South Africa
STATEMENT BY MINISTER B MOLEWA AT THE HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL
FORUM 2017
17 JULY 2017, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, USA
Secretary-General, Presidents of General Assembly and the Economic and Social
Council, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, we are most grateful for this
opportunity to address this gathering of the High Level Political Forum on
eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world. This
represents the first year that we have an in-depth review of the SDG Goals 1, 2, 3,
5, 9 and 14 including Goal 17, strengthen the means of implementation and
revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, that we will continue
considering each year.
At the outset, South Africa aligns itself with the statements made by H.E. Andrés
Mideros, National Secretary of Planning and Development of the Republic of
Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and H.E Ali Alifei, Permanent
Representative of Chad, on behalf of the Africa Group.
It is two years since the historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. South Africa welcomes the
progress report towards the Sustainable Development Goals of the SecretaryGeneral
and commend the concerted efforts made by the entire world to eradicate
poverty in all its forms and dimensions by 2030.
CONFIDENTIAL
2
South Africa is a developing country with an economy in transition where our major
priorities are addressing the quadruple challenges of poverty, unemployment,
inequality and sustainability (social, economic and environmental). We note that
given the reality of countries being at different levels of development, success of
the SDGs will be largely uneven and progress hampered by such challenges.
Mr President,
We therefore make an appeal to the Secretary-General that the UN system as a
whole work collaboratively to share information, tools and expertise necessary to
assist respective countries.
Notably, the global economic downturn, the changing climate and resource
constraints posed by the depletion of natural resources and environment
degradation, including pollution, are challenges to our efforts to eradicate poverty
and promote wellbeing and prosperity.
Recognising that the highest poverty rates exist in sub-Saharan Africa, the 2030
Agenda resonates well with Africa’s roadmap for development namely, Agenda
2063, with which the SDGs are being implemented concurrently and in an
integrated manner and further strengthened by the Programme for Infrastructure
Development in Africa (PIDA), and the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs).
CONFIDENTIAL
3
To eradicate poverty in Africa, Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a priority.
Combating illegal movements of money or capital from the African Continent is
also vitally important and the fight against illicit financial flows, particularly from
Africa should be at the forefront of the international efforts related to development
financing as expressed in the report by the High-level Panel on Illicit Financial
Flows, led by Former South African President Mbeki. In this respect, the work of
the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up is very important.
Mr President,
Food security and nutrition are essential for sustainable development and strongly
linked to the presence of sustainable agriculture, healthy and productive oceans
and terrestrial ecosystems all of which are vastly threatened by the impacts of
climate change and as such adversely affecting food production. In this regard, our
commitment to and the full implementation of all elements of the Paris Agreement,
the NDC’s including loss and damage in its entirety and not merely disaster risk
management and early warning becomes absolutely vital.
Investment in research, development and infrastructure for Science, Technology,
Innovation and Engineering is very important. Integration of the three dimensions
of sustainable development can be facilitated through ecosystem approaches to
integrated management of activities related to natural resources, adequate
financial resources, education and awareness raising, and promoting partnerships
CONFIDENTIAL
4
with all stakeholders at all levels for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, oceans, seas and ecosystem services.
Securing access to new, additional and predictable sources of funding without
unrealistic pre-conditions is of central importance to African and other developing
countries. We must work together in mobilizing sufficient, adequate and predictable
financial resources for the implementation of the SDGs. Developed countries must
continue to honour their historic obligations and responsibilities, as part of the
commitments made in the context of the global partnership for development.
Without the means of implementation, we will not be able to achieve much.
Mr President,
It is my sincere hope and wish that as we now focus on the implementation of the
SDGs, we need all the available developmental tools and means of implementation
at our disposal. Our historic mission for future generations should be that leaders
of the world, in government, business and civil society, can join hands and do what
is right for future generations through eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity,
and achieving all the SDGs by 2030.
Ladies and Gentlemen, much has been said and it is now time for action on our
commitment to leave no one behind.
