Mr. President, Excellencies, Eminences, dear guests, dear colleagues,
I have a very good written speech here, but after the very inspiring speeches we have heard before, I would like to share some personal thoughts on sustainable living and on how we look at our lives, based on my humble experience.
First of all, thank you very much, Mr. President, Professor Emil Constantinescu, and your team, especially Professor Cătălin-Ştefan Popa, for the wonderful work you have done in organizing this unique and exceptional event.
I first encountered sustainable development when I served as Chair of CSD-19, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, in 2010. For one year, we discussed five very important declarations dealing with highly technical issues. What surprised me most was how passionate people were about dialogue, how empathetic they were, and how, with positive energy, people from different countries, religions, and cultures could come together and discuss common challenges. In 2015, by consensus—and I think "consensus" is a beautiful word—we adopted the 2030 Agenda, which today serves as the global framework for sustainable development.
One of the greatest challenges was finding a way for society to understand such a technical subject. First, we need leadership. Second, we need an effective interinstitutional framework. Since 2017, as State Counsellor within the Prime Minister's Office, I have worked to establish such an interinstitutional framework. Perhaps the most important aspect, however, is the relationship with society and with all stakeholders. For us, this has been a major challenge. After nine years, we are proud that Romania is recognized by both the OECD and the United Nations as a regional hub for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Sustainable development may seem highly technical, but at its core are human relationships. This is what we must continue to strengthen, together with the fundamental values shared by all religions and, of course, culture. It is surprising that the 2030 Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals, yet none of them is specifically dedicated to culture. We are currently revising our national strategy, and I hope to convince the Romanian Government to support, in the post-2030 framework, the creation of a separate Sustainable Development Goal dedicated to culture.
Culture is part of everything we do, but it also deserves its own recognition because it builds resilience, promotes education, and strengthens sustainable communities. Based on Romania's experience, we also need stronger professional capacities. Today, Romania has around 2,300 experts in sustainable development working within the public administration—something unique in Europe. We have dedicated hubs in every ministry, and our next objective is to extend this approach to the local level.
This is an educational process. It is a never-ending journey. It is about our lives. We all strive to make our lives healthier and more sustainable, and this is our shared mission. Romania is a wonderful country with five distinct ecosystems, something unique in Europe. We have the Pontic region, the Steppe, the Continental zone, the Pannonian region, and the Alpine region, all of them remarkable natural areas. We are also proud that all 19 national minorities are represented in the Romanian Parliament. I belong to the Hungarian minority, and I believe it is a remarkable example that every minority has a voice in Parliament. Different cultures, different religions, and different regions of Romania form an extraordinary heritage. We should make the best possible use of this diversity.
Finally, I would like to mention something that previous speakers have also referred to. There are many important international documents on sustainable development, but three are particularly significant. The first is the Rio Declaration, which established the fundamental principles of sustainable development. The second is the international document on happiness and well-being. The third is the Vatican's important document on the environment and sustainable development principles. There is one word that all three documents have in common: love. We must fight against hate with love, and we must become agents of change, helping to build a more sustainable world.
Thank you very much.
