Despite persistent challenges and unforeseen setbacks, States must speed up efforts to reach the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development targets to truly ensure that no one was left behind, the Economic and Social Council heard today at the start of a three-day ministerial segment of its High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, with related panel discussions on reaching the most vulnerable, tackling country-specific challenges and identifying effective means of implementation.

“Every country needs to accelerate the pace,” said Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his opening remarks, stressing that they must deliver on commitments made to the 2030 Agenda.  Acknowledging efforts in integrating the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into national plans, he encouraged Member States to take advantage of the Forum and draw on lessons learned for feedback.  Describing the 2030 Agenda as ambitious and transformative, he said the international community had 15 years to end poverty, hunger and other epidemics and to achieve access to primary health care and education.

Drawing attention to the annual progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals, Jürg Lauber (Switzerland), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, said the broader environment was not conducive to achieving the Goals.  Current economic growth rates were low, inequality was increasing and developing countries were at the end of the commodity cycle.  In such a context, there was an urgent need for disaggregated data to address all vulnerable groups and investments were needed in education, capacity-building, health, food security, access to renewable energy and resilience.

Elaborating on that point, Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Vice-President of Viet Nam, said each country had different starting points with regard to income and its level of development.  As a war-devastated country that had faced risks of being left behind, Viet Nam had done its utmost to find a way to move forward.  In fact, the national poverty level had fallen to less than 4.5 per cent in 2015 from 60 per cent in 1986.

Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, underscored the need to translate political will into legislation, policies and concrete plans.  “Today and every day, until the Goals are achieved, we must take concrete steps to make the world more sustainable,” she said, calling for transformative leadership in all countries and at all levels of society.  Governments, businesses and civil society organizations must work together to find efficient and sustainable solutions locally, nationally and globally.

In a similar vein, Oh Joon, President of the Economic and Social Council, said consolidated efforts were necessary to ensure that the Forum reached its potential.  “We are off to a strong start,” he said, calling upon all stakeholders to do their best to identify and reach the furthest behind.

The Council heard from experts during three panel discussions on:  “Reaching the most vulnerable”; “Challenges of countries in special situations”; and “Unlocking means of implementation for the Sustainable Development Goals and creating an enabling environment”.  Also today, it held a general debate on the Forum’s theme, “Ensuring that no one is left behind”.

Speaking during the general debate were high-level officials and representatives of Thailand (for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Dominican Republic (for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), Bangladesh (for the Group of Least Developed Countries), Zambia (for the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries), Fiji (for Pacific Small Island Developing States), Tunisia (for the African Group), Trinidad and Tobago (for the Caribbean Community), Sri Lanka (and for the Group of 15), Costa Rica (for the Like-Minded Group of Supporters of Middle-Income Countries), Papua New Guinea (for the States of the Pacific Islands Forum), Maldives, Slovenia, Gabon, Lithuania, Honduras, Kenya, Madagascar, Guinea, Mexico, Italy, Philippines, Georgia, Uruguay, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Canada, Argentina, Hungary, Panama, Malaysia, Denmark and Belarus, as well as the European Union.

Delivering statements were speakers representing child-focused agencies and youth volunteer associations, as well as major groups for farmers and women.  Also speaking were representatives of the following non-governmental organizations:  International Service for Human Rights; Safeword; Global Foundation for Democracy and Development; International Federation for Family Development; Fraternite Notre Dame; General Forum of the Arabic and African Non-Governmental Organizations; International Committee for Peace; and the Legion of Goodwill.

The Council will meet again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 19 July, to continue its session.

Opening Remarks

OH JOON (Republic of Korea), President of the Economic and Social Council, opened the ministerial portion of the High-level Political Forum on sustainable development, noting that the international community was moving from commitment to action.  The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development had marked a new beginning for the Council to identify how the multilateral system would function.  The Forum would only be successful if States took the lessons learned and implemented the Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

Consolidated efforts would be needed to ensure that the Forum reached its potential, he continued, adding: “We are off to a strong start.”  Calling upon all stakeholders to do their best to ensure that no one was left behind, he said that while doing so, it would be critical to identify and reach the furthest behind.  Furthermore, the Forum would provide inputs for future national reviews, he said, emphasizing that the international community must work together to overcome potential challenges.

MOGENS LYKKETOFT (Denmark), President of the General Assembly, recalled that he had been filled with incredible hope for the future upon the Assembly’s adoption of the 2030 Agenda last September.  “That hope is as strong as ever today,” he added.  The 2030 Agenda was the best framework available for preventing catastrophic climate change and poverty, and for securing peace and justice for all.  It was critical that those in a position to do so “shout from the rooftops” that realizing the Sustainable Development Goals was possible with the right mix of political ambition, multi-stakeholder partnerships and relentless focus.  Change was already happening and the global movement for transformation was growing, he noted.  It was up to the Forum to reinforce that movement and provide space to highlight the innovations that would drive that transformation, he said, adding that the Forum’s true potential was becoming increasingly evident.

He said he was encouraged by the level of interest in the Forum and how inclusive and participatory many of its sessions had been.  The sustainable development era should begin with a focus on leaving no one behind, he emphasized, noting that inequality, exclusion and unemployment were among the root causes of today’s threats to peace and security.  The demands on Member States were clear:  speak out against intolerance, discrimination and inequality; change laws and policies that divided societies; tackle the impunity, corruption and global tax evasion that undermined confidence; invest in women and youth; and create the legal and regulatory frameworks that would make green investments the best investments.  For the United Nations also there was already a clear set of demands, he said, stressing that greater resources must be dedicated to mediation, prevention and peacebuilding.  In the end, change must happen at the country and community levels, in people’s lives, in the economy and in the environment.

JAN ELIASSON, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, describing the 2030 Agenda as ambitious and transformative, said the international community had 15 years to end poverty, hunger and other epidemics and to achieve access to primary health care and education.  Stressing the need to deliver regardless of persistent challenges and unforeseen setbacks, he acknowledged Member States’ efforts in integrating the 17 Goals into their national plans.

“Every country needs to accelerate the pace,” he said, stressing that they must take advantage of the Forum and draw on lessons learned for feedback.  He also noted that the recent Council dialogue had contributed to the discussion in an effective and coherent manner.  As the implementation path was not going to be an easy one, resource mobilization and cooperation were key.  While fluctuations in the economy and environmental problems were expected, it was possible to move forward with transformative leadership.  “If we work together, we can achieve a better world,” he said.

