A/70/PV.11 General Assembly

What the international community has done today in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution A/70/1) is undoubtedly one of the most decisive acts in the history of the United Nations, for we have made a commitment to future generations to set the fight against poverty, human development and protecting the planet as our one indivisible goal. The road to the adoption of the new Agenda has been a long one. Twenty-eight years ago, the World Commission on Environment and Development entrusted Ms. Gro Harlem Brundtland with the preparation of a report entitled “Our Common Future”, and with it, sustainable development first became an issue. Five years later, we held the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, which proclaimed the commitments that the world was supposed to undertake but that, unfortunately, were not, for too long, backed up by actions. It has therefore taken 28 years for us to finally adopt together, here and now, the Sustainable Development Goals. It has taken 28 years for this notion of sustainable development to take shape in the form of a concrete and universal road map, with goals and targets. It has taken 28 years of perseverance to end the divisions that sometimes arise among us, to overcome our lack of foresight and our narrow self-interest and to ensure that as 193 nations, we — from all corners of the Earth — can arrive at consensus on these Goals. I would like to commend not only the United Nations, but also the States, the Governments and, especially, the non-governmental organizations and civil-society organizations that contributed to that awakening. They exerted the necessary pressure in order for us to reach this point. Instead of furnishing proclamations, declarations and mantras, they have provided us with Goals contained within an Agenda and a road map. What is at stake is the fight against inequalities on a global scale. In 2015, 1 billion human beings continue to live on less than $1 a day. In the world, one in nine people suffer from hunger, and 250 million children — undoubtedly even more than that — do not know how to read or write. Entire regions are suffering not only from the effects of desertification but also from disease, which has led to an ever-increasing number of refugees, and that at a time when we are already talking a great deal about refugees, because of their great number coming from the Middle East or Africa and entering into Europe. I would like to recall today what for many representatives is self-evident: 80 per cent of refugees  — whether they are refugees because of climate change, war or hunger  — are being received in the countries of the South. The South is showing its solidarity with the South. Frequently, the countries with the fewest resources are the ones who are accommodating the poorest refugees. That is the reason that we have to act, why we have to decide. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals is not simply a question of wanting to live better; for many, those who are affected by poverty or climate change, the stakes are higher: life or death. What we have decided does not concern quality of life issues but life itself. That is why the 2030 Agenda is a monumental response to what is for us ultimately the main issue at stake for the cohesion of our planet. We have chosen 17 Goals, but there are three indivisible priorities. The first priority concerns the protection of the climate, which will be the central theme at the Conference of the Parties in Paris that France has undertaken the responsibility of hosting. I had lunch with the main Heads of State and Government of the largest continents. We wanted to determine whether or not an agreement on climate change was possible. There was no Head of State or Government who said that he was against an agreement. I could swiftly conclude, therefore, that we are sure to meet with success. That is not just my opinion alone. An agreement is always possible. The question being put to us is, what kind of agreement? How far-reaching should it be? How many commitments should it contain? In Paris, we will not be signing a text simply because we were not able to do so in Copenhagen in 2009. No, the text we sign in Paris will be one that we will honour for decades to come. It will be an agreement affecting all countries in various situations. It will be legally binding and ensure that regularly every five years we will be able to evaluate and measure what has or has not been achieved. The aim is to prevent the planet from heating up by more than 2°C by the end of the century. For many countries, if the planet warms by more than 2°C, it will not just be a target that has not been achieved or a Goal that has been missed. No, it will quite simply mean that the countries we refer to as small island developing States will disappear by the end of the century. For many other countries, it will mean that desertification and deforestation will continue, and their people will, as a result, not be able to live as they do today. It is for that reason that, in Paris, we will need to make commitments through contributions. I call on all countries to make their contributions, so that we can bring together all of the commitments and ensure that there is an increase of only 2°C by the end of the century. We will need to ensure that a decision is taken on establishing a carbon tax and that all economic stakeholders adapt their behaviour and their investments in line with the tax. We will also need to address the issue of financing, and that is a major issue. Are we, as developed countries, simply feeling remorse about the way in which we have used our natural resources? Are we trying to ensure that developing countries do not suffer the same disastrous fate? Or rather, are we going to raise funding in order to allow some countries to skip a step, ensure their energy transition, adapt their technology and make a technological leap forward? That would help them achieve more growth at home and contribute fewer greenhouse gas emissions across the planet. We are familiar with the figures. They were established in Copenhagen in 2009. We need to find $100 billion a year to ensure that the necessary changes occur and that we set that goal as part of our development policy. I would urge each country to exert as much pressure as possible, so that, in Paris, and at the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Lima next month, we can achieve the target of $100 billion to ensure energy transition and combat global warming. As we set that objective as a priority, it must, at the same time, be consistent and compatible with combatting poverty. The fight against hunger, disease and difficult access to water and natural resources is part of the same fight. The funding for energy transition and the financing that we mobilize during the Paris Conference will also enable us to combat poverty and take action to promote growth and development. I also know that we will have to take specific actions to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. France is ranked as the world’s second largest health- care donor, of which it is very proud. During the Ebola outbreak, when Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were affected by the disease, it was because of international action and humanitarian organizations that we were able to eliminate that scourge and, today, we can be proud of and commend those countries that made the efforts needed to make that a reality. Ebola has been vanquished in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. We are therefore able to act and we must act. The third fight for us is also linked to the previous ones. We do not just want to live on a planet whose temperature is no longer rising. We do not just want there to be fewer inequalities. We want human beings to enjoy their rights. We want women to be able to contribute to wealth creation, we want fundamental freedoms to be recognized, we want the fight against corruption to be undertaken and conflicts to be resolved. All of those desires are outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. We are not just talking about reducing inequalities. We are talking about living differently in this world. In order to implement those policies, I have already said that we will need resources. I mentioned the financing needed to combat climate change, but just because we are going to do more in the area of climate financing does not mean that we should do less for development financing. That, too, is extremely important. At this session of the General Assembly, we reached an agreement on the Sustainable Development Goals. The Paris Conference on Climate Change will soon be held. They are both linked, one to another, but one does not replace the other. That is why we need to increase official development assistance. Today, we will ask all those who accept the idea of the Sustainable Development Goals and the new Agenda to increase their development contributions. France always wants to lead the way and set the example, even if that may be demanding at times. France will host the Conference on Climate Change, and it will also call for the highest of standards to be met. It is for that reason that we have decided to earmark €4 billion more for official development assistance from 2020 onwards. I have also decided to carry out a far-reaching reform of our official development assistance programme with the French Development Agency and the Caisse des Dépôts, a large French financial institution. We will have the largest development bank in Europe, so that we can honour our commitments and not just quote figures that are never respected. We, too, in France, along with the other countries in the Eurozone, have sought to establish a tax on financial transactions. That tax should be introduced at the beginning of 2017. We will do our utmost to ensure that that occurs. A percentage of the tax will be earmarked for combatting inequalities, global warming and large-scale pandemics. That is a commitment I am making before the Assembly today. We know our enemies. They are known as indifference, carelessness and indolence. They can also be referred to as passive acceptance. There is the idea that there will always be a miracle solution; that the international community will always come to an agrement; that there will be a piece of technology or an invention that will keep us from having to shoulder our responsibilities. No, it is going to be men and women who decide their future and their destiny. Today, after 28 years, we have managed to agree to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals and an Agenda for them. My duty, in December, is to ensure that we can all agree on how to combat climate change and guarantee life on our planet for years to come. Co-Chair Rasmussen: I thank the President of the French Republic for his statement.

