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PM Orpo: Finland leads UN’s sustainable development achievement goals | Yle News

According to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), there is a lot of work to be done, as members have so far achieved only 35 percent of the goals.

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File photo of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP). Image: Silja Viitala / Yle

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) is leading Finland’s delegation at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York City on Monday and Tuesday.

The annual meeting aims to assess how member countries are progressing in terms of sustainable development goals.

Adopted in 2015, the UN programme has 17 sustainable development goals. They include the elimination of hunger and poverty, providing universal healthcare and education, the availability of clean water as well as access to affordable, clean energy.

According to Orpo, there is a lot of work to be done, as members have so far achieved only 35 percent of the goals.

On the other hand, the PM told Yle that Finland is comparatively the top country in the effort for the fifth year in a row.

“We have made the best progress among countries in the world in implementing the goals, as we have completed approximately 86 percent of the 17 goals,” Orpo told Yle by telephone from New York.

He noted that achievements have been slowed by world crises, including by the pandemic as well as military conflicts.

According to Orpo, the meeting deals with three main themes of sustainable development: ecology, social sustainability and economic sustainability. This year, the forum will also focus on the position of women and girls around the world.

Progress hiccup

Work on the Finnish coalition government’s climate and energy strategies appeared to stumble earlier this month, after Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala of the National Coalition Party announced that Finland supports the EU proposal.

Then, members of the government’s second-largest party, the Finns Party, said they did not support the proposal.

Orpo told Yle that the government parties are committed to the policies in the government programme.

“Negotiations will continue this autumn. It’s primarily a question of what means will be used to achieve the stated goals. I believe that solutions will be found within the government,” Orpo said.

Orpo is scheduled to present a voluntary national review of Finland’s progress at the sustainability meeting on Tuesday, according to a press release issued by various ministries last week.

According to the release, the key factors in Finland’s success in reaching the goals included investment in gender equality, education, as well as health and wellbeing.

The release said that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has estimated that just 20 percent of countries involved in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were on track to fulfil their commitments.

“In addition, moderate progress is being made on 15 percent of the SDGs. Progress on about half of the goals is insufficient, and more than one-third of the goals show stagnation or regression,” the release stated.



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