For the third year in a row, Thomas Gass, UN DESA’s Assistant Secretary- General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, invites the online community to join him in a Twitter chat to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their potential of addressing some of the most pressing global challenges, making our world a better place. Join him on 29 June from 11:00 to 12:30 pm EDT and share your questions and comments using #SDGsChat!
“We are at a crucial moment in our collective effort to build sustainable, equitable and inclusive societies,“ said Thomas Gass. “Billions of people continue to live in poverty and are denied a life of dignity. There are enormous disparities of opportunity, wealth and power, and an alarming number of people who suffer in ways that others do not.”
But the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 transformative Sustainable Development Goals bring hope and determination within the international community that with collective action, we can transform our world and make it better for everyone.
“A most significant change in paradigm brought about by the 2030 Agenda is the commitment to leave no one behind,” said Mr. Gass. “We are well beyond measuring poverty only in GDP terms.? In a manner of speaking, the 169 targets underpinning the SDGs are 169 ways of explaining how no one is to be left behind.”
“I look forward to discuss with the online community what this means,” said Thomas Gass ahead of the Twitter chat.
The chat event takes place in the lead up to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which kicks off on 10 July under the theme “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. The chat offers an opportunity for participants to learn more about the Forum, the apex body for countries to review and follow up on SDGs implementation.
“For two years now, I have held Twitter chats to discuss the SDGs and their realization,” said Thomas Gass. “It is very inspiring to connect with so many people from across the world, to discuss what matters most to them and ways that they can take action within their own communities. I look forward to a new opportunity for dialogue on 29 June!”
To share questions or comments with Thomas Gass, join the chat on Wednesday, 29 June from 11:00 to 12:30 pm EDT and tweet to? using #SDGsChat. Questions can also be shared in advance with the event hashtag #SDGsChat.