last un update july 20-17 - BRAC net, world youth community and Open Learning Campus
2024-03-29T11:34:59Z
http://bracnet.ning.com/forum/topics/last-un-update-july-20-17?commentId=4777346%3AComment%3A13304&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=no
HLPF 2017 took place in the…
tag:bracnet.ning.com,2017-07-22:4777346:Comment:13304
2017-07-22T12:54:31.149Z
chris macrae
http://bracnet.ning.com/profile/chrismacrae
<p></p>
<p>HLPF 2017 took place in the context of what UN Secretary-General António Guterres termed a “paradoxical” political climate, where, as one panelist said, the “dangerous discontents” of globalization are increasingly skeptical of the merits of ever-closer international cooperation, even as challenges such as conflict, mass migration and breaching of climate tipping points call for concerted multilateral responses. Globalization’s “mixed record” was also highlighted by Jeffrey Sachs,…</p>
<p></p>
<p>HLPF 2017 took place in the context of what UN Secretary-General António Guterres termed a “paradoxical” political climate, where, as one panelist said, the “dangerous discontents” of globalization are increasingly skeptical of the merits of ever-closer international cooperation, even as challenges such as conflict, mass migration and breaching of climate tipping points call for concerted multilateral responses. Globalization’s “mixed record” was also highlighted by Jeffrey Sachs, Director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, who called for “big, bold thinking” in the face of today’s “stunning and unprecedented inequality,” where eight men own as much wealth as half the world’s population combined.</p>
<p>As Guterres highlighted, the 2030 Agenda can in many ways be a roadmap to provide the “fair” and sustainable globalization that the world needs. But did HLPF 2017 deliver the requisite political signal in this direction?</p>
<p>The message to emerge from both HLPF 2017’s key political outcome document―the Ministerial Declaration―and the process leading to its adoption, presented a picture that was, at best, equivocal. Some countries sought to renegotiate hard-fought elements of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda in the Declaration, such as women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and female genital mutilation, to name a few. In the words of one delegate, the Ministerial Declaration should not become an effort to amend the Agenda “through the back door.”</p>
<p>Two issues―occupied territories and the multilateral trade system―were put to vote. While the Declaration was adopted with both paragraphs receiving overwhelming support, a number of countries abstained from voting, protesting that the voting process itself diluted a strong political signal from the HLPF.</p>
<p>A number of countries then sought to clarify that they joined consensus on the Ministerial Declaration only following reassurance by the President of ECOSOC that the Declaration in no way represents a renegotiation of the 2030 Agenda. The US went so far as disassociating itself from the paragraph on climate change, and suggested that its support of the entire Agenda may be in question.</p>
<p>The negotiation of the draft declaration began weeks before the HLPF session, making it almost impossible to reflect the outcomes of the discussions during the meeting itself. This leaves an opening for countries to try and renegotiate the entire 2030 Agenda. As Mexico suggested in the closing session, the Declaration should perhaps be a short and sharp recognition of the challenges that arise as implementation unfolds, instead of a renegotiation or even reiteration of agreed principles.</p>
<p><em>RETHINK, INNOVATE, RECALIBRATE</em></p>
<p><em>So let’s raise the bar<br/>And our cups to the stars</em></p>
<p><em>- Daft Punk</em></p>
<p>While HLPF 2017 formally ticked all the boxes of the Forum’s mandate, including completing a review of seven SDGs; presentation of 43 VNRs; and adopting a Ministerial Declaration, both the format and execution of these exercises seemed lackluster and wanting in the urgency and leadership that the 2030 Agenda and the state of the world today seem to demand.</p>
<p>Yet, progress in some areas is visible. As the VNR presentations showed, from the local, to the national, to the regional levels, institutions, processes, policies and programmes are being put in place for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Civil society is organizing and galvanizing around the Goals, holding their governments to account on what is essentially a self-assessment process. While perhaps not the sexiest of topics, progress has also recently been made on the critical issue of data and indicators, allowing for more robust assessments of how countries are faring towards SDG achievement as time progresses. The repeated call from civil society organizations for disaggregated data to track progress in a more fine-grained manner also seems to gaining increased acceptance.</p>
<p>But it is important to remember that these are early days. This may have been the fifth session of the HLPF, but this was only the second since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. The VNR and SDG review processes are therefore both in their “teething phases,” with potential for improvement as the Forum matures. While the HLPF session in 2019 has the mandate to revise certain aspects of the Forum, the opportunity to rethink, innovate and recalibrate even in 2018 is wide open.</p>
<p>Experiences at HLPF 2017 suggest it will be critical for Member States, together with the UN system and MGoS, to seize this opportunity and redouble their efforts to ensure the Forum helps to bring the SDGs home. As underscored by a representative the Alliance of Small Island States during the closing plenary: “The year 2030 will arrive whether we are ready for it or not.”</p>
