Israel commits to new UN sustainable development agenda

At the top of the list is to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere, end hunger, promote gender equality and combat climate change by 2030.

By DANIELLE ZIRI
Plastic bottles to be sold for recycling are seen at a storage (photo credit: REUTERS)
Plastic bottles to be sold for recycling are seen at a storage
(photo credit: REUTERS)
NEW YORK – Israel is fully committed to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the 70th General Assembly at the end of last month, first secretary at the Israeli Mission to the UN Nizar Amer said in a statement to the Second Committee.
The plan, which had been put together by the 69th General Assembly last year, consists of 17 sustainable development goals, and the Agenda states the countries’ commitments to work toward fulfilling these targets over the next 15 years. At the top of the list is eradicating poverty in all its forms everywhere, ending hunger, promoting gender equality and combating climate change.
UN member state leaders will gather in Paris from November 30 to December 11 for the 21st annual session of the UN Climate Change Conference, which will strive to achieve a binding and universal agreement on climate signed by all nations for the first time in more than 20 years of UN negotiations.
At the session of the UN Second Committee on Thursday, Amer stressed that Israel considers the 2030 agenda a historic opportunity to make a decisive push against poverty and its worse manifestations.
Israel already has demonstrated its commitment to such issues through the work of its International Agency for Development Cooperation, also known as MASHAV, he said.
“MASHAV’s activities,” Amer explained, “focus primarily on capacity building in areas in which Israel has a competitive advantage, such as agricultural technology, desertification, micro-enterprise development, entrepreneurship, public health and the empowerment of women and youth.”
The first secretary also told the committee, “Israel firmly believes that the key to a sustainable and prosperous future is long-term investment in local communities.”
“In this regard, the field of agriculture is one of great importance when it comes to achieving the sustainable development goals,” he added.
Amer also stressed that gender equality is a priority for Israel and that the country considers it to be “inextricably linked to sustainable development.”
“If we fail to empower women and to give them equal opportunities in their societies, we will never accomplish what we have set to achieve,” he said.
World leaders, heads of state, ministers and members of civil society and the private sector will gather in Israel next month for the 29th International Women Leaders’ Conference, organized by MASHAV in collaboration with UN WOMEN and UNDP.
The summit will revolve around innovative approaches to the promotion of gender equality through economic empowerment, while strengthening the global network of women leaders.


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