UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid has proposed action in five areas to bring the world back on track toward sustainable development.

The volume, complexity, and scale of the complex obstacles to sustainable development are arguably unprecedented and unremitting at the same time. "The challenges we face threaten to undermine the goals and ambitions of the 2030 Agenda, from worsening climate change and regional conflicts to rising inequality and food poverty," the UN said. He presented five key proposals at the start of the ministerial portion of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which was held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council.

"To get there, we must first take the necessary steps. For the future we desire and need, we must invest in innovation, technology, and behavioural change. This involves boosting financial support for initiatives that promote social protection, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, and climate action, as well as encouraging young people to act as agents of long-term change "added he.

Second, it is important to take note of the lessons from COVID-19, especially in areas where systems and policies showed signs of being broken. The most vulnerable populations must be protected, stable livelihoods must be provided, and science and technology must be fully utilised, he said.

Third, he added, reforms in the international financial system, vulnerability reduction and debt relief, as well as international development assistance and humanitarian relief, must be pushed for.

Fourth, the position of the most defenceless nations needs to be addressed. This entails developing solutions that are specific to the problems they encounter. He added that this involves promoting a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index as a crucial instrument to assist vulnerable nations in obtaining funds to address these issues.

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