The Solomon Islands welcomes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). The new Agenda is about people and seeks to pursue prosperity through partnerships, while operating within safe levels of our planet’s capacity. We are committed to implementing the 17 transformative Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets within our national context and circumstances. This historic Agenda presents a new and ambitious framework for sustainable development that requires us to act urgently to reverse our current unsustainable global consumption and production patterns. We must, therefore, seek new ways of doing business and measuring wealth that are linked to guaranteeing the survival of humankind. In that regard, the Sustainable Development Goals must remain people-centred. The overarching objective of the Sustainable Development Goals is not just to eradicate poverty; it is also about healing the declining health of our planet. Preserving life on Earth must be our shared responsibility, for prosperity cannot be pursued in a dead environment. The 17 time-bound Sustainable Development Goals must now become a highway for global partnerships and be matched with sufficient resources, if we are to meaningfully transform our peoples’ lives. As a small island developing State (SIDS), the Solomon Islands remains a special case in the area of sustainable development, given our vulnerability to climate change and our unique characteristics, which require special attention from the global community. We are committed to delivering on sustainable development nationally under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway (resolution 69/15) and the Istanbul Programme of Action, which can enable SIDS and least-developed countries (LDCs) to leapfrog from development to sustainability. The Solomon Islands will be reviewing its cooperation programmes to ensure that they are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of our national priorities. We will incorporate the Goals into our 20-year, 2016-2036 national development strategy by the end of this year or in the first quarter of the next. We therefore call on all our development partners to support our efforts. In the area of sustainable energy, the Solomon Islands is currently working on two hydro projects with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Both projects remain on our post-2015 agenda. We are also seeking partnerships so that we can make progress on other hydro projects and also realize our potential in the area of geothermal and wind energy. Currently, 85 per cent of the population of Solomon Islands is not connected to the energy grid. We need partners to invest in large-scale, game-changing energy projects in our rural areas that can open up opportunities for our population and free up the one third of our national budget that is spent on importing fossil fuels. With regard to agriculture, we call on our development partners to assist us in integrating our rural sector into the mainstream economy and in ensuring that it enjoy its fair share of the global market. Building a resilient economy for the Solomon Islands will require significant international cooperation with our efforts to construct an environmentally sound infrastructure in the areas of energy, transportation, communication, agriculture, tourism and information and technology. The new 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the agreement on climate change that we hope to see concluded in Paris in December are intricately linked to sustainable development. On climate change, the science is clear; we are heading towards a global temperature increase of between 3°C and 3.5°C. That will leave the small island developing States and the LDCs behind, unless those with historical responsibility for causing the climate change do more and submit ambitious mitigation commitments under their intended, nationally determined contributions. In the lead-up to the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, I should remind us all once again of the Suva Declaration on Climate Change, issued by the Pacific Islands Developing Forum, which calls for stabilizing the increase in global temperatures at a level well below 1.5°C. The outcome agreement of the Paris Conference should be ambitious, comprehensive and legally binding, with agreements on loss and damage issues anchored in it as a stand-alone chapter. Let me close with the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Poverty is man-made and can be eradicated”. To that I would add that climate change is also man- made and can be reversed. We are here to make history. To that end we must provide honest and quality political leadership that secures and guarantees hope for our people and our planet. Let us go forward and urgently get on with the task of creating a better future for our children, their children, and generations to come. Co-Chair Museveni: I thank the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands for his statement.

