Government Chancellor discusses progress on Sustainable Development Goals and Lithuania’s contribution
On Friday, Government Chancellor Giedrė Balčytytė joined a remote meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global SDG Synthesis Coalition. The UN-based coalition and the Committee had been set up to step up the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The meeting discussed the Coalition’s near-term tasks and the potential role of the Committee, of which Lithuania is a member along with nine other countries, in accelerating their implementation. It also looked into progress made in areas crucial for attaining the globally significant SDGs. The Government Chancellor emphasized expertise in data actualisation as one of these areas.
‘Data illuminates problems enabling us to identify appropriate solutions and measure progress, ensuring we are heading in the right direction. Whether it’s achieving affordable and quality education, mitigating the effects of climate change, or promoting responsible consumption, data and thorough analysis are pivotal. We cannot make today’s decisions based on information that is detached from the present,’ emphasized Government Chancellor Balčytytė.
Focusing on building capacity in data and closing the data gap globally is essential, the Government Chancellor added, because it is the only way to measure real progress across the 193 UN Member States and globally.
This is also in line with one of the key principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - that no one should be left behind.
The Government Chancellor noted Lithuania’s experience in strengthening and opening up the country’s data infrastructure and the benefits of data for decision-making amidst recent challenges and reform planning.
2023 Lithuania’s report on the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is available here.