UNDESA, in collaboration with OHRLLS, co-hosted a High-Level Breakfast Event on the margins of the General Debate of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly on 22 September, focusing on how to harness synergies between the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, with a special emphasis on countries in special situations.

The Event provided a platform for an insightful dialogue among world leaders and for mobilizing and further enhancing political will and momentum towards a coherent and coordinated universal implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Speakers included the Prime Minister of Fiji (President of COP23), the Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Polish Affairs of Poland (incoming COP24 President), the Minister of Environment & Energy, Maldives (AOSIS), the Minister for Environment, Zambia (LDC), The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Ethiopia, the World Bank Group’s Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda, UN Relations, and Partnerships and the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP.

The Under-Secretary-General of OHRLLS, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, made opening remarks, and the Event was moderated by Under-Secretary-General of UNDESA, Mr. Liu Zhenmin.

At the event it was highlighted that climate change presents the single biggest threat to sustainable development, and its widespread, unprecedented impacts disproportionately burden the poorest and most vulnerable. Urgent action to combat climate change and minimise its disruptions is integral to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Participants also noted that the global and cross-cutting nature of climate change calls for synergetic and mutually-reinforcing implementation of both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, as well as broad international cooperation in building resilience and adaptive capacity, developing sustainable low-carbon pathways to the future, and accelerating the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.