POLICY BRIEFS
Getting to 2030: Tracking SDG Indicators for Evidence of Implementation Progress
Lynn Wagner, Ph.D., Group Director, SDG Knowledge, IISD
During the first two years of SDG implementation, it has been hard not to ask “Are we there yet?” or at least, “Are we getting there?” with the hope that evidence of global progress could be detected. Indeed, our review of the most-read stories on the SDG Knowledge Hub in 2017 revealed that readers are eager for assessments and measurements of SDG implementation.
GENERATION 2030
Youth Issue Declaration, Hold Parliament at WWF8
Lauren Anderson, Content Editor, Biodiversity, Forests, Land and Water (US)
23 March 2018: In conjunction with the eighth World Water Forum (WWF8), the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW) met to discuss its triannual strategy and participate in the first-ever WWF Junior Forum.
FEATURED
Clean Energy Investment Grows as Global CO2 Emissions Reach New Record High
28 March 2018: In its State of Clean Energy Investment report, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) finds global investment in renewable energy grew 3% in 2017, while costs continued to fall. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Energy and CO2 Status Report, meanwhile, declares that CO2 emissions grew 1.4% to a historic high of 32.5 gigatons over the same period.
Global Partnerships Pledge Improved Coordination for Water Security
26 March 2018: Five global, multi-stakeholder water partnerships – the World Bank Water Global Practice, the 2030 Water Resources Group, the Global Water Partnership, the World Water Council, and the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate – announced plans to cooperate on water security. Their commitment follows the High-Level Panel on Water (HLPW) forecast of a potential 40% shortfall in water availability by 2030.
WSIS Forum Highlights Critical Role of Information Technologies in Advancing SDGs
23 March 2018: More than 2,500 information and communication technology (ICT) experts came together for the 2018 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum to explore the role of ICTs in advancing the SDGs, particularly those related to health (SDG 3), hunger (SDG 2), education and youth inclusion (SDG 4), employment (SDG 8), gender empowerment (SDG 5), the environment and climate change (SDGs 13, 14 and 15, among others), and infrastructure and innovation (SDG 9).
NEWS
ECOSOC Meeting Explores Role of Inclusive Participation in 2030 Agenda
27 March 2018: In preparation for the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) 2018 Special Meeting, the Czech Republic and Colombia co-hosted a gathering to explore the role of collective action in issues related to participation and inclusion in the 2030 Agenda. The 2018 special meeting will take place on the theme, ‘Towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies through the participation of all,’ at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 23 May 2018.
International Dialogue Stresses Role of Partnerships for Migration
27 March 2018: The International Dialogue on Migration underscored the role of inclusive partnerships and close, concerted action at local, national, regional and international levels to address global migration challenges and agree on a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Also addressing human movements, recent publications focus on evidence-based analysis of global migration, and refugees’ education.
Revised Migration Compact Draft Reflects Changes on Implementation, Review
26 March 2018: The co-facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations and negotiations related to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration have released the first revised draft of the global compact. The ‘Draft Rev 1’ text reflects deliberations from the first and second rounds of intergovernmental negotiations, including on differentiation between irregular and regular migration, differentiation between migrants and refugees, implementation and capacity building, and follow-up and review.
‘Smoke on Water’ Report Spurs Partnership to Protect Largest Tropical Peatland
23 March 2018: The first comprehensive mapping of Congo Basin peatlands has spurred a partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo and Indonesia, aimed at protecting the Cuvette Centrale region in the Congo Basin. With the largest tropical peatland in the world, this ecosystem is estimated to store 30 gigatonnes of carbon, roughly equivalent to what the US economy emits in 15 years.
African Climate Talks Contribute to Talanoa Dialogue
23 March 2018: Africa should focus more on “building internal solutions” to its problems rather than rely on international partners in addressing its climate challenges, according to participants at the the second African Climate Talks (ACT!-II), which aimed to facilitate Africa’s contribution to the Talanoa Dialogue under the UNFCCC.
WMO Checklist Helps Enhance Early Warning Systems
23 March 2018: Early warning, a critical component of disaster risk reduction (DRR), can prevent loss of life and reduce the economic impacts of hazardous events, including disasters, according to a multi-hazard early warning systems checklist developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in partnership with the UN Office for DRR (UNISDR), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and others.
Projects Enhance Climate Information Management, NAP Process
22 March 2018: A project seeking to advance the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process has kicked off in Liberia. A workshop in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has highlighted the critical role of climate change information and knowledge management (IKM) in adaptation and resilience planning.
EC Conference Urges Forward Movement on Sustainable Finance
22 March 2018: Participants at a high-level conference discussed opportunities to reform the financial system in support of the EU climate and sustainable development agenda. The conference was organized by the European Commission (EC) and aimed to build on the momentum from the One Planet Summit, hosted by President Macron of France in December 2017. Participants focused on how to implement the Commission’s Action Plan on Sustainable Finance.
UN-World Bank Report Makes Business Case for Conflict Prevention
21 March 2018: The UN and World Bank have published a joint report that argues for greater attention and financing to be directed to identifying the risk of violence in “hot spots” around the world. The report, which was presented at an event in Brussels, Belgium, sets out the business case for refocusing on prevention, noting that identifying risks of violence could save an estimated US$5-70 billion a year, the amount currently spent on crisis response and recovery.
Europe Forum Queries Investability of SDGs
20 March 2018: Financial flows must be redirected to support sustainable development and combat climate change, argued participants at the 2018 Sustainable Investment Forum Europe. The Forum convened under the theme, ‘Financing Innovation for a Low Carbon Future,’ and brought together CEOs, asset managers and owners worth over €3.6 trillion, as well as major policy makers, banks, think tanks and NGOs.
World Bank Presents Three Scenarios for “Groundswell” of Internal Climate Migration
19 March 2018: The World Bank has released a report predicting that over 143 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America could be forced to move within their countries by 2050 to escape the impacts of climate change, if concrete climate and development action is not taken. The report argues that migration can be a sensible climate change adaptation strategy “if managed carefully and supported by good development policies and targeted investments.”
WBCSD Launches CEO Guide to Water
18 March 2018: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has launched its ‘CEO Guide to Water,’ which highlights business opportunities connected with water, and makes the business case for responsible stewardship of water resources. Several global businesses, including food and beverage companies Diageo, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Veolia, have supported the publication.
Egypt, UN Partner on Sustainable Development Priorities
18 March 2018: The Government of Egypt and the UN have signed a strategic framework agreement worth US$1.2 billion, to support national development plans in Egypt based on the four pillars of inclusive economic development, social justice, women’s empowerment and sustainable management of resources. The agreement covers the period 2018-2022.