Achieving Gender Equality, Preserving Ocean Resources Vital to Creating World for All People, Speakers Stress, as High-Level Political Forum Continues
Calls to achieve gender equality and preserve the ocean’s vast marine resources dominated the high-level political forum on sustainable development today, as delegates explored the myriad policy, legal, financial and environmental reforms needed to jump-start a holistic transformation of their countries emerging from the COVID-19 crisis, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and create a world that supports all people.
In so doing, Denis Mukwege, gynaecologist and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that it is unrealistic to believe the world will achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 without, first and foremost, respecting women’s human rights.
He pointed to extremely regressive trends, many amplified by the pandemic, that have limited women’s fundamental freedoms, including an uptick in gender-based violence, rampant impunity for abuse and a rolling back of sexual and reproductive rights, most notably by the United States Supreme Court. He challenged world leaders to “be as brave as women are” in defying the patriarchal order — a “fertile ground” for discrimination — to make inequality “a thing of the past”.
Driving that point home, Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, Global Advocate for cancer control and non-communicable diseases, described her visit to a healing session for women who had experienced violence. When the pandemic hit, she thought about these women and the supreme courage it had taken for them to attend these sessions, and who now were shut inside with their abusers. “They summarized everything that is wrong with the lack of gender equity,” she said, urging States to fund gender-sensitive programmes.
Their keynote addresses offered a prelude to three panel discussions held throughout the day, in which a variety of experts from Government, the United Nations, academia, science and civil society debated how to realize Goals 5 (gender equality) and 14 (life below water), and to prepare for a midterm review of all 17 Goals at an “SDG Summit” in September 2023.
Setting the stage for discussions on Goal 14, Sylvia Earle, Marine Biologist and Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, emphasized that Earth must be habitable in order for any lofty civilizational goals to be realized. “No ocean, no us” she remarked, describing the inertia to act more responsibly and more ethically in relation to nature as “puzzling”, stressing that the ocean is alive — and thus, vulnerable. Pointing to growing trouble in marine ecosystems, she issued an appeal to treat the ocean “as if our lives depend on it — because actually, they do.”
Against that backdrop, Angela Paolini Ellard, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), presented the results of the twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference in June, when members adopted a binding multilateral agreement on fisheries subsidies after more than 21 years of negotiations. For the first time, they banned subsidies for illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as those for overfishing in stocks and fishing in the unregulated high seas. This is greatly needed, she said, as subsidies have played an “outsized” role in the overfishing taking place in half of the world’s assessed stocks.
Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, similarly said the political declaration adopted at the recent United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon recognizes the devastating impact of plastic waste in the world’s waters. The declaration — “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility” — welcomes the outcome of the recent United Nations Environmental Assembly to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution in the marine environment.
Weighing in on the day’s proceedings, over 30 speakers from the United Nations system, delegations and civil society highlighted efforts, obstacles and their determination to make gender equality a reality, protect the ocean and ensure a future for the world’s youth.
The Danish Youth Delegate to the United Nations on Democracy and Partnerships, a Lead Discussant on Goal 5, emphasized: “There is no reaching the SDGs without respecting women and girls.” It is not enough to support Goal 5 with words, she added. Countries must put legislation behind gender equality.
Others called for broader inclusion in policymaking, with the representative of the Indigenous People’s Major Group pointing out that many indigenous people depend on fisheries for livelihoods and food security and contribute significantly to protecting those aquaculture sectors and environments with their knowledge and practices. They must be consulted on any initiatives or actions that threaten their rights, he stressed.
Sanda Ojiambo, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact and a panellist discussing Goal 14, also called for inclusion, specifically for meaningful youth participation. Youth leaders are already driving local change, she said, adding the international community can learn from the younger generation’s collaborative, open approach to solving global challenges.
Paula Caballero, The Nature Conservancy’s Regional Managing Director for Latin, recalling the development of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, pointed out that “we led a very radical bottom-up process that was unrelentless in the face of opposition.” Nature-based solutions must be elevated and a short suite of action points and commitments should be identified. She called for allowing the voices of all stakeholders in the door, stressing: “Governments must lead but we need everybody on board.”
The Economic and Social Council high-level political forum on sustainable development will reconvene at 9 a.m. on Monday, 11 July.
Keynote Addresses: Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality)
PRINCESS DINA MIRED of Jordan, Global Advocate for cancer control and Non-Communicable Diseases, described her visit, two months before the pandemic, to a healing session for women who had experienced violence. “Of course, we all read about violence against women,” she said. However, when one actually meets women who are victims of domestic violence, one realizes that “whatever your imagination can conjure up is nothing compared to the daily horrors faced by these women”, she said. “They live each day as if it were their last.” It was a miracle that they were allowed to attend these weekly sessions, where they shared their stories with others who, until that session, felt they were alone.
When the pandemic hit, she thought about these women, for whom it had been an act of supreme courage to attend these sessions, and who now were shut inside with their abusers, she continued. They were a product of poverty, discrimination and lack of education or decent work, suffering increased exposure to the drivers of chronic disease. Some had married off their daughters early to protect them from their respective husbands, only to find those new husbands continued the abuse. “They summarized everything that is wrong with the lack of gender equity,” she said, adding that they lost their one hour a week to “simply breathe like the rest of us”.
Whatever challenges were amplified during the pandemic — climate, health, employment — women were disproportionately affected by poverty and lower social protections, she noted. After the pandemic, 20 million girls in developing countries may never return to the classroom. The COVID-19 crisis aggravated alcohol use, among other behaviours, triggering increases in domestic violence globally. Women — who make up 70 per cent of health work force — were most exposed to the risk of death due to COVID-19, experienced long absences from their families, and performed extreme shifts in hospitals while also trying to educate their children.
