UAE is model for initiation of good governance, says Ban Ki-moon
When it comes to global issues, leadership is absolutely crucial. Good leadership helps in the formulation of policies, and this can only be done at the topmost level.”
Ban Ki-moon, president, Global Green Growth Institute
dubai — Former secretary-general of the UN and president of the Global Green Growth Institute Ban Ki-moon has called the UAE “a good example” for integrating sustainable development goals (SDGs) in its leadership.
Speaking at a high-level panel titled ‘SDGs in Action 2019’ at the seventh World Government Summit (WGS) on Sunday, the eighth secretary-general of the UN praised the UAE for becoming a ‘solar-powered state’ from an oilbased economy.
“However, these kinds of best practices must be shared so that we can minimise the challenges (of achieving SDGs),” said Ban. “When it comes to global issues, leadership is absolutely crucial. Good leadership helps in the formulation of policies, and this can only be done at the top-most level.”
Given that most countries live in different circumstances and political leaders have different priorities, political and business community leaders need a clear vision on effectively implementing the SDGs. He said that the UN may have outlined the goals, however, it becomes the responsibility of individual countries to adopt them. The UN SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2015.
Other speakers in the session were Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, and María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, president of the UNGA. Joining them were Achim Steiner, administrator of the UNDP, and Mahmoud Mohieldin, senior vice-president, World Bank Group.
Espinosa said achieving SDGs are a shared responsibility and collective obligation of governments. She strongly advocated the need to relieve the global community of inequality. “We need 600 million jobs by 2030, and that is a major macro-economic challenge.”
She cited some countries that are “unequal” in their policies. “My country (Ecuador) has a gold medal in inequality. It is one of the wealthiest continents. But people continue to be hungry.”
Meanwhile, Mohieldin said SDGs must become a major part of the business and private sector. He said countries must also have SDG-oriented budgets .
“The financial sector, both public and private, need to be aligned with the SDGs,” he said.
Puna said political stability aids economic growth. Citing Cook Islands as an example, Puna said his country’s economy has been booming. “People are sharing the benefits of strong economic growth. Localisation of SDGs is also very critical,” he said. Adding a personal touch to SDG targets, Achim Steine with the UNDP said SDGs need to be a personal responsibility as well.”