Statement by Mr. Ruslan Edelgeriev, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Special Envoy on Climate Issues at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the Auspices of UN General Assembly
Distinguished Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is no doubt that governments alone cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The capacities of private sector, charities, and civil society are becoming increasingly important. Representatives of these spheres contribute to the achievement of SDGs not only financially, but also substantively.
Russia takes full account of the 2030 Agenda while defining its 2024 development strategy. Pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin 12 prioritized national projects are under way in all the areas crucial to the achievement of SDGs.
As part of its global partnership Russia is actively providing development assistance to countries in need both via bilateral channels and international organizations. To this end, the Russian Government allocated 1 bln 36 mln US$ in 2018.
We attach great importance to climate issues. At present, more and more companies in Russia are redesigning their business models in accordance with the principals of environmentally responsible entrepreneurship, including the biggest ones in the fuel and energy complex and in the natural resource extraction industry.
On the ecological track, global partnerships for the achievement of the SDGs are being developed at the local level. For instance, Moscow and Rostov-on-Don are part of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. The second biggest Russian city Saint-Petersburg has developed its own climate strategy.
At the 2020 High-Level Political Forum under the auspices of ECOSOC we will present our first Voluntary National Review of SDGs achievements. The section on the cooperation with business will be given significant coverage. We actively support the enhancement of public-private partnership and encourage companies to follow the principals of responsible business conduct including via the national Association for the United Nations Global Compact.
We are convinced that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda will depend on the readiness of all concerned parties to cooperate. Unilateral coercive measures and new trade barriers pull us back to the past. The future lies in the amplification of integration processes and political will to cooperate. It is only a unifying agenda which will help us find long-term solutions to the global 2030 Agenda issues.
Thank you for attention.
