At China’s Symposium on Implementing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Secretary-General Says Task Is to Match Ambition with Commitment, Action

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the High-Level Symposium on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: “A Universal Push to Transform Our World — China’s Perspective”, in New York today:

I am pleased to be with you this afternoon.  We are one year into the implementation period of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Our aim, as an international community, was to hit the ground running.

The recent meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development shed light on implementation efforts around the world.  Representatives from Governments, civil society, the private sector, the United Nations System and other stakeholders presented their initiatives, challenges, concerns and vision for the way ahead.

Twenty-two countries presented voluntary national reviews, including China, our host today.  They include some of the poorest and some of the richest nations, with large populations and small.  Along with many others, these 22 countries have adapted their institutions.  They have begun integrating the principles of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and targets into their development plans and legislation.

As they define their national priorities, they are reviewing policies and investing in capacity-building.  They are taking measures to ensure the Goals and targets are reflected in budgets; they are mobilizing resources; and setting up follow-up and review mechanisms.

Crucially, and in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, they are doing so with the participation of non-governmental actors, including civil society and the private sector.  Many are working to improve the channels for engagement.  All told, more than 50 Governments are already putting the Sustainable Development Goals at the heart of their development planning.

And, under the Chinese presidency, the Group of 20 (G-20) leaders at the summit in Hangzhou have aligned their work programme with the 2030 Agenda.  In the 11 G-20 summit meetings, this was the first time that the Sustainable Development Agenda was taken as an official action agenda of the G-20 summit.  I appreciate the Chinese leadership and vision.

Within the United Nations System, we too are taking all necessary measures to align our work to the 2030 Agenda.  This involves ensuring coherence, effectiveness and efficiency in the support we provide to Member States.  I am encouraged by initial progress.  But the ambition of the 2030 Agenda leaves no room for complacency.  The challenges are immense.

In my progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals, I noted that the growth rates that have prevailed over the past two decades will not ensure poverty eradication.  We have much work to do to reduce inequality among and within nations.  Many countries are facing the challenges of implementing the 2030 Agenda against a background of conflict or post-conflict recovery.  Many face profound structural impediments.  And climate change is adding to the challenges of sustainable development all around the world.

I thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, and the Chinese leader, when President Xi Jinping and [United States] President [Barack] Obama deposited in person to me the legal instruments of ratification of the climate change agreement.  That has given a huge impact and we are very close to making this climate change agreement enter into force before the end of this year.

We have been given a vision and a road map — in New York, Paris, Sendai, Istanbul and Addis Ababa.  Our task is to match ambition with commitment and action within the time frame we have set ourselves.  Let us use every opportunity to advance at the pace we need.  I wish you a productive symposium.  Thank you very much, Mr. Premier, for your leadership.