STATEMENT BY MR JASON TAN, FIRST SECRETARY (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 78TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECOND COMMITTEE, 3 OCTOBER 2023

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Cuba on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, Samoa on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, and Indonesia on behalf of Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

2 We also congratulate the Chair and other members of the Bureau on your election. Singapore looks forward to working with you toward a successful Second Committee session.

3 As many others have highlighted, here at the General Debate and recently at the SDG Summit, we now stand at the mid-way point of the 2030 Agenda. Yet, we remain far from achieving the goals that we have set out in 2015. COVID-19, geopolitical conflicts, and economic fragmentation have set us further back. The triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss continue to jeopardize our survival, especially that of Small Island Developing States. Growing divisions in the multilateral system threaten to undermine our pursuit of global sustainable development.

4 It is imperative that at this mid-way point, we remain focused on addressing these challenges, and double down on our efforts toward the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Let me emphasise three key priorities.

5 First, a rules-based multilateral system remains our best bet to maintain a stable international environment that promotes sustainable growth and development. We must work together to update and reform our multilateral institutions, including the UN, to keep them open and inclusive, to reflect the current political and economic realities, and to respond effectively to new and emerging challenges. This will rebuild trust in multilateralism, and improve legitimacy and effectiveness through inclusion and accountability.

6 Second, digitalisation and technology are key to accelerating SDG implementation, and we need to create an enabling environment for the world to leverage them effectively. We must close the digital divide through strengthening partnerships and global frameworks, and we must promote innovation to identify smart technological solutions toward a sustainable and resilient future. International cooperation in the digital domain, including through knowledge exchange platforms like Singapore’s Digital FOSS, will also be critical to accelerate global deployment and harnessing of crucial technologies for sustainable development.

7 Third, effective mobilisation of financing for the SDGs is paramount to addressing existing development gaps, and channelling resources to the most pressing issues of our time. Today, the SDG financing gap stands at between 4 to 7 trillion US dollars annually. But the world is not short on finances, especially when global capital markets are worth 240 trillion dollars. What we need is a new orientation and a fundamental shift in our approach towards international finance. We need to repurpose international financial institutions to mobilise resources more effectively. Most importantly, we need to invest in global public goods, and invest in our collective future.

Mr Chair,

8 The first half of the road to 2030 has not been smooth sailing, but we cannot allow ourselves to fall further behind. It is essential that we re-commit ourselves to the SDGs, and reinvigorate our efforts in this regard. Singapore looks forward to working closely with all delegations in the Second Committee, as we chart a sustainable path forward together.

9 Thank you.

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