The Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda, during his appearance at the Joint Committee of the Spanish Lower House of Parliament
In this appearance, Pablo Bustinduy presented the general lines of his ministry to comply with the 17 goals set out in the 2030 Agenda that Spain has committed to fulfil together with 192 other countries for the construction of a more prosperous, just and sustainable world.
Minister Bustinduy began his speech by referring to the criticisms that the 2030 Agenda has had from some sectors in the protests in the rural world, which, he explained, have nothing to do with the real content of this international action plan. "The 2030 Agenda sets out a roadmap for increasing farm incomes, especially those of extensive, small-scale, biodiversity-rich agriculture, and in this way supports a just transition to sustainable agricultural and livestock models," the minister said, calling for the 2030 Agenda to stop being used as a "scapegoat" for these protests. "The demands of the countryside are entirely legitimate", said Pablo Bustinduy, arguing that the problems experienced by this sector are not caused by the 2030 Agenda but by other factors that prevent, among other things, farmers from being able to cover their production costs. "For example, 80% of the aid under the Common Agricultural Policy is only allocated to 20% of large companies", the minister pointed out, while calling for "responsible action" to offer a sustainable solution to the rural world.
"Denying reality is easier than committing to change it", said Pablo Bustinduy in reference to the detractors of a 2030 Agenda, on which he highlighted three priority actions from his ministry. Firstly, to guarantee compliance with it in order to ensure compliance with the international treaties to which it is linked, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention on Persons with Disabilities; and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. "The 2030 Agenda is a mirror of these commitments, and it is our obligation to implement them," said the minister.
The second priority, he stressed, is to strengthen the capacities of small municipalities in developing SDG localisation plans, as well as other initiatives that make the 2030 Agenda a reality at local levels. "From this Ministry, we support local entities to finance their initiatives in this area," Minister Bustinduy recalled. The third priority has focused on advancing the achievement of the SDGs through the Sustainable Development Strategy that, as he explained, "commits to the implementation of a set of tools and actions for the 2030 Agenda, in accordance with the recommendations of the OECD and the United Nations".
But if anything, Minister Bustinduy's appearance was marked by the Voluntary National Review that he will present to the United Nations in mid-July at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. It is a review whose results will be advocated to the UN to attest to the level of compliance that our country is carrying out in relation to the SDGs and which, according to Pablo Bustinduy, will serve to make Spain's leading role at an international level visible and also to identify the most pressing challenges facing our country, as well as to determine in which areas greater efforts should be concentrated. "We must innovate in the design of public policies and consolidate ourselves as an international example of responsibility and accountability, also in terms of management", said the minister.
With regard to this examination, Pablo Bustinduy also highlighted the work carried out by his Ministry together with the Regional Governments and the local authorities through the Sectorial Conference and its technical body. He also highlighted the meetings being held within the Standing Committee of the Sustainable Development Council and the Enlarged Working Group of the Government's Delegate Commission for the 2030 Agenda.
In turn, he has linked the Voluntary National Review at the UN with the commitment to the mid-term review of the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy, which will take place in the second half of this year and conclude in 2025. "It is our responsibility to make the 2030 Agenda a reality rather than a declaration of intentions," Minister Bustinduy said, calling on all political forces. In conclusion, he announced his Ministry's willingness to get involved in the negotiations of the Future Compact and the Future Generations Declaration, a high-level summit in September that will bring together world leaders to establish a new global agreement. "This is a unique opportunity to strengthen international collaboration for the betterment of our societies," the minister concluded.
Non official translation