The commitment to ‘leave no one behind’ has been a key feature of all the discussions on the post-2015 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The idea that ‘no goal should be met unless it is met for everyone’ has been well established by the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
Development has never been more complicated, more important or more promising. The SDGs aim to transform the world with 17 goals and 169 targets in 15 years.
In our region, leaving no one behind is about making our economies, infrastructure and communities more desolate to global economic downturns, the adverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters. Two recent disastrous cyclones in Fiji and Vanuatu caused the loss of many lives and the significant loss of livelihoods.
Leaving no one behind also means reducing the damage to our Pacific Ocean, which is our home and the main source of many of our livelihoods. Our coral reefs are dying from ocean acidification, and our fisheries a threatened by illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
This means includes improving data collection and effective application to review, follow up and successfully deliver the SDGs. This is leaving no one behind when we strengthen the national and regional bodies, institutions, organisations, government and NGOs to support the attainment of the SDGs.
Leaving no one behind means that we bring together domestic resources, and identify genuine and durable global partnerships, including financing for development that is predictable, reliable and accessible to support our SDGs work.
The potential of science, innovation and technology is also an important aspect to leaving no one behind, and to help diminish the remoteness and vulnerabilities of many Pacific island countries.
Leaving no one behind means that the adverse effects of climate change or damaged oceans does not make one become a refugee.
Leaving no one behind means to take action for the security and survival of the Pacific.
Sources:
Ban calls strongly on governments to ‘leave no one behind’
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
