Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has called on leaders of the world - in government, business and civil society - to work together to eradicate poverty and achieve all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
“It is my sincere hope and wish that as we now focus on the implementation of the SDGs, we need all the available developmental tools and means of implementation at our disposal,” Minister Molewa said.
She was addressing the United Nations High Level Political Forum 2017 in New York, USA.
“We must work together in mobilising sufficient, adequate and predictable financial resources for the implementation of the SDGs. Developed countries must continue to honour their historic obligations and responsibilities, as part of the commitments made in the context of the global partnership for development. Without the means of implementation, we will not be able to achieve much,” Minister Molewa said.
She said food security and nutrition are essential for sustainable development and strongly linked to the presence of sustainable agriculture, healthy and productive oceans and terrestrial ecosystems, all of which are vastly threatened by the impacts of climate change and as such, adversely affect food production.
“In this regard, our commitment to and the full implementation of all elements of the Paris Agreement … in its entirety, and not merely disaster risk management, and early warning becomes absolutely vital,” Minister Molewa said.
The meeting of the high level political forum on sustainable development is convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. It started on Monday and will conclude on Wednesday, 19 July.
The theme is ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world’. – SAnews.gov.za
