Four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders called for a decade of "ambitious action" to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
At the opening of the UN Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals on Tuesday, a political declaration was unanimously adopted, with UN member states pledging to mobilize financing, enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve sustainable development objectives by the target date and leave no one behind.
"The 2030 Agenda was a feat of multilateralism, and multilateralism is the only way for us to address complex global challenges faced by present and future generations," said President of the 74th session of the General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, who convened the summit.
"A decade of action and delivery is our opportunity to fulfill the historic promise of the 2030 Agenda and ensure collective, global action and shared responsibility. We must take action - striving together, delivering for all," he added.
In the declaration, UN member states resolve, between now and 2030, "to end poverty and hunger everywhere; to combat inequalities within and among countries; to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls; and to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources."
Among others, actions announced in support of Tuesday's SDG Summit include Brazil committing to reduce premature mortality caused by non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030, Finland pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, and Mexico promising to provide Internet access for everyone including those in vulnerable communities.
The summit will close on Wednesday.