We are gathered at this Summit to adopt a bold and universal agenda for ending poverty, improving the well-being of citizens and protecting our planet. I would like to pay tribute to all Member States and other relevant actors that have worked tirelessly on the outcome document that has now been adopted: “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (resolution 70/1). The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets will be our guiding light in crafting the future for our countries and citizens. The vision for a more stable, peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and environmentally sustainable world can be accomplished only if we join forces and work together in partnership at the global, regional, national and local levels. The Central European Initiative, over which the Republic of Macedonia currently presides, seeks to be actively engaged in the implementation of the post- 2015 development agenda, and its member States have expressed their readiness to make a concrete regional contribution, to transfer know-how and to exchange best practices in designing various sustainable development initiatives, in building the capacities of public institutions and in raising awareness. The Republic of Macedonia contributes actively to those common goals. After the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio in 2012, we began to integrate the principles of sustainable development into our national policies. We established a National Council for Sustainable Development and adopted a national sustainable development strategy. In July, we conducted a review of our progress in implementing the strategy, the results of which have been communicated to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Division for Sustainable Development. The next step will be to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into our strategic documents, including our sustainable development action plan. We expect to receive support for that process under the new United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2016-2020, which is being developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. The Government consulted non-governmental organizations and took their views into account when we answered the United Nations questionnaire relating to the preparation of the Secretary General’s initial input to the Open Working Group. We have increased social transfers for socially vulnerable persons by over 50 per cent; special financial benefits have been introduced and even increased for the most vulnerable categories, especially for children without parental care, and we have exempted private-sector employers from payroll taxes for the employment of such persons for a period of five or more years. As a result of foreign investment and support for the private sector, unemployment in our country has been reduced by over 11 per cent. The concept of free health care for every citizen has been introduced. We are investing in medical equipment and infrastructure, and the prices of pharmaceuticals have been reduced. In addition, we are financing farmers through high budgetary subsidies. With respect to young people, the education budget in recent years has been between 5 and 6 per cent of gross domestic product, which is on a par with the level of countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the area of primary education, we have implemented the Cambridge Primary Science and Mathematics Curricula. English language instruction starts in first grade, and a second foreign language begins in the sixth grade. We have provided a computer for every child in primary and secondary schools, as well as 80 modern laboratories for the development of scientific research. We offer full scholarships for each citizen who manages to enrol at one of the top 100 universities in the world. For the employment of people under the age of 35, the State pays contributions for social insurance and personal income tax. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, we are committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, especially to ending human trafficking, for which we have received the highest assessment from the international sources. We are improving the economic status of women through special programmes for the financing of women in the job market, the employment of single mothers, the extension of maternity leave and special protection for employed mothers and the promotion of the increased participation of women in political life, as well as measures to promote sexual and reproductive health. Even taking into consideration that there should be a difference in the responsibilities of countries at different levels of development, as well as a fair distribution of the burden of sustainable development, especially in the area of climate change and pollution, each country should find its own strengths and bear a fair share of the burden for its own development. Let us deliver together what we jointly have committed to today for the future we want. The seventieth anniversary of the United Nations obligates us, even more, to perform better. Co-Chair Museveni: I thank the President of the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for his statement.

Our joint international efforts over the years to realize sustainable development have culminated in this historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The new Agenda contains five key elements known as the five Ps: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, at its core. It also forges an ambitious plan of action in various fields including women, health, education, disaster risk reduction and quality growth. Based on those core components, which have all been emphasized by Japan, the new Agenda will lead our efforts in ultimately eradicating poverty from the earth and transforming the world into a sustainable planet by 2030. Japan proposed international development goals as early as the 1990s and has consistently contributed to that endeavour. Japan therefore sincerely welcomes the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. I would like to express my respect for the efforts made by all those who worked so hard to bring the process forward. In order to implement this new, universal Agenda, we must overcome the traditional North-South dichotomy; we must work together to instead build a new global partnership where all stakeholders, including all countries, the private sector and civil society, join forces and play their respective roles. Such a partnership should also be one in which women, people with disabilities and the young proactively participate. I would like to reiterate that Japan, as part of that partnership, will put forth its best possible effort, together with the international community, to implement the Agenda. For the past 60 years, Japan has continuously contributed to the stability and prosperity of the international community by providing official development assistance amounting to approximately $330 billion in total, and by accepting 560,000 trainees and dispatching 190,000 experts and volunteers. Building upon those achievements, Japan will promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We will carry that effort forward by applying the Development Cooperation Charter of Japan as a compass, which was newly established this year as a foundation for Japan’s development cooperation. In particular, we will do so based on the concept of human security, the guiding principle of the Charter of the United Nations that focuses on each and every individual. In order to promote the Agenda, Japan will first pursue various initiatives to achieve quality growth, by which we specifically mean inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth for all, and thereby to end poverty. To achieve that aim, Japan will take a leading role in promoting quality infrastructure investment as a foundation for quality growth — not only in Asia, but across the world including in Africa. Additionally, using development cooperation as a catalyst, Japan will expand partnerships with the private sector in order to mobilize its financial resources and technologies. Furthermore, Japan will promote the development of industrial human resources as a key driving force to achieve such growth, taking advantage of our country’s high educational standards and advanced technology. The second approach that Japan will emphasize is the protection and empowerment of people in vulnerable situations to ensure that no one is left behind. Since the health field is an essential component in that effort, Japan has announced a new global health policy aimed at strengthening health systems to better prepare the international community for public health emergencies such as the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease and to promote universal health coverage in every country. In education, Japan has established a new cooperation strategy, entitled “Learning Strategy for Peace and Growth”, that is focused on enhancing learning quality and supporting human resource development in industry, science and technology. In the field of disaster risk reduction, Japan will take a leading role in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted in March, and calls upon the international community to establish World Tsunami Day at the United Nations to raise global awareness of the risk of tsunamis. Thirdly, Japan will further strengthen efforts to achieve sustainability in the environment and in society. On the issue of climate change, Japan will steadily implement assistance particularly to the most vulnerable countries and actively contribute to establishing a fair and effective international framework applicable to all parties at the upcoming session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Moreover, Japan will share with the world our renowned knowledge and efforts on building a sound material-cycle society, including the concept of the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. Last but not least, the Japanese Government’s pension investment fund, which operates a $1 trillion pension fund and is the largest such fund in the world, has just signed the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, thereby contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. In just three months we will enter into the first year of the global endeavour towards 2030. We must take action immediately to implement the new Agenda. Let me conclude my statement by reiterating our determination to tackle the important challenge of achieving sustainable development by making the most of the upcoming opportunities next year, such as the World Humanitarian Summit, and the International Conference on African Development, the sixth such conference and the first to be held in Africa. Co-Chair Museveni: I thank the Prime Minister of Japan for his statement.

