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22.07.2025 Statement by Denmark at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Who H.E. Erik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
Who H.E. Erik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
When 22.07.2025

Check Against Delivery 

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ten years ago, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda – a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

Now, with only five years remaining, we face a sobering truth: We are not on track. In fact, in several areas, we are witnessing reversal of hard-won progress.

We must confront this reality. We need to course-correct, together, with urgency and ambition.

We live in a time defined by interlocking crises – from the consequences of a global pandemic; to the Russian full scale invasion against Ukraine, which continues to disrupt food and energy systems worldwide; to the devastating conflict in Gaza, which continues to cause unbearable human suffering and regional instability; and to the escalating impacts of climate change.

And yet, in these challenging times, we must not lose faith. The 2030 Agenda remains our shared roadmap and must be underpinned by renewed global solidarity and the Pact for the Future.

At this HLPF, we take stock of key goals.

Allow me to today to highlight SDG 3 and 5, which are foundational pillars of sustainable development.

Investing in universal health coverage and the rights of all women and girls is not only the right thing to do – it is also the smart thing to do. Health and gender equality, including SRHR, are human rights and drivers of stability, growth, and resilience. When these rights are upheld, we unlock progress across all SDGs.

We must also equally focus on SDG 17, which binds all goals together. That means more ambitious and equal partnerships, more coordinated action, and greater global solidarity.

To this end, Denmark remains firmly committed to our pledge of providing 0.7 percent of GNI in ODA – a promise we have kept for 45 years.

Just last month, we reaffirmed this commitment in our national new strategy for development cooperation, with a strong focus on human rights, climate action, health, education, gender equality and SRHR, and locally anchored development.

Last week Denmark furthermore published an updated national SDG action plan, with a renewed focus on SDGs where progress is still needed.

The adoption of the Sevilla Commitment is a meaningful step toward closing the UN-estimated $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap.

But public resources alone will not suffice. We must encourage private capital, expand blended finance, and promote innovative financing instruments.

Let us make 2030 not a missed deadline, but a turning point. Now is the time to act with urgency and restore trust in multilateral cooperation. Denmark remains firmly committed in this endeavour.