Organization Economic Cooperation and Development

Events Covered on Tuesday, 16 July 2019 Florence Syevuo, SDG Kenya Forum The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 16 July 2019: SDG 16+ and the Future We Want Building Climate Actions in Mountains Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page SDG 16+ and the Future We Want Presented by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN in partnership with the Sixteen Plus Forum (16+ Forum); the Global Alliance; the Pathfinders; LexisNexis; and the Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network. Key messages: The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 promotes: peace; inclusiveness; access to justice; and effective and accountable institutions at all levels; SDG 16+ extends SDG 16 to reflect interlinkages with other SDGs by combining the original SDG 16 targets with an additional 24 targets from other SDGs, taking the total number of targets to 36; SDG 16+ targets draw attention to the needs of people, communities, and societies that face the greatest risk of being left behind due to violence, injustice, exclusion, and poor governance; and It is essential to galvanize political will and forward-looking, as well as multi-stakeholder commitments to accelerate SDG 16+ implementation in the next four-year cycle of the 2030 Agenda. The objective of this side event was to highlight the importance of SDG 16+ and its interlinkages to all SDGs, as well as to demonstrate how it enables the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The event also celebrated successful national experiences of SDG 16+ in action, as highlighted in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Event summary: Moderating the event Mark Thompson, The New York Times, drew attention to the relationship between the SDGs and journalism, noting current challenges for safe journalism and press freedom. In the opening remarks, Elizabeth Grace Sugg, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, United Kingdom, recognized current challenges to: reduce violence and obtain peace; promote access to justice; and obtain strong institutions. Acknowledging the need to leave no one behind, she underlined difficulties journalists and civil society face to promote SDGs, calling for the strengthening of partnerships. Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone, explained achievements and obstacles for the promotion of SDG 16 in Sierra Leone highlighting that “no justice for the poor means no peace for the rich.” He emphasized that SDG 16 is taken very seriously, exemplifying that his country’s VNR focused on the deliverance of education (SDG 4) and justice (SDG 16). Lynrose Genon, UN Development Programme (UNDP) 16x16 Initiative, shared her experience as a young leader and highlighted key barriers youth networks face to implement SDGs on the ground, such as the lack of : access to youth funding; SDGs knowledge diffusion; and feasibility for youth participation in VNR. Kim Haviv, White & Case Law Firm, underlined the role of the private sector for putting SDG 16 into practice by stimulating competition and the establishment of relationships that encourage forward thinking. She said private sector’s involvement goes beyond “self-protection,” noting that “business calculates risks, but also takes risks.” Florence Syevuo, SDG Kenya Forum, underscored the strength of civil society to make the voices of marginalized groups be heard, noting that SDG 16 is one of the most critical SDGs and should be reviewed every year along with SDG 17 (partnerships). Marcos Bonturi, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), explained that an estimated five billion people do not have access to justice, sharing information on the model legal survey adopted by OECD to help policy makers to understand legal problems and justice systems. In the ensuing discussion, participants asked for suggestions to further engage the private sector and a panelist recalled the need to start by reinforcing relationships that pair up with local needs. During the concluding remarks, Mourad Wahba, UNDP, recognized the importance of SDG 16 and of civil society participation. He called for more optimism in addressing SDG 16 by enhancing investment for more responsive institutions that support civil society and create partnerships, including with youth organizations. Event conclusions: By promoting the dialogue between different stakeholders, this side event demonstrated that to create the future we want it is necessary to act together and showcase what works to achieve progress on SDG 16+ at all levels. Committed to continue the promotion of SDG 16+ at the SDG Summit 2019, which will take place in September 2019, participants agreed that political will for investment in evidence-based actions and empowerment of all, including youth, is crucial to accelerate progress on SDG 16+ and all other SDGs. From L-R: Mark Thompson, The New York Times; Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone; Lynrose Genon, UNDP 16x16 Initiative; Kim Haviv, White & Case Law Firm; Florence Syevuo, SDG Kenya Forum; and Marcos Bonturi, Organisation for OECD Lynrose Genon, UNDP 16x16 Initiative Marcos Bonturi, OECD Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone Elizabeth Grace Sugg, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, United Kingdom Mark Thompson, The New York Times Kim Haviv, White & Case Law Firm Ian McDougall, LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation CONTACT Stacy Weld-Blundell | stacy.weldblundell@fco.gov.uk MORE INFORMATION www.sdg16hub.org/node/909 Building Climate Actions in Mountains Presented by the Principality of Andorra, Switzerland, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Mountain-Partnership Secretariat Key messages: Mountain ecosystems are home to more than one billion people, nearly 15% of the world’s population, and provide essential services, notably water regulation, for downstream areas; People living in mountain regions are among the world’s poorest; and Restoring mountain ecosystems, adopting climate sensitive agricultural practices, reducing mountain people’s exposure to climate risks and strengthening their adaptive capacity