I have come to this historic Summit to reaffirm that the Government and the people of Thailand stand with the global community in its resolve to realize the new 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (resolution 70/1). We are pleased that the 2030 Agenda places people at its core, for people are the ultimate agents of change and play a role in sustainable development. Our actions today will determine the survival of future generations. Today there is no longer any doubt that human activity has been the prime contributor to climate change, the greatest threat ever faced by humankind. Knowing all that we know now, we have a choice to make. We can continue on the path of rampant consumerism and maximum growth at all costs. Or we can choose to live sustainably, with a focus on quality, moderation and balance in our lives. We can choose to respect nature, rather than viewing it merely as a commodity to exploit. What I have just said derives from His Majesty the King’s “sufficiency economy” philosophy. The philosophy, with its emphasis on reason, moderation and building resilience, has seen us through several crises, including the 1997 financial crisis and the 2004 tsunami. It also helped Thailand achieve nearly all of the Millennium Development Goals, and it is the basis for our 2015-2020 vision and the forthcoming national economic and social development plan. Another pressing challenge of our time is inequality. It is the root cause of such problems as poverty, conflict over resources, and irregular migration, which can, in turn, spawn violence. To address inequality, we must first have effective laws. The Thai Government has passed a number of bills, for example, on protecting the homeless, promoting gender equality and providing equitable access to resources and public services. We want to create a level playing field for all, to promote good governance, accountability and transparency in public administration, and to combat corruption and nepotism. Secondly, the intrinsic worth of each and every human being must be recognized. The Thai Government is working to empower the vulnerable and the disenfranchised. Various measures have therefore been put in place, such as universal health coverage, a national retirement savings fund, an increased monthly allowance for the elderly and the disabled and a subsidy for babies newly born into poor families. We are also striving to strengthen the individual and the family, enhance community involvement and promote social cohesiveness. Similar support is also provided to non-citizens. Last year, the Thai Government offered social and legal protection to unskilled migrant workers, and over 1.6 million migrants were registered and regularized for employment to protect them from human rights abuses and human trafficking. Nevertheless, many people still need help. And to reach them, especially the most vulnerable groups, we must improve our statistics and disaggregated data to give them visibility and ensure that their needs are more precisely addressed. At the same time, the social recognition of such groups is also important, and we must build a society that is compassionate, respects humanity and embraces equality. Thirdly, we need to create an environment that enables and sustains development. To lay strong socioeconomic foundations, the Thai Government has been empowering local communities through the establishment of village funds, including women’s empowerment funds, across the country. The funds are used to assist local small and medium-sized enterprises and have been effective in helping to generate jobs and income for the rural masses. The Government is also helping farmers to settle their debts and promoting sustainable agriculture practices and agro- industry through local knowledge sharing and modern technology. While Thailand enjoys full employment, the Government has also been helping low-income people to find jobs through the so-called smart jobs centres. Fourthly, we believe in reducing inequality, not only within countries but also among them, through development partnerships. We have been working to narrow the development gaps in mainland South- East Asia, starting with our neighbours, by promoting connectivity and setting up six special economic zones along our borders under what we call the Thailand Plus One initiative. Only when individuals and communities are strong can our nations and the global community discover true strength. In the next 15 years, we should see unprecedented reductions in inequality and poverty. Thailand stands ready to work with all countries and the United Nations to that end for a stable, prosperous and sustainable world. Co-Chair Museveni: I thank the Prime Minister of Thailand for his statement.

Being universal, proactive and transparent have never been more imperative principles for the United Nations than today, when news accounts of bloody conflicts are mixed with the sombre warnings of environmental and climate-change disasters. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) represents a singular leap forward. The time for reflection is past; now is the time for action. Our challenge is twofold: to ensure that the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continue the momentum of the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate poverty and hunger throughout the world and to permit us to focus joint development efforts on long- term sustainability. That is why we need to rigorously monitor the implementation of those Goals to be able to objectively measure progress in terms of what has been and what has yet to be achieved. United Nations leadership, supported by regional and national efforts, should guarantee the inclusive and interdisciplinary implementation of the Agenda. Our global environment remains dependent on differing rhythms and speeds. Our resolve for the year 2030 may therefore appear distant to some, whereas it is, in fact, tomorrow. We must make no mistake, the 2030 Agenda is the responsibility of our generation, and future generations will judge us on our ability to act. The transformative power of the Agenda should introduce a new quality to the dialogue among nations. In that context, the updated universality inherent in the common Agenda cannot be realized without the view of shared responsibility and without the ongoing promotion of respect for all human rights and the principles of good governance. As never before, civil society has been urged to participate in the dialogue and the pursuit of the objectives declared in the 17 SDGs. The old categories of North and South, of developed and developing countries, have become obsolete. Now dialogue among equals on topics that concern all of us will allow us to provide the foundation for a world more egalitarian and interdependent world. We must ensure that the competitive race does not lead to low standards today and to onerous and irreversible consequences tomorrow. The protection of the environment, the fight against climate change and the integration of social criteria should not be perceived as a threat to industry or as a brake on economic development. Rather, those Goals can contribute to the development of clean technologies and help us to engage in greater diversification of our economies by promoting sustainable growth. Some companies on my continent have noted that other continents have less severe regulation of the environment, so they plan to leave our countries to set up elsewhere. While we often talk about tax and social dumping, we must also act to end such environmental dumping. The cafeteria lunch I had today was crucial, because everyone was committed to moving forward in the same direction. Moving forward in another direction makes no sense at all. Secondly, we should not forget that the mere scope of the new SDGs compared to the earlier MDGs will require diversified and mutually complementary sources of funding. Official development assistance remains a crucial lever to provide additional capital. Luxembourg encourages all developed countries to invest 0.7 per cent of their gross national income in official development assistance. In that context, I would like to remind the Assembly that, for several years, our national contribution amount has been 1 per cent of our gross national income. What we say today in this Hall should be the same thing we say in our countries at home. We must honour our international commitments to official development assistance, which must reach 0.7 per cent of the gross national income, and to international climate funding, which by 2020 is to reach $100 billion annually, as decided