https://www.edx.org/course/conversations-with-global-leaders-leading-on-sustainable-development
- Read up about Ban Ki-moon's life, leadership and corpus of work via his profile at The Elders. Ban Ki-moon. (2019, September 30). Retrieved from https://theelders.org/profile/ban-ki-moon
- Contributions by and about Ban Ki-Moon for Project Syndicate. Gates, B., Ben-Ami, S., Banerjee, A., Deaton, A., Roubini, N., Drew, E., … Skidelsky, R. (2019, March 11). Ban Ki-moon. Retrieved from https://www.project-syndicate.org/columnist/ban-ki-moon
- For an in-depth understanding of the nuances of how the SDGs were introduced, discussed and negotiated - the book - 'Transforming Multilateral Diplomacy: The Inside Story of the Sustainable Development Goals' by Macharia Kamau, Pamela Chasek and David O'Connor (Routledge 2018), especially Chapters 4 and 6 are highly recommended!
- Read a Review of the above book by Frank Biermann. Biermann, F. (2019). Review of ‘Transforming Multilateral Diplomacy: The Inside Story of the Sustainable Development Goals’. By Macharia Kamau, Pamela Chasek and David O’Connor (Routledge 2018). GAIA. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.28.1.12
- Today, I'd like to share with you, some, a very important aspect on what we need to do
- to implement these Sustainable Development Goals.
- And again, I am amazed by your correct memory of the dates - Sep 25, 2015 and Dec 12, 2015.
- I can never forget those two days because I still feel that until now that those two
- most important decisions and agreement the international community under the leadership
- of the United Nations have made.
- So, ladies and gentlemen, let me just say a few words as a beginning of my lecture series.
- SDGs or Sustainable Development Goals represent the transformational moment for global governance.
- One [In a] for a global setting, goal setting and in several years of key policy strategy.
- I believe, I believe that it is the most far-reaching and ambitious decision that the United Nations
- has ever presented to the world.
- The United Nations has turning 75 – by that day, 70 years of history.
- On 2015, (from 1945 to 2015, 70 years).
- In 70 years, yes.
- I think we have, the UN has presented many decisions, many decisions but not as complete,
- not as far reaching, not as ambitious as the SDGs.
- Of course, the MDGs was a sort of but a top-down approach.
- (SDGs) It was a bottom-up (approach).
- It represented the voices of the people, and also not- to- mention indigenous leaders,
- economic - economy scholars and also political leaders.
- For example, as you remember very well in 2012
- upon the request of the General Assembly, which I convened in 2010, that (there was)
- a Special Summit meeting on MDG in 2010 requesting the Secretary-General to present the visions
- and programs for a successive vision for when the MDG reports came to an end.
- Also, Prime Minister David Cameron of (inaudible) to convene a high-level panel of about 30
- political leaders, business leaders and academic leaders, including yourself were over there.
- And I remember that Amina Mohammed, the current Deputy Secretary-General was a member of that.
- And then I again convened another panel that was led by President Halonen of Finland and
- also, I think that was supported by President Zuma.
- Zuma of South Africa.
- Those were the continuing continuous processes.
- Because only then can be called bottom-up.
- Bottom-up approach.
- That I feel very much proud.
- I worked tirelessly to guide this process over and had introduced the inclusive spirit
- of the first words of United-Nations Charter – ‘We the peoples.’
- I think that was the most important one.
- And the basic approach, basic target was that nobody should be left behind in this 21st
- century.
- (In consulting) - We have to bring everybody out of this abject poverty, health issues,
- education and we have to provide all quality of water, safe drinking water and energy,
- etc. etc.
- This was really a collaborative duty to ensure the future for all.
- Also, a very important one.
- You mentioned, Gro Brundtland.
- I think she was sort of the mother of the MDG and the SDGs and I am proud to work with
- her as a member of the Elders.
- As you know, dear students, the Elders group is the group of global leaders founded by
- President Nelson Mandela in 2007.Then it was led by my predecessor, Kofi Annan.
- Unfortunately, both the leaders have passed away and I am working as a Deputy-Chair of
- this Elders group.
- We have Mary Robinson; Former President of Ireland is now leading.
- The SDGs, again, are the most transformative in-depth example of a multi-stakeholder partnership
- is fortified within that, as well as essential part of both - goal-setting and future successes.
- The role of the global, national, international and local leaders as well as academic institutions,
- and civil society and the private sector.
- I think they are all, all important and critical elements of making the SDGs moving ahead.
- SG - Secretary-General, if I could ask you - you mentioned, and I think it’s important
- for people to understand.
- You were given a mandate in 2010 of what should happen after this Millennium Development Goals
- period ends in 2015.