are essential to achieving the goals of ending poverty, zero hunger, clean water, clean energy, economic growth, and reducing inequalities. The event had the following main objectives: advocate for pro-mountain climate change adaptation policies; report on the Framework for Action for implementing mountains in the 2030 Agenda; encourage international commitment for climate adaptation and disaster risk management; and build alliances and better data to promote the role of mountains “as the world’s water towers.” Event Summary: Grammenos Mastrojeni, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy, moderated the event. Maria Ubach, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andorra, called for more international cooperation to combat the effects of climate change in mountains, given that the degradation of mountains, notably linked to the effects of climate change, are compromising the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Mirgul Moldoisaeva, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN, noted that mountains are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world with high poverty rates and food insecurity. She emphasized that droughts, earthquakes, and landslides are effects of climate change that weaken the well-being of mountain populations, proposing the establishment of an informal group of Friends of Mountainous countries to join forces to achieve economic prosperity and environmental sustainability for all. Jacques Ducrest, Federal Council for the Agenda 2030, Switzerland, mentioned the importance of sustainable agriculture; food security, resilience to climate change; disaster risk reduction, integrated resource management, sustainable use of biodiversity and forests to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He stressed that only sustainable mountains and sustainable agricultural practices can enable the achievement of the SDGs and recommended more attention to climate smart solution in mountains, given that these ecosystems are relevant carbon sinks. Josep M. Casals Alis, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra, reported actions to build the resilience of people living in mountains, highlighting: agroecology, research on new adapted crops to dry conditions, and adoption of a new legal framework to reinforce the agricultural sector, while ensuring food safety. On drivers of mountain degradation, Lucas Tavares, Liaison Officer in New York-FAO, noted land degradation and unsustainable use of natural resources. He suggested the use of agroforestry, as well as the combination of innovation and traditional knowledge to promote sustainable mountains. He called for actions beyond the agriculture arena, drawing attention to the agendas of health, education, access to energy, and infrastructure roads. Yoko Watanabe, Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), UN Development Programme (UNDP), noted the importance of community empowerment in sustainable projects, underscoring that addressing poverty-environment nexus is essential for achieving the SDGs. In this context, she announced the launch and implementation of a joint initiative between GEF SGP and Mountain Partnership in supporting communities on improvement of value chains and entrepreneurship on mountain products to ensure long-term environment and socio-economic benefits for local communities. Paul Egerton, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Representative to the UN, advocated for further inclusion of mountains in the SDGs debate, considering the growing number of vulnerable populations living in these ecosystems. He recommended focusing on better early warning observation systems and announced the WMO’s decision to host the High Mountain Summit in October 2019. Giogio Grussu, FAO Mountain-Partnership Secretariat, noted that the  Partnership currently has 370 members, of which 60 are governments. He emphasized that the Agenda 2030 must be implemented “at all levels” and that engaging with civil society is the only way to make this Agenda a success. In the ensuing discussion, participants reflected on the need to be more vocal about the importance to act on mountains and climate change, as well as to raise funds to support this issue. Participants also noted the negative impact of landslides, which is displacing people from mountains, and the importance of not adding the burden of product certification on farmers when developing projects on sustainable agriculture. Event conclusions: Mountains provide 60-80% of all freshwater of our planet and 50% of the word’s population relies on its ecosystem services. The discussion demonstrated that mountains are key ecosystems, providing goods and services to the planet and supporting the livelihoods of a vast number of people. Panelists called for more “mountain visibility” in international debates and urged countries to support funding for addressing the challenge of climate change in mountains. Why Does it Matter: Global changes are disrupting local mountain economies and pushing mountain people to abandon the land. Sustainable agriculture must be promoted and supported, which helps to empower communities and ensure inclusiveness, while supporting the implementation of key SDGs, notably related to climate, quality, food security, and justice. From L-R: Mirgul Moldoisaeva, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN; Maria Ubach, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andorra; and Grammenos Mastrojeni, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy Giorgio Grussu, FAO Mountain-Partnership Secretariat Lucas Tavares, Liaison Officer in New York-FAO Paul Egerton, WMO Jacques Ducrest, Federal Council for the Agenda 2030, Switzerland Lucas Tavares, Liaison Officer in New York-FAO, and Yoko Watanabe, Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), UNDP Josep M. Casals Alis, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra Mirgul Moldoisaeva, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN CONTACT Giorgio Grussu | Giorgio.Grussu@fao.org MORE INFORMATION www.fao.org/mountain-partnership/en/