in Copenhagen in 2009. We must not resort to the notion that charity begins at home and the populist talk that claims we have enough problems to address at home in our countries, so why help other people If we look at ourselves in the mirror and if we are honest, we will admit that what we are complaining about in our home countries is trifling. We are incredibly successful, while in other parts of the world people do not know if they are going to be able to feed their children more than once a day. It is foolish to complain that the water is tepid — not hot or cold enough— when in other countries they are happy to have enough water to be able to survive. So we need to be reasonable. We must look in the mirror and realize that some of the problems we have in our countries are superficial and related to abundance. Beyond ongoing programmatic efforts, the support of the private sector and its awareness-raising are key when working with public authorities to achieve the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Goals should complement the picture so that there is no duplication or contradiction. Luxembourg is particularly committed to the respect and promotion of social rights. The 2030 Agenda should be able to guarantee decent working conditions for all. The third International Conference on Financing for Development drafted a number of important paths to follow, and the conclusions of that Conference will serve as an important basis for the implementation of our Agenda. The 2030 Agenda takes into account, not only the increased interconnectedness between different areas in an era of globalization but also the impact of this on the environment and climate. The environmental aspect of sustainability, the conservation of natural resources, the protection of biodiversity and ensuring food security — all such concerns are fundamental in ensuring prosperity and well-being for all. We must unlock the engines of a “green economy”, which for my country means that we do not use nuclear energy. We need to make our economies and our lifestyles more equitable, more sustainable and more effective in eradicating poverty. We are not going to resolve the crisis of poverty and migration without addresssing the challenges posed by climate change and the environment. We will not overcome major crises — migration, wars and hunger — unless we restore dignity to men and women, while respecting the Earth which feeds us. For a long time now, Luxembourg has focused on a development policy that promotes long-term sustainable results. Inclusiveness is the inevitable corollary of that approach, based on objective analyses, listening to various stakeholders and monitoring that includes the participation of all stakeholders. That is also the best path to follow to ensure the success of the 2030 Agenda and to bring about a truly united world, and one in which humankind is sensitive to the need for integrated harmonious development and eager to preserve our planet and to improve the daily life and dignity for all of us. Co-Chair Rasmussen: I thank the Prime Minister, Minister of State, Minister for Communications and the Media and Minister of Worship of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, for his statement.

We meet at an important moment. Today, we celebrate the huge progress that the world has made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and we commit to going even further through the new Sustainable Development Goals. Since the MDGs were adopted in the year 2000 (resolution 55/2), we have made huge strides forward. The proportion of people living in extreme poverty has fallen significantly. Malaria deaths have fallen by 60 per cent since 2000, saving more than 6 million lives. And 43 million fewer children are out of school. I am proud to lead a country that has made a huge contribution to that extraordinary progress. The United Kingdom’s open markets, trade and investment have helped to spur global growth. Our scientists have developed new technologies for the world’s poorest. And, crucially, we have kept our promises on aid. We have not just achieved the 0.7 per cent target of the United Nations; we have enshrined it in the law of our land. That investment is helping the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people to lead a better life. Children have been vaccinated who otherwise would have died. Refugees have been fed and clothed who otherwise would have starved. Countries were accorded a chance of stability and security that otherwise could have fallen apart. Aid is not enough on its own. Of course not. But it is essential. And it works. Today, therefore, I call on others to follow Britain’s lead. I say to my fellow world leaders from developed countries: we have been making those aid promises for years. Now, let us all deliver on them. The world is watching. And now, as we adopt these new Goals, let us inspire the world with what we want to achieve: to reduce preventable deaths to zero, to eliminate illiteracy and malnutrition and to eradicate extreme poverty within a generation. That is a clarion call to the whole world. To eliminate the scourge of extreme poverty for the first time in human history is something that has been dreamed of for centuries, something that many thought would never happen, but something that is now within our grasp. I am delighted that ending extreme poverty forever is at the heart of the new Goals. It is something that I pushed hard for. And I am delighted that we have recognized that to end extreme poverty, we need to put the poorest, the weakest and the most marginalized first — to leave no one behind. But today, together, we commit to going even further. There can be no attack on poverty without an assault on climate change. We therefore commit to making progress in a way that is sustainable and protects our one and only planet for the long term, and treasures and conserves our natural resources for future generations. That is the only way to eliminate extreme poverty forever and to prevent all our progress from being undone by environmental degradation or dangerous climate change. And there can be no attack on poverty without ending gender inequality. Today, therefore, we commit to a world where women and girls are treated equally with men and boys. And, crucially, we commit to tackling all the causes of poverty. Let us be frank, especially here, about what keeps so many stuck in poverty: corruption, rotten government, no access to justice, no property rights, no rule of law. Today, for the first time, every country in the world is committing to tackling corruption, to promoting the rule of law and access to justice, to reducing illicit financial flows and to strengthening the return of stolen assets. We are committing to building accountable and transparent institutions and representative decision-making to ensure that everyone has a legal identity and access to information. We are saying that we must protect basic freedoms. For a long time, those issues were off the global development agenda. Now they are right at the top of it, and everyone has signed up. That was one of the key recommendations of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which I co-chaired along with the Presidents of Liberia and Indonesia, in its report entitled “A new global partnership: eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development”. I am delighted that it is being adopted here today. Achieving these Goals will take actions, not words. In addition to aid, we need investment, trade, growth and jobs. I therefore urge companies around the world to invest in developing products for the poorest and in new forms of clean energy. And I urge Governments to smash down the unfair barriers that prevent our people from trading freely, starting at the meeting of the World Trade Organization later this year. And let us go even further. We need a new global partnership to ensure that all our policies — on things like tax, trade and transparency — really help to deliver progress for the poorest. The United Kingdom will lead the way internationally, just as we did leading this Agenda with our 2013 presidency of the Group of Eight. That is why I have agreed to host a major anti-corruption summit next year, to drive further action. I therefore assure leaders in Government, business and communities around the world that, if they are committed to making progress towards those global goals, the United Kingdom is on their side and will work with them on our shared quest. Co-Chair Rasmussen: I thank the Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for his statement.

