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Interview with Helen Clark at SEI policy dialogue

On April 1 Stockholm Environment Institute and the New Zealand Embassy in Sweden co-hosted a joint policy dialogue on climate action and the SDGs. The event featured three speakers from SEI, presenting their research on climate change and the SDGs, and a panel discussion featuring, among others, former head of UNDP Helen Clark.

Published on 7 April 2019

The panel discussed raising the level of ambition on climate action and how these efforts can go hand-in-hand with implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are at a critical point in time, where we have a 10-year frame window to fundamentally change the development pathway globally. It is very positive that more actors are recognizing the need to look at urgent climate transitions and the SDGs together, so we don’t undermine either set of goals,” says Åsa Persson.

Kronprinsessan Victoria med Kerstin Niblaeus, Åsa Persson, Andrew Jenks och Peter Eriksson — Photo: Aina Virginia Bituin Eriksson / SEI

The panel included SEI Deputy Director Åsa Persson, Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the UNDP, Inger Buxton, Deputy Head of Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Karin Isaksson, Senior Policy Specialist Environment and Climate, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida),

Other notable guests include the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Peter Eriksson, HE Ambassador Andrew Jenks, and HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Ms Clark was firm in her belief that while it was the UN’s role to develop the framework countries need to take responsibility to drive agendas. The UN also has a role in providing reporting at country level, making it possible for countries to scrutinise other’s progress. When asked about what Sweden needs to be doing, Ms Clark responded simply, “keep going”.

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