Summary
The 2018 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concluded on Wednesday, following a full day of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and the continuation of the High-Level General Debate in the afternoon. A Ministerial Declaration was adopted during the closing session on the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies,” after voting on three paragraphs relating to: means of implementation and global partnerships; peace and security; and gender equality. The Ministerial Declaration as a whole was also put to a vote following a request from the US. The Declaration was adopted without any amendments.
Visit our coverage of selected side events at HLPF 2018
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from HLPF 2018.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Voluntary National Reviews
Delegates during the VNR presentations
Ghassan Hasbani, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Public Health, Lebanon
Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Minnis, The Bahamas
Jadwiga Emilewicz, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology Group, Poland
László Palkovics, Minister of Innovation and Technology, Hungary
Graţiela Leocadia Gavrilescu, Vice Prime Minister, Romania
Carmelo Abela, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Malta
Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Singapore
Teresa Ribera, Minister of Ecological Transition, Spain
Alicia Beatriz Pucheta de Correa, Vice President, Paraguay
Abdallah Yahya Al-Mouallimi, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN
Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, Qatar
General Debate
View of the dais during the General Debate
Jiko Fatafehi Luveni, Speaker of Parliament, Fiji
Tlohelang Aumane, Minister of Development Planning, Lesotho
Sulton Rahimzada, First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Tajikistan
Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Ireland
Hala El Helmy Said, Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform, Egypt
Closing of the HLPF
The Trusteeship Council is filled to capacity as delegates gather for the closing session
Marie Chatardová, President of ECOSOC
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Delegates read the draft Ministerial Declaration
Delegates vote on elements of the Ministerial Declaration
The US raises a point of order during the vote
Kelley Eckels-Currie, US
Sergey Kononuchenko, Russian Federation
Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, Israel
Marc-André Blanchard, Canada
Jan Kickert, EU
Delegates applaud the closure of HLPF
Mandela Day Celebrations
People gather in the ECOSOC Chamber to celebrate "Nelson Mandela International Day" that commemorates
the lifetime of service Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA)
A pin commemorating what would have been Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday
Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation
Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa
Around the Venue
Inga Rhonda King, Vice-President of ECOSOC, speaks with Courtenay Rattray, Jamaica
Delegates from Saudi Arabia
Delegates from Romania wearing their traditional dress
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UNGA
Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, shares a moment with
Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation
A delegate reads the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) to keep up to date with the HLPF
Roy Lamazon, UN Division for Sustainable Development (DSD), and May East, UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Delegates between sessions
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) ENB team covering the 2018 HLPF: Laura Bullon, Switzerland/Spain; Anju Sharma, India; Ana Maria Lebădă, Romania; Peter Doran, Ireland; and Kiara Worth, South Africa
