Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has emphasized the pressing need to address climate change issues as a critical component of rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at the 2023 SDG Summit as the Chair of the Group of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at the UN Headquarters in New York, PM Prachanda declared that climate change, among other global crises, is posing a severe threat to the SDGs.
In his address, PM Prachanda underscored that the SDGs are at risk of faltering due to the detrimental impact of climate change. He stated that the world has veered off course in achieving the SDGs, with only a decade remaining until the 2030 deadline. Climate change, along with the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, is exacerbating the challenges faced by LDCs and hindering progress toward these critical development goals.
The Prime Minister stressed that climate change is a cross-cutting issue affecting numerous SDGs, emphasizing that climate action should be at the forefront of any rescue plan for the SDGs. He cited the UN Secretary-General's SDG Report, which highlights that more than half of the world's population, primarily from LDCs, is left behind.
PM Prachanda drew attention to the interconnectedness of climate change and the SDGs, revealing that twelve of the seventeen goals and numerous targets directly relate to the development challenges faced by LDCs. He expressed concern over the decline in foreign direct investment flows to LDCs and the adverse impacts on crucial sectors like infrastructure, renewable energy, water, sanitation, food security, health, and education.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister noted the rising external debt burden in LDCs, which has increased from 41 percent to 54 percent over the past decade. Despite these challenges, he affirmed Nepal's commitment to eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and achieving the SDGs. He stressed the importance of mobilizing domestic resources and institutions to continue the pursuit of these goals.
PM Prachanda called for concerted global efforts to address the debt distress of LDCs by 2025 and provide timely and coordinated debt solutions. He highlighted the pivotal role of finance in driving SDG progress and urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments, providing 0.7 percent of gross national products as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 percent to LDCs.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Prachanda's address at the 2023 SDG Summit highlighted the urgent need to prioritize climate change action within the context of the SDGs, emphasizing that addressing this critical issue is essential to rescuing and achieving these vital global development goals.
