All regions are off-track to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and 2023 may be the last chance to commit to accelerated action toward realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These were among messages from the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the Regional Forums on the seventh day of the 2023 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Want to dig deeper into the day's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.
The HLPF’s Ministerial Segment continued its general debate on building momentum to the September 2023 SDG Summit, while a parallel session considered the presentation and discussion of one inaugural Voluntary National Review (VNR) and 10 second VNRs.
Messages from UNEA
Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco, and President, sixth session of UNEA, said the world is at a critical and unique juncture, perhaps the last chance to recommit and accelerate action in time to realize the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs. She invited all to work with UNEA to achieve the SDGs, noting “nothing is more powerful than everyone rowing together in the same direction.”
Messages from the Regions
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, on behalf of the five UN Regional Commissions, provided an overview, reporting that SDGs progress is off-track in all regions. She urged accelerated implementation actions, and underscored that peace, stability and resilience are preconditions for progress, with sustainable financing and transformative actions essential for realizing the 2030 Agenda.
The five regional forums on sustainable development relayed messages from their 2023 meetings. Africa noted most countries are not on track to achieving the SDGs by 2030 and reported recommendations such as intensified transformative initiatives and more resources for data. Arab states outlined strategies to support developing countries to sustainably manage debt and facilitate access to concessional credit and stressed the need to address wasteful spending and corruption. Asia-Pacific highlighted progress in the energy, food system, and urban development sectors, as well as efforts to strengthen social protection, and to tackle rising indebtedness.
Europe highlighted regional commitments to: implement pledges made at the UN Water Conference; leverage digital solutions for energy efficiency and the renewable energy transition; strengthen enabling environments; and accelerate affordable housing. Latin America and the Caribbean stressed addressing growing drought and water stress, pollution and climate change; maintaining momentum on renewable energy; ensuring people-centered approaches to infrastructural development, industrialization and science and technology; and improving access to housing.
General Debate: Building Momentum Towards the SDG Summit
The general debate, which continued Tuesday afternoon, heard statements from 39 speakers, including seven ministers and 17 deputy ministers and other high-level government officials, representing ministries of foreign affairs, development, national planning, environment, science and technology and international cooperation. In addition to describing national and local progress on the SDGs and how they are incorporated into national development plans, many noted the setbacks they have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflict, and debt.
They all agreed that the SDG Summit must be a meaningful turning point to restore trust and galvanize action.
Voluntary National Reviews
Saint Kitts and Nevis presented its first VNR, while Bahrain, Belgium, Croatia, Tanzania, Brunei, Iceland, Timor-Leste, France, Lithuania, and Singapore presented their second VNR. All addressed efforts to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic while strengthening resilience to new crises, while most highlighted progress, or lack thereof, regarding the SDGs under review by HLPF 2023. Presenters also responded to questions from observers on specific strategies adopted as well as insights from the VNR preparation process, and broader experiences and expected challenges regarding specific issues such as water or energy in their SDG implementation processes.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For HLPF 2023, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.
Messages from the UN Environment Assembly
Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco, and UNEA-6 President
Messages from the Regions
During the session on messages from the regions, a video presentation reminds delegates that it is time to double down on achieving the SDGs
Garama Saratou Rabiou Inoussa, Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Desertification, Niger, and Chair, Ninth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
Moderator Nudhara Yusuf, Facilitator, Global Governance Innovation Network, Stimson Center
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and Coordinator, Regional Commissions
Waed Abdullah Badhib, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Yemen, and Chair, Arab Forum for Sustainable Development 2023
Marisol Merquel, President, National Council for the Coordination of Social Policies, Argentina, and Chair, Sixth Session of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development
Milos Prica, Chair, Council for the Implementation of the SDGs, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Co-Chair, 2023 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Region
Markus Reubi, Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda, Switzerland, and Co-Chair, 2023 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region
Javier Surasky, Director, Cepei, Argentina
Pagnathun Theng, Cambodia, and Chair, 10th Session of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development
Kudzai Munyavi, LGBTI Stakeholder Group
Voluntary National Reviews
The meeting room is full as delegates listen to 11 VNRs throughout the day
Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts, Saint Kitts and Nevis
A slide from Saint Kitts and Nevis's VNR highlights the progress they are making with SDG 7 (energy)
A slide from Tanzania's VNR highlights the progress they are making with SDG 2 (zero hunger)
Anthony Damian Sanga, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development, Tanzania
Noor Al-Khulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Bahrain
A slide from Bahrain's VNR highlights elements of their COVID-19 recovery programme and how this relates to the SDGs
Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir, Vice President, ECOSOC
Nikolina Brnjac, Minister for Tourism and Sport, Croatia
A slide from Croatia's VNR highlights how their national development strategy aligns with the SDGs
A slide from Belgium's VNR highlights their progress with SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure)
Yannis Derbali, Head, Sustainable Development Unit, Office of the Belgian Minister Climate, Environment and the Green Deal, Belgium
Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, Brunei
A slide from Brunei's VNR highlights the progress they are making across all 17 SDGs
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, states their intention to be carbon neutral by 2040 during the VNR presentation
Eggert Benedikt Gudmundsson, Special Envoy for Sustainable Development, Iceland
Delegates listen to the reflections on the VNRs
A slide from Timor-Leste's VNR highlights their priorities to accelerate achievement of the SDGs
Karlito Nunes, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the UN
Simonas Gentvilas, Minister of Environment, Lithuania
A slide from Lithuania's VNR highlights how they are working towards better social inclusion
A slide from France's VNR highlights the progress they are making across six SDGs
Nicolas de Rivière, Permanent Representative of France to the UN
Grace Fu, Minister of Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore
A slide from Singapore's VNR highlights how the SDGs are aligned with their national Green Plan
General Debate
Delegates gather in the Trusteeship Council for the general debate
Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Pilar Cancela Rodríguez, Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Spain
Delegates applaud the statements made
Tuon Thavrak, Secretary of State, Ministry of Planning, Cambodia
Waed Abdullah Badhib, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Yemen, and Chair, Arab Forum for Sustainable Development 2023
Delegates listen to the statements
Francisco André, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Portugal
Luis Madera Sued, Vice Minister of Planning and Public Investment, Dominican Republic
Women's Action
Representatives of the Women's Major Group gather outside UN Headquarters to advocate for women's rights to be included in the SDG process
A representative wears a piece of art, symbolizing the different revolutionary acts women must perform to recognize their equality
Around the Venue
A bronze statue of Nelson Mandela welcomes delegates to the UN Headquarters, as people around the world celebrate Nelson Mandela Day to honor the fight for South Africa's freedom
Delegates between sessions
An art exhibition around UN Headquarters highlights the importance of achieving the SDGs for the protection of the environment
