Governments should have "political will and wisdom" in their efforts to achieve the agenda consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Espinosa told the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Segment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

 

"The 2030 Agenda is not a utopia. It is within our reach, if we choose to grasp it," she said, noting that "we have many solutions. We even have the resources."

 

"Governments must have the vision, drive and courage to lead; to tackle the structural and financial challenges preventing progress; to create an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development; and to take the difficult long-term decisions we need, despite short-term political cycles, to ensure inclusive and sustainable economies," said the UNGA president.

 

Espinosa stressed the importance of partnerships in achieving the agenda, saying, "No one can achieve the future we want single-handedly. We must dramatically scale up partnerships."

 

She also highlighted "action and ambition" in the undertaking. "We must adopt a razor-sharp focus on the most transformative next steps."

 

The forum is the main UN platform on sustainable development and it has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level. The forum, running from July 9 to 18, includes a three-day ministerial meeting.