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STATEMENT (2C): AGENDA ITEM 19 - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, 12 OCTOBER 2020

STATEMENT BY 
MS. AZNIFAH ISNARIAH ABDUL GHANI 
ADVISER, PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

AGENDA ITEM 19: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

AT THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE 75TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

NEW YORK, 12 OCTOBER 2020

 

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Malaysia aligns itself with the statement by Guyana on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as the statement by the Philippines, on behalf of ASEAN.

Mr. Chairman,

2.   The current pandemic situation has resulted in an unprecedented global crisis, which has not only caused severe health emergency, but also socio-economic difficulties, undermining decades of progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

3.    As we strive to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia remains committed to support the accelerated action and transformative pathways of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in this Decade of Action and Delivery. We are optimistic that the 2030 Agenda is our collective roadmap to address fragilities and shortcomings that the pandemic has caused and exposed, which also provides an impetus for us to build back better.

4.   In these unprecedented times, the international community has a moral responsibility to step up in its commitments and to coordinate concrete efforts in accelerating measures to achieve the 2030 Agenda; implement the SDGs; and to recover better, stronger and more sustainable.

5.    We also urge donor countries to honor their ODA commitments and align them with national priorities and strategies of developing countries to better meet their development needs.

Mr. Chairman,

6.   Malaysia’s development plans have always been geared towards sustainable development. As a manifestation of its commitment, Malaysia has embedded all the SDG principles in every facet of Malaysia’s development, implemented under our 5-year national plan, as well as the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030. The SPV 2030 aims to develop a fair and equitable distribution of economic development at all levels by 2030, as envisaged by the SDGs. Additionally, as host of the Malaysia SDG Summit 2019 in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 7 November 2019, it further reflects Malaysia’s fervent commitment to the SDG 2030.

7.    We have also launched the National SDG Progress Monitoring System, which serves as a main reference for the development of the SDG Data Monitoring Dashboard, which is the One-Stop Centre for the dissemination of all SDG-related data.

8.   Malaysia has also been taking comprehensive measures in ensuring that our economic development and environmental conservation go hand in hand. We are aware that effects of climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss will also affect our progress on all other goals.

9.    At the multilateral front, Malaysia takes its commitment to conservation seriously and is proud to be a signatory to an extensive list of international treaties on conservation, wildlife, forestry and environment.

10.  We have also exceeded by 5%, our initial commitment pledged at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 by currently retaining 55.3% or 18.3 million hectares of forest cover. In addition, Malaysia intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030, relative to the emissions intensity of GDP in 2005. To date, Malaysia has reduced its carbon emission intensity of its GDP to 33%.

11.  At the national level, we have been taking comprehensive measures, by implementing programmes for poverty eradication; forest and ocean management; and protection of the country’s rich biodiversity. Malaysia has also put into place appropriate laws and regulations to ensure the sustainable development of our palm oil industry. The palm oil industry is among the highly regulated industries in Malaysia, governed by more than 60 national laws and regulations.

Mr Chairman,

12.  To conclude, Malaysia believes that the 2030 Agenda provides the framework we need to end the pandemic; to respond to its socio-economic impacts; and to chart a course for a transformative recovery. In this regard, Malaysia appeals for greater alignment and coordinated measures for the implementation of the SDGs, especially during a time of unprecedented difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

I thank you.