Against that backdrop, she said it is unacceptable that less than 25 per cent of women hold senior positions within health systems. Non-communicable disease prevention begins with laws and policies that are not only gender sensitive, but sensitive to all vulnerable groups. She pressed States to tap the knowledge of local non-governmental organizations and to fund gender-sensitive instruments. “That is, if you want to be serious about it,” she clarified. Achieving gender equality also starts with access to health care, and marketing and labelling requirements warning about the harms of tobacco use, sugar and ultra-processed foods. The risk factors fuelling non-communicable diseases must be tackled. “Health does not just happen,” she said.
DENIS MUKWEGE, gynaecologist, human rights activist and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that because the Sustainable Development Goals are indivisible, it is unrealistic to believe that the world will achieve all 17 Goals by 2030 without, first and foremost, respecting women’s human rights and guaranteeing their participation. In 2022, despite the unprecedented mobilization of women — who seized their rights to defy the patriarchal order and modifying gender norms — “the fertile grounds for discrimination” and — despite progress made over decades in the area of civil and political rights — gender inequality has yet to become “a thing of the past”. Indeed, many girls are still deprived of their right to education and/or married even before coming of age, while discriminatory and regressive legal and social norms are still legion.
Moreover, salaries are unequal, with women under-represented in Parliaments, Government and in leadership, he pointed out. One third of women and girls are victims of physical or sexual violence in their lives, a “bitter conclusion” compounded by the persistent threats against their fundamental freedoms and trends towards regression. The recent United States Supreme Court decision violating sexual and reproductive rights by threatening the right to abortion is an example of this situation. Meanwhile, the pandemic has not only exacerbated discrimination, but led to an increase in violence against women. Yet despite that, women have played a major role in responding to the pandemic. He called on States to reaffirm their commitment to the universality of human rights, including women’s rights; dedicate the resources needed to achieve this goal; and to support civil society efforts. “Yesterday’s achievement must be reaffirmed today, to be consolidated tomorrow,” he affirmed.
He went on to share the findings of the Group of Seven Consultative Council for Gender Equality, which he chaired with Nobel Peace Laureate Nadia Mourad in 2017, noting that it identified 79 progressive legislative measures adopted around the world. It proposed a toolbox for ending gender-based violence, which involves guaranteeing the right to education and health for all, promoting economic empowerment and ensuring complete gender equality in public policy. He recalled that under the Biarritz Partnership for Gender Equality, Heads of State committed to integrate at least one women’s rights law into their systems and to end those laws that discriminate against women.
He called on States to respond to this appeal to action, urging political leaders to close the gaps between laws and conventions, and the reality lived by women throughout the world. Impunity is “more often the norm, than the exception,” he explained, pressing States to prioritize gender equality in their national and foreign policies, as well as in their public assistance. Gender equality is key to achieving social development and prosperity, a point that will require greater awareness from society as a whole. In that context, he called on political, religious and economic leaders to “be as brave as women are” to build a world that is more prosperous, peaceful and equal.
Highlights
PAUL PACHECO, Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, presented highlights from the Secretary-General’s report on progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, which is being launched today (document E/2022/55). He noted that the global share of women in lower and single houses of Parliament increased to 26.2 per cent from 22.4 per cent in 2015, while the percentage of women in managerial positions increased only slightly, to 28.3 per cent from 27.2 per cent in 2015. Only 57 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 who are married or in a union make their own decisions on their reproductive health care. Fundamental to gender equality is ensuring that the allocation and spending of public financing takes it into account. Yet only 26 countries have systems to track this data.
Panel 1
The forum then held an interactive panel discussion on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality). Moderated by Peggy Clark, CEO and President for the International Center for Research on Women, it featured presentations by: Denis Mukwege, gynaecologist and human rights activist, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; Margaret Greene, Senior Fellow of Promundo, United States; Nadine Gasman, President of the National Women's Institute of Mexico.
Opening the dialogue, Ms. CLARK said women’s rights are under threat in a way the world has not seen in decades. “All of us will need to rise to the challenges we will face,” she said. No country has achieved gender equality, no Goal can be achieved without a focus on women, and COVID-19, coupled with the rise of nationalist regimes, has set women’s rights backward. “We are making the wrong kind of history for women and girls these days,” she said.
Ms. DASHTI said the Arab region needs 179 years to close the gender gap, compared to 135 globally. This is the widest gap worldwide, manifested in women’s low participation in public life and in the economy, and world’s lowest participation in the labour market. Growing unemployment among women means that the Arab region is not creating enough jobs to absorb the few numbers of women entering the workforce. Many women-owned businesses meanwhile remain micro- or small and medium-sized enterprises. In the region, as in Africa and Latin America, the burden of care rests mainly with women, she said, noting that during the pandemic, a mere 1 per cent of Government support in the region was directed specifically to women and girls. She called for reforming public systems to ensure that they are inclusive and gender sensitive, and for continuing the fight against gender-based violence.
Ms. GASMAN drew attention to Mexico’s actions to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to bolster women’s economic empower and redistribute their care responsibilities. She said Mexico promotes the constitutional principle of equality, ranking it the fourth in the world in terms of women in Congress. These women are helping to reform all facets of Mexican society, she said. In terms of physical autonomy, women must be able to freely make decisions on sexual matters. The Government has an integrated welfare policy to guarantee their sexual and reproductive rights. The National Institute for Women has supported women’s access to free abortion, while the Constitutional Court removed three legal obstacles to this service. Meanwhile, other declarations have stated it is unconstitutional not to allow abortion, while other entities prioritize reproductive freedom, as opposed to conservative mindsets.
In a round of “lightning talks”, INNOCENT MENYO, team lead and co-founder, Mobile Scan Solutions Uganda, said social protection and freedom from violence are still challenges in Uganda. Many areas of inequality were exacerbated by the pandemic, a crisis that also created delays in accessing sexual health care. “Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right; it is a necessary foundation for a very peaceful prosperous and sustainable world,” he affirmed, calling for more safe spaces for mothers to give birth.
