Halfway through the first week of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), delegates turned to an in-depth review of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on decent work and economic growth. Wide-ranging discussions explored, among other issues: reversing the race to the bottom in global supply chains, promoting decent digital work, tackling systemic discrimination, and expanding green jobs for youth.
Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.
Several delegates underscored the centrality of SDG 8 for the health and wellbeing of future generations, gender equality and social stability, with a strong call for reforms and policies to: transition from informal to formal employment; improve access to education and training; and promote inclusive employment, especially for women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Digital innovation, labor protection, and cooperation were also repeatedly mentioned by delegates as key components for inclusive economic growth. Children and Youth made a strong call for increased participation and advocated for a youth employment task force focused on decent jobs.
In the afternoon, delegates turned to SDG implementation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and early efforts to implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). The need to adopt tailored policies and financing instruments to address the specific needs of SIDS was a recurrent call, with many underscoring that moving beyond conventional metrics to support a Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index would enhance SIDS’ access to finance. Many speakers expressed support for the SIDS Global Data Hub, a repository for comprehensive data on SIDS that integrates environmental, economic, and social data, and related analytics.
Delegates also reviewed a progress report on the implementation of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP). Key messages for consideration by the HLPF and UN General Assembly emphasized: reducing inequalities and achieving just transitions for all; harnessing circular economy co-benefits; and closing the reporting gap on SDG target 12.1.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For HLPF 2025 please use: Photo by IISD/ENB - Kiara Worth
10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns
Delegates gather to hear the report on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP)
Lok Bahadur Thapa, Vice-President, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Annika Lindblom, Ministry of the Environment, Finland, and Co-Chair, Board of the 10YFP
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Lok Bahadur Thapa, Vice-President, ECOSOC, convenes the discussions on SDG 8 - decent work and economic growth
Patrick Paul Walsh, Professor of Global Affairs and Sustainable Futures, University College Dublin (UCD), Vice-President of Education, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
Sangheon Lee, Director, Employment, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department, International Labour Organization (ILO)
A slide highlights how young people are struggling with decent work
Jason Judd, Executive Director, Global Labour Institute, Cornell University
Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Macarena Letelier, General Manager, Confederation of Production and Commerce, Chile, and Siobhan Vipond, Vice President, Canadian Labour Congress
Soumia Ramdoum, Algeria
Liv Tørres, Norway
Alima Taal, Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent Stakeholder Group
Rahma Salim Mahfoudh, Tanzania
Héctor Ochoa, Mexico
Maritza Estrada Velasquez, NGO Major Group
Shihab Quader, Bangladesh
Maria Szczerbowska, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY)
Small Island Developing States: Strategies for SDG Success
Delegates gather to discuss strategies for SDG success in SIDS
Sergio Fernandez de Cordova, Executive Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation
Maritza Chan, Vice-President, ECOSOC
Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Development, UN DESA
Ilana Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN, and Chair, Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Ruth Julie Kissam, Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network
Matthew Bishop, Co-Director, Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)
Ianthe Douglas, Palau
François Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Jeem Lippwe, Permanent Representative of the Federated States of Micronesia to the UN, on behalf of Pacific SIDS
Tania Romualdo, Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the UN
Noemi Ruth Espinoza Madrid, Association of Caribbean States
Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of Malta to the UN
Mori-M (Mahoney) Mori, MGCY
Latoya Clarke, Jamaica
Around the Venue
Participants attend the launch of a new book "Environmental Lobbying at the UN"
Chris Spence, Independent Consultant and Co-Author
Felix Dodds, University of North Carolina
Delegates consult between sessions
Toni-Shae Freckleton, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR
UN Security around the venue
