Excellency Mr. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Thai Government,
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina Mohammed,
Ms. Antonia Lilii, First Pasefika Fono Network and Representative of the Asia-Pacific People’s Forum,
Ms. Shilpa Lamichhane, Visible Impact and Representative of the APFSD Youth Forum
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to warmly welcome you to the eleventh Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development.
Last September, at the SDG Summit, the Member States of the United Nations collectively pledged to reinvigorate their efforts towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
They recognized the need for a strategic approach, substantial investments and innovative policy interventions in order to move forward and accelerate our progress towards the SDGs.
The United Nations identified six transformative entry points, namely, food systems; energy access and affordability; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. These catalysts can amplify efforts across multiple Goals.
Excellencies, distinguished participants,
Allow me to highlight the relevance of these entry points to our region and how they are linked to the five Goals that we will examine closely during this Forum: Goal 1 (no poverty), Goal 2 (zero hunger), Goal 13 (climate action), Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and Goal 17 (partnerships for the Goals).
There is an urgency to act on climate change and reach Goal 13 now.
Our vast and diverse region, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, is also particularly susceptible to the perils of climate change.
At COP28, governments committed themselves to significantly enhance their renewable energy capacity and improve energy efficiency by 2030. The shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources, however, requires significant investment so that this determined push can be reflected as updated nationally determined contributions.
Our aspirations, however, extend beyond mere transition. A transformation that harmonizes our economic activities with the health of our planet is critical. With our people employed in a wide range of economic sectors, the livelihoods of many will be profoundly affected by this transformation.
Mitigation and adaptation must, therefore, be at the forefront of our efforts, especially for the most vulnerable.
As you recall, the 2030 Agenda clearly calls to leave no one behind, especially as we witnessed the exacerbation of poverty and inequality in recent years.
With attainment of Goal 13 closely linked to the eradication of poverty (Goal 1) and elimination of hunger (Goal 2), social protection is not just an option but rather a necessity so that no-one is left behind.
While our commitment to social protection has strengthened, its coverage remains insufficient.
Here, too, we must innovate and invest inclusively.
Our collective journey towards sustainable development is also intertwined with economic prosperity.
The limited progress towards peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16), as reflected in geopolitical tensions, political crises and resulting economic uncertainties in our region, signals the need for more cohesion within and between member States.
Economic prosperity, in turn, will require a workforce that is adaptable, skilled and ready to embrace the future.
It is imperative that we harness the potential of our youth, strengthen digital technologies and integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly, and ensure that our strategies are holistic enablers for sustainable growth.
As our region still relies on the agriculture sector, the use of digital technologies and smart mechanization can make agriculture more attractive to the youth and create more employment opportunities.
We will also need to create a new ethos for our investment and consumption patterns.
In this journey towards sustainable development, it is also imperative to embed gender equality as a core principle, recognizing women's empowerment as essential for driving economic growth and innovation.
Excellencies, distinguished participants,
This week's discussions around the five Goals and on our progress towards attainment of sustainable development will allow us to share our successful experiences and solutions.
They will highlight forward-thinking, inclusive and multi-stakeholder approaches that have been applied so that no one, especially the most vulnerable such as women, children and persons with disabilities, is left behind.
History has demonstrated that our region is able to overcome significant development challenges. The post-World War II reconstruction and rapid industrialization in the 1960s and 1970s stand out as examples. Likewise, ASEAN's regional collaboration, China's economic reform and India's Green Revolution are key developments.
Given these examples, there is no reason to believe that we will not be able to create a world markedly different from today by 2030.
While the challenges ahead are formidable, the transition we envisage opens vast avenues of opportunity. We can herald an era of sustainable prosperity if we choose to act decisively and collaboratively.
Let us harness this momentum and transform our commitments into tangible actions for a future that resonates with the aspirations of our people and the imperatives of our planet.
Thank you very much