TOFARA LINDSAY CHOKERA, founder of TofaraOnline, Zimbabwe, an initiative to help women to adopt digital marketing and emerging technologies for international trade, described a town in Zimbabwe that lacks access to technology and information and where, if history was to determine people’s future, “some of us would not be here today”. Her organization aims to empower women, helping them to adopt emerging technologies for their businesses.
Lead Discussant PILLE TSOPP-PAGAN, Women's Support and Information Centre NPO, Estonia, urged States to implement gender budgeting, invest in data collection and analysis systems, prioritize the financing of policies and programmes that guarantee women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services. They also must ensure that the voices of older women are included in discussions about human rights, repeal laws and policies that discriminate against women and girls, and ensure women have an equal opportunity to lead discussions on and benefit from energy access.
Lead Discussant FRIDA RAVN ROSLING, Danish Youth Delegate to the United Nations on Democracy and Partnerships, said some countries, women’s access to education or sexual and reproductive rights are being restricted or abolished. “There is no reaching the SDGs without respecting women and girls,” she said, urging States to ensure the enjoyment of all human rights for women and girls across the world. It is not enough to support Goal 5 with words. Countries must put legislation behind gender equality.
Respondent JUTTA URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, said the Commission launched the action plan to make gender equality and women’s empowerment a priority of all European Union external actions. The ambition is to have gender equality as a principle or significant objective in at least 85 per cent of all new external actions by 2025. So far, the bloc has reached 70 per cent. She called on stakeholders to join the Spotlight Initiative, adding that in Afghanistan, the bloc provides its partners support for the victims of violence, as the Taliban are restricting the rights of women and girls.
Respondent MAITE NKOANA-MASHABANE, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, South Africa, said had it not been for the pandemic, South Africa could have said it had made some progress on reaching Goal 5, despite of work still needing to be done. Women and girls continue to bear the brunt of decreased livelihoods, due to poverty, political instability, gender-based violence and femicide, she said, describing the latter events as violent manifestations of gender inequality. South Africa has adopted a whole-of-society approach to prevent gender-based violence and femicide, and she called for accelerating implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Opening the interactive dialogue, delegates underscored that there is much to be done before gender equality is a reality and pointed to national programmes to spur action.
The representative of the Czech Republic highlighted her country’s creation of childcare groups — alternatives to the overcapacity of kindergartens — which are helping women return to the job market. The engagement of mothers has doubled since these initiatives were created.
Guatemala’s delegate, describing national development priorities, said such aims included the prevention of violence against women and girls and sexual violence against women and girls, as well as social protection.
In a similar vein, the United States’ representative noted that in October 2021, her country issued its first ever national strategy on gender equity and equality and will release a domestic action plan to end gender-based violence later this year.
The speaker from the Workers and Trade Unions Major Group, meanwhile, recommended the adoption of gender responsive policies, notably for creating an inclusive labour market, and implementation of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169.
An observer for the Holy See said the discourse on women’s empowerment tends to focus on women’s role in society at large, rather than in the family, pointing to a subtle discrimination against motherhood. He stressed the importance of ensuring equal access to health care but expressed regret about the overemphasis on sexual and reproductive health, which advances values that are contrary to the fundamental right to life.
Taking a holistic approach, Nepal’s delegate, highlighting the emergence of new challenges, called for multifaceted approaches to end gender-based violence and discrimination and put a focus on gender equality in education, establishing more economic opportunities for women and disseminating data to help Governments develop gender-sensitive programming.
Equally so, Botswana’s delegate said a gender approach must be considered across all sectors, adding that his country’s Constitution guarantees equal rights without discrimination.
On that point, Jordan’s delegate said her country amended its Constitution to affirm the commitment to protect women from violence and discrimination. It also established a permanent ministerial committee to mainstream gender into the Government’s work and integrated a women’s strategy into 24 development sectors.
Also speaking were representatives of Belgium, Thailand, Finland, as well as a speaker from the Farmers Major Group.
In the second round of panellist presentations, Ms. GREEN said women globally perform 3 to 10 times as much unpaid care work as men, citing the State of the World’s Fathers report, which estimates that the world is 91 years away from achieving equality in unpaid care work. Where progress has stalled, it is imperative to ask: “Where are men, on gender equality?” she said. She drew attention to another study capturing 15 years of data from 32 countries, which paints a picture of current gender attitudes. It finds that gender inequitable attitudes contribute to men dying six years earlier than women. The Getting to Equal report meanwhile shows that men could be more engaged in sexual and reproductive rights, she said, adding that gender inequitable attitudes are slow to change. To make this point, she said that when paternity leave is offered, many men do not take it. These attitudes undermine sustainable development, meaning that men must be more engaged in the struggle for gender equality.
Mr. MUKWEGE, sharing the experience of his hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that more than 20 years ago, an assistance model was put in place for comprehensive medical, psychological, economic and legal support for victims of sexual violence, aimed at ending suffering and empower women who were victims of violence. “We hope this holistic care will be acknowledged as a human right for the rehabilitation for traumatized women,” he said, noting that acknowledgement of this right will be an important tool, not only for restoring the dignity women who experienced sexual violence, but to achieving all Sustainable Development Goals. When women leave the hospital, they need to resume their activities. “We need to overcome poverty,” he insisted. For women, the main priority is feeding their families, which requires tackling malnutrition (Goal 2), ensuring access to education (Goal 4) and health care (Goal 5) — including by reclaiming their bodily autonomy. He called on States and donors to support this non-stigmatizing care in their primary health-care systems.