JÜRG LAUBER (Switzerland), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, emphasized that political leadership by Heads of State and Government would drive the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  All stakeholders — Governments, businesses and civil society — had a role.  “It is an agenda for all and, therefore, all should contribute,” he stressed.  In that regard, the experience gained from the Forum would be invaluable in the development of subsequent sessions and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.  The annual progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals demonstrated that the broader environment was not conducive for achieving the Goals.  Current economic growth rates were low, inequality was increasing, developing countries were at the end of the commodity cycle, new technologies could result in higher unemployment, the risk of infectious disease was elevated and safety and security were on the decline in many regions.

In such a context, he said, there was an urgent need for disaggregated data to address all vulnerable groups.  Inclusion remained a challenge for both developed and developing countries.  Challenges to lifting people out of poverty and meeting basic needs were interconnected and should be tackled through structural changes and ensuring equality and inclusion at all levels.  Doing so would require investments in education and capacity-building, health, food security, nutrition, access to renewable energy and resilience to slow onset changes and shocks.  All those efforts must include a gender perspective.  Decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation formed the basis of sustainable development, he said in closing.

HÉCTOR ALÉJANDRO PALMA CERNA (Honduras), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, highlighted the discussions that had marked the first week of the Forum’s proceedings.  The need to translate the Sustainable Development Goals into national-level action had been emphasized throughout, with many saying the efforts at the grass-roots level should include a special focus on vulnerable groups.  The formulation process for the Goals had been participatory, a dynamic that needed to be carried over to national-level reviews.  Transparency and accountability were fundamental principles needed to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.  The implementation of the 2030 Agenda would depend on the ability to integrate the global framework into national and subnational plans, requiring policy coherence at all levels.

Forum participants, he said, had highlighted the critical role of local and subnational governments, as they were at the forefront of most issues and had a critical role to play, particularly when addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.  Many had expressed concern that local and subnational governments were often not taken into account during policy development at the national level.  Forum discussions had explored the importance of the participation of all stakeholders, including women, youth, indigenous peoples, farmers, disabled persons and other marginalized groups, while noting the major role of the private sector in implementation.  Participants had also emphasized the need for quality data for the follow-up and review of efforts while stressing the need to avoid duplicate and burdensome reporting requirements.  Speakers had also pointed out that financing and resource mobilization remained a challenge, particularly for countries in special situations.  Under regional experiences, they had noted that regional organizations and initiatives played a special role in mobilizing collective action and addressing transboundary issues.

Keynote Addresses

ERNA SOLBERG, Prime Minister of Norway, said poverty, conflict, violent extremism, refugee crises, youth unemployment, forced migration and global warming were pressing issues that could not wait.  As the global aim was to leave no one behind, it was essential that the international community paid special attention to marginalized groups in the most fragile settings.  Adopting the 2030 Agenda meant taking ownership of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, she said, adding that her job was to make them a topic of widespread interest.

Awareness and knowledge were essential, she said, describing consultation processes with relevant stakeholders as good examples of building ownership.  For its part, Norway would include the Goals in school curricula.  Furthermore, the business sector was taking ownership, she said, noting that a growing number of companies were aligning their strategies with the Goals.  “Today and every day, until the Goals are achieved, we must take concrete steps to make the world more sustainable,” she said, calling for transformative leadership in all countries and at all levels of society.  In that regard, political leaders must translate political will into legislation, policies and concrete plans.  While doing so, Governments, businesses, civil society organizations must work together to find efficient, sustainable solutions locally, nationally and globally, she said.

DANG THI NGOC THINH, Vice-President of Viet Nam, said the first year of implementing the 2030 Agenda underscored the significance of strong political will from Member States and the United Nations system.  Equally important was a paradigm shift in development thinking.  The three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental — were interlinked and interdependent.  Development and peace were inseparable and the Sustainable Development Goals could only be achieved in an environment of peace and security on the basis for respect for international law.  Sustainable development must be a process involving participation and contributions from all relevant stakeholders.  Only by doing so could the fruits of sustainable development reach people from all walks of life, particularly the most vulnerable.

Each country, she said, had different starting points with regard to income and its level of development.  As a war-devastated country that had faced risks of being left behind, Viet Nam had done its utmost to find a way to move forward.  The national poverty level had fallen to less than 4.5 per cent in 2015, from 30 per cent in 2000 and 60 per cent in 1986.  Viet Nam was now localizing the 2030 Agenda’s targets by integrating them into socioeconomic development strategies and plans.  Viet Nam had had more than 1.4 million children in special circumstances, millions of peoples with disabilities and hundreds of thousands of victims of Agent Orange that were in need of assistance.  Viet Nam’s Constitution and legal system recognized and clearly provided equal rights for all citizens, especially the most vulnerable groups, she said, also recognizing that more remained to be done.

Panel I

The first panel of the day, titled “Reaching the most vulnerable”, was moderated by Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO).  The panellists were: Hugo Roger Martinez Bonilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador;  Mohammad Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh; and Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of Germany.  Lead discussants were Christian Friis-Bach, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr. RYDER said the panellists would discuss concrete barriers the poorest faced in accessing services and opportunities, measures taken to address the needs and the assessment of advances in reaching the most vulnerable.

Mr. MARTINEZ, sharing national experiences, said El Salvador had confronted several challenges, yet the Government was doing its best to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.  That included allocating financial resources to related programmes, where both men and women had important roles to play.  As one of the pioneer countries, El Salvador was building a national agenda and identifying key stakeholders.  While doing so, the Government had paid particular attention to identifying the most vulnerable and mobilizing the required political will and capacities.

Mr. HAQUE said that since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, there had been new narratives with specific implementation plans.  Regarding youth, he said half the population in Bangladesh was under the age of 25.  By 2030, 48 per cent of them would be living in urban areas, he said, adding that they would have different aspirations than now.  Turning to migration, he said 1 in every 10 people was an international migrant.  Despite universal recognition, he said, in terms of rights, more needed to be done to address their needs.

Ms. SCHWARZELÜHR-SUTTER, warning against adopting a “business as usual” approach, said changing lifestyles and economic situations required policy and regulatory frameworks.  Germany sought to tackle those issues nationally and globally with cooperation at all levels.  “We must protect the ones most exposed to the risks,” she said, adding that the international community must reduce budget inequalities.  If designed well, policies would provide a safety net and stepping stone for the most disadvantaged populations.  However, if not, they could hamper development and increase the severity of poverty.

Mr. FRIIS-BACH, recalling the success of Pokémon Go, said the international community must use a similar programme, which would enable young people to monitor the progress made in the next 15 years.  “Let us learn from new technology,” he said, noting that young people had grown up with Pokémon and learned from it.  While the 2030 Agenda was more complex, if young people were educated, they could handle the complexity and ensure its success, he stressed.

