigan, UN Department of Global Communications, harriganf@un.org
Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications, birchs@un.org
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19 September 2023
Trinidad and Tobago and UN Take 'Halftime Huddle' on SDG Progress
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in peril. At the mid-point in the journey to the 2030 deadline, only 12% of SDG targets are on track. On September 18, the UN Secretary-General will convene the SDG Summit in New York to sound a clarion call for financial stimulus and concerted action. Leading up to this event, Trinidad and Tobago hosted an SDG Roundtable consultation on Monday, September 11 in Port of Spain. The mission: to pinpoint SDG priorities that need accelerated momentum to be on track by 2030. UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana, details the ‘halftime huddle’ conversation and what it means for Trinidad and Tobago’s next steps.
“For a country or economy of any size, achieving the SDG agenda is ambitious.
For Small Island Developing States, the task can be a staggering proposition.
A total of 17 SDGs, 169 targets and 247 indicators must be met by 2030.
For Trinidad and Tobago, there is an added layer of complexity: its high per capita income makes the country ineligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) finance, despite the many structural vulnerabilities facing Caribbean nations- exacerbated by climate change, global shocks and the illegal trade of weapons and drugs.
When it comes to SDG financing and the potential for new investments, Trinidad and Tobago has to rely largely on its own budgetary resources. The UN, bilateral donors and international financial institutions provide grants for important work, but these projects are limited in scale and duration.
That means the monumental strides required to achieve sustainable development demand greater domestic resource mobilisation, defunding inefficiencies, innovative thinking and unconventional partnerships. The SDGs are both the shared vision and the practical reference framework to guide this journey.
Yet with just six years left, achieving the SDGs may seem daunting.
But it is not impossible, and Trinidad and Tobago is proof of the inexorable spirit required to cross the finish line.
But it is not impossible, and Trinidad and Tobago is proof of the inexorable spirit required to cross the finish line.
Reviewing the ‘State of Play’
The pride, patriotism and perseverance that are hallmarks of the 1.3 million people who call these islands home seep seamlessly into the discussions at the Hilton on this Monday morning. More than 100 voices from the public and private sectors, civil society, international financial institutions, community-based organisations and the global development community are seated around a table that fills the hotel’s ballroom. They’re dissecting the country’s state of play on the SDGs.
The Ministry of Planning and Development has convened this SDG Roundtable dialogue, with the support of the UN system I have the privilege to lead. This support falls under our inter-agency Joint SDG Fund project to modernise the country's data and statistics.
The session begins with a snapshot of the country’s SDG progress using data from UN Stats.
The data show that Trinidad and Tobago has made significant progress on some of the SDGs, while others require review and acceleration. A deeper dive reveals that progress on a number of SDG targets has slowed or stagnated. While important work is happening in these areas, a jumpstart is needed to rejuvenate momentum.
As they chew on the data, participants in the room begin tackling what feel like existential questions about the country’s future.
What does ‘getting it right’ by 2030 look like?
What strategic commitments should we make to accelerate SDG progress?
What are the top three or five SDGs where progress could act as a stimulus, like a rising tide lifting all 17 Goals?
What is the story that Trinbagonians want to tell their children -and the world- about the heroic efforts and choices being made now to build a better future for Trinidad and Tobago?
The chorus of answers from the audience is unanimous on a few key themes.
Better Data and National Statistics
Regardless of which perch they sit on, all stakeholders agree the country needs more robust tools to make data-driven decisions.
As Minister of Planning and Development, Pennelope Beckles, succinctly states it in her remarks, ‘What does not get measured, does not get done.’
Without more timely data being produced and collated, it is difficult to track the SDGs. That means it’s also challenging to know where to target stimulus funding. This is why the UN Country Team project under the Joint SDG Fund is working with the country's Central Statistical Office to beef up human and technological capacity and producing recommendations for a framework the country can use to establish a Centre of Excellence for Big Data.
Public officers at the Roundtable point out the natural addendum to needing more data: developing stronger monitoring and evaluation capacity.
The human resources, skill set and strategic direction required to collect, streamline and analyse data may be uneven across the public sector. Digitisation of government services would bring immediate benefits in this area. The private sector also has a role it can play in sharing relevant data to improve the country’s data ecosystem and monitoring capacity.
Poverty Reduction
The issue of poverty comes up time and again during the three-hour discussion. A private sector leader links poverty to poor education outcomes and increased risk of delinquency. A health professional mentions the interplay between poverty and inequality. A public officer speaks about the need to measure poverty through a multi-dimensional lens. Deprivation, health outcomes and housing are all factors to measure alongside household income.
