ban-ki moon mooc references

update dec 2021 these references to ban ki-moon were recommended ar the mooc he contributed in sdgs updated early 2020 -also note the mdgs were edited by mark malloch brown - now in charge of the west's largest foundation -soros open socierty
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

1. Today, I'd like to share with you, some, a very important aspect on what we need to do
2. to implement these Sustainable Development Goals.
3. And again, I am amazed by your correct memory of the dates - Sep 25, 2015 and Dec 12, 2015.
4. I can never forget those two days because I still feel that until now that those two
5. most important decisions and agreement the international community under the leadership
6. of the United Nations have made.
7. So, ladies and gentlemen, let me just say a few words as a beginning of my lecture series.
8. SDGs or Sustainable Development Goals represent the transformational moment for global governance.
9. One [In a] for a global setting, goal setting and in several years of key policy strategy.
10. I believe, I believe that it is the most far-reaching and ambitious decision that the United Nations
11. has ever presented to the world.
12. The United Nations has turning 75 – by that day, 70 years of history.
13. On 2015, (from 1945 to 2015, 70 years).
14. In 70 years, yes.
15. I think we have, the UN has presented many decisions, many decisions but not as complete,
16. not as far reaching, not as ambitious as the SDGs.
17. Of course, the MDGs was a sort of but a top-down approach.
18. (SDGs) It was a bottom-up (approach).
19. It represented the voices of the people, and also not- to- mention indigenous leaders,
20. economic - economy scholars and also political leaders.
21. For example, as you remember very well in 2012
22. upon the request of the General Assembly, which I convened in 2010, that (there was)
23. a Special Summit meeting on MDG in 2010 requesting the Secretary-General to present the visions
24. and programs for a successive vision for when the MDG reports came to an end.
25. Also, Prime Minister David Cameron of (inaudible) to convene a high-level panel of about 30
26. political leaders, business leaders and academic leaders, including yourself were over there.
27. And I remember that Amina Mohammed, the current Deputy Secretary-General was a member of that.
28. And then I again convened another panel that was led by President Halonen of Finland and
29. also, I think that was supported by President Zuma.
30. Zuma of South Africa.
31. Those were the continuing continuous processes.
32. Because only then can be called bottom-up.
33. Bottom-up approach.
34. That I feel very much proud.
35. I worked tirelessly to guide this process over and had introduced the inclusive spirit
36. of the first words of United-Nations Charter – ‘We the peoples.’
37. I think that was the most important one.
38. And the basic approach, basic target was that nobody should be left behind in this 21st
39. century.
40. (In consulting) - We have to bring everybody out of this abject poverty, health issues,
41. education and we have to provide all quality of water, safe drinking water and energy,
42. etc. etc.
43. This was really a collaborative duty to ensure the future for all.
44. Also, a very important one.
45. You mentioned, Gro Brundtland.
46. I think she was sort of the mother of the MDG and the SDGs and I am proud to work with
47. her as a member of the Elders.
48. As you know, dear students, the Elders group is the group of global leaders founded by
49. President Nelson Mandela in 2007.Then it was led by my predecessor, Kofi Annan.
50. Unfortunately, both the leaders have passed away and I am working as a Deputy-Chair of
51. this Elders group.
52. We have Mary Robinson; Former President of Ireland is now leading.
53. The SDGs, again, are the most transformative in-depth example of a multi-stakeholder partnership
54. is fortified within that, as well as essential part of both - goal-setting and future successes.
55. The role of the global, national, international and local leaders as well as academic institutions,
56. and civil society and the private sector.
57. I think they are all, all important and critical elements of making the SDGs moving ahead.
58. SG - Secretary-General, if I could ask you - you mentioned, and I think it’s important
59. for people to understand.
60. You were given a mandate in 2010 of what should happen after this Millennium Development Goals
61. period ends in 2015.
