President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Dennis Francis released a summary of the first-ever UNGA Sustainability Week, which spotlighted five key sectors of the economy with the potential to drive progress across all SDGs.
The summary, annexed to a 10 July 2024 letter, presents major highlights from the Week’s events that convened from 15-19 April 2024 at UN Headquarters in New York, US:
- High-level thematic debate on debt sustainability and socioeconomic inequality for all;
- High-level thematic event on tourism;
- High-level meeting on sustainable transport;
- Informal dialogue on building global resilience and promoting sustainable development through infrastructure connectivity; and
- Global stocktaking marking the completion of the UN Decade on Sustainable Energy for All to further accelerate the implementation of SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The letter also invites Member States to endorse the UNGA President’s ‘Call to Action: Further Acceleration of the Implementation of SDG 7 Towards 2030 and Beyond,’ launched at the global stocktaking.
On debt and inequality, speakers highlighted the multiple and interlinked crises that have significantly decreased the fiscal space and added to Member States’ debt burdens, restricting their capacity to invest in sustainable development. Participants underscored the urgent need for debt restructuring and access to long-term, affordable, and accessible financing for development (FfD).
On tourism, participants discussed the challenge of balancing the socioeconomic, commercial, and environmental aspects of tourism to achieve the 2030 Agenda. They reflected on the recently adopted Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism, which aims to accelerate sustainable tourism by assessing, evaluating, and monitoring the impact of tourism on people, the economy, and the environment. Speakers also stressed the importance of ensuring tourism’s resilience for countries to be able to adequately recover from future crises while leveraging the sector as a driver of sustainable development.
Discussions on transport recognized the importance of sustainable transport in achieving economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability. A multi-stakeholder panel identified ten key transformations to support the sector in its delivery on equity, sustainability, and climate goals: (1) maximizing accessibility and minimizing environmental impact; (2) promoting compact cities and sustainable infrastructure; (3) connecting rural and urban communities; (4) prioritizing public transport and active mobility; (5) shaping transport behavior; (6) electrifying transport modes and integrating them with local renewable energy production; (7) reflecting “true costs” and green investments; (8) promoting efficient freight transport systems; (9) promoting coherent industry, trade, and transport policies towards circular economies; and (10) investing in resilient infrastructure. Participants also discussed action-oriented suggestions on how to contribute to the implementation plan for the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026-2035.
On infrastructure connectivity, participants highlighted the importance of enhancing global infrastructure to foster economic stability and development. Interventions centered around three central themes: the necessity of resilient infrastructure; the relevance of proactive initiatives; and the global commitment to sustainable development through enhanced connectivity. Member States showcased national strategies and announced SDG-aligned commitments and national infrastructure investment plans.
Acknowledging the “forward-looking policies, social movements, groundbreaking technological advancements, and unwavering investments” the UN Decade on Sustainable Energy for All catalyzed, the stocktaking on sustainable energy stressed the need for further efforts to promote inclusivity, including the empowerment of women and youth. Participants agreed on the need to accelerate the transition to a clean and sustainable energy system while paying attention to different national situations, priorities, pathways, and approaches. [UNGA President’s Letter of 10 July 2024] [Summary of UNGA Sustainability Week]