European Union

The 2018 meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concluded on Wednesday, following a full day of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and the continuation of the High-Level General Debate in the afternoon. A Ministerial Declaration was adopted during the closing session on the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies,” after voting on three paragraphs relating to: means of implementation and global partnerships; peace and security; and gender equality. The Ministerial Declaration as a whole was also put to a vote following a request from the US. The Declaration was adopted without any amendments. Visit our coverage of selected side events at HLPF 2018 IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from HLPF 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Voluntary National Reviews Delegates during the VNR presentations Ghassan Hasbani, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Public Health, Lebanon Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Minnis, The Bahamas Jadwiga Emilewicz, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology Group, Poland László Palkovics, Minister of Innovation and Technology, Hungary Graţiela Leocadia Gavrilescu, Vice Prime Minister, Romania Carmelo Abela, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion, Malta Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Singapore Teresa Ribera, Minister of Ecological Transition, Spain Alicia Beatriz Pucheta de Correa, Vice President, Paraguay Abdallah Yahya Al-Mouallimi, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit, Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, Qatar General Debate View of the dais during the General Debate Jiko Fatafehi Luveni, Speaker of Parliament, Fiji Tlohelang Aumane, Minister of Development Planning, Lesotho Sulton Rahimzada, First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Tajikistan Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Ireland Hala El Helmy Said, Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform, Egypt Closing of the HLPF The Trusteeship Council is filled to capacity as delegates gather for the closing session Marie Chatardová, President of ECOSOC UN Secretary-General António Guterres Delegates read the draft Ministerial Declaration Delegates vote on elements of the Ministerial Declaration The US raises a point of order during the vote Kelley Eckels-Currie, US Sergey Kononuchenko, Russian Federation Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, Israel Marc-André Blanchard, Canada Jan Kickert, EU Delegates applaud the closure of HLPF Mandela Day Celebrations People gather in the ECOSOC Chamber to celebrate "Nelson Mandela International Day" that commemorates the lifetime of service Nelson Mandela gave to South Africa and the world UN Secretary-General António Guterres Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) A pin commemorating what would have been Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa Around the Venue Inga Rhonda King, Vice-President of ECOSOC, speaks with Courtenay Rattray, Jamaica Delegates from Saudi Arabia Delegates from Romania wearing their traditional dress UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UNGA Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, shares a moment with Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation A delegate reads the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) to keep up to date with the HLPF Roy Lamazon, UN Division for Sustainable Development (DSD), and May East, UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Delegates between sessions The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) ENB team covering the 2018 HLPF: Laura Bullon, Switzerland/Spain; Anju Sharma, India; Ana Maria Lebădă, Romania; Peter Doran, Ireland; and Kiara Worth, South Africa

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 17 July, 2018: Global Pact for the Environment: A Tool in Implementing the 2030 Agenda Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Pollution beyond 2020: Working Together for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet! Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Global Pact for the Environment: A Tool in Implementing the 2030 Agenda Presented by the Permanent Mission of France to the UN This event convened to demonstrate that the Global Pact for the Environment (Global Pact) can be a tool for all countries to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) by strengthening international environmental law and facilitating the implementation of the environmental pillars of sustainable development. Moderator Jamil Ahmad, Director, UN Environment (UNEP), opened the event, noting it provides an important milestone for moving the Global Pact forward. Brune Poirson, Minister, Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, stressed: accelerating collective and concrete actions against "widespread and catastrophic loss of biodiversity,” and said the Global Pact aims to bring together fundamental principles of environmental law in a single, short, and cross-cutting text, noting international environmental law remains fragmented. She explained the UN General Assembly resolution (A/72/L.51) decided to establish an ad hoc open-ended working group to identify gaps in international environmental law and make recommendations by June 2019. On implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the panelists addressed: impacts of current international law; what content in the Global Pact would be most useful; and how to ensure greater stakeholder participation and engagement. Victor Tafur, International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL), and Representative to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), said the incomplete and fragmented nature of current international law will retard implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On a set of global principles, he said: states can guide implementation; principles apply directly once recognized and need neither bureaucracy nor a budget; and principles will help level the playing field among states. Siim Valmar Kiisler, Minister of Environment, Estonia, and President, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), observed, as a minister, that countries track what commitments have been made by their neighbors, and clearer understanding in this regard would help national legislative bodies. He said UNEA’s role would be more on the practical vs. legal aspects of the Global Pact, and he looked forward to future clarification about the linkage with UNEA. Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UNEP, lauded France for its recent environmental initiatives, saying political leadership is a “raw material” more needed and valuable than gold. He outlined UNEP’s role as one of service, highlighting an upcoming gap analysis that will provide information about the need for and potential benefits of the Global Pact. On potential ways to ensure usefulness in implementing the 2030 Agenda, Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal, stressed opportunities to strengthen actions to implement the 2030 Agenda at various levels. He emphasized: the principles of transparency, participation, and inclusion; and partnerships to mobilize everyone. Minister Poirson underscored the need to act together to address environmental degradations that affect vulnerable groups, including youth, women, and marginalized and indigenous groups, and said the Global Pact is an important tool for addressing this issue in partnerships and in solidarity. Daniel Calleja y Crespo, Director-General for Environment, European Commission, outlined the Global Pact aims to: offer a coherent legal framework; create a cornerstone for more far-reaching norms; complement other environmental law by codifying certain principles; foster legislative and jurisdictional mechanisms to ensure monitoring and implementation; and increase legal certainty. On ensuring greater stakeholder participation and ownership, Lazarus Amayo, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, said the Global Pact process needs to: ensure strong leadership and high-level commitments on the 2030 Agenda: involve countries that might not have voted for the resolution to move forward together to achieve the SDGs; and engage non-state actors, such as NGOs, the private sector, academia, and youth. Cyriaque Sendashonga, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), noted IUCN’s involvement in creating the opportunity for non-state actors to be involved. She said IUCN fully supports the resolution as it: ensures multi-stakeholder participation; contributes to achieving the 2030 Agenda; and accelerates actions of IUCN member states. During a discussion period, participants commented on: language establishing the right to a healthy environment; support for the Global Pact from the private sector, and local and regional governments; lack of uniform regulations on methane pollution; the need for conversations at the national level to assess domestic implications; and taking into account traditional knowledge, and the rights of indigenous peoples and women. Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, and Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), outlined key principles in the Global Pact and identified two challenges it can help to advance: climate change, saying it is not a risk of the future, but a clear and present danger, and that a system of remediation could help by providing funds for restitution, especially for poor people; and global supply chains, calling for globalized co-responsibility, where both downstream users and upstream generators are held responsible for environmental impacts. Minister Poirson said the Global Pact process offers a momentum for collective actions to progress together quickly, and closed the event, saying, “you can count on France to tackle this global struggle.” Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, said emergency response, in the context of climate-related natural disasters, is not a system; it leaves behind an unsolved catastrophe. Minister Brune Poirson, France, emphasized strong political response is crucial for addressing the challenges of sustainable development Moderator Jamil Ahmad, UN Environment, listens to a presentation Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, thanked countries who remained open to the Global Pact if the UN began a formal process, even though they initially voted against the UNGA resolution. Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal, said his country supports the Global Pact because it will provide benefits to human beings, animals, and the planet A participant listens to the discussion A participant applauded the Global Pact’s emphasis on health, saying pollution is the largest cause of death on the planet Lazarus Amayo, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, said his country continues to support whatever makes change possible Siim Valmar Kiisler, Minister of Environment, Estonia, and President, UNEA, said the entire international community should be invited to help determine how the Global Pact can most contribute to implementation of the 2030 Agenda Victor Tafur, ICEL, said national governments will decide how to apply the principles included in the Global Pact Daniel Calleja y Crespo, Director-General for Environment, EC, called the Global Pact a ground-breaking initiative that will facilitate implementation of the SDGs and environmental legislation in a holistic manner Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN, said IUCN involvement in the process has brought multi-stakeholder participation Participants take a photo before the session A participant poses a question The room during the session Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, takes a picture with participants Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, greets