Without tackling poverty, progress on other SDGs – including Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) - will be challenging. This issue emerges as a key priority for everyone in the room.
Quality Education
When education begins dominating the Roundtable discussion, you really see the synthesis between the 17 Goals. You also appreciate how multi-faceted a singular SDG can be.
One participant points out the limited capacity of the education system to accommodate Persons with Disabilities. Another cites challenges facing university graduates, who struggle to find jobs that match their area of study. She says the resultant brain drain diminishes the local talent pool.
A private sector representative advocates for the education system to produce job creators instead of job seekers. Yet another contributor calls for a restructured curriculum to prepare students for the labour market disruptions that have already begun as Artificial Intelligence takes root.
Why do girls perform better at school? How does childhood well-being and youth vary between boys and girls? Questions that cut to the heart of the way we teach and learn.
With education outcomes linked to Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), there is unison among participants that targeting this area can yield ripple effects across the SDG agenda.
Peace and Security
From the business leader to the civil society advocate – violence recurs throughout the discussion as an imperative focus. Whether they’re talking about the young men who slide into delinquency or the costs of insecurity on a company’s bottom line, every sector in the room identifies a different impact of crime on society.
Billions of dollars are already spent annually on crime response and prevention by the Ministry of National Security and other state-run social protection programmes. Progress in achieving other SDGs linked to inequality, access to education and poverty could produce significant benefits in reducing violence. That would save the country money it could invest into developing its human capital.
In my remarks, I argue that human security is a ‘public good’. Like water in your taps, electricity, communication and transport infrastructure, security can be delivered and nurtured by everyone – the State and the people alike – to make this country a paradise for people and for business.
A New End-Game Strategy
By the end of the three hours, the Ministry of Planning has diverse, rich inputs to shape the country’s contribution to the SDG Summit. Trinidad and Tobago, like all UN Member States, has been asked to declare three clear, targeted actions it will take to rescue the SDGs. This declaration will feature centre stage, as Trinidad and Tobago now holds the presidency of the UN General Assembly. But the benefits of the national Roundtable will last long after the SDG Summit in New York ends. It brought together a network of willing development partners who found common ground. It offered direction for the Government’s halftime strategy review on a revitalised plan of action for the SDGs over the next six years. And it reinforced the commitment to achieving equitable progress and prosperity - with a resounding win in the second half.”
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11 September 2023
Jamaica: new UN Resident Coordinator appointed
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mr. Dennis Zulu of Zambia as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, with the host Government’s approval. Mr Zulu will also be responsible for coordinating UN work in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and Cayman Islands.
Mr. Zulu has more than 20 years of experience in international development , the private sector and academia. Prior to taking up his appointment as the Resident Coordinator, he served as the Director of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean. There, he led efforts to provide programmatic support and guidance to ILO constituents in identifying and addressing their country’s decent work priorities.
He also directed the formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the substantive work programmes of the Decent Work Team. His work helped policy development through the promotion of the Decent Work Agenda dimension to social, economic, and environmental policy makers and other stakeholders.
Mr Zulu also served as UN Resident Coordinator a.i for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, and Curacao from March 2022 to June 2023. He has also served as ILO’s Director for Anglophone West Africa and Representative to the Economic Commission for West Africa States (ECOWAS) based in Nigeria from 2015 to 2019.
Mr. Dennis Zulu holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Mzumbe University, Tanzania, a Post-graduate diploma from Stellenbosch University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Arts’ Degree from the University of Zambia.
Mr Zulu also served as UN Resident Coordinator a.i for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, and Curacao from March 2022 to June 2023. He has also served as ILO’s Director for Anglophone West Africa and Representative to the Economic Commission for West Africa States (ECOWAS) based in Nigeria from 2015 to 2019.
Mr. Dennis Zulu holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Mzumbe University, Tanzania, a Post-graduate diploma from Stellenbosch University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Arts’ Degree from the University of Zambia.
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Press Release
09 September 2023
UN Secretary-General Issues ‘UN 2.0’ Policy Brief: A Vision for a Modernized UN System
In response, today, the Secretary-General issued his final Policy Brief on Our Common Agenda, titled “UN 2.0: Cutting-Edge Skills and Forward-Thinking Culture for UN System Impact.” UN 2.0 represents a vision for a rejuvenated United Nations system, better equipped to support member states in the twenty-first century and turbocharge progress on the SDGs.