In a second round of “lightning talks”, Lead Discussant VICTOR MADRIGAL-BORLOZ, Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, called for robust gender-based frameworks that are grounded in international law, notably international human rights law, and scrupulous respect for these measures. These frameworks are essential for deconstructing the systems of violence and toxic masculinity.
Lead Discussant SAMRA FILIPOVIĆ-HADŽIABDIĆ, Director of the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the pandemic has disproportionately affected women and widened gender inequalities worldwide. Noting that women provide three quarters of all unpaid care work, she said they also often lack access to credit and new technologies, meaning they were left out of the workforce during the pandemic. She called for prioritizing women’s access to decent work and transforming labour markets, employment policies and care markets to accommodate flexible work schedules. “Women need a seat at decision-making tables,” she affirmed.
VIKRANT PANDEY, Founder and Managing Director, Fightback, Nepal, an initiative that aims to prevent gender-based violence, said that from 2017 to early 2020, his organization conducted mass trainings. When the pandemic hit, it moved online, where it had the opportunity to reach larger audiences. It is now developing an online course based on International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work.
Respondent SEIKO NODA, Minister in charge of Women's Empowerment, Minister for State for Gender Equality of Japan, said gender equality is an important and solid part of her country’s policies to ensure a sustainable future. She called for accelerating action. Japan is working to empower women, ensuring they do not fall into “climate difficulties” and that, through efforts to end domestic violence, they live with dignity and pride. She also described a focus on men’s engagement in families, encouraging them to take parental leave, in part to reduce women’s care duties.
When the floor opened for interactive dialogue, many delegates outlined national initiatives and strategies.
Switzerland’s delegate acknowledged that progress on gender equality is uneven and “undeniably” too slow. Her country is working to ensure women are able to work on equal footing in the political sphere, she said, adding that it hopes to use its seat on the Security Council to ensure women’s greater participation in peacebuilding, both at local and global levels.
Armenia’s delegate, noting that his country was building progress made in the information technology industry, described a gender equality forum that aims to accelerate access for women and girls to digital technologies.
Zambia’s representative meanwhile noted that the national gender policy has an affirmative action component to ensure women’s full participation, including through a fund for women entrepreneurs and a 30 per cent quota for women’s representation in decision-making.
Azerbaijan’s delegate underscored the need to create conditions for women’s involvement in economic activities, noting that 22 members of Azerbaijan’s Parliament are women and that between 2010-2020, the number of women in managerial positions rose.
Describing some “firsts”, China’s delegate said his country realized the 2030 Agenda’s poverty target 10 years ahead of schedule, adding that women’s life expectancy has also reached 80 years.
Cuba’s delegate, pointing out his country had the second highest number of women parliamentarians, noted that Cuba was the first to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Ukraine’s delegate said women and girls faced social isolation, lower economic prospects and greater risks of violence during the pandemic — issues that have been overshadowed by the Russian Federation’s invasion of his country, which set off an unprecedented wave of displacement, affecting mostly women and children. Ukraine ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention, uniting it with others who share a common legal space, an important aspect in helping women at risk of trafficking.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s delegate cited the 2016 establishment of a court responsible for handling measures that have discriminated against women. The Government also changed the law on gender-based violence in 2020, created a hotline and zero-tolerance policy to end violence against women and girls, and launched an awareness campaign against child marriage.
“We must use the knowledge and resources of 50 per cent of our population”, particularly in efforts to challenge climate change, resolve conflicts and ensure peace, Norway’s delegate added
Also speaking were representatives of France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Morocco, Philippines, Malawi and Chile, as well as a speaker from the NGO Major Group.
Panel 2: Working towards the 2023 Sustainable Development Goal Summit
Moderated by Nikhil Seth, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the second panel featured presentations by: Macharia Kamau, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, Co-Chair of the General Assembly open working group on the Sustainable Development Goals and co-facilitator of the 2030 Agenda process; David Donoghue, Distinguished Fellow of ODI and co-facilitator of the 2030 Agenda process; Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships; and Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Also making presentations were Paula Caballero, The Nature Conservancy’s Regional Managing Director for Latin America; Åsa Persson, Member of the Independent Group of Scientists for the 2030 Global Sustainable Development Report, Research Director and Deputy Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute; Daisy Ndikuno Owomugasho, Regional Director for The Hunger Project in East Africa; and Margaret Olabisi Mekwuye, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development, Nigeria.
Mr. KAMAU said that while the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are in peril and the 147 targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are not being fully met, the series of conferences to drive implementation are “the most heartening” aspect of the work at hand. While COVID-19 decimated people’s lives and dashed hopes for accelerating implementation, “we must never let them become the impediment to what we are trying to achieve,” he said. He called for a focus on the process, stressing that it is multisectoral and multinational in nature. The question then hinges on how States can create simplicity and allow people to identify what their contributions will be. “We do not have a choice about the Sustainable Development Goals,” he observed. “They are something we have to do.” He described climate change as “serious business” that demands a serious response, while peace and security is a pressure that absorbs the resources allocated for the 17 Goals. He called for a focus on the synergies to connect the challenges at hand. “We are beginning to lose credibility out there,” he said.
Mr. DONOGHUE called for restoring the spirit of 2015, when the 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Paris Agreement on climate change were forged. At the 2030 Summit, the primacy of the 2030 Agenda should be affirmed, he said, noting that the Goals require “absolute loyalty” from Governments, civil society, United Nations entities and all stakeholders. It is also important to take stock of the potential challenges and reaffirm the pledge to leave no one behind. The role of civil society in supporting implementation must be more openly accepted by world leaders in any 2023 declaration, he added. As well, there must be a greater focus on the links among the Goals, regional coordination, the significant moves needed on data collection and analysis, and finally, on the role of cities. The 2023 Summit must recommit to the idealism and optimism expressed in 2015, he said.
