Amidst Global Crises, UN High-Level Forum Ready To Advance Action On Sustainable Development Goals

New York, 5 July - Amidst a world challenged by geopolitical tensions, a persistent COVID-19 pandemic, a burgeoning climate crisis and rising poverty, world leaders are coming together at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) from today to 15 July to chart the best way forward to bring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.

The eight-day Forum convened under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) takes place as multiple crises around the world are putting the very viability of achieving the SDGs by 2030 at risk. The poorest and most vulnerable are being hit the hardest. An urgent rescue effort and collective actions are needed to rapidly change course and set the world on track towards a sustainable future, guided by a renewed commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation.

“We are facing continued vaccine inequity, rising inflation, major supply-chain disruptions, and crippling geopolitical uncertainties,” said United Nations Economic and Social Council President Collen Vixen Kelapile. “We are on a dangerous path to harming future generations, if we do not act now. It is within our power to turn the tide.”

Acting now critical to secure the global goals
Thousands of participants, including Heads of State, over 100 ministers, and leaders and representatives of the UN system, business and civil society will convene in person to respond to the impacts of the lingering pandemic and war in Ukarine, including global economic inflation, rising inequalities and closely interrelate crises in food security, energy supplies and finance. Member states will discuss what action to take to build back better to secure accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda during the Decade of Action for sustainable development. 

This year, the Forum will review in depth Goal 4 on education, Goal 5 on gender equality, Goal 14 on life below water and Goal 15 on life on land as well as Goal 17 on partnerships for the Goals, which is considered each year.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in his remarks at the recent second briefing by the Global Crisis Response Group, stressed that “we need to make resources available immediately to help the poorest countries and communities.” He called on the global financial system to recognize the opportunities in new technology and renewable energy and to “rise above its shortcomings and use all the instruments at its disposal, with flexibility and understanding, to provide support to vulnerable countries and people.”

The HLPF will demonstrate the continuing commitment of the international community to step up international solidarity and to launch ambitious recovery policies that advance the SDGs. Both are indispensable in tackling conflicts around the world.

“The urgent need for international solidarity and multilateral cooperation cannot be stressed enough,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs LIU Zhenmin. “We need to act swiftly to drive transformative change. We must remain committed to the people-centered and planet focused path to prosperity that we set out in the 2030 Agenda. This can only happen if we all act together.”

44 countries to assess their progress
This year, 44 countries, both developed and developing, will present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of national implementation of the SDGs.

The VNR countries are: Andorra, Argentina, Belarus, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Pakistan, The Philippines, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

The Forum will also mark the official launch of The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 (7 July). This annual progress report provides a global overview of progress towards the SDGs based on the most recent data. The 2022 report is expected to demonstrate the devastating impacts of the multiple and interlinked global crises – the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and the conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere – across the SDGs.

The Forum will culminate in the adoption of a ministerial declaration. It will also kick off preparations for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit to be held in 2023.

Special events on transformative solutions 
A series of special events will be organized in conjunction with the HLPF, in collaboration with various partners. The special events aim to mobilize stakeholders most engaged or impacted by the implementation of the SDGs.
SDGs Learning, Training and Practice Workshops 
(In person: Tuesday 5 July 11:00-13:00 EDT, 
Virtual: 5,6,7,11, and 12 July, 8:30-10:15, 14:00-15:45 EDT)
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative HESI+10 Global Forum 
(Virtual, 6 July, 7:00-8:30 AM EDT) 
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 
(In-person: Tuesday 6 July, 10:00-13:00 EDT) 
Local and Regional Governments Forum 
(Virtual: Thursday 7 July, 8:00-10:30 EDT; 
In-person: Tuesday 12 July, 15:00-18:00 EDT) 
SDG 6 Special Event 
(Virtual, Wednesday 13 July, 8:30-10:00 EDT)
Chief Sustainability Officers for SDGs 
(Virtual, Wednesday 13 July, 9:00-10:30 EDT) 
Parliamentary Forum 
(In-person, Wednesday 13 July, 10:00-13:00)

In addition, approximately 350 side events featuring States, the UN system and civil society will take place during the HLPF. At the same time, more than 15 VNR Labs will provide an informal platform for experience sharing and reflection on the Voluntary National Review process.

About the High-Level Political Forum 
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the central global forum for providing political leadership, guidance and recommendations on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were unanimously adopted by world leaders in September 2015. The Forum provides an opportunity for countries, civil society and businesses to highlight the efforts they are taking to achieve the SDGs and to engage in mutual learning through the exchange of ideas and best practices.

For more information: https://hlpf.un.org/2022 
Follow live via UN Web TV: https://media.un.org/en/webtv/

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