Statement by H.E. Ms. Anna Jóhannsdóttir
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations 
General Assembly 80th session
Second Committee – General Debate
7 October, 2025

Excellencies, delegates,

Allow me to begin by congratulating you, Ambassador Dibba, and the Bureau members on your election. I wish you every success in the work ahead. You may count on Iceland‘s full support and active engagement throughout this session of the Second Committee.

Mr. Chair,

As the General Assembly enters its 80th session, we are faced with a world of growing global challenges and only five more years remain to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda.

The need for effective multilateralism is more pressing than ever.

The UN80 reform presents a unique opportunity to focus on impact and be bold and ambitious in the process. This means streamlining our work and ensuring that our efforts translate into tangible outcomes on the ground.

As we look ahead to the work of this session, it is essential that we remain centered on the needs of those most at risk of being left behind. Our approach must be inclusive, integrated and responsive, delivering timely and effective solutions to those most in need.

To that end, the Second Committee should pursue more effective working methods that facilitate consensus based outcomes, avoid duplication, and support the timely conclusion of our sessions. We must also remain open to reassessing the frequency and format of certain agenda items to ensure that our deliberations remain relevant, focused and aligned with today’s most urgent global priorities. Inclusive and good faith negotiations are essential to achieve this. 

Regardless of which country we represent, there is a shared public expectation that the multilateral system should deliver better outcomes, more efficiently. Too often, it is perceived as having fallen short. 

Our success depends on setting ambitious goals and following through with implementation, building on the groundwork of important outcome documents such as the Compromiso de Sevilla, the third United Nations Ocean Conference, as well as the Pact for the Future and its annexes.

Mr. Chair

We have agreed on what needs to be done. However, the latest data on our collective progress towards the SDGs shows that we are severely off track.

In these challenging times, effective global cooperation is the only way forward. We must remind ourselves that all societies, regardless of size, can have a positive global impact on the 2030 Agenda.

Among Iceland‘s key priorities, where we strive for global impact based on our own development experience, are gender equality, renewable energy, healthy oceans and land restoration. These are proven SDG accelerators and vital to achieving sustainable development.

Mr. Chair,

Let me elaborate further on those four priorities:

First, human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are essential preconditions for achieving the SDGs and therefore remain a central concern for the work of this Committee. 

Second, renewable energy – particularly geothermal and hydropower – has long been central to Iceland’s resilience, security and independence. Within our development cooperation, we place a strong emphasis on a just transition based on the expansion of and equal access to renewable energy.

Third, the health of our oceans is inseparable from our broader climate and biodiversity efforts. A thriving ocean is also vital to transform global food systems, and Iceland is proud to contribute to this work in the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition.

Fourth, tackling land degradation is critical, as it lies at the root of many challenges we are facing today. Furthermore, land restoration provides one of the most cost-effective and scalable nature-based solutions – with benefits that include improved food security, water conservation, biodiversity protection, lower emissions, and greater social stability. 

Iceland is proud to co-chair, along with Namibia, the Group of Friends on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, and we remain committed to support the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

As we have done for the past decade, Iceland will once again co-facilitate the resolution on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, this year in partnership with Mongolia.

Mr. Chair

Iceland remains firmly committed to the 2030 Agenda and we will continue to advocate for sustainable development for all. 

We stand ready to support and engage constructively in the work of the Second Committee and we look forward to productive discussions with all of you in the coming weeks.