UN General Assembly
2013

Declaration. Since then, the Millennium Development Goals have served us well. For almost 15 years, they have influenced and guided the development priorities of nations and organizations. They have increased awareness of heartbreaking poverty and inspired new policymaking. The Millennium Development Goals are indeed central to Iceland’s development policy, and my Government is firmly committed to shouldering our responsibility in a globalized world. As new goals are defined, the focus should remain on eliminating poverty, achieving gender equality, improving health and providing education for girls and boys. The pressure on our ecosystem calls for urgent action to combat pollution and land degradation, as well as a balanced consideration of conservation and the utilization of natural resources. It is a challenge to ensure food security when land and water resources are threatened. Our duty is to share experiences and know- how to restore land and improve land management — to change deserts into blooming fields. Furthermore, climate change and disasters such as the one in Fukushima have taught us that a real energy transformation is needed. Safe, clean and renewable