<p align="center" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8585"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8586">UPCOMING MEETINGS</span></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8584">2017 World Water Week: World Water Week is the annual focal point for the world’s water issues, bringing together experts, practitioners, decision-makers, business innovators, and young professionals from a range of sectors and countries. In 2017, World Water Week will address the theme of “Water and Waste – Reduce and Reuse.” dates: 27 August -1 September 2017 location: Stockholm, Sweden contact: Stockholm International Water Institutewww: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-jk/">http://www.worldwaterweek.org/</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8575"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8591">Fourth International Marine Protected Areas Congress: </span>Organized by the Government of Chile, IMPAC4 will focus on the theme, “MPAs: Bringing the ocean and people together.” The Congress will convene scientists and practitioners to discuss topics relevant to MPAs, including conservation, ecology, fisheries, climate change, monitoring, enforcement and management tools, and communication and education. dates: 4-8 September 2017 location: La Serena-Coquimbo, Chileemail: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:impac4@mma.gob.cl">impac4@mma.gob.cl</a> www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-ju/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8592" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8592">http://impac.mma.gob.cl/</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8574"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8593">22nd Session of UN World Tourism Organization General Assembly</span>: The 22nd UNWTO General Assembly will take place during the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as designated by UNGA (A/RES/70/193). The International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices, and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to the SDGs. dates: 4-9 September 2017 location: Chengdu, Chinacontact: UNWTO phone: +34-91-567-8100 fax +34-91-571-37-33 email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:omt@unwto.org">omt@unwto.org</a> www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-tl/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8573" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8573">http://lmd.unwto.org/event/general-assembly-twenty-second-session-0</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8572">UNGA High-level Meeting on UN-Habitat: UNGA President Peter Thomson will convene this High-level Meeting to discuss the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the position of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT). The event is expected to bring together mayors, community administrators, city resilience leaders, and other stakeholders to focus on implementation of SDG 11. dates: 5-6 September 2017 location: UN Headquarters New York contact: UNGA President’s Office www:<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-tr/">http://www.un.org/pga/71/event-latest/high-level-meeting-on-new-urban-agenda-and-un-habitat/</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8571">72nd Session of the UN General Assembly: UNGA 72 will convene at UN Headquarters on 12 September 2017. The General Debate will open on 19 September 2017. dates: 12-25 September 2017 location: UN Headquarters, New York contact: UNGA President’s Office www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-ty/">http://www.un.org/en/ga/</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8570">Climate Week NYC 2017: The 9th annual Climate Week NYC will take place during the UNGA General Debate. It will showcase the role that non-state actors are playing in ensuring the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of the SDGs. dates: 18-24 September 2017 location: New York City, US contact: The Climate Group email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:info@theclimategroup.org">info@theclimategroup.org</a>www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-tj/">https://www.theclimategroup.org/ClimateWeekNYC</a></p>
<p>Fifth Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD): The Fifth Annual ICSD will take place on the theme, “The World in 2050: Looking Ahead for Sustainable Development.” The 27 conference topics will cover all 17 SDGs and a number of cross-cutting issues, including data, the role of universities in achieving the SDGs, and the arts as a tool to raise awareness of the SDGs. dates: 18-19 September 2017 location: Columbia University, New York City, US contact: ICSD email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:info@ic-sd.org">info@ic-sd.org</a> www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-tt/">http://ic-sd.org</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8569">International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals: Actors and Implementation: This conference is aimed at creating a permanent and multidisciplinary knowledge network on the implementation of the SDGs. It will be organized by the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi), an international network created in 1999 and supported by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN University (UNU) and the Catalan Association of Public Universities (ACUP). dates: 18-19 September 2017 location:Barcelona, Spain contact: GUNI/ACUP phone: +34-93-581-7099 email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:info@guninetwork.org">info@guninetwork.org</a> www:<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-ti/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8611" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8611">http://www.guninetwork.org/events/international-conference-sustainable-development-goals-actors-and-implementation</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8612">UN Private Sector Forum 2017: The 2017 Forum will focus on the theme of “Financing the 2030 Agenda.” The annual Forum aims to bring the voice of business to intergovernmental debates, and to enable CEOs, heads of state and government, and UN and civil society leaders to explore partnerships. date: 18 September 2017 location: New York City, US contact: UNPSF