HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Statement by H.E Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
22 July 2025
Australia remains steadfast in our commitment to the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.
First, I would like to commend the Member States presenting their Voluntary National Reviews. Your transparency in sharing successes and lessons learned is critical to accelerating global progress.
Second, the SDGs under review carry significance for Australia and our region. The 2030 Agenda and its SDGs are universal goals which benefit all countries.
Australia is deeply committed to achieving gender equality and to the empowerment of all women and girls. This is essential for achieving all SDGs. As such, Australia embeds gender equality across our domestic and foreign policy.
As an island country, the ocean is central to Australia’s national identity. With our Pacific neighbours we share a commitment to protecting our oceans through the 2025 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
We highlight the importance of recognising the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States. SIDS have long advocated for development finance eligibility to better reflect external vulnerabilities, and we see the UN’s Multidimensional Vulnerability Index as a valuable, complementary and voluntary tool to ensure more equitable access to concessional finance and development support.
Our region is at the frontline of the climate emergency and the Pacific has a long and impressive record of climate leadership.
This is why we think it’s time for a Climate COP in the Pacific region. COP31 would be an unprecedented opportunity to bring global attention to the unique challenges and opportunities in the Blue Pacific.
Third, this forum provides high-level political leadership and guidance for sustainable development. As we look to UN80 and the substantial reform discussions, we should ask ourselves: where can we, as Member States, direct our efforts to support the UN to drive system-wide actions and achieve the SDGs?
UN reform must protect the core development pillar of the UN Charter, but in order to do so we must drive greater efficiencies. That means looking at what the UN does well, and what it does not. This will make a leaner UN development system better suited to deliver the 2030 Agenda to ensure no one is left behind.
I thank you.