We have gathered to celebrate a historic event, as we adopt an ambitious and universal sustainable development agenda. Together, we are making a pledge to transform the world for the better in the next decade and a half. Humankind faces complex and interlinked challenges. Continuing poverty, ever- deepening inequalities, climate change and other forms of environmental degradation, global health threats, spiralling conflict, violent extremism, terrorism and the consequent humanitarian crises — including the displacement of unprecedented numbers of people seeking refuge — threaten our well-being and our planet’s future. On the eve of the new millennium, we agreed on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since the adoption of the MDGs, significant progress has been made to reach those Goals. Unfortunately, progress has been uneven among and within countries, and some of the Goals still remain off-track. That is why we must all commit, without reservation, to the new Global Agenda that we are proclaiming today (resolution 70/1). It is particularly important that the 2030 Agenda build upon the achievements of the MDGs and address the unfinished business. Turkey strongly supports the emphasis on providing scaled-up assistance to the least developed countries and other most vulnerable countries. That will help to fulfil our pledge of leaving no one behind. Crucially, the 2030 Agenda recognizes what we have been witnessing for years: sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. The humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is a case in point, for it is a humanitarian tragedy caused by oppression, as well as lack of security and stability. We are hosting more than 2 million Syrians in Turkey, 960,000 of whom are children. For those interested in the facts, 66,000 Syrian babies have been born in camps in Turkey. Our country has spent almost 8 billion dollars for the refugees in camps, with a very modest contribution from the international community. We cannot reach our Sustainable Development Goals without first addressing complex humanitarian emergencies. That is why a greater emphasis on the humanitarian-development nexus is strongly needed. And that is why Turkish humanitarian diplomacy combines humanitarian and development assistance programmes within a collective strategy, with an eye to the countries in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular. The World Humanitarian Summit will be held in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May 2016 and will provide an excellent opportunity to assess the degree of coherence between financing for humanitarian assistance and financing for development assistance. Turkey will also host the eighth meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in October this year. There we will discuss the implementation of the migration-related targets and indicators included in the Sustainable Development Goals. The new Agenda supports the implementation of the relevant programmes of action, including the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries. As the co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Least Developed Countries, Turkey will continue its strong support to the least developed countries. We will host the mid-term review meeting of the Istanbul Programme of Action in June of 2016. We count on the support of United Nations Member States for the success of this meeting. Turkey has also offered to host the proposed Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries and the science, technology and innovation supporting mechanism dedicated to those countries. We are looking forward to the report of the High-level Panel of Experts, which will advise on organizational and operational aspects of the proposed Technology Bank. The real measure of our success with respect to the new and ambitious Development Agenda will be the concrete steps we take in the implementation phase. That is why there must be a paradigm shift, in order to unlock the resources needed to finance the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda provides some of the answers to that question, by incorporating certain necessary means of implementation. Those means are complemented by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which was adopted at the Third Conference on Financing for Development. The outcome of the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Paris in December, will add another link to the chain. Those three outcome documents will establish the framework of the Global Development Agenda for the next 15 years. Combating climate change and achieving sustainable development are closely linked. We, in Turkey, will integrate the Sustainable Development Goals and targets into our national development plans. With respect to the Group of 20 (G-20), Turkey has placed development at the centre of its G-20 presidency agenda for 2015. Promoting the integration of low- income developing countries into the world economy is one of its top G-20 presidency priorities. We have worked very hard to ensure close alignment between the G-20 agenda and global sustainable development efforts to end poverty, hunger and inequality and to promote infrastructure investments, food security, access to energy, youth employment, gender equality and inclusive economic growth, while protecting the planet. The G-20 is working to assist low-income developing countries. Official development assistance (ODA) remains key to supporting development efforts in many countries, particularly the least developed countries. As an emerging donor, Turkey has expanded the geographical scope of its development cooperation and steadily increased the amount of its ODA in recent years, which has increased from $967 million in 2010 to $3.5 billion in 2014. That amount corresponds to 0.45 per cent of our gross national income, and we are committed to further increasing our contributions. Yet, enhanced cooperation between the public and the private sector to support sustainable development is also critical. That is why the Turkish G-20 presidency has made the role of the private sector in development — with a focus on inclusive business — part of the G-20 development agenda. We will continue to encourage efforts in that direction. At the G-20 Summit that Turkey will host in Antalya this November, G-20 leaders will discuss in detail the Group’s contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Actions speak louder than words. We, the leaders of nations from across the world, have come together to adopt the 2030 Agenda in this august setting. It is a very important step that lifts humankind’s hopes for a better future, one in which no one is left behind. Today, we are making a pledge to future generations, and it is only by working together that we can honour that pledge. We, in Turkey, are resolved to make our contribution and to fulfil our commitment. Co-Chair Rasmussen: I thank the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey for his statement. Co-Chair Rasmussen: At this point, I should like to inform delegations that we will now hear brief presentations by the co-Chairs of the interactive dialogues. I now give the floor to the co-Chair of interactive dialogue I, His Excellency Mr. Miro Cerar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia.