Ms. URPILAINEN said COVID-19 has wiped out a decade of development progress, losses that have been exacerbated by the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The European Union is fully committed to the 2030 Agenda, she said, as the Goals are the only realistic agreed blueprint pointing a way to a better future. Noting that a Summit is critical to realizing the Goals themselves, she said the European Union, at the 2023 forum, will present a voluntary review of its internal and external implementation of the Goals, after having consulted with civil society and the business community in that process. Further, the European Union has ambitious policy programme to deliver sustainability in the region and beyond, she said, pointing to its “Green New Deal” and its latest global gateway strategy, which aims to implement the Goals through the mobilization of resources for climate, education and health networks, among other areas. The bloc is also investing €300 billion to implement green and digital transitions globally.
Ms. MIZUTORI, recalling that the Sendai Framework was adopted in March 2015, suggested that it may have been “forgotten”, as the prevention aspects of the 2030 Agenda — the main focus of the Sendai Framework — have not been working. She called for a greater focus on prevention in the areas of politics and financing, stressing that “disasters erode, much more than anything, the gains of sustainable development”. As for how to “do prevention better”, she said Governments must be in the driving seat. Unless rules about prevention are created and prevention is incorporated into national budgets, prevention will not happen. Recalling that the seventh session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was recently held in Bali, Indonesia, she said participants stressed the need to empower communities. “We need to find solutions which are scalable,” she said, adding that nature-based solutions must be scaled up and involve the private sector, so they do not unfold gradually on a small scale. She also called for projects focused on resilience, especially in the infrastructure sector. “The way that money is directed is the key to everything,” she asserted. Noting that the intergovernmental process for the Sendai Framework will take place before the 2030 Sustainable Development Summit, she underscored the importance of identifying the areas where it has not been implemented.
Ms. CABALLERO, describing the Sustainable Development Goals as “a lighthouse”, “profoundly disruptive” and “a triumph of diplomacy”, pointed out that “we led a very radical bottom-up process that was unrelentless in the face of opposition”, which considered the Goals absurd. Recalling the adage to “never waste a good crisis”, she said countries across the globe are currently in a planetary emergency, yet they are wasting a good opportunity. The Goals are not a political declaration; they are actionable and relevant to all stakeholders. With countries trapped in a “siloed mentality”, leaders must undo the inertia and start taking action. Stressing that the 2023 Summit must offer a simple and seamless action plan, she added it must also sound a wake-up call and provide an opportunity to say: “no more summits”. “Rebel, be disruptive” she urged the Forum, recalling that the Goals did not emerge from a normal political process. Climate, biodiversity loss and humanitarian crises should all be viewed through a Sustainable Development Goal lens, she added, describing tax reform, debt swaps and efforts to address food and water insecurity as one, interlocked crisis. “Summits make us think we are doing something,” she noted, challenging delegates to be bold, daring and radical by linking the 2023 Summit to a global stocktake process. Nature-based solutions must be elevated and a short suite of action points and commitments should be identified. She called for allowing the voices of all stakeholders in the door. “Governments must lead but we need everybody on board” she stressed.
Ms. PERSSON said poor progress is a reason to double down on the Goals, not give up on them. Implementation delays must translate into determination, she argued, stressing that the Summit must be underpinned by the best science and evidence available. While there have been setbacks created by the pandemic, the world was on “a very poor track” before the crisis occurred. There are more synergies than trade-offs. There is a need for ideas on how to spark transformation, encourage the emergence of innovation and new policy tools, accelerate the uptake of them, and address any backlash, especially related to climate policy and fuel prices. Indeed, transformation is possible, and examples must be shared. Transformation is also inevitable, and the Sustainable Development Goal framework is the best available blueprint for preventing the unintended consequences of transformation. The Summit must be a formal recommitment to the Goals, including by non-State actors. In addition, a framework for acceleration is needed, focused on the key targets, identifying the bottlenecks and mainstreaming them into measures to reduce poverty. A renewed civil society compact is also needed.
Ms. OWOMUGASHO said the Hunger Project works at the community level. From there, the “SDG ambition” appears to be limited. Poverty and inequality are on the rise, and countries are struggling with hunger, job loss and weak health systems. In Uganda, where data exists, reports that the country has achieved 50 per cent of the Goals do not mention that the data only capture half of the targets to be measured. “Many indicators have been going the wrong way,” she said, adding that other countries face the same reporting challenges. The Summit will be a much-needed opportunity to create a world that supports all people. As such, meetings are necessary, she said, stressing that the priorities of the poor must be identified. “Where is their voice?” she asked. A space must be created to hear from them and be linked to other broader discussions on building ownership of the commitments made. She proposed a process for crowdsourcing ideas and enabling inputs through participatory platforms. In addition, she suggested a worldwide stocktaking of the global agenda, with inputs from diverse stakeholders alongside the official statistics. “Civil society is waiting to be included in the processes,” she said, whether on climate, nature or others. “We would represent the community of voices.”
Ms. MEKWUYE said that prior to the creation of the Goals, her organization gathered inputs from communities about “the world they want” and their voices were then brought on board. Civil society wants to see the Summit as “a commitment summit”, with Governments promising concrete and ambitious actions to spur progress at national and global levels. The Summit cannot simply be an opportunity to take stock of progress. “That is what the high-level political forum and the voluntary national reviews are for,” she said. There must be a focus on action. She pressed Governments to include civil society in ensuring that commitments are people-oriented and responsive to those most at risk of being left behind, particularly the grassroots communities. Donors meanwhile can commit to additional financial support for the Goals. The bottom line is that anything short of providing a catalytic moment for Governments to implement the Goals will be seen by civil society as an inevitable failure and an incredible missed opportunity. “Commitment, commitment, commitment,” she stressed.
