With only eight years until 2030, and with Covid-19 driving the world further off track, the UN chief said that the report’s recommendations aim to get the world “back on track” towards achieving the SDGs.

When I presented Our Common Agenda past September, the world faced a stark choice between a scenario of breakdown and growing tensions, environmental degradation, climate chaos and instability, and a scenario of progress towards a safer and more peaceful world in the future, he pointed out.

While we are at a precipice, he stressed, we have the power to get off the brink and it is not too late to make the right decisions, particularly for those who are being left behind. Likewise, he harped on the need for taking pressing actions for the 2030 Agenda.

To follow up on his Our Common Agenda report, the UN chief will set up a High-Level Advisory Board to propose options for action to the member states. This will help us identify global public goods and, potentially, other areas of common interest where improvements in governance are most needed, Mr. Guterres explained.

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