Ms. GILMORE, drawing attention to the vulnerabilities of persons including those with disabilities and indigenous peoples, said “progress for the few is not progress at all”.  As the 2030 Agenda was a human rights promise, the international community must step up efforts to increase opportunities for economic development, ensure access to justice for all and to put an end to gender-based violence and wage inequality.

In the ensuing discussion, the representative of Netherlands said that despite progress made, millions of people continued to suffer from economic, political and environmental changes.  To address problems emerging from such situations, she called on all parties to focus their resources and brainpower on reaching the poorest and most marginalized people, including the homeless, persons with disabilities, nomadic populations and religious and ethnic minorities.

The representative of Viet Nam said the national social protection system had been strengthened through a series of labour market policies, which aimed at expanding social insurance and moving towards universal health care.  Thanks to the persistent efforts, the poverty rate had fallen from 58 per cent in 1993 to 6 per cent in 2015.

The representative of Mauritius said the Government provided free education, transportation and health care for all.  Despite measures that had been taken, poverty unfortunately persisted in Mauritius.  However, with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government had developed a social registry programme for those living below the poverty line and provided school supplies and scholarships to students.

Also speaking were the representatives of Kenya, Panama, Thailand and the United Kingdom.  Representatives from the major groups for indigenous peoples and business also participated.

Panel II

The second panel discussion, titled, “Challenges of countries in special situations”, featured a keynote address by Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Karman, journalist, politician, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  Moderated by Gyan Chandra Acharya, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, the panel featured:  Alvaro Garcia, Member of the Presidential Cabinet and Director of the Office of Planning and Budget of the Presidency of Uruguay; Helen Clark, Administrator of UNDP and Chair of the United Nations Development Group; and Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Lead discussants were:  Ricardo Cardona, Minister for Social Development of Honduras; Karina Gould, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development of Canada; and Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Ms. KARMAN said the Sustainable Development Goals were comprehensive and important.  They took into consideration all sectors of sustainable development and the conditions of every State.  The 17 Goals were inspiring and global.  She recalled that all Governments were called upon to include the implementation of those Goals into their plans, policies and national strategies.  Unfortunately, despite the importance of those objectives and the need to implement them, their implementation was voluntary.  There was no United Nations resolution that forced Governments to include them in their strategies.  There was also no resolution that forced States that had decided to finance those Goals to do so.

Sustainable development was the right of every human being, she continued.  Failing to address environmental development could thwart the future of everyone living on the planet.  Some countries had industrialized and looked for resources without taking into consideration the well-being of the environment.  When discussing the Goals, it was important to take into consideration national priorities and conditions.  There were developing States that could be left behind.  Globalization must be beneficial for all and not have negative effects on the poor and positive effects on the rich.  The world could significantly advance if developed countries complied with the protection of the environment and funded global development programmes.  Every effort must be made to protect democratic institutions, which was the duty of the international community and the young people who looked forward to a better future.

The Forum was critical and must become an institutional framework to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations and activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals.  Over time, it would become increasingly important in moving the world forward and must play a critical role in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in a comprehensive way that benefitted all peoples and ensured no one would be left behind.  Calling for a compulsory mandate for the Forum that benefitted all, she said she knew the dream was large, but humanity must move forward.  It was the world’s destiny to fight and struggle together, at all levels, to achieve sustainable development for all.

Mr. ACHARYA noted that the discussion would focus on a wide variety of countries, including middle-income countries, least developed States and those in conflict and post-conflict situations.  The nature and magnitude of the challenges facing those countries were diverse, as were their capacities and access to resources.

Mr. GARCIA said Uruguay attached great important to the topic of the panel, namely the development aspirations of countries in special situations.  Great efforts had been in the Latin American and Caribbean region to achieve inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction.  However, the main challenge now was to implement a much more ambitious and broad-ranging agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals.  Some countries in the region had economic growth that was shrinking, making it increasingly difficult to ensure that no one was left behind.  Improving the quality of the indicators would be critical for measuring what was actually being done to implement the 2030 Agenda.  All countries must allocate part of their budgets with a view towards seeing actual results.  Official development assistance (ODA) had a strategic significance, particularly as it brought technological knowledge to developing countries.  The 2030 Agenda was a real opportunity for greater coherence in working towards development in a multidimensional manner and also dealing with how aid was allocated.

Ms. CLARK recalled that almost 900 million people in the world remained extremely poor, which was a number that became even larger when looking beyond income to multidimensional measures of poverty.  More than 1.4 billion people lived in fragile and conflict-affected States, which was a number forecasted to increase by 82 per cent by 2030 if left unaddressed.  There was a need to systemically address the challenges of exclusion in countries in special situations, including by addressing structural, financial, political and social drivers of inequality.  It was important to identify factors that made people vulnerable to falling back into poverty, including those in middle-income countries.  “Leaving no one behind” would require working more effectively across humanitarian, development, political, human rights and peacebuilding spheres, particularly in crisis and conflict settings.  She noted that already 95 countries, many of which were in special situations in regions around the world, had requested support from the United Nations for mainstreaming the Goals into national plans and strengthening capacities on data, local service delivery and reporting.

Ms. TAYLOR said countries of the Pacific were proud of their role in formulating the 2030 Agenda and the Samoa Pathway.  Five countries in the region had already integrated the 2030 Agenda into their national plans and four more had started the process.  Natural disasters such as droughts, floods and cyclones were becoming more frequent and intense, while sea levels were rising, water sources were being compromised and coral reefs were dying.  There was a need for increased investment in “climate-proofing” infrastructure and ensuring disaster risk insurance.  Unlocking science, innovation and technology would be essential.  Although small island States were capable of helping themselves, they could not “set sail” in isolation.  In the spirit of leaving no one behind, small island developing States would continue to mobilize domestic resources, but would do so with the understanding that just one disaster could undo decades of development progress.

Mr. CARDONA noted that Honduras was a middle-income country that had taken on the Sustainable Development Goals.  Honduras had a national plan in place through 2038, which included an official social development policy.  Without a clear policy and the participation of all official sectors, it would not be possible to ensure that no one was left behind.  For those policies and sectoral plans to reach all people, it was essential that citizens were apprised of the development goals.  In that context, nine different local commissions for sustainable development had been established, which engaged civil society and business people.  There must be a strategic “reset” on development that included a comprehensive proposal to mobilize all domestic and international resources, both public and private financing, for development.

Ms. GOULD said the political will to implement the Sustainable Development Goals was critical to the global dialogue on leaving no one behind.  She noted that many speakers throughout the day had emphasized the importance of high-level discussions whereby participants could share knowledge and develop innovative solutions.  She highlighted that Canada was currently reviewing its international assistance policy.  Canada’s development efforts were widely focused, but placed particular attention on advancing gender equality, empowering women and girls and protecting their human rights.  Those were issues of particular importance for many countries in special situations.  Stressing the linkages between gender equality, agriculture and climate change, she said that almost everyone could agree in the value of supporting small holder and women farmers around the world.

