- The 6th GEEF 2024 Concluded Amid Strong Global Interest March 25, 2024
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Discussion on Practical Challenges for Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Our university successfully hosted the '6th Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF 2024)' amidst a gathering of over 1,000 participants from 67 countries on March 14th and 15th.
The forum, themed 'Reboot the SDGs, Reset Our Future,' was convened to critically reflect on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation in the face of challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19 and ongoing conflicts and propose practical solutions for humanity's shared future.
At the forum, notable figures from various fields participated both online and offline, including Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations; Heinz Fischer, the 11th President of Austria; Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Juan Manuel Santos, the 32nd President of Colombia (recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016); Dennis Francis, President of the 78th UN General Assembly; Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Kang Kyung-wha, Special Professor at the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment (former Minister of Foreign Affairs); and Jim Yong Kim, the 12th President of the World Bank.
In his keynote speech, Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized that 'In order to achieve harmonious attainment of the three pillars of the UN—development, peace, and human rights—an integrated approach based on universal values and principles is necessary.' He presented international financial system reform and expanding cooperation with the private sector as key tasks to strengthen the means of implementing the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Additionally, President Dennis Francis stated, 'To address current challenges such as climate change, hunger, inflation, inequality, and debt, strategic investments are needed both nationally and internationally.' He stressed, 'Reform of the international financial system is necessary for sustainable development, including global South development.'
President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia emphasized, 'No country is safe alone from international issues threatening humanity, such as rapid climate change, diseases, and wars. We must remember that solving these problems requires collective efforts.' He highlighted, 'Now is the time not to lose hope but to gather wisdom and cooperate both nationally and individually.'
The two-day forum, attended by over a hundred global experts in sustainable development, consisted of one special session, five main sessions, and fourteen expert sessions.
In the special session, chaired by Ban Ki-moon, the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Patrick V. Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, UN Peace Mediator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and Robert C. Orr, a professor at the University of Maryland, engaged in in-depth discussions on the importance of international cooperation in the fields of government, civil society, and academia, as well as sustained investment in climate change adaptation and international societal recovery.
The main sessions, moderated by Kang Kyung-wha, Special Professor at the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, began with a 'Review of SDG Implementation,' followed by discussions on topics such as △Mental health issues among Korean youth △The economics of care for the sustainability of Korean society △Sustainable Development Goals in the context of the African region.
President Dong-Sup Yoon remarked, 'For a sustainable future, we need to critically reassess past efforts and seek solutions together with experts, citizens, and various stakeholders.' He added, 'Our university will play a vital role in promoting cooperation and disseminating unbiased, comprehensive knowledge.'
The event's organizer, Director Shin-ki An of the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment, stated, 'This forum has served as an important momentum to reaffirm everyone's commitment to Sustainable Development Goals and to promote it further. GEEF will continue to play a crucial role as a bridge until the goals are achieved.'
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