GUEST ARTICLES
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Visualising the SDG Challenges
Hans Mommaas, Director-General, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
POLICY BRIEFS
Monthly Forecast: September 2017
Content Editors, SDG Knowledge Hub
While August brought a lull in the normally busy calendar of sustainable development events, the full agenda for September indicates that the sustainable development community has remained extremely active over the Northern summer. Over the next four weeks, the international policy community will see outcomes from major negotiations on land and on climate, events marking progress on the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention on Mercury, as well as the opening of the next session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
FEATURED
World Water Week Emphasizes Value of Water
1 September 2017:
The 27th edition of World Water Week concluded on Friday, 1 September. The event brought stakeholders from over 130 countries together to discuss solutions to global water challenges under the theme, ‘water and waste: reduce and reuse’. Among many other contributions, participants advanced discourse on water and sanitation policy issues with the launch of publications.
September 2017:
In advance of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the UN Secretary-General has released a report on the role of the UN in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence. The report recommends a coherent, integrated multilateral response to globalization challenges, emphasizing the role of inclusive sustainable development to prevent conflict and sustain peace. Additional reports released for UNGA 72 address science, technology and innovation for development and human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Study Calls for Cross-cutting Action on Water to Promote Adaptation and SDGs
28 August 2017:
During World Water Week 2017 in Stockholm, the German Development Institute (Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)) published a column recommending that the issue of water be “addressed at a cross-cutting level to promote sustainable development and national strategies for adapting to climate change.”
NEWS
4 September 2017:
This Update focuses on individual nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) by developing countries and related support, events and activities for the month of August 2017. During this period, Sri Lanka secured US$1.8 million in multilateral support for a NAMA targeting energy sector emissions. Also, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Uganda released a NAMA for climate-smart dairy value chains, and the NAMA Facility explored ways to cooperate with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on finance.
Rainfall Extremes, Floods Exacerbated by Climate Change Affect the World’s Regions
1 September 2017: Throughout the month of August, rainfall extremes caused widespread socio-economic impacts in Africa, Asia and North America. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Expert Team on Climate Impacts on Tropical Cyclones issued a statement on linkages between Hurricane Harvey and anthropogenic climate change.
CTCN Advisory Board Meets in Preparation for COP 23, CTCN Technical Assistance Advances SDGs
31 August 2017:
Preparations for the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference, which will take place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017, are underway. The Advisory Board to the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) convened to discuss, among other issues, its input to the COP. The CTCN held a regional forum for National Designated Entities (NDEs) for the Caribbean, and published updates on its ongoing technical assistance. In addition, the UNFCCC Secretariat issued a number of documents ahead of the COP.
Initiatives Build DRM Capacity in a Changing Climate
31 August 2017:
The Climate & Development Knowledge Network and partners have recently issued a report on managing disaster risks in a changing climate, while the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) office in Juba, South Sudan, has reported on a project that helps to build capacity for mainstreaming disaster risk management (DRM) into national and sectorial development plans.
31 August 2017:
Policies, regulation and innovation are key elements of a transition towards low carbon transport. Recent events and publications provide updates on developments in G20 countries while UN Human Settlements Programme has signed an MOU with a bike-sharing initiative.
30 August 2017:
Collaboration among neighboring countries is key to advance renewable energy development as countries in many regions must integrate their electrical grids and coordinate renewable energy expansion to keep electricity supplies stable and efficient. Countries in Northern Europe and in North East Asia are taking different approaches towards enhancing cooperation.
Publication Showcases Malaysia’s SDG Implementation
30 August 2017:
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Malaysia has released a publication that presents initiatives that aim to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The publication highlights best practices that are aligned with the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) and the SDGs.
Sustainable Energy Heat Maps Identify High Impact Countries for Energy-Related Interventions
28 August 2017:
Analyzing data from various sources and visualizing the results in an accessible manner can be a powerful tool to enhance action for sustainable development. One example of such an approach are the ‘Heat Maps’ developed by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
UN Secretary-General Presents Management Reform Plans
26 July 2017:
During a town-hall meeting with the UN Staff Union, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres introduced his plans for UN management reform. He said his goals include enabling more freedom of movement, more decentralization, more effectiveness, and increased transparency and accountability.