Ms. AKHTAR noted the importance of a comprehensive review of progress with respect to the global programmes of action, while also taking into consideration the plans to implement the 2030 Agenda.  Much correlation and coordination was needed about how the various programmes were implemented.  The five United Nations regional commissions were fully committed to helping countries in special situations reach their development aspirations.  It would be of great importance to ensure that the growth momentum was maintained in countries with special needs, bearing in mind the high-risk environment for external investment, combined with decreasing ODA and unreliable foreign direct investment.

In the ensuing discussion, the representative of Italy highlighted that her Government was at the forefront of the global humanitarian crisis that had resulted in large movements of migrants by land and sea.  Italy had substantially increased its levels of ODA for 2016 and would further double those commitments in 2017.

The representative of Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), recalled that the Samoa Pathway was the most recent blueprint for sustainable development for small island developing States.  In that context, AOSIS had worked to ensure there was coherence between the 2030 Agenda and the Samoa Pathway.

The representative of Thailand, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, emphasized the need to bear in mind the overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda, namely the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions.  It was also important to recall the right to self-determination of peoples living under foreign occupation, a situation that hindered their social and economic development.

Also speaking today were the representatives of Zambia and Panama.  A representative of the major group for children and youth also spoke.

Panel III

The afternoon panel, titled “Unlocking means of implementation for the Sustainable Development Goals and creating an enabling environment”, was chaired by Mr. Palma Cerna (Honduras), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, and moderated by Ardalan Shekarabi, Minister for Public Administration of Sweden.  It featured:  Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission; Michelle Muschett, Vice-Minister for Social Development of Panama; Mahmoud Mohieldin, World Bank Group Senior Vice-President for the 2030 Development Agenda; Axel Bertuch-Samuels, senior adviser on financing for development and United Nations relations at the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Douglas Frantz, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and Vaughan Turekian, Science and Technology Adviser to the United States Secretary of State.

Mr. PALMA CERNA opened the discussion by providing a report on the outcome of the inaugural Economic and Social Council forum on financing for development follow-up.  The Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development provided a strong foundation to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and constituted an important step forward in strengthening the financing for development follow-up process.  The inaugural forum, convened by the Council in New York from 18 to 20 April , had brought together a large number of high-level participants from Governments, international financial, development and trade institutions, civil society and the private sector and had resulted in a concise, forward-looking outcome document that reaffirmed strong commitments to the full and timely implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which had built on the 2002 Monterrey Consensus and the 2008 Doha Declaration on Financing for Development.  The forum had also recognized the close link between the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. SHEKARABI stressed that while the ambitions laid out in the 2030 Agenda were high, they must be just as high when it came to the means of implementation.  In addition to the need for mobilizing domestic resources, the 2030 Agenda highlighted the key role of private business activity, investment and innovation as major drivers of inclusive economic growth and job creation.

Mr. MIMICA said change must take root at the local level.  “We must all start our work at home,” he said.  The new agenda put greater emphasis on the ability of Governments to mobilize and spend resources effectively.  The European Union was determined to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, both internally and in cooperation with its partners.  Development resources were not infinite, but rather needed to be effectively targeted.  The European Union would seek to strengthen, deepen and diversify its partnership with countries at all levels of development, including local authorities, civil society and the private sector.  In the poorest countries, the European Union would continue to fund essential services, build capacity and promote good governance, while also tailoring its response to the specific situations and needs of those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries.  “We have to be smarter with our ways of working to make the most out of each means of implementation,” he urged.

Ms. MUSCHETT said Panama’s first commitment to the new development framework had been guided by a set of presidential decrees that had been issued following the 2030 Agenda’s adoption.  Another key step had been the clear establishment of various institutions responsible for the articulation and coordination of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.  Nevertheless, Panama still had major development challenges to address, including ensuring that all parts of society and citizens in general took ownership of the new Goals.  Panama had also worked to define mechanisms and processes that would help various sectors of society align their efforts with the 2030 Agenda.  Through technology, with the help of UNDP, the final arrangements were under way to establish a platform for follow-up and monitoring of the Development Goals at the national level.

Mr. MOHIELDIN noted that 62 per cent of the global poor were projected to soon be living in fragile and conflict-affected situations, which jeopardized the aim of leaving no one behind.  The World Bank was working on developing a number of solutions, none of which would be successful without good collaboration and partnership.  Successful policies started with solid data, he said, pointing out the scarcity of data in many developing countries.  Country ownership and coordination among international organizations were other challenges that needed to be addressed.  Government and official finance would not be sufficient to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, he said, saying that resources needed to be allocated efficiently.  The International Development Association, which had a key role to play in the means of implementation for the development framework, was making strides in reflecting the type of priorities that had been envisioned according to the Sustainable Development Goals.  The World Bank and its partners had pledged to spend some $400 billion by 2020 as part of their implementation.

Mr. BERTUCH-SAMUELS said the IMF had launched several initiatives to support the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, including strengthening financial support for low-income countries, enhancing policy advising and boosting economic resilience and policy coherence.  Reforms had already been put into place to assist the poorest and most vulnerable member countries.  The IMF had made critical contributions, including by offering member countries more than 50 years of revenue technical assistance expertise.  A platform for collaboration on tax matters had already been launched, reflecting the growing interest in tax issues.  Domestic revenue mobilization would be a challenging task, but certainly achievable.  In addition, the IMF would seek to bolster support for fragile and conflict-affected States and expand macroeconomic policy advice and technical assistance to help countries to tackle infrastructure gaps.

Mr. FRANZ said the OECD was asking its member countries to “look in the mirror”, noting that consumption patterns were unsustainable, while inequality had eroded trust in Governments.  The OECD was assessing the starting positions of its member countries as they related to the Sustainable Development Goals and was measuring the spillover impacts of policies, both positive and negative, while also examining the role of ODA.  The OECD would seek to expand assistance and was helping Governments get the money they would need to make the Goals achievable.  In that regard, taxes were indispensable.  Tax administrations were conducting audits and Governments were making major changes to laws that would result in more money flowing to treasuries that paid for the kind of transformative changes envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. TUREKIAN said he was encouraged to see that policymakers were galvanized by the 2030 Agenda.  Science, technology and innovation underpinned all of the Goals.  The Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, held in June at the United Nations, had joined more than 600 participants from academia, the private sector, foundations, innovators and entrepreneurs with 81 Governments to aim at building networks and sharing solutions for the achievement of the development agenda.  Other gatherings of innovators and entrepreneurs around the world should be viewed as vital to sustainable development.  Over the next 14 years, scientists, engineers and innovators would be critical to understanding sustainable development challenges, creating and implementing viable solutions and generating and analysing the data needed to measure progress.