62. And it’s fascinating - you immediately engaged people from all over the world leaders to
63. ponder that question.
64. In fact, not just one time, but several times.
65. Because this is a quite complicated agenda.
66. So, it’s not an easy agenda to come to – the Sustainable Development Goals.
67. There were differences of opinion for poor countries, rich countries and this is the
68. first time unlike the Millennium Development Goals that every country is responsible for
69. participation.
70. It’s not just about poor countries, it is about the rich countries, climate change … So
71. how do you see that that evolved actually?
72. First of all, I really wanted to make sure that the political leaders – they have their
73. ownership in this.
74. For that I have been convening, as you have also been participating occasionally – the
75. video conferences - calling all global leaders on video conference.
76. Because we cannot meet them all the times, but easiest way was global video conferencing.
77. Many times.
78. Many times.
79. Then of course, wherever possible – the G20 and the G7 meetings, and other ministerial
80. meetings – I have never missed any opportunity to raise the awareness and harness strong,
81. strong engagement of the political leaders – Political ownership.
82. Then whenever I was meeting with the business leaders – partnership.
83. Global partnership.
84. In fact, SDG Goal 17 is global partnership.
85. Without engaging in global partnership, you cannot do anything.
86. However resourceful, however powerful, one country or one individual may be -like Bill
87. Gates, richest person – but United States, most powerful, most resourceful country – they
88. cannot do it alone.
89. We have to work together in solidarity and partnership.
90. Through partnership and political ownership – it is the most important goal.
91. For example, I never missed any G-7 and G-20 Summit meeting where I had been asking them
92. – dear leaders, please treat this as your own goals and agenda!
93. Political agenda – You may be very busy with the electoral campaigns, domestic growth,
94. economic growth.
95. But without global goals going together – I think you will be affected, your economy will
96. be affected by global economy – so there is no way that you can do it alone.
97. This has been very much appreciated by – I think, for example Prime Minister Abe of Japan
98. was the first person to establish an SDG Implementation Headquarters under his leadership – his
99. direct leadership.
100. And I had been speaking out to world leaders – please keep the headquarters under your
101. direct leadership.
102. I think the other issue is, Prof. Sachs – I cannot but express some concern, that after
103. 5 years of the SDG adoption – the implementation level is not even.
104. There is a very famous German Institute – Bertelsmann Stiftung.
105. Bertelsmann’s Foundation.
106. In their SDG Index and Dashboard Report, 2019 - They listed out all the countries from 1
107. to 100-something, I cannot list down all countries to over 100 …. (video recording lost) … except
108. 4 countries that are Non-EU.
109. They are Canada, New Zealand, Japan and Republic of Korea.
110. South Korea.
111. Other than that, all European countries.
112. Then again 21 from, you know – others, numbers are included mostly… (video frozen) … given
113. us our best chance of success and to instill a strong sense of collaboration and solidarity,
114. both within and beyond cities and national borders.
115. This is what I’m emphasizing.
116. If you have to do it, you cannot do it alone.
117. I wanted to emphasize – I was lucky to be at many of your meetings at the G20 and G7
118. with the world leaders.
119. So, I got to watch that.
120. And I can verify for the students that – every meeting - you emphasized the SDGs, how important
121. they are and that human impact really makes a difference in high politics!
122. Because it gives guidance, doesn’t it?
123. This is the role you played, you can’t force them to do anything – but you could explain
124. and emphasize, and I could see them responding to that.
125. So, the personal diplomacy plays a great role.
126. Yes, that’s right!
127. The (promotership) is a very important role, but there are many people like yourself – a
128. renowned scholar globally and many young people also locally known, local leaders.
129. And business leaders.
130. That is why I created this SDG – and you are a member of this – SDG Advocates.
131. You are one of the 17 advocates (Yes, indeed!)
132. There are some royal families like – Queen Mathilde.
133. Princess Mathilde of Sweden and also of Belgium, (Yup) and Princess of Sweden (Victoria), Messi
134. and popstars, and there are many such people.
