Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, has called for accelerated efforts to achieve global sustainable development goals by 2030.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Li pointed out that the world still faces financing gaps and challenges, even though the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been in place for a decade.
He noted that in the recently adopted Sevilla Commitment, member states stressed the need to inject more resources and support into sustainable development.
Li stressed the significance of sustainable development financing for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
"We know the 2030 Agenda launched a decade ago. But we don't have a very rosy picture before this for the implementation. But what would be the main reasons behind that? One of the key factors is lack of sufficient financing for sustainable development, globally speaking. Now, the annual gap for SDG financing has reached more than four trillion U.S. dollars. But then for the Global South, and also for the Global North, still they are committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. And then that's why we need to explore what would be the creative way in the weight of the methods to inject the more resources for the sustainable development," he said.
He said that the 2030 Agenda requires a strong commitment to collaboratively advance its goals, despite the differing positions of developed and developing nations.
With 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core, the 2030 Agenda was adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) was held June 30 to July in Sevilla, Spain, with the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment -- a renewed global framework for financing Sustainable Development Goals. The Sevilla Commitment sets a path to close the 4 trillion U.S. dollars annual SDG financing gap by proposing reforms to the international financial system.
"That is why the greatest success from this FFD4 held a month ago or about two months ago, that is the first thing, member states adopt the outcome document that we call the severe commitment by consensus. We are facing a very unprecedented landscape, but fortunately now member states, despite their divergent views, they came together. Associated with this very noble conception, that is we need to inject the more resources, inject the more political commitment to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Although it's just a five year start, but still that we believe it's within our reach," Li said.
UN official calls for greater int'l efforts to achieve global sustainable development goals