participants Contact: pactemondialenvir.dgm-ddd-clen@diplomatie.gouv.fr More Information: www.pactenvironment.org/ Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Pollution beyond 2020: Working Together for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet! Presented by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany This event provided a platform for participants to exchange perspectives on chemicals and waste, including challenges and opportunities for sound management, in the context of SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns. Moderator Minu Hemmati, Adelphi, called addressing chemicals a key enabler for achieving SDG 12. Noting that asbestos kills more than 100,000 people each year, and that up to 22 million people can be at risk from exposure to lead-acid car battery recycling, she called for: raising awareness on chemical and waste issues; better risk management; and adequate global governance. Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMU, Germany, stressed her country’s  ambitious, practical framework on waste management to achieve the 2030 Agenda and circular economy. She underscored: clearly demonstrating the benefits of addressing chemicals to realize the SDGs nationally and globally; and promoting international cooperation to share experiences and mobilize support. Karolina Skog, Minister of Environment, Sweden, called for consumers to make more responsible choices. She outlined her country’s international high-level alliance on chemicals and waste, launched at the HLPF, which intends to mobilize public interest on chemicals and waste beyond 2020. Skog underscored the need to reform the chemicals management system, including regulations on: trade and e-commerce; international cooperation to deliver global action on SDG 12; development of natural chemicals: and capacity building. During the panel discussion, Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, addressed the issue of legally binding conventions and voluntary approaches. He said countries agree these three conventions provide a legally-binding approach, while the voluntary, multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) deals with issues not covered under the conventions. He also noted illegal trade in chemicals, and the need for proper exchange of information between countries, citing examples where the global availability or use of a specific chemical exceeds its known legal production. On the circular econmy of chemicals, Astrid Schomaker, European Commission, said that increasing complexity in the supply chain makes control more difficult, and noted the need to keep the product in the chain as long as possible, which may be at odds with industry’s effort to take it out. She also highlighted: building on high public awareness; strict EU chemical management legislation requiring information sharing with authorities; and constructive industry partners. On challenges for the industry, Martin Kayser, BASF SE, emphasized: ongoing efforts for sound chemicals management; gaps in knowledge and practice between developed and developing countries; and his company’s development of a responsible care management system, including workshops to build capacity in safe transportation, storage and handling of chemicals. He noted SAICM’s success in bringing stakeholders together and expressed support for its continuation. Susan Wilburn, Health Care Without Harm, noted the need to: identify consumption patterns of chemical products in procurement and patterns during use and disposal; and demonstrate possible solutions related to the SDGs. Stressing the importance of making information about safe or toxic chemicals available to consumers, she called for ensuring the distribution chain includes alternative, safer chemicals. In ensuing discussion, panelists discussed, inter alia: regulatory vs. voluntary frameworks on chemical management at different levels; making use of existing platforms such as the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent; ensuring chemical data is available to governments and consumers; how to prevent toxic chemicals from being included in recycled products while pursuing a circular economy; transparency; engagement with the health sector; and the role of the private sector. Gertrud Sahler, President, Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM), Germany, said addressing the chemicals and waste cluster is a requirement for sustainability policy at global and national levels. Saying we are likely to fall short of the SAICM 2020 Goal, which ends in 2020, she noted the 4th ICCM decision to implement an intersessional process on chemicals and waste management beyond 2020. She emphasized: maintaining a voluntary, multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach; stronger involvement of industry; addressing capacity needs in developing countries for chemicals management; more recognition of the issue in other UN processes, such UN Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization and UN Development Programme; and inadequate financing. She highlighted the 2019 meeting of the Open-ended Working Group as a starting point for negotiations on the issue. In closing remarks, Jacob Duer, UN Environment (UNEP), noted agreement among diverse stakeholders in a number of areas, including on stepping up efforts. He cited concurrent work on SDGs and at other international processes. Recounting important political leadership and increased engagement of industry and civil society, he called for sharpening the narrative and acting together to address the sound management of chemicals and waste. Minister Karolina Skog, Sweden, said we need to know what effect buying a product has on ourselves, the people surrounding us, and the environment A participant takes a photo of the event Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, Germany, said her country is working with non-state actors to make “healthy people