- And it’s fascinating - you immediately engaged people from all over the world leaders to
- ponder that question.
- In fact, not just one time, but several times.
- Because this is a quite complicated agenda.
- So, it’s not an easy agenda to come to – the Sustainable Development Goals.
- There were differences of opinion for poor countries, rich countries and this is the
- first time unlike the Millennium Development Goals that every country is responsible for
- participation.
- It’s not just about poor countries, it is about the rich countries, climate change … So
- how do you see that that evolved actually?
- First of all, I really wanted to make sure that the political leaders – they have their
- ownership in this.
- For that I have been convening, as you have also been participating occasionally – the
- video conferences - calling all global leaders on video conference.
- Because we cannot meet them all the times, but easiest way was global video conferencing.
- Many times.
- Many times.
- Then of course, wherever possible – the G20 and the G7 meetings, and other ministerial
- meetings – I have never missed any opportunity to raise the awareness and harness strong,
- strong engagement of the political leaders – Political ownership.
- Then whenever I was meeting with the business leaders – partnership.
- Global partnership.
- In fact, SDG Goal 17 is global partnership.
- Without engaging in global partnership, you cannot do anything.
- However resourceful, however powerful, one country or one individual may be -like Bill
- Gates, richest person – but United States, most powerful, most resourceful country – they
- cannot do it alone.
- We have to work together in solidarity and partnership.
- Through partnership and political ownership – it is the most important goal.
- For example, I never missed any G-7 and G-20 Summit meeting where I had been asking them
- – dear leaders, please treat this as your own goals and agenda!
- Political agenda – You may be very busy with the electoral campaigns, domestic growth,
- economic growth.
- But without global goals going together – I think you will be affected, your economy will
- be affected by global economy – so there is no way that you can do it alone.
- This has been very much appreciated by – I think, for example Prime Minister Abe of Japan
- was the first person to establish an SDG Implementation Headquarters under his leadership – his
- direct leadership.
- And I had been speaking out to world leaders – please keep the headquarters under your
- direct leadership.
- I think the other issue is, Prof. Sachs – I cannot but express some concern, that after
- 5 years of the SDG adoption – the implementation level is not even.
- There is a very famous German Institute – Bertelsmann Stiftung.
- Bertelsmann’s Foundation.
- In their SDG Index and Dashboard Report, 2019 - They listed out all the countries from 1
- to 100-something, I cannot list down all countries to over 100 …. (video recording lost) … except
- 4 countries that are Non-EU.
- They are Canada, New Zealand, Japan and Republic of Korea.
- South Korea.
- Other than that, all European countries.
- Then again 21 from, you know – others, numbers are included mostly… (video frozen) … given
- us our best chance of success and to instill a strong sense of collaboration and solidarity,
- both within and beyond cities and national borders.
- This is what I’m emphasizing.
- If you have to do it, you cannot do it alone.
- I wanted to emphasize – I was lucky to be at many of your meetings at the G20 and G7
- with the world leaders.
- So, I got to watch that.
- And I can verify for the students that – every meeting - you emphasized the SDGs, how important
- they are and that human impact really makes a difference in high politics!
- Because it gives guidance, doesn’t it?
- This is the role you played, you can’t force them to do anything – but you could explain
- and emphasize, and I could see them responding to that.
- So, the personal diplomacy plays a great role.
- Yes, that’s right!
- The (promotership) is a very important role, but there are many people like yourself – a
- renowned scholar globally and many young people also locally known, local leaders.
- And business leaders.
- That is why I created this SDG – and you are a member of this – SDG Advocates.
- You are one of the 17 advocates (Yes, indeed!)
- There are some royal families like – Queen Mathilde.
- Princess Mathilde of Sweden and also of Belgium, (Yup) and Princess of Sweden (Victoria), Messi
- and popstars, and there are many such people.
- 17 people including yourself.
- I think they are playing a very important role.
- But they cannot do it alone.
- We need to spread this idea and teach the young people and empower young people and
- the women.
- There are some voluntary local videos – known as DLR …
- (video transmission lost) Mayors and Governors.
- I think there are some good performing cities, which I do not want to name all of them.
- Therefore – a partnership and ownership will be very much important.
- I think it is remarkable and I want to underscore this and ask you about it.
- Probably, the Secretary- General of the UN as a position is the only position that speaks
- to all the world leaders, to the business leaders, to mayors, to governors, to young
- people.
- It’s a unique position in the world.
- Could you discuss that?
- Because you have been Foreign Minister of your country of course, of Korea, and only
- one of 9 Secretaries-General in all of history.
- So, it’s absolutely extraordinary.
