Calling for G20 support, Ban stresses importance of financing mechanisms for 2030 Goals
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, center, mingles with world leaders attending the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, in September 2016. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
5 September 2016 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the importance of financing and other support mechanisms to implement the global goals for sustainable development and climate action, urging further efforts by G20 countries to fulfill their commitments.
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a universal, integrated and transformative plan of action for peace and prosperity for all on a healthy planet,” Mr. Ban told a session on inclusive and interconnected development during the G20 Summit taking place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, referring to the 17 global goals adopted by the UN General Assembly last September.
To achieve these, he said, there is a need for balanced, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda, adopted in Ethiopia last year, provides a global framework for financing the 2030 Agenda implementation. It aligns all financing flows and policies with sustainable economic, social and environmental development, Mr. Ban added.
“The G20 Action Plan to support implementation of the 2030 Agenda is testament to your commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” the UN chief said, acknowledging China's leadership for mainstreaming sustainable development in the work of G20.
Mr. Ban also applauded the leaders of France, Germany, Japan, Mexico and the Republic of Korea for initiating inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms on implementation of the SDGs, calling upon all G20 leaders to follow “these good examples.”
“Implementing the 2030 Agenda will strengthen our collective ability to address short-term risks and build long-term resilience. This is why it is essential that sustainable development is fully integrated into a global macroeconomic policy framework,” Mr. Ban said.
The G20 initiative on supporting industrialization in Africa and least developed countries will strengthen their inclusive growth and development potential, he said. The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) report provides a comprehensive framework in this regard. Increased investments in infrastructure and industry, access to finance, sharing and transfer of technologies, trade facilitation, capacity building and improving enabling environments can support the transformation needed, he added.
The G20 support to the Paris Agreement on climate finance, adopted last December in France, is crucial, the Secretary-General emphasized. “Now it is time to ensure we live up to our commitments on climate finance, including the commitment to provide $100 billion for the Green Climate Fund,” he said, describing this as “an important step” to support developing countries' efforts to implement the climate accord.
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