At the core of UN 2.0 are stronger capabilities in five modern areas of expertise: a dynamic fusion of data, innovation, digital, behavioral science and strategic foresight, which we call our “quintet of change.” To foster environments where these cutting-edge skills thrive, the UN 2.0 will be rooted in a shift towards organizational cultures that put a priority on agility, learning, and creativity.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked, “As a result, UN 2.0 unlocks novel, impactful approaches and solutions for SDG progress, at a time when it is needed the most.”
A snapshot of the ongoing UN system progress and solutions is available on the new www.un-two-zero.network platform. The site showcases over 500 initiatives from 160 UN Country Teams who utilize the “quintet of change” in their work with member states for SDG impact. These initiatives highlight the immense potential of twenty-first-century expertise for addressing challenges in climate, education, agriculture, gender equality, and beyond.
The UN 2.0 agenda will engage the entire UN system. Every UN entity, team, and colleague will contribute to this transformative organizational shift in learning, job profiles, partnerships, knowledge sharing, technology, as well as programme solutions for member states. While each UN entity will navigate the transformation at its own pace, a joint accelerator program will champion UN 2.0's progression throughout the United Nations system starting in 2024.
For a comprehensive understanding of our forward-looking vision, goals, and transformative strategies, we strongly encourage all stakeholders to delve into the full policy brief: https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda/policy-briefs.
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Press Release
05 September 2023
Latest Consultations for Next Decade of Development Plans in Small Island Developing States Open in Cabo Verde
Praia, Cabo Verde – 30 August: Small island nations from around the world are in Praia this week to agree on an ambitious programme for their development aspirations in advance of next year’s Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Antigua and Barbuda.
After six weeks of consultations in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea regions, the United Nations is convening a final inter-regional meeting for island nations to agree on a joint programme leading up to the 2024 conference on SIDS.
“Small Island Developing States are Large Ocean States – and any sustainable future for the planet relies therefore on a renewed and strengthened partnership between all island nations and the international community,” said Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa’olelei Luteru, Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Global consultations have shown that while SIDS are in the crossfire of multiple crises - climate change, inequality, and debt – they also have clear proposals for how these challenges are best addressed. The 4th SIDS Conference is where these proposals and more will be negotiated and adopted into a new programme of action for SIDS with full delivery plans and costings attached. Many of the conversations focused on reforming the financial and debt infrastructure.
“Financing for SIDS development should not be indexed to per capita investment or per capita income, but rather … to make countries more resilient and less vulnerable,” said Cabo Verde Prime Minister José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva at the opening of the meeting. “Transforming debt into climate and environmental finance is needed to create virtuous cycles” he continued.
While the 33 SIDS countries represent significant variance in their exposure to climate change, natural hazards, and access to global markets, the marked increase of related crises and disasters has affected them all. Climate-related disasters such as severe storms, floods, and drought have almost doubled over the last 20 years. In a sudden-onset disaster, SIDS can lose everything overnight. The constant cycle of disaster and recovery leaves them weakened and unable to build resilience—a pattern that the 2024 SIDS Conference aims to change.
“A resilient and sustainable prosperity is the ultimate goal of all Small Island Developing States,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Secretary-General of the 2024 SIDS Conference.
“This consultative process has shown that this is not just a dream. These countries have clear plans and ambitions for how to achieve their goals and the United Nations stands with them to deliver the partnerships, funding and momentum needed to deliver.”
SIDS may be small and isolated from large land masses, but they control an area of water on average 33 times larger than their land. Indeed, 19 per cent of the coral reefs in the world are in SIDS’ waters.
The Cabo Verde meeting is the final meeting in a two-month process that started in Mauritius for the AIS (Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea) region and continued in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the Caribbean, and Tonga for the Pacific.
“SIDS are a special case,” said Rabab Fatima, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and the Secretary-General's Special Advisor to the SIDS Conference.
“Their small size and remoteness mean limited resources, high trade dependence, and extreme exposure to volatility in the climate and international markets. The Antigua and Barbuda conference will be a crucial moment to tackle these structural impediments and get the SIDS back on track to a more resilient prosperity.”
Media contact
Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States | Conor O’Loughlin | conor.oloughlin@un.org
For more information
UN 2024 SIDS Conference: www.un.org/smallislands
Social media
Please follow any highlights and updates for the 2024 SIDS Conference using the hashtags #SIDS4 and #SmallIslands.