Secretariat<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8613"> email:</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:unpsf@unglobalcompact.org">unpsf@unglobalcompact.org</a>www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-td/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8614" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8614">https://www.unglobalcompact.org/take-action/events/1051-united-nations-private-sector-forum-2017</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8615">Global Compact Leaders’ Summit 2017: The 2017 Summit aims to inspire leadership for the SDGs. It will chart the way ahead for increased public-private collaboration, unveil the UN Global Compact’s latest intelligence from Action Platforms, generate engagement opportunities around the SDGs, and celebrate ambitious leaders and innovators from around the world with 2017 Pioneers, Project Breakthrough, and the Global Opportunity Explorer. date: 21 September 2017location: New York City, US contact: UN Global Compact email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:leaderssummit@unglobalcompact.org">leaderssummit@unglobalcompact.org</a> www:<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-th/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8616" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8616">https://www.unglobalcompact.org/take-action/events/leaders-summit-2017</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8568">World Health Summit: The ninth World Health Summit will address “Science – Innovation – Policies.” Central topics to be addressed include: Health Policy in the G7/G20; Global Health Security; Healthy and Resilient Cities; Vaccination and Eradicating Disease; New Frontiers in Health Services; and Big Data for Health Governance. dates: 15-17 October 2017 location: Berlin, Germany <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8617">www:</span><span dir="rtl"> </span><span dir="rtl"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-tk/"><span dir="ltr">https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/whs-2017.html</span></a></span></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8618">Third Meeting of the UN Environment Assembly: UNEA 3 will be held, on an exceptional basis, from 4-6 December 2017, with the high-level segment taking place on 5-6 December, and the Open Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives from 29 November to 1 December. dates: 4-6 December 2017 location: Nairobi, Kenya contact: Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of Governing Bodies phone: +254-20-7623431 email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:unep.sgb@unep.org">unep.sgb@unep.org</a> www:<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-tu/">http://www.unep.org/environmentassembly/</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8567">Eleventh World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference: The topmost decision-making body of the WTO, the Ministerial Conference, usually meets every two years. The conference will bring together all members of the WTO and can make decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.dates: 10-13 December 2017 location: Buenos Aires, Argentina contact: WTO Secretariat phone: +41-22-739-5111 email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:enquiries@wto.org">enquiries@wto.org</a> www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-il/">https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc11_e/mc11_e.htm</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8619">First Global Conference of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax: The members of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (UN, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Bank Group) will hold their first Global Conference on the theme of “Taxation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” to take forward the global dialogue on the role of tax in achieving the SDGs, and to seek country insights on relevant challenges and opportunities. The conference will use as an input the work developed by Platform members, both jointly and separately, in connection with the themes covered in the conference. dates: 14-16 February 2018 location: UN Headquarters, New Yorkwww: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-ir/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8620" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8620">http://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/platform-for-tax-collaboration</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8566">World Water Forum 2018: The World Water Forum is the world’s largest water event that gathers international stakeholders every three years and aims to set water firmly on the international agenda. The World Water Forum is organized by the World Water Council, an international multi-stakeholder platform that aims to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on earth. dates: 18-23 March 2018 location: Brasilia, Brazil contact: World Water Council phone: +33-4-91-99-41-00 email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:wwc@worldwatercouncil.org">wwc@worldwatercouncil.org</a>www: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-iy/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8677" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8677">http://www.worldwatercouncil.org</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8621"><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8676">Annual ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (FfD Forum): </span>This Forum addresses the follow-up and review of Financing for Development Conference outcomes and the means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. dates: 23-26 April 2018 location: UN Headquarters, New York contact: UNDESA <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8675">email:</span><span dir="rtl"> </span><span dir="rtl"> </span><span dir="rtl"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:halka@un.org"><span dir="ltr">halka@un.org</span></a></span> <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8670">www:</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-ij/">http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/ffdforum/</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8630">HLPF 2018: The sixth HLPF, convening under the auspices of ECOSOC, will address the theme of “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.” The Forum will also review Goals 6, 7, 11, 12, and 15, as well as Goal 17, which is reviewed every year. dates: July 2018 [<em>tentative</em>] <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8674">location:</span> UN Headquarters, New York contact: UNDESA email: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-it/" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8673" name="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8673">https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/contact/</a><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8671"> www:</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-ii/">https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf</a></p>