I have the honour to present, on behalf of Mr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and myself, the summary of deliberations from interactive dialogue I, on ending poverty and hunger. We noted that ending poverty is a matter of human dignity. The Millennium Development Goals were an important catalyst for the significant progress made in reducing poverty and hunger globally. However, that progress has been deeply uneven. Too many are still poor and undernourished, and poverty persists in every country. Eradicating poverty and hunger and leaving no one behind will require a multidimensional perspective that addresses their social, economic and environmental drivers. We must also tackle inequality and systemic and structural issues. Ending poverty and hunger can be achieved only by addressing interconnected factors such as inclusive growth, livelihoods and employment, access to basic infrastructure and services, food security, nutrition, health care, education, greater equality, improved agricultural productivity and the sustainable use of natural resources. We also highlight the important role of social protection schemes. Economic growth is necessary but not sufficient if we are to accelerate the reduction of poverty and hunger. Future prosperity will also require that economic growth no longer degrades the environment. Climate change must be halted. We emphasize the importance of national ownership and political commitment, citizen engagement, effective fiscal policies, an integrated and coherent approach to policymaking, adequate resources, the monitoring of progress, and accountability and transparency. We also need increased participation in global decision-making by developing countries. There is a need for financing and investment from a range of actors, including national and regional development banks, the private sector and other institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies. It is also important to raise additional resources through, for example, improved national tax systems and innovative financing sources. Investing in the health and education of women and girls is crucial. Employment and inclusion for young people should receive priority attention. Marginalized groups should be included in decision-making processes. Peaceful and just societies are a necessary precondition for sustainable development. Many conflicts are driven by poverty, hunger and hopelessness. We noted that reversals in development gains could be avoided by building resilience to shocks and disasters and will require appropriate risk-management plans and strategies, together with strong social-protection frameworks. Lastly, we stressed the importance of strengthening the global partnership for development at both the national and international levels. Co-Chair Museveni: I now give the floor to the co-Chair of interactive dialogue II, Her Excellency Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of the Republic of Croatia. President Grabar-Kitarović (co-Chair of interactive dialogue II): On behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and myself, I have the honour to present the summary of deliberations from interactive dialogue II, on tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) calls unprecedented attention to the need to reduce inequalities both within and among nations. Only by doing so can we build a world that is more just, stable and peaceful. We agreed that translating the Agenda’s Goals and targets into national policies and programmes is a commitment that will mobilize us all for the next 15 years. The 2030 Agenda is ambitious. It encompasses all human rights and aims to eliminate all forms of discrimination. We recognized that the Goals cannot be achieved unless progress includes everyone, especially women, who make up half of the world’s population. Addressing gender equality is key and will have a multiplier effect in achieving all the Goals. While acknowledging the significant progress that has been made in advancing gender equality, our discussions highlighted some of the areas that will need further action. First, universal access to quality education for girls must be reached through every means possible in the given time frame. Secondly, women must be given equal opportunities in the economic sphere, including at the workplace. Thirdly, we must ensure greater representation of women in political positions and leadership. Fourthly, violence against women must be eliminated and investments made in sexual and reproductive health. We agreed that tackling inequalities requires not just changes in policies and laws but also strengthened capacities and empowerment at the community level. The most marginalized, including rural, indigenous, disabled and older people, must have equal opportunities and access to resources, and they must also be given a voice. A sustainable world should give every person a fair chance. The humanitarian crisis that the world is facing today, and particularly the situation of migrants and refugees, reminds us that we must prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable. We are all accountable for ensuring that the 2030 Agenda is taken forward. We need the right data, new technologies and broad partnerships. Above all, we need sustained political will if we are to reach our common objective of ensuring dignity and equal opportunities for all. Co-Chair Rasmussen: I now give the floor to the co-Chair of interactive dialogue III, His Excellency Mr. Charles Michel, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium.

On behalf of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and myself, I have the honour to present the summary of deliberations from interactive dialogue III, on fostering viable economic growth and structural transformation and promoting sustainable modes of consumption and production. Our discussions affirmed that prosperity has increased and many people have emerged from poverty. However, a great deal remains to be done, particularly for the world’s most vulnerable. Continuing to reduce the scourge of poverty, tackling the structural causes of inequalities, increasing access to justice and respecting human rights are still major priorities. We also highlighted the fact that balanced, viable economic growth is essential to reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable development. We will have to pursue those goals despite the numerous current and future challenges facing the world. We also recognize that growth without creating jobs, increased inequality of wealth, and unemployment among young people are concerns all over the world. Promoting decent jobs, workers’ rights and developing social protections that include a minimum threshold would seem to be the keys to just and more inclusive societies. In order for our economies to be inclusive, we should also aim at achieving equality between women and men. Investing in women’s health and education, eliminating sexual violence and promoting entrepreneurship for women are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Structural and technological reforms to our economies are necessary to develop a system of international commerce in which exchanges are more technologically intensive and have greater value added and more productivity, and where there is full integration for everybody. Connectivity and access to the Internet, as well as the strengthening of institutions, are also keys to accelerate this transformation. Strengthening regional and international trade appears essential for sustainable development. Access to markets and to technology is fundamental for integration into the global economy. We must invest more, particularly in Africa, in such sectors as renewable energy, infrastructure and transport and agriculture. We also believe that domestic and foreign investment must be stimulated. In that regard, new partnerships between the private and public sectors should be better defined. Finally, we must uncouple economic growth, on the one hand, and degradation of the environment, on the other, and combat climate change so that we can better protect future generations. We must accelerate a real transition to sustainable lifestyles, which requires that we change our consumption patterns and make better use of our precious resources. In conclusion, I would like to thank the two Co-Chairs of this historic Summit. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who during the entire process has been a driving force and a great inspiration to us all. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) is now adopted. We need to get down to work. Co-Chair Museveni: I now give the floor to the co-Chair of interactive dialogue V, Her Excellency Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of the Republic of Chile. President Bachelet Jeria (co-Chair of interactive dialogue V): On behalf of Her Excellency Ms. Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea, and myself, I have the honour to present the summary of deliberations from interactive dialogue V, on “Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions to achieve sustainable development”. There was a strong sentiment during the dialogue that effective, accountable and inclusive institutions that are transparent and free of corruption are essential prerequisites for our common vision for sustainable development. While Goal 16 is important in its own right, it facilitates and accelerates the success of all the other Goals. We agreed that the increased involvement of citizens is needed in order to create full ownership of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). That can be achieved only through high-quality education, non-discrimination, gender equality and access to justice and information, as well as reliable and timely data, and it must include the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. It should uphold the highest standards of human rights and freedoms. The full engagement of citizens will also help to build a bridge between the poor and the rich, men and women, urban and rural constituencies and provide an enabling environment for all people. That will be essential in promoting integrity and building trust between Governments and citizens. We acknowledge that strong institutions based on the rule of law are essential for building peaceful societies where people live free from fear and want. A culture of justice needs to be created and upheld to empower all people, including the most marginalized. A precondition for the implementation of Goal 16 and all other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the breaking down of silos through building partnership across sectors and among all stakeholders. We concur that the SDGs must be integrated into national plans and strategies, supported by sound monitoring and review frameworks. The important role of Parliaments and local authorities needs to be recognized and enhanced. Partnerships and a stable environment provided through strong institutions are necessary for vibrant private-sector engagement and domestic and international resource mobilization. Full gender equality needs to be achieved and women’s potential must be unlocked. Young people are the prime beneficiaries of peaceful States and societies. Children and youth living in conflict are often the most immediate victims of violence and displacement. We owe it to them to create a peaceful, just and prosperous world. Co-Chair Rasmussen: I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Abdoulaye Balde, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Senegal and representative of the co-Chair of interactive dialogue VI.