- What is the position like?
- And how did it surprise you also – having been Foreign Minister – the nature of the
- role itself…
- I thought that as Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea, I knew quite a lot about the world.
- But by the time I became Secretary-General, I realized that I didn’t know much.
- Because the world was much much wider and there were so many problems, which I was not
- responsible as Korean Foreign Minister of course.
- That early year you know, I was very much having some depression, sometimes concerned,
- it was heartbreaking to see so many young people.
- That’s the thing – the reason why I raised this important profile in global education
- was that when I was travelling in African countries, I saw so many young people – school-aged
- children just playing, you know aimlessly – some were on the street or a playground.
- Without going to school.
- I realized that more than 60 million school-aged children were out of school.
- Because there were no schools, no teachers, no textbooks.
- I even thought about my life, when I was 6 years old – the Korean War broke out and
- I had no school… our own schools were destroyed by the war and we had to study, on the ground.
- Without any table, without any textbooks.
- Because UNESCO administered and provided our textbooks and all pencils and everything ..so
- at that time – I raised this campaign – Global Education First Initiative, together with
- Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom.
- And Malala Yousafzai, (Noble Laureate) Pakistani lady, girl – she was a girl.
- It is the Global Education First Initiative that was started and supported by UNESCO to
- other areas.
- Now SDG aims for more than primary education.
- We’re talking about quality education.
- I met Director-General, new Director – General Azoulay of UNESCO, last month in Paris.
- And we talked about how we can really make sure that a global education should be, could
- be provided to all school children.
- At this time, still – more than - what was the 60 million children that are out of school
- … that is still quite a painful (reality).
- And as a Secretary-General, I feel responsible for all … all the troubles now.
- For example, 68% of the world’s population will now move to the cities.
- This is the problem of the cities.
- This was a BIG issue.
- Hopefully, one can say that the cities are the ‘countries’ of the many problems which
- we are now facing.
- Starting from poverty, health issues, evil crimes, transportation, greenhouse gas emissions,
- education.
- These are, without addressing city issues – I think this is one of the very important
- pillar of Sustainable Development Goals.
- So, SDGs covers ALL spectrums of our life, including our planet Earth.
- That means climate change (SDG 13).
- Therefore I am asking, particularly young students, that they should be fostered with
- all this global agenda.
- Professor Jeffrey Sachs, what I fear which I am now campaigning is that is important
- that we need to teach young students from the days in elementary school - the importance
- of sustainable development.
- The importance of the environment.
- You know – you and I have been speaking always to some political and business leaders
- – they are coming and going – every four years, five years.
- Then we have to begin again.
- Then I realise that when Greta Thunberg and Luisa [Neubauer] (the German) the young girl.
- They were speaking out – I was really, you know very much inspired.
- Sometimes, electrified by what she said.
- “Because of your empty words” – speaking to 150 world leaders –“ because of your
- empty words, my future, my dream have been taken away.”
- This was very shocking to me and inspiring.
- I think we should do much more to empower young people, by educating.
- I have met many education ministers, around the world.
- Now I am speaking to Korean President, Korean Deputy Prime Minister for Education, yesterday
- again I spoke.
- Now the Italian government has taken this very important measures to teach at least
- f 33 hour, a year on environment.
- And sustainable development.
- This is the way to educate global citizens.
- Global citizen(ship) to young students.
- I think it’s wonderful and I hope all our students know it.
- SDG 4 calls for universal access to quality education, including of course, universal
- completion through secondary school.
- But the Secretary-General is referring to Target 4.7 – which is really inspiring.
- Because Target 4.7 calls for not only education in the classroom, but for global citizenship.
- And the Secretary-General is the world leader of this call for real global citizenship.
- And when you read SDG 4.7 – it says that every child should be trained in the ideas
- of sustainable development, trained for diversity, living in a diverse world.
- Trained for the importance of culture.
- So, it’s really training about values and about the challenges and knowledge of the
- world.
- Yeah, you know I really appreciate your initiative to introduce this 4.7 on education.
- I talked as I said with the Director-General of UNESCO - Azoulay, Madam Azoulay.
- In Korea, I am working very closely with the UNESCO French offices, and I was looking forward
- to working with you.
- Working with UNESCO as well Vatican….
- Exactly.
- I can tell you Secretary-General, and all you students that last week there was a meeting
- at the Vatican to prepare for a wonderful event that Pope Francis will sponsor, will
- lead on May 14 that he’s calling a Global Compact for Education.
- And it really is to empower and champion young people for this kind of world.
- It’s taking your lead of SDG 4 and of global citizenship and the leader on education at
- UNESCO was at the Vatican last week also.
