Convening on the midway level between the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Growth and its 2030 deadline, the July session of the 2023 UN Excessive-level Political Discussion board on Sustainable Growth (HLPF) sought to construct momentum for the SDG Summit in September. It performed in-depth assessment of 5 SDGs and heard displays of 39 VNRs.
Members mentioned doable responses to speed up implementation of the Objectives that underwent in-depth assessment this 12 months. The ENB abstract report of the assembly highlights that:
- SDG 6 (clear water and sanitation) is “alarmingly off-track”;
- Whereas attaining SDG 7 (inexpensive and clear power) by 2030 poses “an unprecedented problem,” the Aim continues to be achievable with scaled-up ambition and the best insurance policies;
- “There may be hope” for SDG 9 (business, innovation and infrastructure), with progress on some targets reminiscent of cellular community entry, however the tempo of implementation on others must quicken, and extra help for innovation and infrastructure in least developed nations (LDCs) is required;
- Challenges to attaining SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) embody a rising city divide, insufficient housing, and restricted entry to public transport; and
- Whereas there have been advances in some areas of SDG 17 (partnerships for the Objectives), reminiscent of growth assist, remittance flows, and entry to expertise, funding for growth stays a significant problem, notably in low-income nations.
Whereas delegates acknowledged that solely 12% of the SDG targets are on monitor, based on the ENB evaluation of HLPF 2023, the Philippines Undersecretary of the Division of International Affairs captured the temper greatest when he mentioned: “We have now not failed. The deadline continues to be forward of us.”
Thirty-eight nations introduced their Voluntary Nationwide Critiques (VNRs) throughout HLPF 2023. Saint Kitts and Nevis introduced its first VNR. Chile introduced its third. Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, the Central African Republic (CAR), Comoros, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the EU, Fiji, France, Guyana, Iceland, Eire, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Mongolia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, and Zambia introduced their second VNRs. The EU introduced the first-ever supranational assessment. These classes, ENB notes “facilitated the sharing of experiences, together with successes, challenges and classes realized.”
HLPF 2023 additionally included classes on the implementation challenges confronted by completely different teams of nations, together with small island creating States (SIDS), Africa, LDCs, landlocked creating nations (LLDCs), and, for the primary time, middle-income nations (MICs). In keeping with ENB, MICs “will not be thought of poor sufficient to obtain concessional financing but face important difficulties in elevating capital for SDG implementation initiatives.” As well as, a session convened on learn how to “localize” the implementation of the SDGs. Views of Main Teams and different Stakeholders (MGoS) additionally acquired consideration.
HLPF 2023 convened below the auspices of the UN Financial and Social Council (ECOSOC) at UN Headquarters in New York, US, from 10-14 and from 17-20 July. 13 particular occasions convened through the Discussion board:
Sixteen VNR Labs and a number of other hundred aspect occasions and exhibitions additionally came about. Greater than 120 ministers and vice-ministers, in addition to different representatives from governments, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society attended HLPF 2023. [ENB Coverage of HLPF 2023] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story about HLPF Week One] [SDG Knowledge Hub’s HLPF 2023 Curtain Raiser]
