“Putting people first means we need to create opportunities for young people to acquire labor market relevant knowledge and skills through education, training and early work experience,” Lachezara Stoeva called. The current gloomy forecasts for global economic growth simply call for it.
Amidst multiple interconnected crises globally, driving efforts to make this happen the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development depends on giving people the tools they need to build resilient societies and economies. She opened the sixty-first session of the Commission and outlined how best to do this.
Half way to 2030
Approaching half of the 2030 deadline to reach all 17 SDGsShe said member states have clear responsibilities as the world seeks the transition to low-carbon and green economies and societies.
“To ensure a fair and inclusive transition, governments have a responsibility to put people first,” she said.
They must support regions, industries and workers who face the greatest challenges in the transition to a green economy, she said.
This requires policies that facilitate the redistribution of redundant workers, alongside a range of other measures including tailored job-search assistance, flexible learning courses, employment schemes and hiring and transition incentives.
Universal social protection
Part of a people-centric approach means offering a universal social safety net that gives everyone access to comprehensive, adequate and sustainable protection, she said.
The critical role of social protection systems – exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic – remains an essential part of governments’ efforts to build resilient economies and societies to accommodate Agenda 2030 Goals.
Investing in human capacity is also crucial for the emerging and future demands of the labor market, which is already being affected by factors such as digital transformation, demographic trends and climate change, she said.
Lachezara Stoeva, President of the 2023 session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Communicate the values of the 2030 Agenda
“These structural changes require complementary efforts in the fields of education, training and lifelong learning,” she explained. Such efforts must communicate the values of inclusion, sustainability and partnership enshrined in the 2030 Agenda.
During its sixty-first session, the Commission will focus on the social dimension of sustainable development. Discussions will look at the creation of decent work and how it relates to inequality and poverty.
Putting words into action
Before the SDG Summit in September, the ECOSOC President said: “We must work together to translate our discussions and conclusions into concrete actions to achieve the SDGs by 2030.”
The Commission’s conclusions will feed into the summit, where world leaders will follow up and review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The gathering marks the very midpoint of the 2030 deadline to achieve the goals.