<p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8629">For additional meetings, see <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-id/">http://sd.iisd.org/</a></p>
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<table border="0" cellspacing="6" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7357">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7356"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7383"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7382"><table cellspacing="6" border="0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7381">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7380"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7379"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7378"><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8629"></p>
</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8553">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8552"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8551"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8550"><table cellspacing="6" border="0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8549">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8548"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8559"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8558"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv3493136924glossary" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8557">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8556"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8628"><td colspan="2" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8627"><div align="center" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8626">GLOSSARY</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8625"><th width="9%">AAAA</th>
<td width="91%" align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8624">Addis Ababa Action Agenda</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8565"><th>CSD</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8564">UN Commission on Sustainable Development</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8623"><th>DESA</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8622">UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8563"><th>ECOSOC</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8562">UN Economic and Social Council</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>GDP</th>
<td align="left">Gross domestic product</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>GSDR</th>
<td align="left">Global Sustainable Development Report</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>HLPF</th>
<td align="left">High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>LDCs</th>
<td align="left">Least developed countries</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>LLDCs</th>
<td align="left">Landlocked developing countries</td>
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<tr><th>MGoS</th>
<td align="left">Major Groups and other Stakeholders</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>MICs</th>
<td align="left">Middle-income countries</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>MOI</th>
<td align="left">Means of implementation</td>
</tr>
<tr><th>MPI</th>
<td align="left">Multidimensional poverty index</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8607"><th>NCDs</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8606">Non-communicable diseases</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8605"><th>ODA</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8604">Official development assistance</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8603"><th>SAMOA Pathway</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8602">SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8601"><th>SDGs</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8600">Sustainable Development Goals</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8599"><th>SIDS</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8598">Small island developing states</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8597"><th>SMEs</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8596">Small- and medium-sized enterprises</td>
</tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8746"><th>STI</th>
<td align="left" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8745">Science, technology and innovation</td>
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<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8595"><th>UNECE</th>
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<tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8547"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8546"><p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8545">This issue of the <em id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_8747">Earth Negotiations Bulletin</em> © <<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:enb@iisd.org">enb@iisd.org</a>> is written and edited by Anju Sharma, Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, Katherine Browne, and Cleo Verkuijl. The Digital Editor is Kiara Worth. The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. <<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:pam@iisd.org">pam@iisd.org</a>>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI <<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:kimo@iisd.org">kimo@iisd.org</a>>. The <em>Earth Negotiations Bulletin</em> is published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The Sustaining Donors of the <em>Bulletin</em> are the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Support for the <em>Bulletin </em>during 2017 is provided by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Switzerland (Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)), and SWAN International. Specific funding for coverage of this meeting has been provided by the EU and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). </p>