In the ensuing discussion, the representative of Thailand, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, stressed that realizing the 2030 Agenda would depend on the successful mobilization of both existing and additional resources.  Although the total amount of ODA had increased in 2015, it was imperative to addressed unmet ODA commitments.

The representative of Nigeria said it was up to each country to advance its own development objectives, with international financing mechanisms serving to compliment those efforts.  Nigeria believed it was only when the voices of the poor and vulnerable were heard and heeded that positive development could take place.

A representative of the major group for workers and trade unions noted that the Paris Agreement on climate change had determined that some $100 billion was needed between now and 2020 to address climate issues.  Given that huge funding need, he questioned the probability of whether developed countries would honour their climate change financing commitments in a transparent fashion.

A representative of the major group for non-governmental organizations said the world was going around in circles trying to find the right formula for the means of implementation for the future development agenda.  She questioned how Governments could be depended on to provide the necessary funding when they did not even live up to their ODA commitments and other development cooperation.

The representative of Maldives said the best intentions could not bear fruit without adequate means of implementation.  She noted that small island developing States had significant challenges in mobilizing domestic resources due to having small populations spread over a vast number of islands.  Extreme vulnerability to natural disasters posed another high risk to small islands.

Also speaking were the representatives of Viet Nam and Mauritius.  A representative of the major group for children and youth also spoke.

Statements

VIRACHAI PLASAI (Thailand), speaking for the Group of 77, said the Forum must work to improve coordination in the United Nations system.  “We must reach out to those furthest behind,” he said, notably African countries, least developed, landlocked developing and small island developing States, while recognizing the specific challenges of middle-income countries.  On revitalizing the global partnership, he said enhancing support to developing countries was essential, including through targeted capacity-building and promoting a non-discriminatory global trade system.

He urged stakeholders to make progress, including at the upcoming Group of 20 Summit in China, stressing the need to address the adverse impacts of climate change.  The Group of 77 looked forward to developed countries fulfilling their pledges, especially for the provision of technology transfer to developing States.  Tackling illicit financial flows was important for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.  South-South cooperation could also support the 2030 Agenda.

NEVEN MIMICA, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development of the European Union, urged tracking progress at all levels and fostering ownership, transparency and inclusivity in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  “Missing data means missing people,” he said, welcoming contributions, such as those at the World Humanitarian Summit, and inviting all high-level international forums to contribute to the 2030 Agenda implementation efforts.  A multi-stakeholder approach was needed with representative decision-making at all levels while ensuring public access to information.

He urged attention to the issue of irregular migration to unleash the potential of migration for development, stressing that the Union was contributing to the 2030 Agenda, including in the follow-up to the Paris Agreement and through its corporate social responsibility activities.  Later in 2016, it would map out how it would implement the Sustainable Development Goals through internal and external actions.  It also would present its position on how it could respond to global development challenges.  It had committed to the target of 0.7 per cent of its gross national income as ODA and providing duty-free, quota-free market access to least developed countries.

JUAN TEMÍSTOCLES MONTÁS, Minister for Economy, Planning and Development of Dominican Republic, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), recalled that the regional summit held in Quito in January 2016 had welcomed the adoption of the 2030 Agenda.  Member States of the Community had agreed to follow up on the Goals, recognizing the different visions and realities of each country.  The world and its ecosystem were a common home and “Mother Earth” an expression used in many countries.  Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela would be presenting their reports to the Council on the early steps taken to integrate the 2030 Agenda into their national development strategies, he said, adding that Mexico would chair a forum that would serve as a regional follow-up and review mechanism.

Member States of CELAC recognized that baseline data for many targets set out in the 2030 Agenda were not available, he said, calling for a strengthening of national data systems.  Eradicating poverty in all forms and dimensions was the greatest global challenge and so implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda would require commitment from the world as a whole.  South-South cooperation had a special role to play, particularly with regard to capacity-building and financial cooperation, social development, health, education and technology transfers.  He underlined the importance of the United Nations system, in collaboration with international financial institutions, to find ways to address development that went beyond per capita income.  He also stressed the importance of avoiding silos in implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. HAQUE, Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, speaking on behalf of the Group of 48 Least Developed Countries, associated himself with the Group of 77.  The least developed countries, which together represented less than 1 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) - were the most vulnerable and weak of all States.  Twenty-four of the targets contained in the 2030 Agenda related directly to them, he said, noting with concern that the United Nations Statistical Commission had not incorporated all indicators specific to least developed countries into the Sustainable Development Goals indicators.  The group of countries had flagged that issue with the Commission, he said.

Groups of countries in special situations, including least developed countries and small island developing States, he said, must be subjects of special focus at all forums and not just at the Council’s high-level segment.  The Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report and the Global Sustainable Development Report should pay special attention to implementation progress in least developed countries, he said, adding that the Council must pay greater attention to following up on the Istanbul Declaration and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020.  Least developed countries requested that the Council take appropriate steps in that regard and that all Member States support the adoption of the Midterm Review Political Declaration.

BERNARD KAMPHASA, Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office of Zambia, speaking on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said those States faced high trade and transport costs and remained marginalized in world markets, challenges only compounded by climate change.  To implement the 2030 Agenda, progress must be made among the world’s most vulnerable countries, including least developed countries, landlocked developing and small island developing States.

He reaffirmed support for the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024, noting that those States could not attain the Sustainable Development Goals without realizing the objectives of that accord.  Their complementary nature required implementing the agendas together.  The 2030 Agenda could not be attained without enhanced global partnerships.  There was a need to assist vulnerable countries in building capacity for data collection and analysis.  Their capacity for monitoring must also be strengthened through a process aligned with those for other development frameworks, including the Vienna Programme of Action.

JIKO FATAFEHI LUVENI, Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, speaking on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States, associated herself with the Group of 77.  Special circumstances faced by those countries meant that the global agenda must be tailored to national circumstances, with efforts nationally led and owned.  Durable partnerships would be crucial in that regard and she looked forward to implementing the recommendations to reform the United Nations system’s support for small island developing States.

Welcoming Samoa’s upcoming national voluntary review, she said climate change was a threat multiplier that undermined all efforts to attain sustainable development.  While welcoming the Paris Agreement, she also wished to see continued momentum and called for its early entry into force, urging countries that had not yet done so to ratify it.  Expressing concern about the current level of “mitigation ambition”, which was not adequate to stabilize global temperature averages at safe levels, she called for efforts towards “elevated ambition”.  Funding must be unlocked and she urged scaled-up support and more action towards simplified approval and application procedures to facilitate access.  Also, sustainable ocean use was paramount and conservation must not fall disproportionately on Pacific small islands.

