2017 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2017)

The 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concluded on Wednesday, following four further sessions on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and the High-Level General Debate. A Ministerial Declaration focusing on the theme of “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world” was adopted during the closing session, after voting on paragraphs relating to: peaceful, just and inclusive societies, including the removal of obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation; and means of implementation, including promotion of a universal, rules-based, multilateral trading system. The Declaration was adopted with both paragraphs intact.

On Tuesday, five sessions on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) took place – three in the morning and two in the afternoon – during the Ministerial Segment of the 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). In total, 16 countries presented VNRs: Belgium, Benin, Peru, Guatemala, Italy, Zimbabwe, the Czech Republic, Jordan, Thailand, Argentina, Belarus, Portugal, Uruguay, Nigeria, Panama, and Sweden. In parallel, the General Debate took place in the afternoon, with 39 countries making statements.

The opening session of the High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Ministerial Segment of the 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) took place on Monday morning. Reporting by Ministerial Chairs on the Regional Forums on Sustainable Development, and two sessions on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), followed.

In the afternoon, the UN Secretary-General’s report on the theme of the ECOSOC 2017 session (“Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through promoting sustainable development, expanding opportunities and addressing related challenges”), and the report the Committee on Development Policy (CDP) were presented, followed by a general debate. In parallel, an additional two sessions on VNRs took place. In total, 12 countries presented VNRs on Monday: Brazil, Luxembourg, Nepal, Monaco, Japan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Kenya, Netherlands, Chile, and Malaysia.

On Friday, the 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) started with a session on leveraging interlinkages for effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the afternoon, a session on science-policy interface and emerging issues was followed by a wrap-up of the week’s events by the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Under-Secretary-General (USG) of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

On Thursday morning, the 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) started with reviews of implementation of two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure); and SDG 14 (life below water). In the afternoon, two reviews related to SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) took place, on: investing in, and financing for, SDGs; and advancing science, technology and innovation (STI) for SDGs.

On Wednesday, the 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) reviewed the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (good health and well being) and SDG 5 (gender equality). In the afternoon, thematic reviews took place on two topics related to this year’s overall theme of “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”: “Taking forward the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway,” and “How it affects countries in special situations: least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).” The latter thematic review also discussed the special challenges of middle-income countries (MICs).

The second day of the 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) started with a review of implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 (no poverty) and SDG 2 (zero hunger). In the afternoon, a thematic review on “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world: Multi-stakeholder perspectives,” took place.

The 2017 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), opened on Monday, 10 July 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. Following an opening plenary that reviewed progress on implementing the 2030 Agenda in the first two years since its adoption, key regional and sub-regional players, including representatives of UN Regional Commissions, exchanged regional experiences to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the afternoon, a thematic review on “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world: Addressing multi-dimensions of poverty and inequalities,” took place.