135. 17 people including yourself.
136. I think they are playing a very important role.
137. But they cannot do it alone.
138. We need to spread this idea and teach the young people and empower young people and
139. the women.
140. There are some voluntary local videos – known as DLR …
141. (video transmission lost) Mayors and Governors.
142. I think there are some good performing cities, which I do not want to name all of them.
143. Therefore – a partnership and ownership will be very much important.
144. I think it is remarkable and I want to underscore this and ask you about it.
145. Probably, the Secretary- General of the UN as a position is the only position that speaks
146. to all the world leaders, to the business leaders, to mayors, to governors, to young
147. people.
148. It’s a unique position in the world.
149. Could you discuss that?
150. Because you have been Foreign Minister of your country of course, of Korea, and only
151. one of 9 Secretaries-General in all of history.
152. So, it’s absolutely extraordinary.
153. What is the position like?
154. And how did it surprise you also – having been Foreign Minister – the nature of the
155. role itself…
156. I thought that as Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea, I knew quite a lot about the world.
157. But by the time I became Secretary-General, I realized that I didn’t know much.
158. Because the world was much much wider and there were so many problems, which I was not
159. responsible as Korean Foreign Minister of course.
160. That early year you know, I was very much having some depression, sometimes concerned,
161. it was heartbreaking to see so many young people.
162. That’s the thing – the reason why I raised this important profile in global education
163. was that when I was travelling in African countries, I saw so many young people – school-aged
164. children just playing, you know aimlessly – some were on the street or a playground.
165. Without going to school.
166. I realized that more than 60 million school-aged children were out of school.
167. Because there were no schools, no teachers, no textbooks.
168. I even thought about my life, when I was 6 years old – the Korean War broke out and
169. I had no school… our own schools were destroyed by the war and we had to study, on the ground.
170. Without any table, without any textbooks.
171. Because UNESCO administered and provided our textbooks and all pencils and everything ..so
172. at that time – I raised this campaign – Global Education First Initiative, together with
173. Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom.
174. And Malala Yousafzai, (Noble Laureate) Pakistani lady, girl – she was a girl.
175. It is the Global Education First Initiative that was started and supported by UNESCO to
176. other areas.
177. Now SDG aims for more than primary education.
178. We’re talking about quality education.
179. I met Director-General, new Director – General Azoulay of UNESCO, last month in Paris.
180. And we talked about how we can really make sure that a global education should be, could
181. be provided to all school children.
182. At this time, still – more than - what was the 60 million children that are out of school
183. … that is still quite a painful (reality).
184. And as a Secretary-General, I feel responsible for all … all the troubles now.
185. For example, 68% of the world’s population will now move to the cities.
186. This is the problem of the cities.
187. This was a BIG issue.
188. Hopefully, one can say that the cities are the ‘countries’ of the many problems which
189. we are now facing.
190. Starting from poverty, health issues, evil crimes, transportation, greenhouse gas emissions,
191. education.
192. These are, without addressing city issues – I think this is one of the very important
193. pillar of Sustainable Development Goals.
194. So, SDGs covers ALL spectrums of our life, including our planet Earth.
195. That means climate change (SDG 13).
196. Therefore I am asking, particularly young students, that they should be fostered with
197. all this global agenda.
198. Professor Jeffrey Sachs, what I fear which I am now campaigning is that is important
199. that we need to teach young students from the days in elementary school - the importance
200. of sustainable development.
201. The importance of the environment.
202. You know – you and I have been speaking always to some political and business leaders
203. – they are coming and going – every four years, five years.
204. Then we have to begin again.
205. Then I realise that when Greta Thunberg and Luisa [Neubauer] (the German) the young girl.
206. They were speaking out – I was really, you know very much inspired.
207. Sometimes, electrified by what she said.
208. “Because of your empty words” – speaking to 150 world leaders –“ because of your
209. empty words, my future, my dream have been taken away.”
