Highlights and images for 9 July 2026

Thursday’s discussions at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) focused on places that are small on the map, but high on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda: small island developing states (SIDS) and cities. 

SIDS are particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters and sea level rise, but they are also stewards of the Ocean. Cities are home to more than half of the global population and are hubs of connectivity, innovation, and partnerships driving economic growth and societal change. SIDS and cities both “punch above their weight” when it comes to SDG implementation. 

“Imagine living in a country where a single storm can destroy 10 years of progress forcing you to build back to zero,” said Moderator Vynnette A. Frederick, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, to convey the lived reality faced by SIDS and their challenges in progressing towards the SDGs. These challenges have been recognized in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), which lays out an action plan for sustainable development in SIDS.

Surangel Whipps Jr., President of Palau, said in a video message that ABAS is a bold statement of SIDS’ confidence in their survival and their determination to navigate their own course. He called for integrating vulnerability into finance decisions, noting that SIDS lack access to concessional finance because, based on GDP alone, they are categorized as middle income countries.

His call was echoed by the panelists and many interventions from the floor that called for a reform of the international financial architecture noting that the current practice does not reflect the reality of SIDS where frequent shocks keep countries from investing in long-term resilience. 

Cities are often described as being at the forefront of SDG implementation, referring to the realization that almost two-thirds of SDG targets can only be addressed at the local level. SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities can thus be seen as an enabler allowing the urban ecosystem to drive progress on other SDGs. 

The discussion highlighted that affordable housing and participatory urban planning are key to cities’ SDG success. On affordable housing, Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director, UN-Habitat, said that while cities in the Global North can recycle and rededicate existing buildings, cities in the Global South mostly have to create new ones, noting that urban planning and the choice of building materials will affect climate change, social cohesion, economic development, and the quality of life for generations to come. 

Katherine Kline, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, focused on the needs of elderly people, especially women, elderly people with disabilities, and poor people, who are particularly affected by the lack of accessible and affordable housing. She said that age-friendly urban design requires a participatory approach and should prioritize equitable housing and inclusive urban development. 

This was echoed by youth delegates from several countries who underscored the need for youth participation as partners in urban planning and implementation to build cities that are fair, resilient, and inclusive. 

In closing, panelists identified people-centred urban planning for inclusive, resilient, and caring cities that leave no one behind as a common denominator of the discussion.