UN General Assembly
2023

Mistrust is widespread. Solemn promises are routinely broken. Narrow nationalism and insularity have displaced global solidarity. Indeed, the situation is critical. Only 12 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track for achievement. For the first time, the Human Development Index declined globally for two years in a row. placing greater burdens on the most vulnerable. Poverty and food insecurity are rising. Hunger is at levels not seen since 2005. a major regression. High inflation has returned. The global average temperatures for the last three months were the highest on record. Yet the Group of 20 countries, which are responsible for 80 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions, are failing in their duty to drastically curb their emissions. Keeping the goal of 1.5°C alive is slipping from our grasp. The development financing gap is widening, putting development out of reach for low-income and vulnerable countries. Our Governments face a callous choice between Scylla and Charybdis, expensive debt payments or acquiring even more expensive debt to invest in development and resilience.