Address by Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven to Commemorate the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the United Nations

Excellencies,

Seventy-five years ago, leaders came together in the conviction that we could only build a peaceful, just, and sustainable future by working together across borders. The United Nations was founded on this vision. Today’s global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, demonstrate the urgency of realising that vision.

I warmly welcome the ambitious UN75 declaration adopted today. Sweden is proud to have co-chaired the negotiations with Qatar. The declaration sends a strong message on the need for multilateral action. To quote: “Multilateralism is not an option but a necessity as we build back better for a more equal, more resilient, and more sustainable world”.

Excellencies,

With a number of world leaders, I have expressed my commitment to securing equitable and global access to future COVID-19 vaccines. No one is safe until everyone is safe. This is the form of cooperation across regional groups that is needed.

Excellencies,

Climate change is the defining issue of our time. We live beyond the means of our planet. We have made progress, but we need to work harder to lower emissions and raise our ambitions. Building stronger, greener societies is the only way forward. There is no Planet B.

In 2022, it will be 50 years since the world gathered in Stockholm for the first UN conference on the environment. We will use this opportunity to host another high-level conference in Stockholm in 2022, aimed at accelerating the green transition and implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Excellencies,

We must define the role of the UN as we move forward:

• First, we need an effective and efficient UN. Sweden fully supports the Secretary-General’s reform efforts.
• Second, the UN must better anticipate and mitigate global risks and focus more on conflict prevention.
• Third, we need a UN that can adapt to a new era. A UN that is modern, innovative and based on equality. As the Prime Minister of a feminist government, I know that this requires determined political will.

The declaration tasks the Secretary General to report back with recommendations. As Member States, we must rally together in support of his agenda.  

We must recommit to multilateral cooperation and to the UN – for the next 75 years and beyond.

Thank you.

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