Skip to main content

United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

 

On 11 July 2018, the Special Envoy participated in a panel discussion during the 2018 High-Level Political Forum chaired by the President of ECOSOC, Ambassador Marie Chatardova. The session named "Review of SDGs Implementation: SDG 11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable" aimed at discussing the ways to accelerate the implementation of SDG11 and other SDGs as well as opportunities to strengthen the capacity of local and regional governments to further advance towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 
 
 
 
The Special Envoy addressed the audience alongside Ms. Penny Abeywardena, Commissioner in New York city Mayor’s office for International Affairs; Ms. Maimuna Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat; and Ms. Meera AlShaikh, Project Manager and member of the SDG11 Global Council, Smart Dubai, UAE. 
In his remarks, the Special Envoy emphasized the importance of considering road safety as an element when planning sustainable cities and human settlements. Addressing the governments of Member States, the Special Envoy highlighted road safety as a “basic condition for livable cities” and encouraged application of a combination of policies to ensure that sustainability is possible through safety improvements.    

 

In the days following the event, the Special Envoy held bilateral meetings with high-level road safety stakeholders, calling for enhanced coordination and alignment of efforts as well as encouraging support to the recently established UNRSTF.  
 
The Special Envoy held bilateral meetings with the following officials:
 
o H.E. Mr. Namgay Dorji, Minister of Finance of Bhutan
 
o Ms. Janette Sadik Khan, Principal, Bloomberg Associates 
 
o Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd session of the UN GA
 
o Ms. Stefanie Amadeo, Deputy US Representative to ECOSOC
 
o Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Chef de Cabinet, EOSG
 
o Mr. Liu Zhehmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
 
o Mr. Mohammed Ali Alhakim, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA
 
o Ms. Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Montenegro
 
o Mr. Makhtap Diop, Vice-President for Infrastructure, World Bank