Highlights for Tuesday, 9 July 2019 On the first day of HLPF 2019, discussions focused on SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 9 July 2019 Four years after implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) started, the 2019 meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) opened to take stock of progress, gaps, and obstacles. Inga Rhonda King, President, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), highlighted why this HLPF session is particularly important in her opening address: it is the last meeting in the HLPF’s first cycle, marking the conclusion of the review of all 17 SDGs, discussion on four themes, and presentation of 142 voluntary national reviews; it will send messages to the SDG Summit in September 2019; it will start discussions on how HLPF did in the past four years, and what changes are needed; and it will reflect on collective progress in SDG implementation, globally, regionally, nationally, and locally. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General of Economic and Social Affairs, introduced the UN Secretary-General’s SDG progress report, which notes that while there is progress, the global response has not been sufficient thus far. Speakers highlighted the need for more empowerment, courage, inclusivity, and equality.In the afternoon the HLPF reviewed SDG implementation and interrelations among goals, focusing on SDG 4 (quality education). A presentation on the progress made revealed a “global learning crisis”, with a low proficiency rate amongst school children in reading and mathematics despite increased enrollment rates, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Solutions proposed by speakers included not only reforms of the education sector, but a transformation of mindsets to make educational systems more inclusive; integration of the vision of SDGs, including global citizenship and sustainability, in curricula; and “dramatically” improving working conditions for teachers.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Plenary Panel speakers during the opening plenary that focused on 'How far we are from achieving the SDGs?' (L-R): Najat Maalla M'jid, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children; Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs; Valentin Rybakov, Vice-President, ECOSOC; Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC; Emer Herity, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA); Chris Skinner, Author and Commentator, UK; and Yolanda Joab Mori, One Young World Ambassador, Micronesia. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs Najat Maalla M'jid, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children Chris Skinner, Author and Commentator, UK Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC Yolanda Joab Mori, One Young World Ambassador, Micronesia Delegates applaud the statement by Yolanda Joab Mori who commented "We don’t need more power, we need more courage." Progress, Gaps, and Obstacles: Are We on Track for Leaving No One Behind? Panel speakers during the session 'Where do we stand?' (L-R): Robin Ogilvy, Special Representative and Permanent Observer of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to the UN; Marta Acosta, Auditor General, Costa Rica; Julio Santaella, President, National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico; Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs; Emer Herity, UN DESA; Moderator Minh-Thu Pham, Executive Director, UN Foundation; and Thomas Brooks, Chief Scientist, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Julio Santaella, President, National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico Moderator Minh-Thu Pham, Executive Director, UN Foundation Using the interactive platform Sli.do to encourage participation from the audience, a word cloud was created highlighting the key issues that delegates think need to be discussed. Marta Acosta, Auditor General, Costa Rica Thomas Brooks, Chief Scientist, IUCN Robin Ogilvy, Special Representative and Permanent Observer of OECD to the UN Panel speakers for the session 'Who is at risk of being left behind?' (L-R): Stephen Chacha, Co-Founder, Tanzania Data Lab, and Africa Philanthropic Foundation; Jarkko Turunen, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia and Pacific Department, Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC; Emer Herity, UN DESA, Secretariat; Moderator Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR); and Sarah Charles, Senior Director for Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy, International Rescue Committee (IRC). Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, ECLAC Moderator Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, UNITAR George Khoury, Vice-Chair, National Association for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NARD), Lebanon Lucas Chancel, Co-Director, World Inequality Lab, and coordinator of the World Inequality Report 2018 Discussion on SDG 4 - Quality Education A video produced by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) was screened at the start of plenary to highlight the importance of all people, especially children, having access to quality education. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development John McLaughlin, Deputy Minister, Education and Early Childhood Development, Canada Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO Shashwat Sapkota, Statistics Division, UN DESA Moderator Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF Lead discussants Susan Hopgood, President, Education International, and María José Monge, President, Monge Foundation, Costa Rica Lía Burbano Mosquera, speaking on behalf of LGBTI, NGOs, and UN Volunteers Kazuhiro Yoshida, Co-Chair, SDG-Education 2030 Steering Committee Manuele Bertoli, Switzerland Sam Barratt, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Around the Venue Delegates gather for the start of HLPF 2019. Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC, speaks with delegates. Delegates review a document at the start of the afternoon session. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs Delegates from the Russian Federation Delegates from Zambia Members of the Women's Major Group wear blue scarves symbolizing "Austerity drop-out: life-long learning and education for all."