I THANK YOU!
FORUM 2017
17 JULY 2017, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, USA
Secretary-General, Presidents of General Assembly and the Economic and Social
Council, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, we are most grateful for this
opportunity to address this gathering of the High Level Political Forum on
eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world. This
represents the first year that we have an in-depth review of the SDG Goals 1, 2, 3,
5, 9 and 14 including Goal 17, strengthen the means of implementation and
revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, that we will continue
considering each year.
At the outset, South Africa aligns itself with the statements made by H.E. Andrés
Mideros, National Secretary of Planning and Development of the Republic of
Ecuador on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and H.E Ali Alifei, Permanent
Representative of Chad, on behalf of the Africa Group.
It is two years since the historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. South Africa welcomes the
progress report towards the Sustainable Development Goals of the SecretaryGeneral
and commend the concerted efforts made by the entire world to eradicate
poverty in all its forms and dimensions by 2030.
CONFIDENTIAL
2
South Africa is a developing country with an economy in transition where our major
priorities are addressing the quadruple challenges of poverty, unemployment,
inequality and sustainability (social, economic and environmental). We note that
given the reality of countries being at different levels of development, success of
the SDGs will be largely uneven and progress hampered by such challenges.
Mr President,
We therefore make an appeal to the Secretary-General that the UN system as a
whole work collaboratively to share information, tools and expertise necessary to
assist respective countries.
Notably, the global economic downturn, the changing climate and resource
constraints posed by the depletion of natural resources and environment
degradation, including pollution, are challenges to our efforts to eradicate poverty
and promote wellbeing and prosperity.
Recognising that the highest poverty rates exist in sub-Saharan Africa, the 2030
Agenda resonates well with Africa’s roadmap for development namely, Agenda
2063, with which the SDGs are being implemented concurrently and in an
integrated manner and further strengthened by the Programme for Infrastructure
Development in Africa (PIDA), and the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs).
CONFIDENTIAL
3
To eradicate poverty in Africa, Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a priority.
Combating illegal movements of money or capital from the African Continent is
also vitally important and the fight against illicit financial flows, particularly from
Africa should be at the forefront of the international efforts related to development
financing as expressed in the report by the High-level Panel on Illicit Financial
Flows, led by Former South African President Mbeki. In this respect, the work of
the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up is very important.
Mr President,
Food security and nutrition are essential for sustainable development and strongly
linked to the presence of sustainable agriculture, healthy and productive oceans
and terrestrial ecosystems all of which are vastly threatened by the impacts of
climate change and as such adversely affecting food production. In this regard, our
commitment to and the full implementation of all elements of the Paris Agreement,
the NDC’s including loss and damage in its entirety and not merely disaster risk
management and early warning becomes absolutely vital.
Investment in research, development and infrastructure for Science, Technology,
Innovation and Engineering is very important. Integration of the three dimensions
of sustainable development can be facilitated through ecosystem approaches to
integrated management of activities related to natural resources, adequate
financial resources, education and awareness raising, and promoting partnerships
CONFIDENTIAL
4
with all stakeholders at all levels for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, oceans, seas and ecosystem services.
Securing access to new, additional and predictable sources of funding without
unrealistic pre-conditions is of central importance to African and other developing
countries. We must work together in mobilizing sufficient, adequate and predictable
financial resources for the implementation of the SDGs. Developed countries must
continue to honour their historic obligations and responsibilities, as part of the
commitments made in the context of the global partnership for development.
Without the means of implementation, we will not be able to achieve much.
Mr President,
It is my sincere hope and wish that as we now focus on the implementation of the
SDGs, we need all the available developmental tools and means of implementation
at our disposal. Our historic mission for future generations should be that leaders
of the world, in government, business and civil society, can join hands and do what
is right for future generations through eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity,
and achieving all the SDGs by 2030.
Ladies and Gentlemen, much has been said and it is now time for action on our
commitment to leave no one behind.
I THANK YOU!
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