SDG Update – 28 February 2019

Jay OwenSustainability News, Latest Headlines

POLICY BRIEFS

SDG Knowledge Weekly: Transitioning to a Circular Economy, Sustainable Consumption and Production

Adam Fishman, Thematic Expert for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (US)

The 2019 World Resources Forum took place from 24-27 February, in Antwerp, Belgium, on the theme ‘Closing Loops: Transitions at Work.’ This brief focuses on topics discussed at the Forum, including the transition to a circular economy through the lenses of cities and regions, food and bio-based materials, ‘industry 4.0,’ soils and land use, finance, climate policy, and waste and materials management, among other topics.

FEATURED

High-level Debate on Migration Invites Focus on Youth, Data and Partnerships

27 February 2019: Representatives from governments, civil society, and international organizations shared experiences and best practices related to implementing the SDGs and migration-related agreements at the national and local levels during a high-level debate on migration and development. Among the issues discussed were the need to focus on youth in addressing migration, the importance of data that are disaggregated by migratory status, and the necessity for genuine partnerships between source, transit and destination countries and between stakeholders.

Regional Climate Weeks to Build Momentum Towards UN Climate Summit February 2019: For the second year in a row, the Nairobi Framework Partnership (NFP) will convene three Regional Climate Weeks over the course of 2019: Africa Climate Week; Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week; and Asia-Pacific Climate Week. The events will “serve as critical stepping stones” to UN Secretary-General’s 2019 Climate Summit in September.

NEWS

Spain Establishes Sustainable Development Council 26 February 2019: Spain has established a Sustainable Development Council to support SDG implementation. Approving such a Council was one of Spain’s national commitments to the SDGs.

Expert Brief Reflects on Varying Approaches to Social Protection

26 February 2019: Global Policy Watch (GPW) released a briefing note on current approaches to social protection, observing that the issue has become prominent on international agendas. The authors suggest that the proliferation of interest in social protection among multiple players and institutions, each with different priorities, is resulting in “mixed messages and conflicting priorities,” often in relation to resource mobilization and allocation.

UN Launches Special Purpose Trust Fund Portal to Support RC System

25 February 2019: The UN Sustainable Development Group has launched an open data portal to support UN Resident Coordinators in coordinating assets at the country level. The portal aims to enhance effective coordination of the UN’s work in over 160 countries in support of the SDGs and is part of wider UN reform efforts on development, management, peace and security.

WWF Guide Shares Practical Options for Businesses to Achieve “No Plastic in Nature”

25 February 2019: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released a practical guide that aims to inspire businesses to contribute to a comprehensive approach to ending plastic in nature. The report shares three strategies that can help economy and society shift to a world with a better performing plastics cycle.

Steering Committee Considers 2018-2019 Partnership Work for SIDS

21 February 2019: During the first 2019 meeting of the Steering Committee of the small island developing States (SIDS) Partnership Framework, participants discussed upcoming work for 2019 and 2018 activities. They also considered the status of SIDS partnerships, initiatives to strengthen the monitoring and review of partnerships, and ways to catalyze new partnerships.

Co-facilitators, ECOSOC and UNGA Presidents Discuss FfD Events, HLPF Political Declaration

19 February 2019: With the view to strengthen collaboration and coordination between the principal organs of the UN, the Presidents of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) met with the co-facilitators of the political declaration of the summit-level High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development (FfD), and the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum). Participants discussed areas of collaboration and upcoming work.

Fiji Submits Low Emission Development Strategy to UNFCCC

25 February 2019: The Government of Fiji has become the 11th country to submit its long-term strategy (LTS) for low emission development 2018-2050 to the UNFCCC Secretariat. Fiji’s Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) puts forward long-term emission reductions, and defines long-term sustainable and resilient economy-wide mitigations pathways until 2050. It is the result of national, sectoral and bilateral consultations among a range of stakeholders.

Education Cannot Wait Fund Launches Appeal for Children in Conflict Zones

19 February 2019: The ‘Education Cannot Wait’ (ECW) fund launched a call for funds to provide education to more than 30 million children affected by ongoing conflicts around the world. Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education, is leading the appeal, citing urgent needs of out-of-school children in Venezuela, the Central Africa Republic (CAR), Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and South Sudan, and among the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Report Recommends Lifecycle Approach to Addressing Impacts of Plastic on Human Health

February 2019: The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) has released a report titled, ‘Plastic and Health: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet,’ exploring human health impacts of plastic. The report concludes that each stage of the plastic lifecycle poses significant risks to human health on a global scale.