With a call to pick up the pace, the 2030 Agenda Forum has come to an end

The region is halfway there, but the goals are still far from being achieved, said José Manuel Salazar Chirenches, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECELAC), at the conclusion of the event.

He explained that so far, only a quarter of the Sustainable Development Goals have been achieved or there is certainty that they will be achieved before 2030, which means that there is a lot of work to be done.

Hundreds of people attended the forum, including government officials, experts from the UN system, civil society representatives and academics, and there was a day dedicated to children, adolescents and youth from the entire region.

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations, five targets related to drinking water and sanitation were analysed; clean and affordable energy; innovation in industry and infrastructure; Sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships to achieve the goals.

Regarding water, Salazar-Xirinach said that it is a vector of sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, but that although it is abundant in the region, it is not always available in sufficient quantity and quality, especially in the most needy population groups.

He said shortages caused by climate change and ineffective management, especially due to inadequate sanitation, are negatively affecting the food security and well-being of poor households across the region.

In terms of energy shortages, this is a serious problem in the most vulnerable segments of the region’s population, particularly among indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.

On the other hand, there is no comprehensive and sustainable industrialization in Latin America. The official said that although there has been a marginal improvement in carbon dioxide emissions over the past two decades, the sector has remained largely unchanged.

He also warned that by 2030, 86 percent of South Americans will live in cities, a figure already in Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico reaching 68 percentage points.

This means that problems and most solutions must focus on the urban environment, in all its complexities, including access to adequate housing, safe neighborhoods and inclusive environments for people with disabilities.

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean also noted the difficulties in financing development and called on the international community to accelerate investments in this regard and create a new global financial architecture.

The outcomes of the Sixth Regional Forum on Sustainable Development will be part of the agenda of the high-level meeting in September on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly.

memory / car / eam