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GENERAL DEBATE: During the…
tag:bracnet.ning.com,2017-07-22:4777346:Comment:13301
2017-07-22T12:54:01.928Z
chris macrae
http://bracnet.ning.com/profile/chrismacrae
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<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7356"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7383"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7382"><table cellspacing="6" border="0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7381">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7380"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7379"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7378"><p>GENERAL DEBATE: During the General Debate, 91 Ministers, and other high-level representatives of Member States, including one Prime Minister, delivered statements each afternoon during the three days of the Ministerial Segment. The statements can be viewed at: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-jd/"><u>http://bit.ly/2tiDPZk</u></a></p>
<p>Introduction of Secretary-General’s Report on the Overall Theme of the Council’s 2017 Session: This session, on Monday, 17 July, was chaired by ECOSOC Vice President Chatardová.</p>
<p>Under-Secretary-General Wu highlighted findings from two reports of the UN Secretary-General: “Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, through promoting sustainable development, expanding opportunities and addressing related challenges” (E/2017/64), which describes systemic challenges and key policy actions for eradicating poverty; and “Beyond gross domestic product: multi-dimensional poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals” (E/2017/69), which provides an overview of national approaches to addressing multi-dimensional poverty. He also highlighted the 2017 World Economic and Social Survey (E/2017/50), underscoring that the global economic situation remains a challenge for achieving the 2030 Agenda.</p>
<p>José Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), discussed findings from the 2017 Report of the CDP (E/2017/33), and said the Committee is approaching poverty reduction from the angle of building productive capacities in countries that have graduated, or are graduating, from LDC status.</p>
<p>A more detailed summary of the discussion is available at: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://iisd.cmail19.com/t/i-l-oairit-azluuuhi-jh/"><u>http://enb.iisd.org/vol33/enb3334e.html</u></a></p>
<p><em>CLOSING PLENARY</em></p>
<p>The HLPF closing plenary began at 5:30 pm and was chaired by ECOSOC President Shava.</p>
<p>Expressing gratitude to Jan Kickert, Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN, and Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN, for their work on the draft Ministerial Declaration, Shava invited Member States to consider the draft. Urging a spirit of consensus, he emphasized that the declaration will not encroach upon the primacy of the 2030 Agenda.</p>
<p>Shava then noted Israel’s request to hold a vote on paragraph 4 (on peaceful, just and inclusive societies, with a reference to the removal of obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation) of the draft declaration.</p>
<p>Israel said his country requested the vote because the declaration should focus on unifying and actionable messages, and the HLPF should not become another “battleground.”</p>
<p>After 104 Member States voted to retain the paragraph, with eight against and 48 abstentions, the paragraph was retained.</p>
<p>Shava then noted that a vote on paragraph 21 (MOI, including promotion of a universal, rule-based, multilateral trading system) had been requested by the US.</p>
<p>After 112 Member States voted to retain the paragraph, with one against and 46 abstentions, the paragraph was retained.</p>
<p>Explaining his country’s vote, Mexico noted support for the paragraph as it contains fundamental principles of international trade. He called for future HLPF sessions to adopt brief, actionable declarations that increase ambition.</p>
<p>Noting his country’s abstention, Canada, speaking together with Australia and New Zealand, said while meaningful trade liberalization is essential, the paragraph does not recognize the role of domestic resource mobilization, and innovation driven by the private sector. Japan noted his country’s abstention because the paragraph was not balanced and focused too much on financial models.</p>
<p>Shava then invited Member States to adopt the Ministerial Declaration, as orally amended (E/HLPF/2017/L.2). The Declaration was adopted without objection.</p>
<p>During the statements that followed, Ecuador, for the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China), regretted that the Ministerial Declaration does not include: acknowledgement that responsibility for economic and social development of a state falls on the state itself; the need to have a supportive international enabling environment, including a supportive trade system; reference to the commitment of 0.7% official development assistance/gross national income (ODA/GNI), with 0.2% ODA/GNI directed to LDCs; reference to necessary tangible actions to establish a broad consultation process; an action-focused monitoring and review section; and acknowledgment that the current global trends will make it impossible to eradicate poverty by 2030.</p>
