Summary
On Friday morning, participants discussed concrete actions and recommendations to inform the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) negotiations. Jes Weigelt, IASS, recalled that thematic reviews are uncharted territory and offer room for input. Ivonne Lobos Alva, IASS, outlined suggested recommendations, including: encouraging member states to support the draft resolution and proposed themes for review in 2017-2019; encouraging the use of informal processes and reports; and encouraging member states to consider adding principles for the inclusion of stakeholders in voluntary national reviews.
In a panel discussion, speakers presented ideas how different organizations and sectors can contribute to thematic reviews, including: the FAO Committee on World Food Security (CFS) serving as a platform to review, discuss and implement integrated policy tools; creating a UN task team to integrate civil society; engaging stakeholders to deepen the scope of issues that might be left out by the general review process; viewing rural communities and civil society as active partners and agents of change; outlining a strategy for HLPF review in 2019; and using thematic reviews to monitor crosscutting issues and informing decisions on nexuses, such as that between food water and energy.
During a luncheon, ambassadors of the permanent missions to the UN of Thailand, Mexico and Sierra Leone, and other speakers exchanged views on, among other issues, innovative approaches needed to address the SDGs in an unprecedented context, how to organize collective learning, how to address national priority setting in an overarching way and how informal processes such as the current event can inform the work of HLPF.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage from the High-Level Event “Towards Thematic Reviews for an Integrated Follow-Up & Review of the 2030 Agenda.” In addition, IISD Reporting Services has produced a summary report, which is available in HTML and PDF format.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Morning Session: Signposts and Steps to be Taken
Participants during the morning session
Fatuma Ndangiza, former Chairperson, African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Panel of Eminent Persons
Chantal Line Carpentier, UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Jes Weigelt, IASS
Amira Daoud Hassan Gornass, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) (video message)
Ivonne Lobos Alva, IASS
Linda Peake, York University
Carla Mucavi, FAO Liaison Office
Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Stakeholder Forum
Participants actively engage during the session
Lunch Session: Presentation of Outcomes
Delegates gather for the afternoon session
Alexander Müller, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) for Agriculture and Food, and German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE)
Juan Sandoval Mendiolea, Deputy Permanent
Representative of Mexico to the UN
Virachai Plasai, Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN
Sarah Cliffe, New York University
Vandi Chidi Minah, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the UN
Reinhard Krapp, Minister and Head of the Economic
Department of the German Mission to the UN
Irena Zubcevic, UN Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
Around the Venue
Participants listen during a session
Participants meet informally throughout the day
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) team covering the meeting:
Kiara Worth; Stefan Jungcurt; and Ana Maria Lebada
Views of New York City from the venue
