Africa regional forum on sustainable development: closing remarks by Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Africa 18 June 2015 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Closing Remarks by Carlos Lopes UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Africa at the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. Mr. Lopes, on his remarks outlined that, Africa is confronted with many challenges. While progress is being made on health, gender and women’s empowerment indicators, it is not happening fast enough. Poverty, inequality and extreme hunger remain pervasive. This calls for structural transformation of our economies in order to translate growth into improvements in human development. The management of natural capital is critical for this to happen. Achieving sustainable development also necessitates addressing climate change as an inevitable and urgent global challenge with long-term implications. The UN’s support to Africa, based on NEPAD and Agenda 2063, should ensure overall coherence and coordination towards the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda and the SDGs.