HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL STATEMENT
17 July 2024
Statement by H.E. Ms Rebecca Bryant, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Thank you Madam President.
Australia recognises the HLPF as an important opportunity to discuss implementation of the 2030 Agenda and progress on the SDGs.
We congratulate the member states presenting their Voluntary National Reviews this year and applaud your commitment to transparency.
We encourages all members states to not only focus on their progress, but also take stock of the gaps and challenges we all face in implementing the 2030 Agenda and achieving its SDGs.
Australia supports strengthened participation of civil society in the VNR process and considers these reviews stronger when all relevant UN bodies, civil society, private sector organisations and multilateral development banks are able to participate fully and meaningfully.
While we pledged in the 2030 Agenda to ‘leave no one behind’, this year’s Ministerial Declaration sadly fell short in recognising the centrality of gender equality in meeting this commitment.
Additionally, important language on 1.5 degrees pathways and transition from fossil fuels was also omitted, which is especially disappointing given SDG 13 is under review.
Looking forward, the Summit of the Future will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to commit to meaningful reform of the UN system, and to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the world’s single largest channel of development assistance.
We need to build on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to increase all forms of revenue mobilisation.
Australia is a champion of multilateral development bank reform, and we have pushed for expanded lending to the most vulnerable nations.
But we must remember that without effective governance there can be no real improvement in development financing.
For more than thirty years, Small Island Developing States have been calling for an improved understanding of vulnerability.
We see the UN Multidimensional Vulnerability Index as an important first step in this process.
The inseparability of people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership is as clear now as it was in 2015.
Australia remains firmly committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development for everyone.
Thank you.