UN adopts new set of development goals to address challenges facing humanity

NEW YORK

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday adopted a new set of development goals which seek to bind the developed world to work alongside the developing nations in eradicating poverty and other basic challenges facing humanity.

Even as the assembly adopted the vote on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which Kenya played a key role in their drafting, questions over the developed world’s commitment to finance major projects in infrastructure in the less developed countries dominated speeches by various heads of State.

The adoption of the SDG’s was special moment for Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Mr Macharia Kamau who co-chaired the open working group which drafted the goals which are expected to end extreme poverty by the year 2030.

“This is the first global agenda which has been negotiated and agreed upon by 193 countries who have adopted it. The SDGs are divided into economic, social and environmental goals so that none of the three is left behind,” he said at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States.

He went on: “We had the privilege of playing leadership to the development of the global agenda which will not only guide the emancipation of the developing nations but also the development of the Western powers.”

Ireland Prime Minister Enda Kenny said his government and Kenya should be honoured for leading the development of the goals which must be implemented.

“I am proud of my country and Mr Macharia Kamau for the work they did in developing solutions to challenges facing the world. We have to ensure that they are implemented by thinking of others, not just ourselves,” he said.

The SDGs are a successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose period of implementation ended this year and were touted to envision ambitious goals which will eliminate the imbalance that has been created by developed countries at the same time as the address the effects on the environment as the word fights to end poverty, illiteracy, diseases and economic backwardness.

Explained Mr Kamau: “The SDGs do not leave the MDGs behind but they simply increase their level of ambition, widen areas of focus such that development shouldn't be at the expense of the less privileged and the environment.

POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis set the tempo for the adoption of the SDG’s when in a historic speech by the Head of the Vatican to the UN General Assembly urged world leaders to focus on the moral issues which were facing the world, to right the wrongs which had been created by deliberate economic and political discrimination.

The Pontiff also reminded the Heads of Government and States at the meeting to find ways of reversing the effects of climate change born out of human efforts to make life better.

Unless such efforts were undertaken, he warned, the world was staring at a crisis in the near future.

President Uhuru Kenyatta who arrived in New York on Friday morning was expected to co-chair at least six sessions of the three-day UN General Assembly meeting focus on peace, women empowerment, HIV, and security.

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen co-chaired the session on the adoption of the SDGs.

Mr Museveni while applauding the SDGs as transformative, urged the developed countries to keep their pledge to help finance the implementation of the targets.

“The successful implementation of the SDGs requires finances, technology and capacity building. Developing countries face challenges in accessing finances for infrastructure goals which require long term financing at concessional rates,” he said.

But Mr Kamau said an agreement was reached at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia two months ago during which commitments were pledged to finance multi-billion projects in infrastructure. Other key areas included water and sanitation, health, education, human dignity and human rights.

“Global commitments were obtained during the Addis Ababa meeting to help finance these mega projects. Developing countries have been cut out of international trade. How will they accumulate money to finance these projects unless through commitments for financing?” he posed.

DEFINING MOMENT

UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon described the adoption as “the defining moment in human life” but warned that the real test lay in implementation.

“The true test of the agenda will be in implementation of this blue print for success. There is need for renewed political commitment and the observance of the solid financing arrangement agreed in Addis Ababa,” he said.

Speakers at the meeting called for renewed political commitment, an end to discrimination and a fresh aspiration for the attainment of the goals.

President Kenyatta was expected late afternoon to co-chair a session on women and children which was expected to come up with ways of ending the marginalisation of women and committing the world to ensuring the plight of children was addressed.

Award winning musician Shakira and UNICEF ambassador Angelique Kidjo performed before the UN General Assembly emphasising on the need to end extreme poverty and marginalisation.