Highlights for Thursday, 4 July 2019 From L-R: Session Chair Asghar Fazel, ECO Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Iran; Mphatso Martha Kalemba, Malawi; Katia Karousakis, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Verona Collantes-Lebale, UN Women; Francis Ogwal, Uganda; and Basile van Havre, Canada On Thursday, participants to the Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity heard presentations on developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and engaged in an interactive exercise on the post-2020 framework and what is needed to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity on "Living in harmony with nature." In the evening, participants enjoyed a concert in the Nidaros Cathedral.Francis Ogwal, Uganda, and Basile van Havre, Canada, Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group on the post-2020 framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), presented on the ongoing consultation process and the Working Group's goals, targets, and milestones. They shared key messages emerging from regional consultations, including that the post-2020 framework should: be well articulated and easy to communicate; build on the current Strategic Plan; include specific, measurable, ambitious, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) targets; integrate the CBD protocols, and address synergies with other conventions and linkages with climate change; and address enablers, including means of implementation.Mphatso Martha Kalemba, Malawi, shared lessons learnt from efforts to implement the Aichi targets in her country. Katia Karousakis, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlighted calls for smarter post-2020 targets, building on the effective elements of the existing framework, and added that multi-country datasets could provide guidance on indicators. Verona Collantes-Lebale, UN Women, called for clear links to the SDGs, and drew attention to expert recommendations that the post-2020 framework must be rights-based, inclusive, and gender responsive, and promote effective participation in biodiversity conservation.Norbert Baerlocher, Switzerland, presented on the outcomes of the consultation workshop of the biodiversity-related conventions on the post-2020 framework (June 2019, Bern, Switzerland). Malta Qwathekane, South Africa, noted that a common agenda is essential for halting biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Hamdallah Zedan, Egypt, indicated that the post-2020 framework can help foster coherent implementation of the Rio Conventions through collaborative work between focal points. Kerstin Stendahl, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Secretariat, presented on strategies and strategy processes in other sectors where there are biodiversity-related impacts and dependencies, with a focus on the IPCC and the chemicals and waste cluster. Akanksha Khatri, World Economic Forum (WEF) Centre for Global Public Goods, drew attention to WEF's 2019 Global Risks Report, which shows that societal and environmental risks are among those with the highest impact and highest likelihood of happening, and urged moving from a project-oriented to a platform approach. Participants discussed, among other issues: avoiding different sets of targets under the SDGs and the post-2020 framework; the importance of national-level coordination; and new technologies, including the need for transparency and a conversation on ethics and values. Introducing the interactive exercise, Neville Ash elaborated on possible ingredients for the post-2020 framework, including: vision and mission; review and accounting mechanisms; implementation mechanisms and enablers; and integration with the agendas of other multilateral environmental agreements. He also highlighted the need to address the overall structure of the framework, as well as targets relating to outcomes, benefits, drivers and enablers. Participants met in small groups to address these elements in the context of selected topics, including: sustainable production and consumption; mainstreaming; sustainable use; food and agriculture; and protected areas. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the 9th Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity. The summary report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Francis Ogwal, Uganda Mphatso Martha Kalemba, Malawi Georgina Catacora-Vargas, Bolivia Adefires Worku Gizaw, Ethiopia Session Chair Asghar Fazel, with facilitator Natasha Walker Session Chair Teona Karchava, Georgia, with Eva Degre, Norway Verona Collantes-Lebale, UN Women Katia Karousakis, OECD Mohamed Ali, Somalia Alexander Shestakov, CBD Secretariat Akanksha Khatri, World Economic Forum Kerstin Stendahl, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Secretariat (IPCC) Norbert Baerlocher, Switzerland Hamdallah Zedan, Egypt Interactive Session on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Jake Rice, Canada Neville Ash, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre Irene Hoffmann, Food and Agriculture of Organization of the UN (FAO)