Speaking at the United Nations today in Fiji's capacity as Chair of the Group of 77 and China, Ambassador Peter Thomson addressed the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals. The subject under current debate by the OWG is "Sustainable Cities, Human Settlement and Sustainable Transport."
Fiji's Ambassador explained that the 133-member Group of 77's approach to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Post-2015 Development Agenda was firmly aimed at eradicating poverty and advancing sustainable development. He said that "the grim reality of approximately one billion people living in urban slums highlights the gravity of the challenges."
Ambassador Thomson said the Group of 77 encourages Governments and UN Habitat to use planned city extension methodologies to guide the sustainable development of cities in order to prevent slum proliferation, enhance access to basic urban services, support inclusive housing, enhance job opportunities and create a safe and healthy living environment for all urban dwellers.
Fiji's Ambassador pointed out that the world's urban areas are expected to expand by 60 per cent before 2030, representing unparalleled opportunities to transform the social and economic fabric of nations. Today 50 per cent of the world's seven billion people are urbanised, with projections showing that some 70 per cent will live in cities by 2050. He said the SDGs must address the multi-dimensional challenges of urban dwellers in order to provide access to basic services, improve the lives of slum dwellers, strengthen urban resilience and protect ecosystems.
Ambassador Thomson said the Group calls for modalities of interaction between nations at the international level, as well as between central and local governments at national levels, in order to fulfill their respective roles as governmental stakeholders in global efforts on sustainability.
Fiji's Ambassador affirmed that the Group believes urgent attention must be given to the future sustainability of cities. He said that in a world of resource scarcity, cities remain large-scale consumers of water, energy and products, as well as significant generators of greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector are growing faster than any other sector; meanwhile outdoor air pollution, with the transport sector as a major contributor, is estimated to result in more than 3.2 million premature deaths annually.
Ambassador Thomson said that the Group of 77 calls for serious global actions to develop "sustainable transport systems, including energy efficient multi-modal transport systems, clean fuels and vehicles, as well as improved transportation systems in rural areas."
-END-