In the ensuing interactive dialogue, delegates outlined their views on the upcoming “SDG Summit”, to be held by the high-level political forum on sustainable development under the auspices of the General Assembly in September 2023.
Keynote Address: Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water)
SYLVIA EARLE, Marine Biologist and Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society, said the ocean unites people with the atmosphere and the fabric of life. “Now we can see what our predecessors could not” she affirmed. It is said that as many as 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, all people, everywhere, all the time depend on these resources for their lives. “No ocean, no us,” she observed. “An ocean in trouble means that we are in trouble.” Earth must be habitable in order for any lofty civilizational goals to be realized.
Indeed, the ocean must be maintained in ways that preserve the basic biogeochemistry that took 4.5 billion years to achieve, and little more than 4.5 decades to significantly unravel, placing everyone at risk. Human existence is underscored by headlines that require action now — climate change and biodiversity loss. Those events are linked to the inclination of humans to consume the world around them in ways that foster their prosperity, with the underlying belief that Earth is there to do with what they will. If humans are to survive, “we must do a better job at caring for nature,” she said, adding that is what the Goals are about, especially Goal 14.
She described the inertia to act more responsibly, more ethically in relation to nature as “puzzling” for those who have been privileged to have witnessed the era of discovery and the learning about the planet over the decades, more than in all human history. There is growing trouble, she declared, emphasizing that the first fact to understand is that the ocean is alive and it is vulnerable. In 2022, with the global population soaring beyond 8 billion, there are answers about the benefits conferred by the ocean to the rest of the living planet. Its carbon and water cycles, and other biogeochemical processes, are tied to the rest of life on Earth. While talk about “blue carbon” was a footnote in 2015, today is a much different matter. “Economists follow the money,” she explained. “Climate scientists follow the carbon.”
She said she has witnessed great cycles of great learning and loss, coupled with “profound” complacency about the actions needed. To create change, there must first be some idea of how these systems function. “Now we do know, as never before,” she said, pointing to people’s ability to govern themselves more responsibly in relation to their natural support systems. She called for restoring harmony with nature, through fostering healthy ocean life, urging all stakeholders to take ambitious action to achieve Goal 14 without delay and treating the ocean “as if our lives depend on it – because actually, they do.”
Highlights
ANGELA PAOLINI ELLARD, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) presented the results of the twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference in June, when members adopted a binding multilateral agreement on fisheries subsidies after more than 21 years of negotiations — a particularly significant event, as it represents a consensus among 164 members, not simply a majority. For the first time, the agreement bans subsidies for illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as those for overfishing in stocks and fishing in the unregulated high seas. This is greatly needed, she said, noting subsidies have played an “outsized” role in the overfishing taking place in 50 per cent of the world’s assessed stocks.
She highlighted several points about the agreement, noting that the subsidies bans are broad, covering the harvesting of all wild living marine resources. They are connected to fishing, related fishing activities at sea, fishing vessels and their operators. The agreement imposes robust transparency requirements on all WTO members, shining a light on country subsidies. And — beyond the mandate of Goal 14.6 — it establishes a fund to help developing and least developed countries enact measures to carry out fisheries management. WTO has already received substantial funding to provide meaningful capacity building for this charge.
She also noted that the agreement contains a dedicated mechanism and agenda for the future, committing WTO members to achieving additional disciplines, and setting a deadline of late 2023 or early 2024 to finish the second wave of these negotiations. She clarified that the new rules become operational only when the agreement enters into force, which requires two-thirds of WTO members to deposit their instruments of acceptance. She called on States to “act with urgency” to complete their acceptance processes immediately.
LIU ZHENMIN, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, then briefed delegates on the outcome of the 2022 Ocean Conference, co-hosted by Kenya and Portugal in Lisbon, from 27 June to 1 July. More than 6,000 participants attended, including 25 Heads of State and Government, and senior officials from 150 countries. Sharing key aspects of the declaration adopted — “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility” — he said it recognizes the devastating impact of COVID-19 on ocean health, including through increased plastic waste. It therefore welcomed the outcome of the United Nations Environmental Assembly to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution in the marine environment.
Among other things, the WTO agreement connects ocean health with human health, he continued, recognizing the importance of indigenous and local knowledge and the need to support capacity-building and technology transfer for developing countries. It calls for women’s full, equal and meaningful participation, and recognizes the adverse impact of climate change, especially on small island developing States. Importantly, it also calls for an ambitious, balanced and transformative biodiversity framework, expresses deep regret over the collective failure to achieve targets 14.2, 14.4, 14.5 and 14.6, and renews the commitment to achieve all targets, without delay.
HEATHER PAGE, Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, then presented related highlights from the Secretary-General’s report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Noting that the main sources of marine pollution are land-based, she said that in 2021, an estimated 17 million metric tons of waste entered the ocean, resulting in a growing number of dead zones. Acidification is expected to worsen, lowering the ocean’s role in mitigating climate change. Global fish stocks meanwhile are under growing threat from overfishing and illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, with more than one third of the world’s fish stocks overfished in 2019, up from 10 per cent in 1974.
Panel 3
Moderated by Angus Friday, Blue Economy Director at the Waitt Institute, the panel featured presentations by Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean; J. Charles Fox, Executive Director of Oceans 5; Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and Sanda Ojiambo, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact.
Mr. THOMSON cited interlinkages between all the Goals, addressing the importance of what is coming down the rivers and the hydrological cycle, as well as microorganisms that provide 20 per cent of the oxygen. He noted that innovative new forms of food will come to the fore, and stressed the importance of youth, given that previous generations have destroyed much of the ecosystem. Henceforth, the United Nations will work hand-in-hand with young people, who will be at the podiums of conferences. Everything is connected, be it biodiversity loss or the climate crisis, which is centred on humanity’s disrespect of nature — including still burning fossil fuels, which “will kill our grandchildren.”
