Highlights and images for 14 July 2025

Two themes featured strongly during the opening of the 2025 High-level Political Forum (HLPF): the recently-concluded Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and its outcome, the Sevilla Commitment; and the ongoing UN80 process aimed at streamlining the UN system to strengthen multilateral governance.

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

In high-level opening statements at the Monday morning “townhall” focused on the Conference theme, and during the first deep dive on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the afternoon, calls were repeatedly heard for a fairer and more inclusive financial architecture, with many speakers drawing parallels to the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) space.  

During the opening session, Lok Bahadur Thapa, Vice-President, ECOSOC, noted insufficient progress across the Global Goals, with stagnation and regression on some SDG targets. Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, linked geopolitical conflicts, financing gaps, inequalities, and climate change, to generally slow progress on the SDGs, but pointed to advancements on some targets as a reason for hope. Anatolio Ndong Mba, Vice-President of ECOSOC, highlighted the need to maintain climate action, sustainable development and resilience at the heart of UN80 reforms.  

The townhall segment opened with an overview of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ SDG progress report by Li Junhua, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs. He highlighted disappointing progress overall, noting that 35% of SDG targets are making moderate progress, whereas progress on 47% is insufficient and 18% are regressing.  

A panel moderated by Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa, offered perspectives around the HLPF 2025 theme of advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs.  

During the interactive discussion, numerous speakers referred to FfD4, with some lamenting the weakening of language in the outcome, the Sevilla Commitment. On STI, while welcoming the potential of technology in bridging financing and other gaps, many speakers highlighted associated risks, underscoring the need to adopt inclusive, transparent, and responsible approaches to AI.  

In the afternoon, the Forum began an in-depth review of SDG 3 (good health and well-being), taking note of data showing that despite some bright spots, none of the SDG 3 targets are currently on track. Speakers noted new challenges posed by the increasing intersection between health and global crises, including climate change, conflict, biodiversity loss, pollution, unsustainable urbanization, and ageing populations.  

Various special events and parallel discussions convened throughout the day, touching on, among other issues: “The SDGs in Practice”; “Debt Reform;” and “AI for Inclusive and Regenerative Economies,” and “Mental health at the HLPF and Beyond.”