United Nations General Debate of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Statement delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative, H.E. Mr. Justin Fepuleai

New Zealand is strongly committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at home and internationally. Like others, we are concerned that progress on many of the SDGs is off-track. While the impacts of conflicts and humanitarian crises have placed additional demands on the international community, we cannot lose our collective focus on the importance of sustainable development.

On SDG 1, in the Pacific we continue to work with partner governments, development organisations and communities to help alleviate poverty and support sustainable and inclusive economic development. In New Zealand, we are directly lifting incomes through taxation adjustments, so that households have more money to put towards essential food and housing.

On SDG 2, hunger and food insecurity are major global challenges that impact the most vulnerable communities. New Zealand continues to provide flexible and multi-year funding to UN organisations and other development partners that are responding to food insecurity globally.

On SDG 13, leaders from the Blue Pacific region have reiterated the need for urgent climate change action. New Zealand is committed to the COP28 call to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach and to address the climate crisis. We support adaptation and climate resilience.

Mr President, Pacific Island countries are on the front lines of climate change. New Zealand's Country Flexible Finance programmes provide untagged financial resources to Pacific partner governments for their own climate priorities. With Costa Rica, New Zealand is also co-facilitating the preparations for the 25 September High Level Meeting on sea-level rise given the threat it poses to sustainable development.

On SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, New Zealand ranks highly in the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators. We support Pacific and other partners' governance and democratic institutions, including through our Public Service Commission and Ministry of Justice.
And on SDG 17, partnerships, New Zealand takes a partner-led approach to development assistance. We congratulate Antigua and Barbuda on its successful hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States. New Zealand was pleased to co-chair, with Maldives, the preparatory process for SIDS4, and welcomes the partnership approach agreed in ABAS.

Finally, we emphasise that while not all SDGs are under review, the Goals are interlinked and indivisible. In particular, SDG 5 on Gender Equality connects across all Goals. We cannot achieve the SDGs if half the population is left behind. We will continue to push for strong and equitable gender outcomes.

Mr President, as we all continue to confront wide-ranging challenges and crises, New Zealand will be firmly focused on strengthening partnerships to urgently improve progress towards the SDGs.

Thank you.

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