<p>Estonia, on behalf of the European Union, regretted that the text lacks mention of the root causes of migration, despite evident linkages between migration and sustainable development. He opposed selecting some targets for close examination and not others, and stressed that targets 5.3 (eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation); 5.6 (ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences); and 5A (undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws) are integral for overall development, and achievement of the Goals.</p>
<p>Barbados, for the Caribbean Community, supporting the G-77/China, said the Declaration is not perfect, but best reflects consensus after weeks of consultations. He noted the importance of the HLPF to SIDS, saying it provides the only opportunity for SIDS to review implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and the SAMOA Pathway.</p>
<p>Australia, also for Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, and New Zealand, said the language on SDG 5 in the Ministerial Declaration departs from commitments under the 2030 Agenda, omitting several key elements. She underlined that joining consensus on the Declaration does not indicate an acceptance of the weakening of commitments on this Goal.</p>
<p>Canada, also expressing concern on the omission of language on SDG 5 and its targets, underlined that his country joined consensus on the understanding that the Declaration does not encroach on the primacy of the 2030 Agenda.</p>
<p>The US underlined that the Declaration is non-binding under international law. Explaining her country’s votes, she said the US supported Israel on the deletion of paragraph 4 and regretted the attempt by certain states to politicize sustainable development. On paragraph 21, she said the US does not view the UN as an appropriate forum to opine on the World Trade Organization, which is an independent body. Noting that US policies are currently under review, she said her country could not affirm support for all areas of the 2030 Agenda. She also noted the US President’s indication that the US will withdraw from the Paris Agreement, saying that while support may be possible under new terms in the future, the US is ceasing implementation of its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Agreement. She also expressed disappointment that trafficking in persons was not referenced in the Declaration.</p>
<p>Switzerland explained his country’s abstention on the votes, saying it was based on general disapproval of voting in this Forum, as it dilutes the strong political signal needed from the HLPF.</p>
<p>Morocco expressed regret that language on the need to respect the territorial integrity of states was not included in the Declaration.</p>
<p>The Russian Federation lamented efforts to reinterpret the integrated nature of the SDGs, and cautioned that repeated voting would have a negative impact on the Forum as the main platform on sustainable development.</p>
<p>Venezuela stressed the sovereign right to manage natural resources and opposed coercive unilateral trade measures.</p>
<p>France noted that all rights should be enjoyed by all, and not just a few.</p>
<p>The UK expressed disappointment with language on gender, and said the Ministerial Declaration should not be a vehicle to renegotiate high-level agreements through the back door.</p>
<p>Maldives, for the Alliance of Small Island States, emphasized the importance of a universal approach to addressing common challenges and noted the centrality of the HLPF for the SAMOA Pathway.</p>
<p>Referring to a letter submitted by his country to the ECOSOC President on Azerbaijan, Armenia lamented the “distortion of facts” and “propaganda” in a country’s VNR.</p>
<p>Iran said that follow-up of development objectives in his country will be in accordance with national laws and legislation, development priorities, and cultural values.</p>
<p>The Holy See said his country does not consider abortion, or access to abortion, to be an element of sexual care services.</p>
<p>Viet Nam expressed concern over language in paragraph 8 (climate change) and said it contains concepts that have not been fully clarified.</p>
<p>Norway regretted that the text did not contain more explicit language on the importance of gender equality, and shared concerns that paragraph 21 does not reflect the “delicate balance” achieved in the AAAA.</p>
<p>Israel disassociated itself from paragraph 4.</p>
<p>Nigeria regretted the “weak and imbalanced” language on illicit financial flows, and called for enhanced diligence and cooperation to prevent, detect, and deter the international transfer of products of crime.</p>
<p>In his closing statement, Under-Secretary-General Wu noted that the HLPF is fulfilling its role as a central global platform for review and follow-up of SDGs, while offering a space for exchanging experiences, peer learning, and lessons learned. He said its success demonstrates that multilateralism is very much alive, and the UN is still relevant.</p>
<p>Noting the Ministerial Declaration provides political guidance, Shava underscored that the 2030 Agenda seeks to promote fair globalization. He said the 43 VNRs presented at the Forum had demonstrated political will for evidence- and science-based decisions to implement the 2030 Agenda at the national level.</p>
<p>He gaveled the meeting to a close at 7:49 pm.</p>
<p>FINAL OUTCOME: Emphasizing the centrality of the HLPF in overseeing follow-up and review at the global level, the Ministerial Declaration on the themes of “eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world” and “eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through promoting sustainable development, expanding opportunities and addressing related challenges,” <em>inter alia:</em></p>
<ul>
<li>reiterates the commitment to end poverty, promote sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies with access to justice and respect for human rights, and promote full gender equality by tackling all legal, social and economic barriers;</li>
<li>underlines the necessity of investing in youth by addressing multi-dimensional deprivations, calls on parties to the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to implement commitments, and urges actions to promote inclusion and pluralism in cities;</li>
