2015 finds us at a true turning point in development—how it is debated and how it is practiced. In September, UN member states are expected to adopt one of the most ambitious agendas in history—the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—which will guide social, economic and environmental action over the next 15 years. The world will begin reaping the benefits of a momentous shift towards society-wide, people-centred approaches to health, climate and social equity.

My friends, we must continue to collectively reflect on how we can become more fit for purpose for the post-2015 transformative agenda—both at UNAIDS and in the United Nations system as a whole. We discussed this at the Chief Executives Board and agreed that a United Nations system that can deliver on the post-2015 agenda must effectively meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. These challenges are diverse and complex and demand the effective coordination of government, civil society, the private sector, academia and others. UNAIDS is uniquely placed to bring together all actors.

My friends, let us not leave Melbourne thinking that it will be easy to reach the summit. Complacency will cause us to stumble. Will future generations say that we squandered the opportunity of a lifetime? I know the path will be steep and the obstacles many. Let us do this in memory of our colleagues who died en route to Melbourne and the millions who have died of AIDS-related illnesses and of the tens of millions of people living with HIV. If every person here tonight, and everyone working to end the epidemic, acts with the same sense of urgency, the same hope and the same commitment to fight for those left behind, we will scale this mountain. But only if we go arm in arm will we reach the top and the end.