210. This was very shocking to me and inspiring.
211. I think we should do much more to empower young people, by educating.
212. I have met many education ministers, around the world.
213. Now I am speaking to Korean President, Korean Deputy Prime Minister for Education, yesterday
214. again I spoke.
215. Now the Italian government has taken this very important measures to teach at least
216. f 33 hour, a year on environment.
217. And sustainable development.
218. This is the way to educate global citizens.
219. Global citizen(ship) to young students.
220. I think it’s wonderful and I hope all our students know it.
221. SDG 4 calls for universal access to quality education, including of course, universal
222. completion through secondary school.
223. But the Secretary-General is referring to Target 4.7 – which is really inspiring.
224. Because Target 4.7 calls for not only education in the classroom, but for global citizenship.
225. And the Secretary-General is the world leader of this call for real global citizenship.
226. And when you read SDG 4.7 – it says that every child should be trained in the ideas
227. of sustainable development, trained for diversity, living in a diverse world.
228. Trained for the importance of culture.
229. So, it’s really training about values and about the challenges and knowledge of the
230. world.
231. Yeah, you know I really appreciate your initiative to introduce this 4.7 on education.
232. I talked as I said with the Director-General of UNESCO - Azoulay, Madam Azoulay.
233. In Korea, I am working very closely with the UNESCO French offices, and I was looking forward
234. to working with you.
235. Working with UNESCO as well Vatican….
236. Exactly.
237. I can tell you Secretary-General, and all you students that last week there was a meeting
238. at the Vatican to prepare for a wonderful event that Pope Francis will sponsor, will
239. lead on May 14 that he’s calling a Global Compact for Education.
240. And it really is to empower and champion young people for this kind of world.
241. It’s taking your lead of SDG 4 and of global citizenship and the leader on education at
242. UNESCO was at the Vatican last week also.
243. So, it’s a very powerful partnership that is being developed.
244. We are proud of the SDG Academy in taking this mission as well, that everybody should
245. have access to Education for Sustainable Development.
246. I want to underscore something that you said Secretary-General that your ability to go
247. to school depended on UNESCO.
248. It depended on UNICEF.
249. It’s so important that people understand this.
250. This is not theory, this is practical.
251. If you want to raise a Secretary-General, we need a strong UNESCO, we need a strong
252. UNICEF to be able to ensure this.
253. I want to ask you about .. a .. I know, a famous picture of you that as a young person
254. from this very, very poor country – wrecked by war.
255. As a young person, you found yourself in Washington in 1962, I believe – shaking hands with
256. …(yes, 1962) my favorite American President in my lifetime – President Kennedy.
257. Could you say just a word about – How did that happen?
258. It’s remarkable – and what did it mean for you?
259. You see, in 1962, I was one of (Far eastern) boys studying in a very poor rural country,
260. rural city.
261. Then I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the Korean student representatives invited
262. by American National Red Cross Society, at the time.
263. There it came of some 120 international students from 40 some countries.
264. We were excited – can you imagine - in this dusty rural town…country boy... was able
265. to first time fly to Washington D.C. to meet the many important people.
266. And among them, among them President John F. Kennedy.
267. In the … garden of the White house on Nov (inaudible) 29, 1962.
268. I can never forget this moment.
269. That was the moment where and when I thought about my role – what should I do?
270. President Kennedy spoke to a group of us – you are young students.
271. But according to him – he said world political leaders were not getting along well.
272. It was true.
273. President Kennedy and Secretary Khrushchev of Soviet Union were not talking.
274. They were hostile to each other.
275. But I think the young people can do much better.
276. And even at that time, when national boundaries were strict; national boundaries will not
277. mean much – he said, in the age of the 20th century.
278. (Wow) And what is important is that – he said, according to what he said – the question
279. is whether you are ready to extend your helping hand.