MOHAMED KHALED KHIARI (Tunisia), speaking on behalf of the African Group, said the transformative 2030 Agenda required a provision of equally ambitious means of implementation.  In order to create conditions conducive for sustainable development, the international community must tackle illicit financial flows that were siphoning funds from African economies.  “The notion of domestic resource mobilization will forever remain an illusion if the illicit flow of resources from our shores is not curbed,” he said.

Among other efforts, he continued, it was critical to ensure that partnerships were revitalized and that development partners met their ODA commitments.  He expressed regret that the share of total assistance received by Africa’s least developed countries was declining.  In order to achieve the Goals,  Member States and international organizations must share experiences and lessons learned, he said, adding that they also needed to tackle the multidimensional drivers of exclusion related to access to opportunities.

EDEN CHARLES (Trinidad and Tobago), speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community, said that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda must build on the achievements and lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals.  That included the promotion of sustained and equitable economic growth, reduction of inequalities and the sustainable management of natural resources.  The Caribbean region, despite its middle-income status and relatively high placement on the human development index, continued to suffer from vulnerable economies, limited product diversification, vulnerability to natural disasters and a high dependence on international trade.  Consequently, debt relief, economic grants and increased ODA were essential in fostering sustained economic growth and strengthening domestic resource mobilization.

The Caribbean Community, he said, reiterated that the global Goals had been constructed to work in an integrated and indivisible manner and that they were aligned to national priorities.  As many member States were working towards finalizing the integration process, high quality, reliable and timely data and analysis were critically important.  In that regard, he called for dedicated support for strengthening national statistical system and offices.

GAMINI JAYAWICKRAMA PERERA, Minister for Sustainable Development and Wildlife of Sri Lanka, speaking on behalf of the Group of 15, described the 2030 Agenda as a milestone in humanity’s progress and recognized the significant role the Council played in its implementation.  While acknowledging that the primary responsibility for implementing the targets belonged to Governments, he said most developing and least developed countries would face a greater challenge in operationalizing the agreed commitments, given their national resource constraints.

Stressing the need to intensify partnerships, he expressed hope that the commitments to mobilize financial resources and capacity-building would be met.  In addition, he underscored the need for meaningful technology transfers in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly with regard to renewable energy.  A technology facilitation mechanism would promote the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies, he stressed.

EDGAR GUTIERREZ ESPELETA, Minister for Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Like-Minded Group of Supporters of Middle-Income Countries, stressed the need for adequate support for States that presented their voluntary reviews.  The United Nations development system should play a key role in facilitating technology transfer and knowledge sharing for developing nations through the full operationalization of the technology facilitation mechanism.  The Forum should focus on sustainable development challenges facing developing countries, targeting the people most in need regardless of geographic location and country.

He stressed the need to improve coordination and long-term strategic planning towards middle-income countries.  Towards that end, the United Nations development system should establish an inter-agency and system-wide coordination action plan for sustainable development in those countries, built on solid evidence and defined by clear aims, indicators and sources of financing.  He called on the development system to create transparent measurements of progress on sustainable development that went beyond income criteria to recognize all forms of poverty, the social, economic and environmental dimensions of domestic output and structural gaps at all levels.  He also called for enhanced international support and multi-stakeholder partnerships to implement effective, targeted capacity-building mechanisms in middle-income countries to support national development plans to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

MAX HUFANEN RAI (Papua New Guinea), speaking on behalf of States of the Pacific Islands Forum, said it was mobilizing to develop a Pacific Sustainable Development Goals road map that would guide implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  An inclusive Pacific Sustainable Development Goals task force had been set up to support the process to address transboundary issues, such as climate change, oceans, fisheries and trade, and to identify common national priorities that could be effectively addressed through collective delivery, monitoring and reporting, such as poverty alleviation and gender empowerment.  It would also address non-communicable diseases, identify global experiences and best practices for the region and target national successes that could be adapted regionally.

Leaving no one behind meant reducing and mitigating the damage to the Pacific Ocean, which was for many the main source of livelihoods, he said.  The Pacific Forum remained committed to leadership in the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and action on climate change, as its very survival and security depended on it.  Leaving no one behind also required strengthening national and regional capacities, institutions and systems to support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.  To that end, he looked to genuine, durable global partnerships, including financing for development that was predictable, reliable and accessible.  He also called for strengthened partnerships through South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

GAMINI JAJAWICKRAMA PERERA, Minister for Sustainable Development and Wildlife of Sri Lanka, said that as the first Asia-Pacific country to set up a Ministry for Sustainable Development and as current Chair of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, Sri Lanka was in a unique leadership position to champion a transformation to sustainable development.  Towards that end, it had established a National Sustainable Development Act to formulate a national policy and strategy and provide the legal and institutional framework for it.  His Ministry had begun creating a road map and would soon set up regional sustainability plans to guide it, with the ultimate objective of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in three phases.

THORIQ IBRAHIM, Minister for the Environment and Energy of Maldives, said the Government had achieved five of the eight Millennium Development Goals ahead of the 2015 deadline, making it Asia’s only “MDGs plus” country.  It had nothing but its rich mineral resources, especially coral reefs, on which its mine industry and fisheries depended.  Maldives had used its marine resources sustainably for generations, with success seen in its graduation from least developed country status.  Development could be achieved without compromising the environment, he said.  “For us, sustainable development is a way of life,” he said, calling it a mindset that would be critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  For many small island developing States, oceans were the only resource available to eradicate poverty, as it provided water and a host of rich biodiversity systems.  For its part, Maldives intended to improve its sustainable ocean use.

ALENKA SMERKOLJ, Minister for Development, Strategic Projects and Cohesion of Slovenia, said in 2015, her Government had begun drafting its Vision 2050 and development strategy 2030, which had stemmed from a national engagement process.  At the national level, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals required close collaboration with key stakeholders and aligning actions.  As such, Slovenia was establishing an integrated policy framework for sustainable development, ensuring that domestic and foreign policies were internally and externally coherent.  At regional and global levels, Slovenia would continue to contribute to poverty eradication, gender equality, human rights protection, environment and good governance efforts, she said, stressing that the Sustainable Development Goals on their own, with no connection to national development strategies, were not a powerful tool.  Likewise, strategies that did not consider the global vision did not stand a good chance of success.

