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Dear colleagues
It is my honour – together with UNDP Administrator, Helen Clark – to welcome you all to our joint meeting on the new Sustainable Development Goals.
I know that our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen, was looking very much forward to the discussion today.
He sends his apologies for having to cancel at the last minute and has asked his good staff to take notes of the points presented today.
We are currently looking at a date in early May to arrange a second meeting with UNDP. This will hopefully give the Foreign Minister a chance to engage with you in discussions on how to put the SDGs into action.
The presence of all of you here today is a testament to the importance and transformative potential of the 2030 Agenda.
The new Agenda is a milestone in history. With 17 goals and 169 targets, we have laid out concrete and measureable steps of what we believe the world should look like a generation from now.
We have 15 years that means no time to waste. The agenda will require speedy and steady fast action from all of us - now. The Danish government is committed both in our global engagement and at home.
Domestically, the government is currently considering how best to organise the national follow-up to the SDGs. It is a challenging task but we are excited to get to work.
The SDGs carry a global ambition of an integrated approach to the three dimensions of sustainable development – the economic, social and environmental dimensions. Denmark is already underpinning the universal character of the agenda – both at home and abroad.
According to a study from the Bertelsmann Foundation, Denmark is one of the “fit five” OECD countries able to deliver on the SDGs from day one.
Many countries, developed and developing alike, look to us in important areas such as sustainable growth, universal access to education and health, green technologies, public private partnerships and well-recognised development cooperation.
To take a concrete example from my field, in 2014, Denmark celebrated the 200 year anniversary of the right to elementary education for all. Denmark was the first country to introduce this right. It is a history to learn from. And to build on.
The comprehensive character of the 2030 Agenda will require government coordination across all line ministries. Priorities will build on existing strengths and vantage points, but we will also pay attention to areas where we will make an extra effort.
At the international level, the Danish government is working on different interlinked elements to support the realisation of the SDGs.
Our government has decided to draft a new strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian action. Here we will put the SDGs center stage.
Both as a way to align our Danish interests and values with global priorities; And as concrete target areas of action. We will work across the Danish society and build coherence between issue areas as we look to do our part in delivering results.
The 2030 Agenda will require a new approach to the way the international community does development.
The United Nations, with its expertise and know-how, and the multilateral cooperation will play a crucial role in this context.
We – as Member States – will cooperate closely with the UN on the implementation, because the responsibility for taking forward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda lies first and foremost with the countries and their governments.
The role of the United Nations will be to support Member States in the endeavor of implementing national priorities and advise the countries.
We need to work together with the common ambition of fulfilling the 2030 Agenda, not goals individually.
UNDP has a unique role to play in this regard – both through its role as Chair of the UN Development Group and more broadly in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at country level.
The 2030 Agenda belongs to all countries and to all people. Success will require a strong global partnership with the concerted efforts of national governments, the international community, civil society, the media and the private sector – everyone must take leadership to help create hope and opportunity for people across the globe.
We look forward to cooperating with all of you.
I wish you a fruitful discussion today.