Highlights and images for 15 July 2024

With operatic notes reverberating through the UN General Assembly Hall, the usual Monday blues were momentarily set aside as the ministerial segment of the 2024 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) kicked off. The General Debate on day six of the HLPF was marked by a series of calls for a frank acknowledgement: that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is seriously off-track. These calls mandate a transformative focus for the upcoming Summit of the Future.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Presentations of countries’ third and fourth Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) that took place in the afternoon sounded a more optimistic note, albeit with repeated admonitions for countries to identify actionable solutions in the transition towards a “sustainable, resilient, and just future.”

Challenges to the multilateral system and setbacks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were underlined by repeated references to the plight of Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, South Sudan, and other regions experiencing a cascade of conflict and climate crises.

Opening the ministerial segment, Paula Narváez, President, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), conceded that progress on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs has stalled, especially for the most vulnerable. She called for for recognizing that sustainable development is a fundamental prerequisite for rebuilding resilience in those areas of the world most affected by conflict and infrastructure collapse.

Dennis Francis, President, UN General Assembly, observed that “we are living through a fragile and special moment.” He called on countries to leverage the urgency for change, noting that 1.1 billion people continue to live in multidimensional poverty.

As countries look forward to the Summit of the Future in September and to a new cycle of landmark conferences on Financing for Development and Social Development, many speakers outlined priorities and tangible measures to achieve the Goals. These included recommendations for scaled-up investment in children’s social protection and rights, with some noting the far-reaching socioeconomic impacts of leaving child poverty unaddressed.

Observing that only 17% of the SDGs show any progress, Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, emphasized that “future generations certainly deserve more than 17% of a sustainable future.”

Recognizing that the debt crisis and geopolitical dynamics afflicting many countries are putting a strain on multilateralism, which further threatens the delivery of the 2030 Agenda, many countries urged focus on renewing trust and reforming institutions, including through more equitable representation and participation. One youth delegate specified the need for a seat at the table in financial and investment decision-making, calling for representation of youth in multilateral bank structures.

In parallel with the general debate, the afternoon saw six countries present their third VNRs: Uganda, Spain, Peru, Lao PDR, Armenia, and Nepal; and one country, Azerbaijan, present their fourth report. Many highlighted lessons learned since their previous reports, outlining developments in: localizing the SDGs; strengthening multi-level partnerships for the Goals; transitioning to a multidimensional poverty index; and tackling challenges arising from political instability in their regions.

Representatives of Major Groups and other Stakeholders were present to remind governments of their central role in driving the 2030 Agenda forward, and ensuring that no one is left behind if the Goals are to be met.