EU Statement – ECOSOC: Coordination Segment
Presidents, colleagues,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the potential candidate country Georgia align themselves with this statement.
We thank you for convening us at this year’s Coordination Segment to take stock of the rich work of ECOSOC.
The world is seriously off-track in reaching the SDGs until 2030. Our trajectories were already incompatible with the achievement of the SDGs, and they have been further hindered by war and conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, growing inequalities, the climate crisis and unabated environmental degradation.
But not all is bleak. There is a silver lining.
On energy, for example, what the SG recently called a ‘renewables revolution’ has started in Europe and is gaining speed. According to the International Energy Agency, there has been a significant acceleration in green energy globally. Total renewable capacity growth is set to almost double worldwide in the next five years, overtaking coal. In the EU, the cost of solar power has decreased by 82% over the last decade, making it the most competitive source of electricity. However, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has introduced heightened uncertainty. This is reflected in rising energy prices and food insecurity affecting millions of vulnerable people around the world. It is thus timely that HLPF will review SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy – this year.
Clean water and sanitation – SDG 6 - is another key issue to be reviewed by ECOSOC. 2 billion people are without access to clean water. 2.3 billion without basic hygiene services. Good international governance and adequate water infrastructure are at the heart of this challenge. We are hopeful that the up-coming UN Water Conference will address these concerns successfully.
Better policies, practices, resource mobilisation, and addressing the huge financial gap are prerequisites for achieving the SDGs by 2030. We must unite to put the SDGs back on track!
The Global Gateway Initiative is part of the EU’s contribution towards this goal. Since its launch in 2021, more than 9 billion EURO in grants have been committed to key investments in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific. An example is the EU's partnership with Namibia, which will develop infrastructure to produce green hydrogen, partially for the global market via the port of Walvisbaai.
Global Gateway facilitates investments in digital, energy, transport, health, education and research. Investments in health include over 1 billion EURO for vaccine manufacturing, medicines and health technologies in Africa. Investments in education involve 26 African partner countries.
At the HLPF in July, the EU will present its first Voluntary Review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The review will cover our internal and external implementation of the SDGs.
We will also contribute to the mid-term review of the Sendai framework and the political declaration under the ECOSOC umbrella.
Presidents, colleagues,
By working together within ECOSOC, we can make a difference. The Coordination Segment shall ensure that ECOSOC delivers on its important mandate of promoting development and social and economic progress. We are confident that ECOSOC, working in coordination with other UN organs, can raise to the task of building international solidarity and overcoming global challenges.
I thank you.