and healthy planet” a reality Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, said illegal trade in chemicals affects companies’ business models Moderator Minu Hemmati, Adelphi, posed questions to the panelists Astrid Schomaker, Directorate General for the Environment, EC, emphasized maintaining the valuable components of the three chemicals conventions Martin Kayser, BASF SE, said using chemicals safely is at the core of his business   Susan Wilburn, Health Care Without Harm, described a review of the UN procurement process for chemical products Panelists interact with the audience A participant taking notes A participant poses a question Moderator Minu Hemmati, collecting questions from the audience A participant poses a question In closing remarks, Jacob Duer, UNEP, said we need policies and frameworks so low and middle-income countries have the capacity to address sound chemical and waste management Gertrud Sahler, President, 5th ICCM, and BMU, Germany, said addressing governance, structure and finances for chemicals management will remain challenging Engagement during the Q&A session Participants after the event Contacts: Nils Simon | simon@adelphi.de More Information: www.saicm.org

The High-level Segment/ Ministerial Meeting of HLPF 2018 opened on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York. The opening session was followed by two sessions on Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), where 14 countries presented their reports: Ecuador, Kiribati, Lithuania, Mali, Guinea, Greece, Mexico, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Benin, Cabo Verde, Slovakia, Bahrain, Colombia, and Viet Nam. A parallel session in the afternoon included: reporting on regional forums; an address by the President of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA); an introduction to the UN Secretary-General’s reports on the UN Economic and Social Council's (ECOSOC) main theme and thematic discussion; and an introduction to the report of the Committee for Development Policy. A general debate started on Monday afternoon. For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Visit our coverage of selected side events at HLPF 2018 IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from HLPF 2018. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Opening of the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC / Ministerial Segment of HLPF View of the dais during the opening of the high-level segment Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UNGA UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed Marie Chatardová, President of ECOSOC Michelle Yeoh, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador and Actress Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Delegates gather for the opening of the High-Level Segment Voluntary National Reviews Mahamane A. Maiga, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mali José Augusto Briones, National Secretary of Planning and Development, Ecuador Socrates Famellos, Alternate Minister of Environment and Energy, Greece Teuea Toatu, Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Kiribati Kęstutis Navickas, Minister of Environment, Lithuania Delegates watch a video about fabrics made from sustainable wood fibers, presented by Michelle Yeoh, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and Actress Kanny Diallo, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Guinea Abdullah Naser Lootah, Director General, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, UAE Luis Fernando Mejía Alzate, Minister of National Planning, Colombia José da Silva Gonçalves, Minister of Tourism and Transport, and Maritime Economy, Cabo Verde Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, Minister of State for Planning and Development, Benin Francisco Guzmán Ortiz, Head of the Office of the President, Mexico Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Bahrain Richard Raši, Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Information, Slovakia Nguyen The Phuong, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Planning and Development, Viet Nam Reporting on Regional Forums Delegates gather in the Trusteeship Council for the report on regional forums Jerry Matthews Matjila, Vice-President, ECOSOC Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Georgia Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal Ghassan Hasbani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Lebanon Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Cuba Siim Kiisler, President of UNEA, and Minister of Environment, Estonia Michael Gerber, Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development, Federal Department for Foreign Affairs, Switzerland General Debate View of the dais during the general debate José Antonio Ocampo, Chair, UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Egypt, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Alicia Beatriz Pucheta de Correa, Vice-President, Paraguay, speaking on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for the Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, EU President Thomas Esang Remengesau Jr., Palau, speaking on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Around the Venue Sergio Bergman, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Argentina UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed speaks with delegates Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs, speaks with Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN Erik Solheim, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, and Jamil Ahmad, UNEP Reinaldo Salgado, Brazil, speaks with a delegate Delegates from Kyrgyzstan Delegates from Jamaica Delegates from Guinea Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Sahel Delegates between sessions An exhibition about the New Urban Agenda and the 'Right to the City' encourages people to understand the linkages between SDGs, and how these relate to creating sustainable cities