280. That was quite inspiring.
281. At that moment, I thought – What should I do?
282. How can I extend my helping hand to other people?
283. Of course, I needed helping hand from others at that time.
284. But it was very important.
285. That was sort of global citizenship, global vision.
286. Of course, I was not mature enough.
287. Until such time when I became Foreign Minister.
288. I thought that Korea should do much more.
289. Based on what President Kennedy said and I thought I should do more for the world.
290. That really motivated me to work for the United Nations.
291. Luckily, I was elected.
292. That’s why I really tried to enforce the global citizenship with the global vision.
293. Even these days I have been speaking to many young people – that look - we are living
294. in the 21st century.
295. With the transformative development of science and technology, transportation, communication,
296. information.
297. Then, national boundaries do not mean anything.
298. And I’m speaking to world leaders – do not erect walls among people.
299. Instead of erecting walls, construct bridges.
300. Bridges.
301. Build the bridges among the people.
302. This has been my main messages – continues to be, around the world.
303. And I’m asking – dear students – that have a global vision – you are global citizens.
304. I think you are living in a very well-to-do society.
305. You can have anything that you want, but you think about beyond your own country.
306. Look at what the other students would be doing in Africa, in mostly developing countries.
307. Then you can be a global citizen.
308. It’ s – that’s fantastic!
309. And the continuity of the message.
310. You met President Kennedy – if I’ve got it right – 58 years ago – and he said
311. – ‘We have to think beyond borders.
312. And you are our leader in the world emphasizing this idea today.
313. And I’m sure that people listening in, are as inspired by your words as you were inspired
314. by President Kennedy’s words.
315. And I always recall President Kennedy was a great champion of help for others.
316. And he said in his inaugural address – if the world cannot help the many who are poor;
317. it cannot save the few who are rich!
318. He was telling Americans – you better pay attention and be nice to the rest of the world
319. and help the rest of the world to achieve progress – because this is the only way
320. we’re going have success on, on these challenges.
321. I wanted to ask you in closing about your other great achievement that year in 2015
322. and it remains our struggle today and that’s Climate Change.
323. How do you see this challenge?
324. You faced the diplomatic challenge of getting countries to agree for the first time on a
325. strategy.
326. Because after the first agreement in 1992, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
327. – it took from 1992 until 2015 for the major countries to agree together – we’ve got
328. to do something.
329. How did that come about?
330. And what are we going to do about still, what is slow progress, even though the emergency
331. is moving very fast?
332. That’s a very important question.
333. By the way, Professor – do you see me on video?
334. On screen?
335. [Yes absolutely] Ok- that’s fine.
336. Because my computer says ‘log out’ – but it’s ok.
337. [No – we see you very well] Ok then- No problem.
338. This is, I think one of the most important issue which we have to do.
339. Recently, on Jan 23rd this year – last month, I was in Washington D.C. to unveil the ‘Doomsday
340. Clock’.
341. ‘Doomsday Clock’ is basically about the nuclear threat.
342. But there are two most existential threats that are to humankind in this world - Nuclear
343. proliferation and Climate Crisis.
344. Now talking about Climate Crisis.
345. We have no time to talk about the Climate Change.
346. We have to take action.
347. That is why Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last September, convened Climate Action Summit.
348. Now we’re not talking about Climate Change – you know talking is already over.
349. Now is the time for action.
350. The climate skeptics – there were some climate skeptics.
351. Even now there are some, but they have no place.
352. It has been absolutely clear and proven by world’s scientists, climatologists and economists
353. and I think it has been proven that Climate Change is happening now – it is approaching
354. us much, much faster than we may think.
355. Look at the [recent] Report on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC Report) for
356. 2018.
