New York, Sept. 19 — Lesotho is using this year’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Moment to highlight progress made towards achieving the global goals, while acknowledging challenges that continue to slow implementation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Mr Limpho Tau has said.
Speaking in an interview, Minister Tau said the SDG Moment provides an opportunity for countries to showcase their achievements, challenges and the global headwinds affecting progress towards the 17 SDGs.
He said overall global progress towards the SDGs stood at about 36 percent, noting that progress remained slow despite some gains.
Lesotho, he said, was among the 193 countries that adopted the 17 SDGs and 169 targets and therefore used the forum to assess its progress against that of other countries.
“Progress is visible but remains sluggish despite some gains,” he said.
Minister Tau said Lesotho’s recent national budgets and development plans were increasingly aligned with the commitments made by countries when the SDGs were adopted 11 years ago.
He said Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane had consistently advocated for improved health services, access to clean drinking water and clean energy, universal electricity access, protection of the rights of women and girls, as well as universal access to technology.
Tau also echoed United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ concern over the high levels of spending on weapons by developed countries at a time when development assistance remained stagnant.
On the country’s debt situation, he said Lesotho had reduced its debt burden to 48 percent and recently signed a debt relief agreement with China.He said the agreement demonstrated that some development partners understood the need to ease fiscal pressure on developing countries.
Minister Tau further highlighted Lesotho’s efforts to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, saying the country was expanding its renewable energy capacity through hydropower, solar and wind energy.
He cited the expansion of the Ramarothole Solar Plant and planned upgrades to the ’Muela Hydropower Station as measures aimed at increasing electricity generation and supporting the country’s drive towards universal access.
The SDG Moment is being held on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Ends/LT