On Facebook: United Nations, Global Goals UN, UN DESA, UN Sustainable Development Platform, OHRLLS
On Twitter: @UN, @GlobalGoalsUN, @UNDESA, @SustDev, @UNOHRLLS
On Twitter: @UN, @GlobalGoalsUN, @UNDESA, @SustDev, @UNOHRLLS
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Press Release
21 July 2023
Health Financing and Pharmaceutical Policy Challenges Affecting Access to Medicines in the Caribbean
This was the focus of a webinar held on July 19 and hosted by the PAHO/WHO Caribbean Subregional Program Coordination Office, in collaboration with Headquarters in Washington DC, in which two reports were presented. Health Financing and Access to Medicines in the Caribbean, a PAHO/WHO report presented by lead field investigator Dr. Rebecca Hancock-Howard from the University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and Pharmaceutical Cost Containment in Small Markets: A Review of Policy Challenges and Analysis of Existing Policy Responses, a Boston University study presented by Erin McConnell, Dr. Warren A. Kaplan, and Dr. Veronika J. Wirtz from the Department of Global Health.
The webinar was moderated by PAHO/WHO Subregional Health Financing Advisor Dr. Guillermo A. Sandoval, who welcomed approximately 140 participants from over 30 countries, spanning not just the region but also beyond its borders.
Dr. Althea LaFoucade, Director of the University of West Indies Centre for Health Economics in her opening remarks pointed out that barriers to access to medicines in the Caribbean have been a consistent concern identified by the Caribbean population over the past decade. She praised the two studies presented in the webinar highlighting the wealth of information provided to guide strategic, impactful interventions.
Unit Chief, Primary Health Care and Integrated Services Delivery Unit at PAHO/WHO, Dr. Ernesto Bascolo, pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these challenges, significantly impacting economies and societies worldwide. “Our goal is to ensure that everyone in the Caribbean can access the medicines they need for healthy and productive lives while achieving sustainable and equitable health financing. Ultimately, we aspire to influence policy decisions and facilitate meaningful improvements in the availability and accessibility of essential healthcare resources in the region,” he explained.
After the presentations, a distinguished panel of four Caribbean experts shared their perspectives on the study findings. Among them were Dr. E. Arthur Phillips, Senior Medical Officer of Health (NCDs), Ministry of Health and Wellness, Barbados; Francis Burnett, former Head of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States Pool Procurement Service entity; Dr. Patrick Martin, Advisor from the Ministry of Health in St. Kitts & Nevis; and Dr. Stanley Lalta, a distinguished Health Economist from the University of West Indies.
The webinar also presented an opportunity to highlight the role of the PAHO Strategic Fund for Public Health Supplies, which has benefited over 120 million individuals and procured nearly USD $850 million worth of supplies for the Americas region since 2018. Christopher Lim, the Chief of the Fund, elaborated on its success, underscoring the active participation of 55 entities, comprising 35 countries and territories, along with 20 health agencies.
This webinar serves as a pivotal element of PAHO/WHO's subregional strategy in health financing, designed to enhance evidence, research, and knowledge sharing, thereby strengthening health financing policies and health systems. As a part of this comprehensive strategy, the Subregional Program actively fosters sub-regional dialogues and encourages open policy debates to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, identify opportunities, and address challenges in the realm of health financing.
CONTACT:
Lisa Bayley - bayleylis@paho.org PAHO/WHO Office of the Subregional Program Coordination (Caribbean)
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system. The PAHO Subregional Program is responsible for providing subregional technical cooperation and to strengthen PAHO’s engagement with the Caribbean Subregional integration mechanisms, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its various bodies and organs; and to build synergistic partnerships with the subregional institutions such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), among others. PAHO’s subregional technical cooperation specifically focuses on public health issues which would benefit from economies of scale and for which agreement on proposed collective responses and actions would produce a far greater impact rather than individual country responses. The Subregional Program also plays a role in coordinating among the different PAHO country offices.
Lisa Bayley - bayleylis@paho.org PAHO/WHO Office of the Subregional Program Coordination (Caribbean)
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system. The PAHO Subregional Program is responsible for providing subregional technical cooperation and to strengthen PAHO’s engagement with the Caribbean Subregional integration mechanisms, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its various bodies and organs; and to build synergistic partnerships with the subregional institutions such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), among others. PAHO’s subregional technical cooperation specifically focuses on public health issues which would benefit from economies of scale and for which agreement on proposed collective responses and actions would produce a far greater impact rather than individual country responses. The Subregional Program also plays a role in coordinating among the different PAHO country offices.