357. They said that regardless of what the Climate Change, Paris Climate Change Agreement says
358. at 2 degrees Celsius – now we must make sure that we have to keep in control the global
359. temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
360. That is a must.
361. Now, all this – what is happening in Australia, and cyclones and all climate phenomenon.
362. Just (not) protecting our forests and land, endangers our very lives and as well as our
363. Planet Earth.
364. That is why we really have to take action.
365. Mitigation and Adaptation.
366. Investing wisely in adaptation.
367. As you may know, I’m now working as a Chairman on the Global Commission on Adaptation.
368. It’s time to adapt – much much more, wisely and urgently.
369. This global commission is going to convene a Global Adaptation Summit meeting on October
370. 22 in Amsterdam, Netherlands And I’m chairing this with Bill Gates and Dr. Kristalina Georgieva,
371. Managing Director of the IMF.
372. Three co-chairpersons – we work together.
373. I met Kristalina Georgieva just a few days ago – last week in Germany.
374. We are working very hard.
375. World Bank has announced that investing $1 on adaptation will bring us 4 more dollars
376. on anything in climate adaptation.
377. For example – early warning detection or an early warning system.
378. If we have established an effective early warning system in everywhere – globally
379. – that will help us protect human lives and also any such unexpected danger and disasters.
380. Secondly, we should do much more investment in climate resilient infrastructure.
381. We have to invest in infrastructure in a climate resilient way.
382. Of course, we have to do much more on water and on many low, low-lying countries.
383. I think we should much more on planting mangroves.
384. I met the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia just last week – Mohammed bin Salman, and we
385. talked about the G-20 Summit meeting and I emphasized the importance of the G-20 in Saudi
386. Arabia in November this year - it should focus on Climate issues.
387. He said that they are trying to campaign to plant 1 trillion trees, with many coral reefs
388. in the Arabian Sea.
389. That is a kind of adaptation.
390. So, we have to be very creative and we have to invest much more.
391. I believe that your candidate should much more.
392. US President Donald Trump has withdrawn from this Climate Agreement.
393. It is very very disappointing.
394. I’m even angry, personally speaking – What President Trump says about this Climate Change
395. is scientifically very wrong.
396. He is not based on science and he is not based on what is happening now.
397. He cannot overrule or recall what world’s best scientists have said.
398. And I think the political issues are short-sighted.
399. And morally, as a global leader – he is morally irresponsible.
400. I sincerely hope that he will change his mind and we can come to Paris Climate Change [Agreement]
401. as soon as possible.
402. That is my honest opinion.
403. I can tell you – I’m speaking a lot around the United States these days.
404. In New York yesterday, in California … and there is among the American people, an overwhelming
405. sentiment that we must act.
406. The public understands it because we see the dangers of the flooding, the droughts, rising
407. sea level, the storms, the forest fires…So there is really a strong sense – Secretary-General
408. – among the people- and I think this is going to change the politics as well.
409. Even some of the governors, even in the coal states – they are saying that climate change
410. is an urgent crisis.
411. So, we’re seeing the real experience changing the politics.
412. Too slowly…but we are seeing that trend in the right direction.
413. I think…
414. Lastly, you made the very good point.
415. That this is what they call – we are still in campaign.
416. We are still in campaign regardless of what President Trump has said.
417. Yes, Governors of California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Washington etc. – at least
418. 12 big states and at least 350 Mayors and at least 1000 global enterprises working in
419. the United States – they declared that we are still in campaign.
420. This is a very important one, very important one and very encouraging one.
421. Then as you said – even people in .. belt areas - they believe that their future, the
422. answer to their future is on ... (at stake) and are challenging their leaders).
423. I think dear students, you need to raise your voice and challenge them (Video paused, connection
424. lost) Secretary-General, I think we just had a moment
425. of fluctuation of the internet, but we’re back and it is, it is time for us to close.
426. But the words that you’ve said emphasizing to young people – this is your world.
427. Please help lead it.
428. The words you heard from President Kennedy, 58 years ago.
429. Boundaries won’t matter because we are all together in a common fate on this planet.