<li>stresses the importance of policy coherence and enabling environments to build synergies across Goals and indicators; and</li>
<li>recognizes the specific and common challenges faced by LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, while noting the serious challenges within many MICs.</li>
</ul>
<p>On the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made towards achieving the SDGs, Member States acknowledge insufficient and uneven progress across many targets and the need for further efforts by all.</p>
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<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7356"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7383"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7382"><table cellspacing="6" border="0" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7381">
<tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7380"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7379"><td id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1500727124748_7378"><p>Having reviewed SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14 and 17 this year, Member States acknowledge the need to leverage synergies and co-benefits while minimizing trade-offs, and stress:</p>
<ul>
<li>the need for a multi-dimensional approach in efforts to eradicate poverty;</li>
<li>poverty as the principal cause of hunger and the need for sustainable food systems that are resilient;</li>
<li>the importance of investing in health by building resilient health systems, including preparedness to respond to epidemic outbreaks;</li>
<li>the need to address the slow progress in women’s representation in leadership and management level positions and to implement the other SDGs in a manner that delivers results for women and girls;</li>
<li>the necessity of ensuring access to those without access to electricity, clean water, sanitation, and the internet and the role sustainable industrialization can play in the structural transformation of economies; and</li>
<li>the adverse impacts of climate change on oceans, and underline the commitments expressed in the outcomes of the UN Ocean Conference.</li>
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<p>Noting the “challenging” global environment and its impact on national efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda, Member States call for a stronger commitment to partnership and cooperation together with coherent policies and an enabling environment at all levels by all actors.</p>
<p>The Ministerial Declaration further:</p>
<ul>
<li>commends the countries that conducted the VNRs, urges all to make use of the lessons learned from the review process to enhance implementation and invites Member States to consider presenting their VNRs in 2018;</li>
<li>welcomes the adoption of the global indicator framework, stresses the need for coordinated collection, analysis, dissemination and use of statistics and high-quality, accessible, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migration status, geographical location and other characteristics; and notes the need to build capacity; and</li>
<li>recognizes the role of the UN in supporting countries’ efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda and look forward to the options and proposals by the Secretary-General in making the UN more fit for purpose to deliver.</li>
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<p><em>Like the legend of the phoenix</em></p>
<p><em>All ends with beginnings</em></p>
<p><em>- Daft Punk</em></p>
<p>Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development has become the central intergovernmental platform for follow-up and review of the world’s ambitious and universal new roadmap to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The HLPF was established in 2012 to replace the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), whose systemic shortfalls on the fronts of monitoring sustainable development implementation, integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development, and responding to emerging issues rendered it incapable of effectively addressing the sustainable development challenges of the 21st century. Against the backdrop of high poverty and “astounding inequality,” growing instability, and a dangerously warming world, at HLPF 2017 many wondered if the Forum is up to the task of confronting today’s considerable sustainable development challenges head-on? In the words of the French electronic music duo Daft Punk, is the “HLPF at five” “<em>harder, better, faster, stronger</em>” than its predecessor?</p>
<p>This brief analysis contemplates this question across three dimensions, considering the extent to which HLPF 2017 succeeded in: offering robust follow-up and review of the SDGs; catalyzing national implementation; and providing the necessary political leadership and guidance to spur momentum for sustainable development. It concludes by considering whether the Forum is moving in the right direction, or is repeating the mistakes of its predecessor.</p>
<p><em>FOLLOW-UP AND REVIEW</em></p>
<p><em>Work it harder, make it better</em></p>
<p><em>Do it faster, makes us stronger</em></p>
<p><em>- Daft Punk</em></p>
<p>This year, for the first time, the HLPF focused on reviewing the implementation of a subset of six Goals: SDGs 1 (no poverty); 2 (zero hunger); 3 (good health and well-being); 5 (gender equality); 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure); and 14 (life below water). A seventh, SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals, is being reviewed each year. The HLPF tackled these wide-ranging and complex SDGs across seven two-hour sessions on the Goals, with only 90 minutes on the critical SDG 17 theme on investing in and financing for SDGs. This format seemed to undermine the notion that the SDGs represent an integrated Agenda that is designed to help break down silos. Realistically, however, a focus on a smaller number of Goals may be the only way for the Forum to consider the sweeping 2030 Agenda in any depth during the time allotted over the limited eight days that the HLPF is mandated to meet.</p>
