Statement: Second Committee General Debate
Statement by H.E. Ms. Anna Johannsdottir
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations
General Assembly 79th session
Second Committee – General Debate
7 October, 2024
Thank you Chair.
Allow me to congratulate you and the Bureau on your election and excellent work in steering the Second Committee of the 79th General Assembly. We look forward to working with you during this important session, and you may count on Iceland’s full support and engagement, also within the Bureau.
Mr. Chair.
The Second Committee begins its work amid multiple global challenges, including devastating armed conflicts, growing climate crisis, increasing food insecurity and geopolitical tensions running high. This is impacting key areas of sustainable development and pushing more people into extreme poverty.
The latest Sustainable Development Goals Report revealed a concerning lack of progress, notably nearly half the 17 targets are showing minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over one third has stalled or even regressed.
It is evident that stronger and more effective international cooperation is needed to meet our collective targets, and it requires a concerted joint effort as well as global solidarity. It is also important to retain the delicate progress made over the last decade.
Mr. Chair.
The reform of the international financial architecture is an important step towards building greater trust in the multilateral system. It needs to be more efficient, equitable and address both the challenges of present and future generations.
The growing SDG financing gap is deeply concerning and there is an urgent need for a holistic approach to financing for development. We have an opportunity to secure an ambitious outcome at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development next year.
Iceland will continue to strongly support our bilateral development partners, and last year, we further increased our core funding to our UN partners. In this landscape of multiple crises, flexible and predictable funding is more important than ever.
Mr. Chair.
We are also convening in the aftermath of an eventful high-level week with important actions agreed at the Summit of the Future. We have revitalized our commitments under the SDGs, and it is imperative that we bring that spirit forward during this session of the Second Committee.
Iceland welcomes the actions agreed at the Summit of the Future on eradicating poverty by investing in human capital and addressing the multidimensional nature of poverty. Eradicating poverty is essential to sustainable development, this includes food security, healthcare, and climate action. Poverty not only deprives people of basic needs but also perpetuates inequality, instability and lack of opportunities.
Iceland remains firmly committed to the 2030 Agenda and our recently adopted policy for international development cooperation is rooted in the vision of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. The policy has an overarching goal of poverty eradication, respect for human rights and improved living standards, with an emphasis of leaving no one behind.
Mr. Chair.
Human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development. This is underlined in the Secretary General´s report on Women in Development, stating that gender equality must be the core of poverty eradication, social protection and labour market policies.
Iceland will continue to focus on gender equality, women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and eradicating gender-based violence. Crucially, we will increase our efforts to strengthen civil rights and improve social and legal protection for LGBTQI+ persons.
Mr. Chair.
Iceland underlines the importance of international cooperation when it comes to addressing global environmental challenges and crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as well as desertification, land and soil degradation, drought and deforestation, and their impacts on health and the environment, which are further exacerbated by persistent levels of poverty, inequality and food insecurity.
The sustainable use of natural resources must be prioritised and all efforts in this regard should seek a balance between protection and preservation. Renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy, are of great importance to Iceland and we place a particular focus on eradicating energy poverty within our development cooperation.
A healthy ocean is also a priority for us, in fact it is a matter of economic prosperity and well-being. Sustainable management of the ocean economy is critical to achieving the SDGs and it brings forth a wealth of opportunities. Iceland has advocated for the health of oceans and waters as an important part of adapting food systems to sustainable solutions, and we are proud to take part in the work of the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition.
Another essential solution to food security and poverty reduction is to achieve land degradation neutrality, in accordance with target 15.3. Land restoration can play a critical role in reducing climate emissions, enhancing food security, biodiversity, water conservation and strengthening social stability. Thus, offering multiple cross-cutting solutions to many of the pressing challenges we face today.
In this regard, there lie important opportunities in the anticipated outcomes from the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan, and COP16 in Colombia and Saudi Arabia later this year.
Mr. Chair.
Speaking of opportunities that lie ahead of us - we are about to embark on a new QCPR cycle. It is important to build on the progress made and identify areas for improvement as we set the course for the next four years.
Iceland stands ready to support and engage constructively in the work of the Second Committee and we look forward to productive discussions with all of you in the coming weeks.
I thank you.