MIL-OSI Translation: SDG Flag Day in Lugano: the important role of cities in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals

MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 25.09.2024 – Since 2019, the SDG Flag Day has been held every year on 25 September, at the initiative of the business community (UN Global Compact). Schools, municipalities, organisations, companies and governments raise a flag depicting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to symbolically express their support for the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. By participating in the SDG Flag Day event in Lugano, the two Federal Council delegates for the 2030 Agenda, Markus Reubi and Daniel Dubas, are emphasising the importance of cities in implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Access to green spaces and public spaces, sustainable transport systems, waste sorting or urban planning with all stakeholders: cities are particularly confronted with the challenges of sustainability. Although they only cover 3% of the Earth’s surface, they consume three quarters of the world’s resources and are responsible for 75% of global emissions. This is why SDG 11 “Sustainable cities and communities” of the 2030 Agenda also addresses this central theme.

Cities and municipalities must be designed to be more inclusive, resilient and green. On this year’s SDG Flag Day, the City of Lugano is illustrating with various examples how it is contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

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Today’s event in Lugano is the starting point for closer collaboration between the FDFA and various cities in the field of sustainability, which will be supported by a city symposium at the 2025 edition.

Agenda 2030The 2030 Agenda is the global framework for local, national and international efforts to find common solutions to major global challenges, such as climate change, resource exploitation, biodiversity conservation and health crises. The 2030 Agenda was adopted on 25 September 2015 by 193 UN Member States, including Switzerland. It applies to all States and sets sustainable development goals until 2030. In Switzerland, too, the 2030 Agenda outlines the broad outlines of sustainable development policy. The 17 SDGs and their 169 targets are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. They are structured around five principles that guide action: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. With these five principles, the 2030 Agenda aims to ensure human well-being, economic development and environmental protection and addresses aspects such as peace, the rule of law and governance. The SDG Flag Day event is an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, a global network of businesses committed to the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Address for sending questions

Communication DFAE Federal Palace WestCH-3003 BernTel. Press Service: 41 58 460 55 55E-Mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.chTwitter: @EDA_DFAE

Author

Federal Department of Foreign Affairshttps://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/fr/dfae.html

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

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