REGIS IMMONGAULT, Minister for Sustainable Development, Economy and the Promotion of Investments and Forecasting of Gabon, associated himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group.  Gabon was committed to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, having introduced reforms that had given it the legislative tools to do so.  In 2014, Gabon had adopted a sustainable development framework by working with all actors in society and holding constructive discussions in Parliament.  It had organized a national workshop on ownership and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Paris Agreement, in which civil society, parliamentarians and representatives of public and private businesses had considered how to integrate the 2030 Agenda into public policy.  The Government also had introduced structural reforms to diversify the sources of economic growth and was carrying out efforts to achieve universal health insurance.

KĘSTUTIS TREČIOKAS, Minister for the Environment of Lithuania, said that where conflict reigned, impunity and lawlessness prevailed, abuse of power and corruption persisted and human rights violations were routine.  As such, ensuring that no one was left behind was a huge challenge, if not a distant dream.  In countries where women were equal participants in all aspects of society, there was less poverty, more economic growth and higher standards of living.  In Lithuania, women entrepreneurs accounted for 60 per cent of business in rural areas, thus actively contributing to the prosperity and well-being of local communities.  Sustainable development could not be achieved unless environmental aspects were fully taken into account.  Lithuania considered policy integration and coherence an overarching principle and essential tool for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and national experiences had proven that there was no contradiction between environmental protection and economic growth.

RICHARDO CARDONA, Minister for Development and Social Inclusion of Honduras, associating himself with the Group of 77 and Group of Like-Minded Group of Supporters of Middle-Income Countries, called the 2030 Agenda an ambitious plan of action to eradicate poverty that set out a vision of a world without hunger or disease, with respect for human rights.  He appealed to developed countries to uphold their responsibilities so that no one was left behind.  Depletion of resources and climate change undermined all countries’ capacities for achieving sustainable development, he said, adding that the Council dialogue had generated concrete proposals on ways the United Nations development system could help middle-income countries.  “We need profound changes and transformative leadership, and this generation is the one that would achieve it,” he said.

FESTUS MWANGI KIUNJURI, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and Planning of Kenya, said national efforts to implement the Goals were part of a long-term development plan.  Kenya had made remarkable progress on some of the Millennium Development Goals, but it had fallen behind on others.  Inequality persisted, he said.  It would be prudent to identify the poor, marginalized and vulnerable to design appropriate policies, strategies and interventions.  Identifying marginalized populations and where they were located required good data.  Being bigger than the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals implied a more elaborate system of measurement, he said, emphasizing the urgent need for higher quality data.  In implementing the Goals, stakeholder participation must be ensured, he said, adding that the Government of Kenya had drawn up guidelines in that regard.

HERILANTO RAVELOHARISON, Minister for the Economy and Planning of Madagascar, associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said a national review had shown the Government’s resolve to implement the 2030 Agenda.  The Sustainable Development Goal process had begun once constitutional order had been restored.  There had been two national debates, showing an alignment between the Goals and the national development framework.  It had increased awareness among regional countries in order to encourage accountability over the next 15 years.  Madagascar had created a national social protection policy, he said, noting the development of indicators as a challenge and stressing that population data was particularly important, as the last census had been held in 1993.  “We need a more committed partnership,” he said, adding that the Government would soon hold a donors and investors conference.

KAANNI DIALLO, Minister for Planning of Guinea, welcomed that the Forum had been established to follow up on the 2030 Agenda’s implementation.  The world was facing economic, financial, migration, security, environment and sanitation crises, making it important that economies and institutions were resilient.  As developing countries depended heavily on raw materials and commodities, they were more vulnerable to endogenous and exogenous shocks.  For its part, Guinea was committed to transforming its economy and working to recover economic growth.  Ebola had disrupted social and other structures in the region, acting as a reminder of the need for resilience.  Guinea was now focused on post-Ebola recovery, developing agriculture and other sectors and, with its partners, laying out an economic and social development plan through 2020.  In addition, it was focused on the 2063 Agenda, working to align all its activities with those of its partners.

VANESSA RUBIO MARQUEZ, Vice-Minister for Planning, Evaluation and Regional Development, Ministry of Social Development of Mexico, said the 2030 Agenda set out goals for a new generation, including food security, sustainable agriculture, quality education and peaceful, equitable societies.  Mexico would be among the first to present its review of implementation efforts.  No objective should be given priority over another, as the Goals were indivisible and interlinked.  Emphasizing the importance of funding, she said it would take $2 trillion to $3 trillion over 15 years, or 4 per cent of nominal GDP, to implement the Goals.  There needed to be more domestic and international resources alongside transparency and accountability, she said, adding that it would be possible to close development gaps between and within countries and to have a world of peace and prosperity.

SILVIA VELO, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea of Italy, associating herself with the European Union, said her country was striving to renew its development strategy through a participatory interinstitutional process involving local authorities, civil society and the private sector.  She emphasized the need to act on the root causes of the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean.  Environmental action would also play a pivotal role in lifting people out of poverty.  Italy, which in 2017 would assume the Group of Seven presidency and a seat on the Security Council, would spare no effort to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

ROSEMARIE G. EDILLON, Deputy Director of the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines, said the Government was in transition, yet institutions were ready to identify citizens’ needs to ensure that no one was left behind.  She expressed confidence that the new administration would strongly support the 2030 Agenda, reduce inequalities and develop economic opportunities.  While doing so, it was critically important to unite the efforts of academia, the business sector and international development partners.  Among other things, she underlined the importance of statistics in guiding Governments on policy development.  In that regard, she called upon research communities to come up with cost-effective methods that could be used.

DAVID ZALKALIANI, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, said being the most ethnically and religiously diverse country in the region, national efforts had made the protection of all groups a priority.  The Government had enacted an anti-discrimination law and elaborated policies to ensure equality and integration.  Further, it had fostered inclusive education, with special programmes developed for teaching the Georgian language to minorities.  Sparing no effort to implement higher standards to protect women’s rights, it had recently adopted a national plan to protect human rights for the 2016-2017 period.  It had also adopted a national action plan to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, he said, urging a focus on the root causes of forced displacement and taking preventive, rather than reactive, measures to avoid situations that were conducive to mass displacement.

ALVARO GARCIA, Director of the Office for Planning and Budget in the Office of the President of Uruguay, noted that 50 per cent of the world’s population had been systematically left behind.  As such, the planet would not be sustainable without changing that pattern.  For its part, the Government attached great importance to addressing the structural causes of food insecurity and climate change and to providing universal access to education.  After the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the Office of the President had convened a social dialogue to generate inputs for the national development strategy, he concluded.