- So, it’s a very powerful partnership that is being developed.
- We are proud of the SDG Academy in taking this mission as well, that everybody should
- have access to Education for Sustainable Development.
- I want to underscore something that you said Secretary-General that your ability to go
- to school depended on UNESCO.
- It depended on UNICEF.
- It’s so important that people understand this.
- This is not theory, this is practical.
- If you want to raise a Secretary-General, we need a strong UNESCO, we need a strong
- UNICEF to be able to ensure this.
- I want to ask you about .. a .. I know, a famous picture of you that as a young person
- from this very, very poor country – wrecked by war.
- As a young person, you found yourself in Washington in 1962, I believe – shaking hands with
- …(yes, 1962) my favorite American President in my lifetime – President Kennedy.
- Could you say just a word about – How did that happen?
- It’s remarkable – and what did it mean for you?
- You see, in 1962, I was one of (Far eastern) boys studying in a very poor rural country,
- rural city.
- Then I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the Korean student representatives invited
- by American National Red Cross Society, at the time.
- There it came of some 120 international students from 40 some countries.
- We were excited – can you imagine - in this dusty rural town…country boy... was able
- to first time fly to Washington D.C. to meet the many important people.
- And among them, among them President John F. Kennedy.
- In the … garden of the White house on Nov (inaudible) 29, 1962.
- I can never forget this moment.
- That was the moment where and when I thought about my role – what should I do?
- President Kennedy spoke to a group of us – you are young students.
- But according to him – he said world political leaders were not getting along well.
- It was true.
- President Kennedy and Secretary Khrushchev of Soviet Union were not talking.
- They were hostile to each other.
- But I think the young people can do much better.
- And even at that time, when national boundaries were strict; national boundaries will not
- mean much – he said, in the age of the 20th century.
- (Wow) And what is important is that – he said, according to what he said – the question
- is whether you are ready to extend your helping hand.
- That was quite inspiring.
- At that moment, I thought – What should I do?
- How can I extend my helping hand to other people?
- Of course, I needed helping hand from others at that time.
- But it was very important.
- That was sort of global citizenship, global vision.
- Of course, I was not mature enough.
- Until such time when I became Foreign Minister.
- I thought that Korea should do much more.
- Based on what President Kennedy said and I thought I should do more for the world.
- That really motivated me to work for the United Nations.
- Luckily, I was elected.
- That’s why I really tried to enforce the global citizenship with the global vision.
- Even these days I have been speaking to many young people – that look - we are living
- in the 21st century.
- With the transformative development of science and technology, transportation, communication,
- information.
- Then, national boundaries do not mean anything.
- And I’m speaking to world leaders – do not erect walls among people.
- Instead of erecting walls, construct bridges.
- Bridges.
- Build the bridges among the people.
- This has been my main messages – continues to be, around the world.
- And I’m asking – dear students – that have a global vision – you are global citizens.
- I think you are living in a very well-to-do society.
- You can have anything that you want, but you think about beyond your own country.
- Look at what the other students would be doing in Africa, in mostly developing countries.
- Then you can be a global citizen.
- It’ s – that’s fantastic!
- And the continuity of the message.
- You met President Kennedy – if I’ve got it right – 58 years ago – and he said
- – ‘We have to think beyond borders.
- And you are our leader in the world emphasizing this idea today.
- And I’m sure that people listening in, are as inspired by your words as you were inspired
- by President Kennedy’s words.
- And I always recall President Kennedy was a great champion of help for others.
- And he said in his inaugural address – if the world cannot help the many who are poor;
- it cannot save the few who are rich!
- He was telling Americans – you better pay attention and be nice to the rest of the world
- and help the rest of the world to achieve progress – because this is the only way
- we’re going have success on, on these challenges.
- I wanted to ask you in closing about your other great achievement that year in 2015
- and it remains our struggle today and that’s Climate Change.
- How do you see this challenge?
- You faced the diplomatic challenge of getting countries to agree for the first time on a
- strategy.
- Because after the first agreement in 1992, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- – it took from 1992 until 2015 for the major countries to agree together – we’ve got
- to do something.
- How did that come about?
- And what are we going to do about still, what is slow progress, even though the emergency
- is moving very fast?
- That’s a very important question.
- By the way, Professor – do you see me on video?
- On screen?
- [Yes absolutely] Ok- that’s fine.
- Because my computer says ‘log out’ – but it’s ok.
- [No – we see you very well] Ok then- No problem.
- This is, I think one of the most important issue which we have to do.
- Recently, on Jan 23rd this year – last month, I was in Washington D.C. to unveil the ‘Doomsday
- Clock’.
