Statement by the Republic of Latvia at the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, General Debate
13 July 2026, New York
Mr. President, Excellencies,
Latvia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the EU. It has been almost 4000 days since the adoption of Agenda 2030. There are more than 1000 days until 2030. There has been enough time for commitments,
enough time for reflections, enough time to draw conclusions. But let me stress that there still is enough time for action.
Since the start of the implementation of the SDGs, Latvia has been actively doing its homework on local, national and also international level.
We would like to highlight our three priorities:
First – integrated governance and territorial resilience. From Latvia's perspective, sustainable urban development means balanced territorial development. Our priority is to strengthen regional centres, improve connectivity and ensure equal access to quality public services across cities and rural areas. This approach supports social cohesion, resilience and long-term competitiveness – that is essential for leaving no one behind.
Second – evidence-based policymaking. Reliable local-level data, geospatial information and digital solutions enable municipalities to make fact-based decisions and target investments based on data.
Third – resilient and climate-neutral communities. Latvia continues investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, green infrastructure and digital public services. These investments improve quality of life while strengthening resilience to climate, economic and security challenges. Sustainable cities and communities contribute directly to climate action, health, innovation, social inclusion and economic growth.
Dear colleagues,
Conflict and war severely affect development of any country. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a horrid example. Latvia continues to provide assistance to reconstruct Ukraine's war-damaged social infrastructure, housing, and energy grids. There can be no peace without sustainable development, and no sustainable development without peace. Latvia also remains committed to sustainable development through development cooperation, especially in partner countries in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, Central Asia, and Africa. We support good governance, digital transformation, gender equality and entrepreneurship.
As a current member of the Security Council, we emphasize that stronger rules-based international order and a more effective, fit-for-purpose UN is necessary for global peace, security and multilateral cooperation.
As a candidate for ECOSOC membership for the term 2028-2030 Latvia is determined to work closely with its partners to deliver results for sustainable development by 2030 and beyond.
I thank you.