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INCLUSIVE multilateralism and regional cooperation are necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, according to the United Nations (UN).
At the online commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN on Monday, Executive Director of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap), Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, said that the Covid-19 crisis has “exacerbated the dividing line “in societies.
Therefore, countries must push for inclusive multilateralism to ensure that the world rebuilds better from Covid-19 and meets the SDGs, Alisjahbana said.
“Taking advantage of regional cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals must continue to be our compass to rebuild better. No country can fight this pandemic alone and no country can be insured when other countries in its neighborhood fight the pandemic, ”said Alisjahbana.
“The importance of investing in multilateralism to achieve a better, greener and more resilient recovery in this decade of action cannot be overstated,” he added.
Alisjahbana said that cooperation between countries will also be the key to meeting the goals set by the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework and other internationally agreed development goals.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, Gita Sabharwal, said the SDGs can only be achieved through the adoption of digital solutions and science-based responses.
Sabharwal said that the Covid-19 pandemic has made them necessary, especially for education. But these digital solutions and science-based responses are also necessary for the climate crisis.
It is also necessary to respond to the inequalities caused by the pandemic, he added. Inequalities related to gender and income have been evident.
“When we created our youth panel on the SDGs, I have been interviewing young people about what the SDGs mean to them. A young woman couldn’t have been clearer. (She said) it’s about collective survival, the fear of dying young and inequality. The United Nations has a collective responsibility to her and to her entire generation, ”Sabharwal said.
“We know that youth participation and leadership is absolutely essential for the future we want and for the UN. We need to redouble our efforts in engaging young people, find new ways to reach out to young people and engage with them to find solutions to today’s development challenges. Most importantly, we must listen to their voices and create partnerships to take meaningful action on the SDGs, ”he also said.
Young innovators from the Asia-Pacific region are leading the charge to better rebuild through their social enterprises that seek to address the goals and targets of the SDGs.
Sonika Manandhar, co-founder of Nepal-based fintech company Aeloi Technologies, said her social enterprise has helped microentrepreneurs by providing green digital finance. In doing so, Manandhar said Aeloi can work towards achieving SDG 8 on decent work and SDG 13 on Climate Action.
Other young innovators like Aukrit Unahalekhaka, co-founder and CEO of Ricult Thailand, are helping farmers in Thailand and Pakistan increase productivity and affordable financing.
Through his free smartphone app, Unahalekhaka said Ricult provides advice to farmers on planting their crops and weather forecasts, among others. With the data, they can also advise financial institutions, including banks, on farmers in need of financing.
The list of young entrepreneurs also includes Sagufta Janif, founder of the Fiji-based Fusion Hub, which is helping turn plastic waste into marketable products like furniture and providing women with a source of livelihood.
“We need to be included, our solutions need to be recognized, and our leaders need to work with us and support us so that we can rapidly scale these solutions,” Janif said.
Escap said the 75th anniversary of the UN marks a period of extraordinary progress in Asia and the Pacific and a period of growing regional cooperation.
The anniversary also comes at the critical juncture of a new decade to move towards the SDGs and recovery from an unprecedented global health crisis, along with severe economic and social impacts.
Escap said the need for innovative solutions and stronger cooperation between all stakeholders is clear.
The SDGs comprise 17 targets with around 169 targets with 230 global indicators adopted in September 2015.
The Global Goals aim to end poverty and hunger, promote universal health, education for all and lifelong learning, achieve gender equality, sustainable water management, ensure sustainable energy for all, decent work for all, resilient infrastructure and reduce income inequality between countries.
The goals also include creating sustainable cities, ensuring sustainable consumption and production, taking action against climate change, conserving and sustainably using oceans and marine resources, reducing the loss of biodiversity, achieving peaceful and inclusive societies and revitalizing the global partnership for development.
