Partnerships among All Stakeholders Key to Achieving Sustainable Development, Secretary-General Says at Global Goals Event

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by David Nabarro, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the Global Goals Dinner 2016, in New York today:

I am pleased to send greetings to the Global Goals Dinner.  Achieving peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity for all on a healthy planet will only be achieved through collaborative partnerships and the inclusive involvement of a wide range of stakeholders.

Many have a role to play in bringing about the transformation we seek — from Governments and parliaments to businesses, investors, scientists, civil society organizations, faith groups, the media, the world of advertising and creative artists.

Our plan is comprehensive, universal and interconnected.  We are all stakeholders in a collective enterprise to eradicate poverty, build a sustainable world and leave no one behind.  We must all act and we must all be accountable.

That is why everyone needs to be informed and engaged.  By the end of next year, we aim to recruit 1 million agents of transformation who will spread the word to 2 billion people.  Everyone in this room has an important role to play.  We have to be the change we want to see.

I thank Unilever, Project Everyone, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and all partners for their engagement and commitment to delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals.  I wish you a pleasant and productive dinner.