(Courtesy Translation)
Mr. President,
Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
Four years before the 2030 Agenda deadline, we all have a clear responsibility: to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and to do so in a truly transformative way.
The environmental, economic, and social crises of our time are deeply interconnected; our responses must be equally interconnected.
This is the belief that guides Italy’s actions and inspires the voluntary review process presented this year.
With the third “National, Local, and Youth Voluntary Review,” we have chosen to highlight the collective contribution of central governments, local communities, civil society, and the youth.
The Review brings together fourteen Local Voluntary Reviews, along with our country’s first Youth Voluntary Review, thereby demonstrating our commitment to the Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations.
Sustainable development must be rooted in local communities, engage communities, and mobilize all sectors of society.
The SDGs localization is therefore of strategic importance. It is at the local level that global goals are translated into public policies, services, investments, and opportunities for people. And it is through effective multilevel governance that we can build the necessary link between global visions and concrete actions.
At the same time, we are convinced that the younger generations must be key players in the design and implementation of sustainability policies. The Youth Voluntary Review is a first step in this direction.
Finally, Italy’s experience confirms the importance of the Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development as an enabling factor for the entire 2030 Agenda. Recognizing the interconnections among the SDGs, leveraging their synergies, and consciously addressing potential divergences are essential conditions for accelerating their implementation.
It is against this premise that Italy, together with UN-Habitat, has promoted the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs, moving from the belief that cooperation among countries and the exchange of best practices are key steps to strengthening the territorial dimension of sustainable development and accelerating its implementation globally.
As we begin to look beyond 2030, we believe that any discussion must focus on the drivers of change that support the implementation of all the Sustainable Development Goals across the board: multilevel governance that empowers local communities; policy coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals; culture as the backbone of change; stakeholders’ participation; and the active involvement of younger generations.
This is the beginning of a new era for sustainable development: one that is more inclusive, more effective, and closer to the people.
Thank you.
