This year's forum focused on five of the SDGs: healthcare (goal 3), gender equality (goal 5), sustainable economic growth and decent work (goal 8), oceans (goal 14) and partnerships to support the goals (goal 17). Representatives of UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) member states discussed how to find sustainable and innovative solutions in these areas and best implement these goals in a time dominated by crises and conflicts.
Mr Reubi emphasised in a statement at the start of the conference that Switzerland still believes it is vital to pursue a cooperative approach to implementing the goals, despite growing geopolitical and multilateral challenges. "The goals of the 2030 Agenda can only be achieved if states cooperate with sub-state and regional actors, as well as with civil society, academia and business," said Reubi.
The 2030 Agenda is universal in focus and contains fundamental principles. It was adopted by the UN's member states in 2015, along with its 17 goals and 169 targets. Despite the progress made since then, Reubi explained, efforts will need to be increased to implement the SDGs by 2030. He also announced that Switzerland would present the third voluntary national review on its implementation of the 2030 Agenda in 2026. He invited other member states to follow suit and provide a transparent and broad-based report on their country's implementation of the goals backed up by publicly accessible data.
Alongside Mr Reubi, the Swiss delegation to the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development included several specialist offices, notably the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE) and the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE). Various other key stakeholders (including members of the business community and the Swiss UN Youth Reps programme) took part in panels at the Geneva event.
An important guiding framework for sustainability policy
The Federal Council views the 2030 Agenda as an important guiding framework for its sustainability policy. Based on the Federal Council's decision at the end of 2018 and the national Sustainable Development Strategy (2030 SDS) of June 2021, Switzerland is committed to the best possible implementation of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda and to sharing experiences at the international level.
Discussions at the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development will serve as preparation for the High-level Political Forum in July at the UN in New York. There too, Switzerland will work to ensure that the international community delivers on the promises made in 2015 and works even more closely with civil society, business and science.
Further information:
Address for enquiries:
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E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
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