- ‘Doomsday Clock’ is basically about the nuclear threat.
- But there are two most existential threats that are to humankind in this world - Nuclear
- proliferation and Climate Crisis.
- Now talking about Climate Crisis.
- We have no time to talk about the Climate Change.
- We have to take action.
- That is why Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last September, convened Climate Action Summit.
- Now we’re not talking about Climate Change – you know talking is already over.
- Now is the time for action.
- The climate skeptics – there were some climate skeptics.
- Even now there are some, but they have no place.
- It has been absolutely clear and proven by world’s scientists, climatologists and economists
- and I think it has been proven that Climate Change is happening now – it is approaching
- us much, much faster than we may think.
- Look at the [recent] Report on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC Report) for
- 2018.
- They said that regardless of what the Climate Change, Paris Climate Change Agreement says
- at 2 degrees Celsius – now we must make sure that we have to keep in control the global
- temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
- That is a must.
- Now, all this – what is happening in Australia, and cyclones and all climate phenomenon.
- Just (not) protecting our forests and land, endangers our very lives and as well as our
- Planet Earth.
- That is why we really have to take action.
- Mitigation and Adaptation.
- Investing wisely in adaptation.
- As you may know, I’m now working as a Chairman on the Global Commission on Adaptation.
- It’s time to adapt – much much more, wisely and urgently.
- This global commission is going to convene a Global Adaptation Summit meeting on October
- 22 in Amsterdam, Netherlands And I’m chairing this with Bill Gates and Dr. Kristalina Georgieva,
- Managing Director of the IMF.
- Three co-chairpersons – we work together.
- I met Kristalina Georgieva just a few days ago – last week in Germany.
- We are working very hard.
- World Bank has announced that investing $1 on adaptation will bring us 4 more dollars
- on anything in climate adaptation.
- For example – early warning detection or an early warning system.
- If we have established an effective early warning system in everywhere – globally
- – that will help us protect human lives and also any such unexpected danger and disasters.
- Secondly, we should do much more investment in climate resilient infrastructure.
- We have to invest in infrastructure in a climate resilient way.
- Of course, we have to do much more on water and on many low, low-lying countries.
- I think we should much more on planting mangroves.
- I met the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia just last week – Mohammed bin Salman, and we
- talked about the G-20 Summit meeting and I emphasized the importance of the G-20 in Saudi
- Arabia in November this year - it should focus on Climate issues.
- He said that they are trying to campaign to plant 1 trillion trees, with many coral reefs
- in the Arabian Sea.
- That is a kind of adaptation.
- So, we have to be very creative and we have to invest much more.
- I believe that your candidate should much more.
- US President Donald Trump has withdrawn from this Climate Agreement.
- It is very very disappointing.
- I’m even angry, personally speaking – What President Trump says about this Climate Change
- is scientifically very wrong.
- He is not based on science and he is not based on what is happening now.
- He cannot overrule or recall what world’s best scientists have said.
- And I think the political issues are short-sighted.
- And morally, as a global leader – he is morally irresponsible.
- I sincerely hope that he will change his mind and we can come to Paris Climate Change [Agreement]
- as soon as possible.
- That is my honest opinion.
- I can tell you – I’m speaking a lot around the United States these days.
- In New York yesterday, in California … and there is among the American people, an overwhelming
- sentiment that we must act.
- The public understands it because we see the dangers of the flooding, the droughts, rising
- sea level, the storms, the forest fires…So there is really a strong sense – Secretary-General
- – among the people- and I think this is going to change the politics as well.
- Even some of the governors, even in the coal states – they are saying that climate change
- is an urgent crisis.
- So, we’re seeing the real experience changing the politics.
- Too slowly…but we are seeing that trend in the right direction.
- I think…
- Lastly, you made the very good point.
- That this is what they call – we are still in campaign.
- We are still in campaign regardless of what President Trump has said.
- Yes, Governors of California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Washington etc. – at least
- 12 big states and at least 350 Mayors and at least 1000 global enterprises working in
- the United States – they declared that we are still in campaign.
- This is a very important one, very important one and very encouraging one.
- Then as you said – even people in .. belt areas - they believe that their future, the
- answer to their future is on ... (at stake) and are challenging their leaders).
- I think dear students, you need to raise your voice and challenge them (Video paused, connection
- lost) Secretary-General, I think we just had a moment
- of fluctuation of the internet, but we’re back and it is, it is time for us to close.
- But the words that you’ve said emphasizing to young people – this is your world.
- Please help lead it.
- The words you heard from President Kennedy, 58 years ago.
- Boundaries won’t matter because we are all together in a common fate on this planet.
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