BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Eswatini will form part of the SDG Summit taking place next week.
The United Nations will convene the SDG Summit in September 18-19, 2023 at its Headquarters in New York.
The 2023 SDG Summit will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030.
Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the Summit will mark the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
It will be the centrepiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly. It will respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda.
During the General Assembly high-level week. With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at midpoint, world leaders will carry out a comprehensive review of the state of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world, and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions towards the target year of 2030.
However the Agenda is a promise, not a guarantee. At the halftime mark, the promise is in deep peril. For the first time in decades, development progress is reversing under the combined impacts of climate disasters, conflict, economic downturn and lingering COVID-19 effects.
The SDG Summit serves as a rallying cry to recharge momentum, for world leaders to come together, to reflect on where we stand and resolve to do more.
It is a moment to recommit to a vision of the future that ensures no one is left behind. Fundamental shifts in commitment, solidarity, financing and action must put us back on track to end poverty, realise just societies and reset a balanced relationship with the natural world.
Meanwhile the Government of Eswatini Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo confirmed that Eswatini was preparing and was going to be part of the Summit.
“Yes, according to the Government minutes as a approved by the Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Eswatini will fully participate in this year’s United Nations General Assembly,” said Nxumalo.