KIKEO CHANTHABOURY, Vice-Minister for Planning and Investment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, associating himself with the Group of 77, the Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said that good progress had been made in implementing the Millennium Development Goals.  While classified as both a least developed and landlocked country, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was strongly committed to achieving its national development aims and to ultimately graduate from its least developed country status.  The Sustainable Development Goals had been mainstreamed into the current five-year national social economic development plan for 2016 to 2020.  The Government would continue efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals currently off track, notably on reducing the impact of unexploded ordnance.

KARINA GOULD, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Development of Canada, said that the Government was refocusing its international assistance to reach the poorest and most vulnerable, including women, youth, children, indigenous peoples and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, not as victims, but as equal participants in sustainable development.  She noted the upcoming replenishment fund for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Montreal in September.  Canada was also undertaking a public review of its international assistance, she added.  It was too early to say what the new approach would be, but gender equality and empowering women and girls would be at the heart of Canada’s efforts.  It was 2016 and high time to channel their full potential, she said.

CARLOS FORADORI, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Argentina, emphasized the importance of national budgets in investing more in education and health, regardless of how much that might cost in terms of leaders’ political capital.  In Argentina, the National Council of Policy Coordination was in charge of handling the 2030 Agenda at the national level, with the statistical institute reviewing the development of indicators.  A list of objectives and goals would be ready by the end of 2016, he said, adding that while the Goals were universal, Argentina maintained the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities.

ÁDÁM ZOLTÁN KOVÁCS, Deputy Secretary of State for Internal Cooperation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said the international community must collaborate and consult within and among countries to move forward.  Stressing the need to effectively implement the Paris Agreement, he said that Hungary was ready to share national experiences.  The Government, since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, had developed a national framework and had held regular meetings with ministries to keep track of progress.  Among other things, he drew attention to the issue of water, stressing that there was no dedicated United Nations body for that topic.

Ms. MUSCHETT, Vice-Minister for Social Development of Panama, said the Government had designed a strategic plan with a view to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.  Supported by all sectors, it had promoted the nationalization of globally agreed goals while carrying out an analysis to identify national needs and priorities.  In order to eliminate extreme poverty, the Government had started developing a multidimensional index for Panama.  Furthermore, it had allocated a majority of the budget to areas including housing and the environment with a view to overcoming poverty and ensuring environmental sustainability.

K. YOGEESVARAN, Deputy Director General of the Economic Planning Unit, Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, associating himself with the Group of 77, said inclusivity was a key principle in the national development agenda.  Malaysia’s current five-year development plan underscored the achievement of high income, inclusiveness and sustainability.  Going beyond GDP, the country had introduced a “well-being” index, he said.  Malaysia had only started to implement the Goals, but it was committed to their full implementation and was ready to work with regional and global partners to reach that end.

MOERTAN JESPERSEN, Under-Secretary for Global Development and Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, highlighted some national steps that were being taken to implement the Goals, including the development of a single strategic action plan in cooperation with all ministries, with input from civil society, the private sector and academia.  Coordination was anchored at the Ministry of Finance, he said, expressing hope for the broad adoption of the action plan by Parliament later this year.  Priorities would be built on the core strengths of Danish society.  Reaffirming Denmark’s strong commitment to the 0.7 per cent ODA target, he said it was in its national interest.  He also emphasized respect for human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women as fundamental.

LARYSA BELSKAYA (Belarus) said the Government attached great importance to the High-Level Political Forum as it provided an environment to exchange information on sustainable development.  International organizations must support national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, she said, adding that it was relevant particularly for middle-income countries given their populations and situations.  Therefore, creating fair and mutually beneficial conditions was essential.  At the national level, the Government had developed a national strategy, whose first review was scheduled for 2017.

A representative of child-focused agencies, speaking on behalf of Save the Children and World Vision, said the 2030 Agenda had the potential to unleash transformative change for children.  Member States and others must focus on those children who were furthest behind with guarantees of health, quality education and protection.  He called for a child-friendly United Nations, emphasizing that there was no child-specific intergovernmental body.  He called on the Council and the General Assembly to facilitate an intergovernmental space for children.

A representative of the major group for farmers drew attention to poverty among many of the world’s farmers.  Among other things, they needed enhanced access to information.  The public should be made aware of the impact of cheap food on the environment, he said, adding that best management practices and new technology should be spread through grass-roots programmes.  He also called for farmers’ organizations to be included in evaluation and monitoring processes.

A representative of the International Service for Human Rights described the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as a challenging process, stressing that the participation of civil society would be critical for successful outcomes.  The Council must ensure the voices of such organizations were heard, she said, drawing attention to the restrictions at national and international levels.  Citing an example, she said that in June, some Member States at the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations had intentionally blocked groups from being granted consultative status with the United Nations.

A representative of Safeword said conflict and violence were on the rise and the international community could not adopt a “business as usual” approach for successful outcomes.  While acknowledging universal challenges, she noted that the burden usually fell on the most marginalized.  She said that in 2015, world leaders had made a commitment to leave no one behind.  If that statement was more than rhetoric, they must strive to build global peace, she said, calling upon all leaders to focus on actions.

A representative of the major group for women underscored the key role played by civil society organizations and stressed that Member States must benefit from their expertise.  Drawing attention to the lack of inadequate funding, she stressed the need for bolstered political will.

A representative of youth volunteer associations, on behalf of the NGO Committee on Financing and Development, contrasted the cost of implementing the Goals with the amount of money spent on weapons or hidden in tax havens.

A representative of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development said that an unprecedented amount of financial resources would be needed to fulfil the 2030 Agenda objectives.  Current investment patterns would not suffice, he said, adding that the Forum should champion innovative practices.

A representative of the International Federation for Family Development discussed poverty relief strategies that promoted the role of the family.  He noted how the breakdown of the family could be a source of poverty.  He also noted the need to take action with regard to the psychological health of children.

A representative of Fraternite Notre Dame said that as a Catholic organization, it gave priority to activities for the poor, the sick and deprived families and for the field of education.  She said that the fight against social inequalities could be sustained through a strong cooperation and a relationship between civil society organizations and international organizations.

A representative of General Forum of the Arabic and African Non-Governmental Organizations underscored the important role played by NGOs in the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  The international community must build on the lessons learned to move forward, he said, stressing the need for Member States to develop national guidelines.

A representative of International Committee for Peace said that while the adoption of the 2030 Agenda was encouraging, it was time to think about those who had been left behind.  Drawing attention to the issue of modern slavery, he said that according to the recent reports, currently 45 million people were being forced to work.

A representative of the Legion of Goodwill said that leaving no one behind would require an unprecedented commitment in goodwill and cooperation.  The most effective way to overcome poverty was through a holistic approach that addressed the diverse needs of individuals.  It was also vital to strengthen education for a global citizenship.  He invited participants to read his organization’s recommendations, which could be found in its magazine, available in the meeting room.