New York - During the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with the Permanent Missions of Italy and Uruguay to the United Nations, co-hosted an event titled "Climate Ambition in an Age of Polarization: Country Insights on Building Trust and Driving Action." This event brought together global leaders and civil society champions to address the intertwined challenges of climate action and institutional trust.
Amid unprecedented global disruption and polarization - four out of five people globally demand stronger climate action from their governments, yet trust in these institutions is waning. With only 17% of all SDG targets on track and significant setbacks on SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), the need for effective governance to rebuild trust and drive bold climate action has never been greater.
With both SDG 13 and SDG 16 under review at the 2024 HLPF, this event brought together champions across member states and civil society focusing on the mutual benefits of climate action and peace, justice and strong institutions to advance sustainable development. Speakers discussed advancing climate ambition and action while addressing increasingly polarized contexts.
Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, highlighted that "broad political participation and strong and inclusive institutions are key for bold climate action. Our legacy must leave future generations with opportunities to shape their own futures."
Echoing this sentiment, Claudio Barbaro, Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security in Italy, stated "The Italian G7 Presidency encourages members to reaffirm high-ambition commitments, such as net zero by 2050, while ensuring sustainable growth, social stability, and equity." Mariano Berro, Executive Director of the Uruguayan Agency for International Co-operation, said "Uruguay is committed to tackling climate challenges while addressing urgent issues like poverty, violence, and education. Democracy and strong institutions are crucial in this process." Juliana Uribe, CEO and Founder of Movilizatorio, added, "Strong civil society leadership is needed to influence policy, spark action, and rebuild trust for a just and sustainable future."
Linda Maguire, Deputy Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the UNDP, underscored the urgency of the matter: "The message is simple but urgent: we need to act decisively on climate change, and we need to do it in a way that rebuilds trust in our institutions."
The event concluded with closing remarks from Ambassador Carlos Amorin, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations, highlighting the mutual benefits of climate action, peace, justice, and strong institutions in advancing sustainable development. The message from the event was clear: effective governance and restored trust in institutions are essential for achieving a sustainable and just future.