<p>Even a dedicated session on interlinkages did not give participants the chance to break down silos, hone down on specifics, or disentangle complexities, such as the finer differences between “coordination,” “coherence,” “interconnections,” and “interlinkages.” Despite these limitations, delegations recognized again and again that the world’s new development agenda is integrated, interlinked, and ultimately indivisible.</p>
<p>More problematic was the issue of how much can be substantively discussed in the short space available, with Member States, Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) and international organizations struggling to make interventions in the limited time that followed the panel presentations. Several sessions had to end before everyone on the speakers list had a chance to be heard; more often than not, it was the voices of civil society that were excluded. Yet, other sessions seemed to run out speakers before running out of time.</p>
<p>This challenge was particularly palpable when it came to consideration of SDG 17, where the session on investing in, and financing for, SDGs left countries and stakeholders with a minute each to share experiences, raise questions, and respond to one another in a meaningful way on this “trillion dollar question.” The format drew considerable ire from several developing country delegates, with at least one vowing to write a letter of complaint on what he perceived to be unacceptable neglect of so fundamental an issue.</p>
<p>For many, the “tired” format of 16 thematic panel discussions, followed by largely pre-written interventions, also evoked a sense of “déjà vu,” with a number of sustainable development veterans recalling similar discussions under the CSD.</p>
<p>With outgoing Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo noting all participants would receive a survey to evaluate the meeting and make recommendations for future HLPF sessions, participants had already started to muse over whether there are any alternative formats available to allow the Forum to maintain and harness the energy and excitement on which SDG implementation will depend. One civil society representative, for instance, emphasized a need to ensure outcomes that can be brought back to the national level, for example through a summary of lessons learned through the VNR processes. Another observer called for elevating the thematic discussions politically through ministerial roundtables on major and emerging issues.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, several recent “out of the box” international meetings, including the May 2017 UN General Assembly’s SDG Action Event on Innovation and Connectivity, which took a “TED talk” approach, demonstrate the UN’s ability to do something different. While this Action Event’s clarion call to “embrace innovation” to achieve the SDGs focused on developments in the private sector, perhaps its main message about embracing innovation should also inspire change within the UN system.</p>
<p><em>CATALYZING NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION</em></p>
<p><em>Write it, cut it, paste it, save it,</em></p>
<p><em>Load it, check it, quick – rewrite it.</em></p>
<p><em>- Daft Punk</em></p>
<p>HLPF 2017 was also the second year that countries presented their VNRs, or what one delegation termed “a selfie” of progress towards SDG implementation.</p>
<p>Forty-three countries presented VNRs at this meeting: close to double the number that presented at HLPF 2016. This unanticipated popularity caused some logistical and planning challenges, and left little time for interaction during the discussions. NGOs also struggled to complete their own reviews of governments’ performance, so-called “shadow VNRs,” in time for the meeting.</p>
<p>On the positive side, the universal nature of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda was reinforced by the presentation of VNRs by countries at all levels of development. As a developed country noted while presenting their Review, “all countries are developing countries in the context of the VNRs.” Most of the VNRs were presented by Ministers, indicating the national importance that is attached to the process. The Ministers represented multiple portfolios, suggesting that the SDGs have managed to engage multiple sectors, and enabled the realization, after many years, that the sustainable development agenda is much more than just the environmental pillar.</p>
<p>The fact that some delegations presenting VNRs included stakeholder representatives was a positive feature. Stakeholders were also able to ask questions on the VNRs―although time was sometimes limited for meaningful responses. The number of MGoS represented at HLPF has also expanded since the CSD days―there are now groups representing persons with disabilities, older persons, and others. This has already had an impact on both the dialogue and the process, for example, through the inclusion of subtitles and sign language on video screens in most sessions.</p>
<p>The importance of civil society as “advocates, implementers, and watchdogs” of SDG implementation, monitoring and evaluation was given voice during the VNRs. Compared to the previous year, a notable rise in the engagement of MGoS in the VNR process was illustrated by a swathe of reports, including complete “shadow VNRs” to counter the formal reviews; score cards of performance on specific issues, such as the inclusion of stakeholders; and reviews from specific perspectives (for example, how countries scored on the 2030 Agenda’s environmental dimensions).</p>
<p>In their interventions, several MGoS offered some hard-hitting remarks, challenging assertions by their governments that civil society had been consulted in the SDG “nationalization” and VNR processes; raising “sore points” such as regression by some countries on official development assistance targets and their tax havens status; and protesting instances where interventions from MGoS were passed over during some VNRs, although it was not entirely clear whether this had occurred mainly due to time constraints.</p>
<p><em>POLITICAL MOMENTUM</em></p>
<p><em>More than ever</em></p>
<p><em>Hour after hour</em></p>
<p><em>Work is never over</em></p>
<p><em>- Daft Punk</em></p>
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