Mr. FOX spotlighted the way private philanthropy is changing, noting Oceans 5 is 23 private foundations from North America and Europe, providing direct grants to civil society organizations, with a focus on strengthening fisheries management, combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, among other aims. Ocean philanthropy has doubled to $1 billion annually but is still a fraction of all philanthropic support. A relatively small amount of foundations are responsible for most of that philanthropy, which is concentrated in North America and Europe. However, a significant group of donors — aiming to achieve 30 by 2030 — committed $1 billion at the Lisbon conference. With five countries catching over 85 per cent of fish on the high seas, he expected that to change. He noted the explosion of poorly managed fish operations off the coast of West Africa.
Lead Discussant VALERIE HICKEY, Manager for Advisory and Operations, Climate Change Group, World Bank Group, said until recently, nobody believed discussion of the ocean would be happening at the United Nations, which happened due to the initiatives of the Pacific Islands and Mr. Thomson, among others. She said the good news is “we know how to do this now”, citing integrated planning to work with local communities on a sustainable ocean economy. Protecting the oceans has never been more important, she stressed, adding that, with 820 million people going to bed hungry tonight, it is critical to restore fish stocks. It is also important to build pathways out of poverty. The issue is about young people, but also those living at the ocean’s edge. She noted there will never be enough grant financing, and the little available must be used more strategically, creating a pipeline of shovel-ready projects. There is too little money requiring too much paperwork.
As the floor opened, delegates from across the globe offered their views on strategies and action required to protect the world’s oceans.
The representative of Norway, stressing that plastic pollution and acidification are threatening coastal livelihoods, called for strengthening the capacity of local communities to assess ocean and environmental damage. Norway will manage 100 per cent of its oceans by 2025, he said, urging the international community to do so as well by 2030.
Kenya’s delegate said the international community increasingly realizes a blue economy is key to food security. The Lisbon conference made a call for ocean management, along with the need to step up the fight against plastic pollution, he added.
The representative of Israel said the marine environment is collapsing, but there is some cause for hope if the international community acts swiftly. In Lisbon, her Government committed to 30 per cent of marine area protection by 2030, and has earmarked $900 million to marine biodiversity. She expressed hope the upcoming twenty-seventh United Nations Climate Change conference in Egypt would build on progress, noting Israel is advancing technology and beginning protection of a new deep-sea ecosystem.
The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said oceans, rivers and lakes can help feed the world but only if managed and protected responsibly. Because aquatic food systems must be transformed, FAO has launched a programme on food security and environmental protection. He also cited the crucial contribution of small-scale fishermen.
The representative of the United States stressed the need for urgent action to address marine pollution; biodiversity loss; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; coastal erosion; and rising sea levels. “The climate crisis is an ocean crisis,” he added, urging that ocean-based solutions can help keep the 1.5°C target in reach.
The representative of Guatemala said that one of the largest challenges in her country is to prevent pollution, highlighting the importance of incorporating science and widespread participation in policies designed to address this issue. Further, protecting the ocean is linked to Government priorities such as reducing poverty and increasing social protection, food security and job creation.
The representative of Nigeria pointed out that in many countries — especially developing countries — human activity is exacerbating climate stresses on coastal areas. The international community must commit to protecting these resources through regional and global efforts. For its part, Nigeria has created two marine protected areas and implemented national policies to address plastic pollution and manage waste.
The representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, said that, despite the “deep connection between the seas and our soul” as observed by the world’s poets, humanity has disregarded the cumulative impact of its actions. Despite this “sea blindness”, he stressed that the oceans are the ultimate measure of how much the international community’s commitment to sustainability is worth.
Also speaking were representatives of Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism, Ghana and Mexico.
Mr. FRIDAY then turned back the floor to the Panellists and Lead Discussant for additional thoughts and responses.
Mr. THOMSON urged those negotiating a treaty governing marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction not to be “the odd one out”, stressing the need to establish such an instrument. He also called for funding commitments made in Lisbon to be honoured, as “it is all about money in the end” and funding is vital to humanity’s continuing survival on this planet.
Mr. FOX welcomed the enthusiasm seen in Lisbon and the urgency of today’s discussions, urging completion of a treaty governing marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. “We know what the issues are,” he said; now the international community must determine how to set up a system to address them. Recalling discussions in Lisbon regarding the need to cease deep-sea mining, he suggested those present think about ways to stop this destructive act before it even begins.
Ms. HICKEY said that there is no longer a need to advocate; rather, the international community must focus on implementation. It must put existing funding modalities and partnerships to work, as well as placing local voices at the front of the agenda. While the shared agenda is global, “all action is local”, she added.
Ms. ALISJAHBANA, stressing the need to seize current political momentum, detailed actions in different regions towards this end. To contribute to evidence-based decision-making, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) compiled a regional diagnosis of Goal 14 that suggested several land-sea interactions and other conservation and sustainable-use measures. Among other initiatives, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is focusing on building data-collection capabilities in the region and strengthening the science-policy interface and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is promoting financing solutions like blue bonds and debt-for-climate swaps.
Mr. RYABININ pointed out that much of the increase in ocean science has been driven by the East Asia and Southeast Asia regions. Massive developments in ocean technologies have facilitated a tenfold increase in data on marine life. Further, the role of indigenous and local knowledge is starting to be recognized and incorporated into policy. However, female scientists only account for 37 per cent of ocean-science professionals and young people lack clearly defined career paths in this field. Another challenge is that policymakers’ capacity to access relevant scientific information is limited in many countries. Measures are needed to increase ocean literacy, along with the percentage of national budgets devoted to ocean science. Sustainable management of exclusive economic zones and sustainable ocean planning need to be promoted.