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Press Release
13 July 2023
Main labour indicators return to pre-pandemic levels for Latin America and the Caribbean
The report emphasises that three years after the COVID-19 crisis, the main labor indicators have returned to the values that prevailed in 2019. This improvement in variables such as the labor participation rate, the unemployment rate, and the number of employed persons initiated in 2021, continued in 2022, although the number of employed persons grew at a slower pace than in 2021. The recovery has been heterogeneous within the region, and some indicators have yet to reach their pre-pandemic levels in certain countries. Overall, the recovery has tended to be stronger among women than men, and among young people as compared with adults, the document stresses.
The publication indicates that, despite the improvement, significant gender and age gaps remain in terms of participation and unemployment rates. The region’s average labor productivity declined in 2022, with notable contractions in productivity in the industry, construction and commerce sectors. Meanwhile, real average wages stagnated in 2022, in contrast to the increase seen in 2021, reflecting the impact of higher inflation.
The progress observed in labor markets between 2020 and 2022 reflects a cyclical recovery of economic growth that is not sustainable over time. In fact, ECLAC projects regional economic growth of 1.2% for 2023, which will undoubtedly result in less vigorous job creation, and the increase in the number of employed persons is estimated at under 2%, versus the 5.9% growth experienced in 2022.
The report emphasises that the return by the labor market’s main indicators and its composition to pre-pandemic levels is not enough, since the structural problems that mark the region’s labor markets are still present. Informal employment continues to be high, and despite the improvements seen in 2022, significant gender gaps remain in participation and unemployment rates. Wages and productivity have also returned to their pre-pandemic trends, pointing to stagnation at best, the report warns.
According to ECLAC and the ILO, to reverse this situation, the region’s countries need active labor policies that promote greater job creation, increased formalisation and more (and better) inclusion of women and young people in the labor market. Thus, labor policy instruments must be broadened and better coordinated in order to avoid contractions in employment. Also, more emphasis must be placed on the economic reactivation by including dynamic sectors that drive economic growth and employment.
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Press Release
27 June 2023
Antigua and Barbuda holds Digital Readiness Assessment Workshop
Last Friday, the Ministry of Information Communications Technologies (ICTs), Utilities and Energy, in collaboration with the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, held a Digital Readiness Assessment Workshop, which will provide rapid high-level insights into Antigua and Barbuda’s digital strengths and weaknesses.
The Workshop brought together stakeholders from across the various government ministries and departments, private sector, and civil society to complete a Digital Readiness Assessment (DRA) survey. The DRA is a comprehensive diagnostic tool that provides a rapid assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Government’s current digital status and derives future action plans to improve and or develop a comprehensive digital strategy.
In addressing the launch, Minister of Information Communications Technologies (ICTs), Utilities and Energy, Melford Nicholas, gave assurances of Government’s commitment towards creating a digital Antigua and Barbuda in fulfilment of the SDGs.
“The Ministry welcomes the involvement of this UN initiative that will no doubt increase the awareness of all UN stakeholders regarding the promise and indeed the challenges that are before us on our journey to digital transformation,” he added.
Delivering opening remarks, UN Resident Coordinator for, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq commended the Government for prioritising digitalisation, and for its vision of creating a digital Antigua and Barbuda, through the deployment of digital infrastructure and services that reaches all citizens, residents, and visitors to support their livelihoods and wellbeing.
“Today’s Digital Readiness Assessment is a key milestone for realising this important vision. Following this critical survey exercise will be several activities, which will culminate in a digital transformation framework, providing the Government with specific projects to be implemented,” he explained, while pleading the UN’s commitment to “supporting Caribbean Governments to enhance digital transformation in key sectors including agriculture, MSMEs, education, justice, disaster management and the environment.”
The COVID pandemic undoubtedly highlighted the importance of digital technologies, and significantly increased its demand when school, work, and major services ground to a halt. Digital technologies provided the continuity the world needed when there would have been no other options.
The Government of Antigua believes that the digital readiness assessment is a critical step towards building a digital Antigua and Barbuda.
----Ends---
Media Contacts:
Carol A. Gaskin
Resident Coordinator Office,
Development Coordination Officer, Programme Communications and Advocacy
Email: carol-ann.gaskin@un.org Tel: +1(246)467-6110; Mobile +1(246)832-6110
Andrea Andrew
Resident Coordinator Office,
Country Coordination Officer, Antigua and Barbuda
Email: andrea.andrew@un.org Tel: 268 720 6192
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