MINSK, 26 October (BelTA) – Whether we achieve Sustainable Development Goals will depend on the efforts of all countries, Vladimir Rakhmanin, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, said at the opening ceremony of the international conference “Laying the foundation in the UNECE region for economic integration and sustainable development towards 2030” in Minsk on 26 October, BelTA has learned.
The UN intends to make every effort to help achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030. "This sustainable development program applies to all countries without exception: both developed and developing. Only together can we preserve our planet for future generations,” Vladimir Rakhmanin said.
In his view, work in Europe and Central Asia will be successful if it is shared by all states, all regional organizations. All efforts must be integrated if we want to make headway. This is the approach of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The “integration of integrations” initiative, which is currently being discussed at the conference in Minsk, also pursues the same goal.
FAO believes that food and agriculture play a key role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. “Revival of rural regions, investing in agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries are powerful tools to defeat poverty and hunger. We can finally put an end to famine by 2030,” the FAO representative said.
But now there is a new challenge to achieving these goals, namely climate change. It has a particularly negative impact on the poorest segments of the population. “It is a challenge to which we must respond immediately. The global plan was drawn up and adopted at the end of last year. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change comes into effect in early November. This means that the time is ripe for action,” Vladimir Rakhmanin noted.
Only in close cooperation of all UN entities at the national, regional and global levels, we can implement the ambitious sustainable development agenda 2030. Much will also depend on the support of the UN member countries, regional associations and organizations, involvement of MPs, business, civil society, and academic community, the FAO representative said.
