Public – Private Partnership for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Director-General very much regrets that he cannot be here today and sends his best regards. He has asked me to deliver the following remarks on his behalf:

“Ladies and gentlemen:

A warm welcome to the Palais des Nations! Thank you to everyone involved, in particular the Joint Inspection Unit and the World Association of Sustainable Development, for bringing us together.

It has been almost 1000 days since world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Taking stock of progress, I would say the picture is mixed.

On the one hand, the ability of the Sustainable Development Goals to surmount traditional boundaries and be on everyone’s agenda – from city mayors and government ministers, to academics and business leaders – has been truly inspiring. The 2030 Agenda really has become what we all hoped it would: our common roadmap, the leitmotif to guide our collective efforts to create a better world.

On the other hand, however, I share our Secretary-General’s impatience for a change of gear. We have hit the post-2015 ground walking; we need to pick up the pace and start running towards 2030. The magnitude of our challenges has yet to be met by the measure of our actions.

Just consider the following data points:

̶ Over 8% of the world’s people live in poverty.
̶ Almost 200 million people are unemployed, while another 300 million workers remain trapped in poverty.
̶ Women are still far less likely to participate in the labor market – and the global gender pay gap is still 23%.
̶ Young people are three times more likely to be jobless.
̶ Rampant inequalities are stretching the fabric of societies to breaking point, undermining the social compact.
̶ Entire regions can find themselves marooned from waves of progress and left behind by growth. Exclusion has a price: frustration, alienation, instability.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We need to work together to reduce inequalities, end discrimination, empower people and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

Mobilizing the investment necessary to actually deliver the Goals by 2030 must be among our top priorities.

According to some estimates, this requires an additional USD 2.4 trillion in investments per year.

Public funding cannot close this gap. Not even close.

The private sector is an indispensable partner and we welcome the work by the JIU to facilitate enhanced cooperation between the UN system and the private sector to pursue common goals.

We call on businesses of all sizes – from start-up to corporate – to innovate market-based solutions that drive inclusion; to do business in a way that works for the global good as much as for the bottom line.

There are trailblazers in almost every industry to emulate. You can easily recognize them by the way in which they outperform their peers. For the point is quite simple really: sustainable business is good business.

Over these coming days, I invite you to listen, think and share ideas on how public-private partnerships aligned with the spirit of the SDGs can help us as we endeavour to reach the furthest behind first.

I wish you much success in your discussions.”

These were the words of the Director-General.

Thank you.