The G-STIC Rio Communiqué: urgent call to recommit to the SDGs

The significance of Communiqués: uniting leaders and driving action

Those whose jobs entail participating or supporting world leaders in multilateral summits will agree: getting all parties to reach an agreement is almost impossible. This is why ‘communiqués’ – the public statements issued following an important meeting – are such a big deal. After days, months or even years of exhausting discussions, these documents officially announce the results of the talks and synthesize the most important points that were hopefully agreed upon. For journalists, communiqués often represent the breakthrough of a significant story. Sometimes they even help to write a new chapter in history. In 1972, for instance, the signing of the Shanghai Communiqué by the then U.S. president, Richard Nixon, and the Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong, ended 23 years of diplomatic isolation between the two countries and paved the way for an era of peaceful coexistence that was beneficial for the whole world.

Communiqués not only foster a powerful sense of unity but also establish the framework for continued action and to solidify relationships. In this vein, the ‘G-STIC High-Level Representatives’ Communiqué on the Urgent Need to Accelerate the Implementation of the UN 2030′ stands as a landmark in the contributions made by the Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Community (G-STIC) towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This document emerged from a dialogue among high-level authorities during the sixth G-STIC Conference held in February 2023 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), marking the first of its kind. The meeting, hosted by Mario Moreira, President of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), along with other G-STIC co-hosts, had the distinct honor of welcoming Ambassador Macharia Kamau, one of the architects of the 2030 Agenda, for the official reading of the Communiqué.

An immediate call-to-action for the SDGs

The remarkable and comprehensive discussions encompassed by the G-STIC Rio Communiqué is matched by the powerful message it conveys. In the face of numerous concurrent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as energy insecurity and military conflicts, the Communiqué acknowledges the disruption caused by these crises, which have impeded years of progress towards the SDGs while exposing global inequities, vulnerabilities and unsustainable practices. It calls for immediate action to accelerate SDG implementation and alignment with the 2030 deadline. In recognition of the critical role of STI, the document emphasizes their potential to expedite the transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive world for all, irrespective of age, gender identity, disabilities, culture, ethnicity, nationality, religion or economic status. By stressing the necessity of placing people at the center, the Communiqué underscores that global sustainable development can only be achieved through an approach that addresses poverty, promotes social equity, ensures environmental protection and includes people’s participation while prioritizing their rights and well-being.