"Achim Steiner dismisses the idea that progress is impossible"

"Achim Steiner dismisses the idea that progress is impossible"

In his final address as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) chief, Achim Steiner emphasised the urgency of global cooperation and sustainable development at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany. The conference, hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), UNDP, the Michael Otto Foundation, and the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg, provided a platform for Steiner to express his concerns about the current state of international cooperation and multilateralism.

Steiner believes that the world is at a moment of profound disruption, characterised by growing geopolitical tensions, skepticism from key actors, and a retreat from investing in the international architecture that supports global governance and sustainable development. He emphasised the need for renewed investment in multilateralism to address complex global crises effectively.

One of Steiner's primary concerns is the retreat of some nations, especially the US, from active global engagement and funding commitments, which undermines the multilateral system's stability. He also highlighted the need for stronger, consolidated international architecture to tackle interrelated global environmental challenges more holistically and strengthen governance, particularly through empowering the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Steiner is particularly worried about the fragmentation and inefficiencies in the international environmental governance system, particularly regarding multiple multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) that operate independently with overlapping and sometimes redundant mandates. This fragmentation reduces the ability of UNEP to act as a strong, unified global voice on critical issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—the triple planetary crises.

To address these coordination challenges, Steiner advocates for clustering environmental treaties, as exemplified by linking three chemicals-related treaties (Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions) into a common meeting framework, sometimes called a “Super COP”. He sees this clustering approach as a potential model to address similar coordination challenges in broader climate and biodiversity governance.

In addition to his focus on environmental governance, Steiner also addressed the need for private capital mobilisation for sustainable development projects in emerging markets and developing economies. He highlighted the launch of a new blended finance platform named SCALED (Scaling Capital for Sustainable Development) at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference by the governments of Germany, Canada, France, and the UK, along with major financial institutions such as Allianz, AXA, and Zurich Insurance Group.

Steiner also advocated for the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global initiative focused on AI in international development. The Hamburg Declaration aims to promote equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development and deployment of AI worldwide, with a focus on empowering developing countries.

As Steiner concludes his eight-year tenure as chief of the UNDP, he leaves the organisation with a vision that it will be future-smart, future-ready, and a vital platform for nations to work together. His departure, according to Germany's federal minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali Radovan, leaves a big gap.

Despite the challenges, Steiner remains optimistic about the potential for AI to have transformative potential, but he warns of the risks of leaving behind developing economies and countries with hundreds of millions, if not billions of people, if not properly addressed. He encourages the global response to rapidly invest in digital public infrastructure and review legislative, regulatory, and investment strategies to be part of the new frontier of development.

1. Steiner called for renewed investment in multilateralism to address the intricate global crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution – the trio of planetary crises.
2. He expressed concern over the retreat of certain nations, particularly the US, from active global engagement and funding commitments, which weakens the stability of the multilateral system.
3. To improve the efficiency of the international environmental governance system, Steiner suggested clustering environmental treaties, like the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, to streamline coordination challenges.
4. Steiner also advocated for corporate responsibility in the context of the digital age, promoting the Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
5. He emphasized the importance of private capital mobilization for sustainable development projects in emerging markets and developing economies, showing support for initiatives such as the SCALED blended finance platform.
6. Throughout his tenure, Steiner emphasized the crucial role of science, particularly in the areas of climate finance, clean energy, and renewable energy, in promoting sustainability and accomplishing the SDGs.

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