Ms. OJIAMBO pointed out that, unfortunately, Sustainable Development Goal 14 receives the lowest level of financing out of all the Goals. Nonetheless, the opportunities in this area are many. There is a need for greater investment in the sustainable ocean economy, which requires clarity and transparency in the global blue finance market. The United Nations Global Compact works to provide blue-bond guidance for the private sector. To increase these opportunities, the Compact has established a network of companies committed to healthy oceans with a combined market capitalization of €1 trillion. She also stressed the need for meaningful youth participation, noting that youth leaders are already driving local change. The international community can learn from the younger generation’s collaborative, open approach to solving global challenges.
Lead Discussant MARTIN VISBECK stressed that the science is clear — there is no time for delay, and the international community must act. Science, innovation and technology are ready to inform and support action, and comprehensive, shared knowledge is needed to solve major global challenges. A rapidly growing, increasingly affluent population has led to increasing anthropogenic pressure on natural resources, including the ocean, and a growing demand for energy — mostly carbon-based — has led to further warming and climate change. Against that backdrop, he stressed that science and innovation are urgently needed to transform human action and foster a more-sustainable human-ocean relationship. Observation systems must be expanded, and the international community must facilitate the co-creation of transformations in science and policy, which can help future-proof sustainable-development actions.
As the floor opened, delegations called for efforts to ensure action is successful in implementing Goal 14 and described national and regional aims in that regard.
Portugal’s delegate said that as co-host, the recent Lisbon conference of 159 countries represented a key opportunity to motivate the many stakeholders in implementing Goal 14. Strengthening international partnerships is crucial, but Portugal is also committed to protecting 30 per cent of its marine areas and producing 10 gigawatts of capacity of oceanic renewable energy by 2030.
The representative of the Indigenous People’s Major Group said many indigenous people depend on fisheries for livelihoods and food security, and contribute significantly to protecting those aquaculture sectors and environments with their knowledge and practices. They must be consulted on any initiatives or actions that threaten their rights. Business are major contributors to the destruction of biodiversity and through ocean-grabbing, he stressed.
The representative of Thailand said the increase of pandemic-related personal protective equipment and delivery services have worsened the plastic pollution problem. Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management is one practical tool to solve this by promoting a circular economy.
Viet Nam’s delegate cited the threats of overfishing, pollution and climate change, exacerbated by the pandemic. She called for further support for developing countries, especially capacity-building and technology transfer. The sea has brought Viet Nam great opportunities for development, and is crucial to its culture, and the country is taking strong action to reduce plastic ocean waste.
The representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that for more than 60 years, its laboratory in Monaco has been studying marine environmental challenges through nuclear techniques. Nuclear and isotopic techniques can be used to study the impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms. IAEA is also assisting countries in integrating nuclear techniques in their efforts to address plastic pollution, including through tracking and quantifying the movement and impact of microplastic particles in the environment.
Antigua and Barbuda’s delegate said the decline of ocean health is his country’s primary concern, as its culture and livelihood depend on it. Accelerated action across all 10 targets of Goal 14 is required to reduce negative impacts, including through strengthened ocean governance. Small island developing States issued a declaration after the Lisbon conference on issues including enhancement of marine knowledge and transfer of marine technology to those countries, to determine their own futures.
The representative of India noted that her country aims to protect at least 30 per cent of its lands, waters and oceans by 2030. Further, it will soon unveil its blue-economy policy and deep-ocean mission, she said, adding that India partners with many countries in the areas of integrated ocean management and marine spatial planning.
The representative of the NGO Major Group said that the new human right to a healthy environment — recognized in 2021 — requires healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. National marine protection plans are needed to meet the proposed target of conserving 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030 and reduce the negative impacts of climate change. She also called for increased focus on the effective regulation and taxation of unsustainable practices and for increased participation for local populations in decision-making processes.
Also speaking were representatives of Finland, Morocco and the Philippines, along with representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation and the Major Group for Children and Youth.
Mr. FRIDAY then invited the Panellists and Lead Discussant for their thoughts and observations.
Ms. ALISJAHBANA reiterated the importance of identifying and filling gaps in ocean data and statistics. Further, efforts to address the ocean-climate nexus are needed, as is the engagement of local communities to accelerate actions like data collection, marine protected areas and enforcement measures to prevent activities like illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Ms. OJIAMBO underlined the need for cooperation on all sustainable ocean action, along with the importance of creating and sharing knowledge — such as indigenous knowledge — to chart the way forward. Solutions are available — now, the international community must look towards adequate financing and how to create interlinkages between the Sustainable Development Goals to find credible, sustainable ocean solutions.
Mr. VISBECK, noting comments on how nations are increasing investment in science, encouraged all to do so. He also recalled discussions on the need to exchange knowledge between the global North and South, emphasizing that this “is not a one-way street”; all can learn from each other. He added that scientific discussions must fully involve the next generation.
Mr. RYABININ pointed out that humankind generates trillions of dollars annually from the ocean but spends only billions on science. Despite overexploiting the ocean, we “do not understand what is happening there”, he said. Humanity knows what must be done, he emphasized, calling for improved ocean literacy and a focus on sustainably managing the oceans.
Closing the session, Mr. FRIDAY noted the ocean agenda is now moving forward, with Fiji, Sweden, Portugal and Kenya offering leadership, while developing countries also continue to play their role. Some 27 parties provided interventions today, and as Ms. Earle indicated, the world is living in an Anthropocene. Economics 1.0 has certainly created problems, he stressed, but humanity has opportunities to make a difference — in livelihoods, fisheries and tourism, and to increase natural capital — but the key is in implementation. Efforts must be redoubled to bring expired targets into the fold, and financing remains a primary requirement. The linkage between climate and ocean cannot be overstated. “There’s a real sense now that we can win this fight for the oceans,” he said.