On behalf of Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and of Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, I have the honour to present the summary of interactive dialogue VI, entitled “Delivering on a revitalized global partnership”. The discussions on the topic of partnership took place in a friendly environment, with relevant recommendations regarding the following convergent points. In noting that reaching the Sustainable Development Goals will depend on a revitalized global partnership, we agreed that it should be universal and relevant for all, while meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and in leaving no one behind. All the stakeholders must be committed, and the needs of present and future generations taken into account. We emphasized the need to mobilize financial resources — public and private, national and international — and technologies, as well as the need to strengthen capacity-building for sustainable development. Official development assistance (ODA) remains critical, in particular for the poorest and most vulnerable countries. A major role will be played by the mobilization of national resources, the strengthening of international cooperation in fiscal matters and combating illicit financial flows, as well as by viable policies, private investment and effective partnerships. We called for immediate compliance with our commitments regarding ODA and in other areas. We also emphasized the importance of development cooperation that will be effective, predictable, country- specific and results-based. We agreed that consistent policies with regard to financing, trade, debt and technology were necessary for sustainable development. We emphasized the importance of good governance and the rule of law, of a healthy environment and the fight against corruption, as well as independence for women and girls, without forgetting young people. Mindful that we have to adapt the global objectives to the local level, we emphasized the need to take them into account in concrete national development plans, elaborated after open consultations with civil society, in order to guide national policies and international cooperation for development. The capacities of local stakeholders must be strengthened, and access to financial services broadened. We also highlighted the contributions of regional institutions, which are a framework for exchanging experiences and know-how. We agreed on the need to establish innovate partnerships among Governments, business and civil society so as to benefit from all resources and skills available. We recognized that public policy and public finance can contribute to the mobilization of private investment favouring the Sustainable Development Goals. We also stressed the importance of accessible and transparent data to ensure the follow-up of progress, the assessment of policies and the accountability of all stakeholders. We emphasized the need to adopt innovative, effective and inclusive approaches for follow-up and evaluation. We must mobilize all stakeholders and create a space which is conducive to the participation of civil society, while encouraging mutual learning in our common activities in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. That is a summary of the main ideas that we thought we should present as conclusions or recommendations from our work. Co-Chair Rasmussen: We will now move to the last brief presentation of the interactive dialogues. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the co-Chairs for their great work. I give the floor to the co-Chair of interactive dialogue IV, His Excellency Mr. Ollanta Humala Tasso, President of the Republic of Peru. President Humala Tasso (co-Chair of interactive dialogue IV) (spoke in Spanish): On behalf of His Excellency Mr. François Hollande, President of the French Republic, and on my own behalf, I have the honour to present a summary of deliberations that took place during interactive dialogue IV, entitled “Protecting our planet and combating climate change”. Climate change is one of our major challenges. The negative impacts of climate change are challenging development and the possibilities of progress in all areas of our economies and societies. In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must ensure a high level of consistency between the responses to climate change and the eradication of poverty. We need integrated actions for the sustainable use of natural resources and the management of the biodiversity of our forests, land, mountains, oceans and seas. Only in that way will we be able to respond to the growing demand for food, water and energy. It is essential to ensure that women, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups have equitable access to land, forests and fisheries, among other things. It is essential to ensure that we be able to limit the increase of the temperature to between 1.5°C and 2°C. The only way to limit the increase in temperature is through decarbonizing the economy. That must be a priority in those countries with the highest emissions of greenhouse gasses. Transition towards renewable energy sources is particularly important for improving efficiency in the way we use energy and natural resources. We heard very clearly the magnitude of vulnerability to which developing countries are exposed — countries such as Peru, but primarily the small island developing States and the least developed countries. The losses incurred because of the increase in the frequency and violence of natural disasters have high costs for our populations and the economies of our countries. Adapting to climate change requires a greater international effort in the form of financial resources, the transfer of sustainable and clean technologies, and capacity-building. Greater international cooperation must be geared primarily towards the least developed countries and small island developing States. We must strengthen the contributions of all stakeholders, specifically the private sector, at all levels — the global, regional and national — and, as far as possible, establish a carbon price to guide investment decisions towards low-carbon economies. Several countries reported that they had ambitious national plans to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and to mitigate the impact of climate change. The presentation of those plans by all countries before the Paris Conference will be a good sign for the negotiations that we will conclude in the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in December in Paris. We have high expectations for the outcome of COP21. We were able to conclude that the general will is to reach a global, ambitious and legally binding agreement, with the goal of limiting the temperature increase to between 1.5°C and 2°C. That will be the acid test of our collective commitment as nations and societies towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I believe that today humankind has before it an opportunity to build the biggest and most powerful partnership in the planet’s history in the fight against climate change and rising temperatures.