Lecture by His Excellency Ambassador Martin Sajdik at UVU.
The lecture by Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations gave insight in to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, the goals are a result of the move to adopt the post-2015 development agenda by the General Assembly. Ambassador Sajdik, is President of the Economic and Social Council, a fifty-four government member organization whose key responsibilities are to review and make recommendations to the United Nations for sustainable development goals. Distinguished guest made a presentation before the faculty and students at UVU on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at the Sorensen Center of Utah Valley University. Title of his presentation was “A new global strategy for sustainability; the post 2015 development agenda of the United Nations – will it make a difference?”
Ambassador Martin Sajdik during presentation before UVU faculty and students
Ambassador Sajdik emphasized the new Sustainable Development Goals will expand on the previous Millennium Goals which have run from 2000-2015. The previous eight goals focused on an end to hunger, preventable disease and extreme poverty. The new seventeen goals maintain those goals but include sustainable development, which includes environmental sustainability as well as economic growth.
The means of implementation of these goals could be difficult especially for developing nations with limited money. Ambassador Sajdik stressed the importance of richer, developed countries’ investment in structures to implement these goals. The European Union has been a major contributor in promoting these goals, $76 billion in 2013, in relation to the United States, $30 billion. Nations like China and India are becoming greater investors and donating more money to support implementing these goals.
Ambassador Martin Sajdik promotes sustainable development goals among the audience during his presentation
Ambassador Sajdik emphasized also the importance of Goal 16 among the Sustainable Development Goals which stresses the promotion of “peaceful and inclusive societies” and the importance of providing “access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”. He stressed the importance of good governance to fight corruption and how crucial rule of law is. Young people play an increasingly important part in holding governments responsible, and in fighting corruption, “Young people don’t have money to bribe”.
Ambassador Sajdik answers to the question of Munkhbat Batmunkh, UVU student from Mongolia
The mechanisms of implementation are not yet in place, and it may prove more difficult to implement seventeen new Sustainable Development Goals verses the previous eight Millennium Goals. But it is crucial that governments support and promote these goals and hold one another accountable so that we can globally achieve sustainable development.
At the end of the presentation VIP guest answered to several questions from the audience. One of the questions was asked by Lisa Shepherd, UVU student about who will play a role of watchdogs in monitoring implementation of the goals inside nations. Another question was asked about importance of fighting corruption and situation with corrupted practices in Mongolia. Ambassador Sajdik who was once Ambassador of Austria in Mongolia responded to Munkhbat Batmunkh, student from Mongolia that his nation presents an example of the country which was able to achieve a remarkable success in its transition to the market economy and open society.
In general, it was very interesting and comprehensive presentation of the President of ECOSOC about which direction international community is moving during the next decade and why it is important for all of us not only to focus on new indicators in sustainable development nationally and globally, but also to make sure that SDGs will be implemented.
It will be important to mention that the visit of Ambassador Martin Sajdik to UVU was organized by Office of International Affairs and Diplomacy at UVU under the leadership of Dr. Rusty Butler, who is also the focal point for the Mountain Partnership at our university. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Butler students and faculty at UVU were able to get involved in a number of interesting projects and initiatives with focus on the promotion of the United Nations sustainable mountain development agenda in the state of Utah and globally. Ambassador Sajdik was impressed by UIMF member’s contribution to the celebration of the International Year of Family Farming, to the promotion of gender agenda among others.
Deena Ainge, President of Sustainable Mountain Development Club at UVU; Megan Raines, UVU student, member of the organizing committee of the Women of the Mountains Conference
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STUDENT REFLECTIVE ESSAYS
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15-02-15-Jesse Gray-President of ECOSOC Discusses Sustainable Mountain Development With UIMF Members
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UVU Press-Release: http://blogs.uvu.edu/newsroom/2015/02/02/austria-united-nations-ambassador-to-lecture-on-new-global-strategy/#more-6109
Austria – Newsletter
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Audio recording of the Meeting with Ambassador Sajdik
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