First ever virtual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development - and UNEP engagement

The first-ever virtual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was held between 7-16 July under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council under the overall theme: "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development."

The HLPF annual meeting is the core United Nations platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As part of its agenda, the Forum discussed the outcomes of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of the SDG implementation of the 2030 Agenda, carried out by 47 countries from Friday, 10 July to Thursday, 16 July 2020. (see here).

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, much of the Forum’s attention was dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on the SDGs. The discussions showed countries’ commitment to a multilateral response to COVID-19 and their determination to continue to forge ahead with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. A key message was that the response to COVID-19 should kick off the major changes we need in order to realize the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The SDGs were considered the world’s guidepost to build back better.

The Economic and Social Council’s high-level segment concluded on 17 July with calls to strengthen multilateralism and forge an inclusive path to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic. It failed however to adopt a Ministerial Declaration, this is still under negotiation see also here.

An overview of main outcomes of the HLPF can be found here

UNEP engagement at the High-level Political Forum

UNEP was actively involved in the preparation of the Forum, including on a number of themes such as water management, marine litter, green economy, biodiversity and nature-based solutions, and building back better.

The high-level political forum programme included a statement from UNEA to the HLPF delivered by the President of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), Sveinung Rotevatn, Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment, on 14 July. Mr. Rotevatn conveyed recommendations and key messages, emphasizing that the world is not on track to achieve the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and related internationally agreed goals. (read more here) 

UNEP's Executive Director, Ms Inger Andersen, participated in several discussions and events, including a panel discussion on biodiversity, where she outlined why the Post 2020-Biodiversity Framework matters especially in a post-COVID 19 world, indicating that if we don’t listen to nature, we can expect more trouble in the years ahead.; as well as the launch of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework. In a session on marine litter, she pointed out that COVID-19 has resulted in a resurgence of single-use plastic products. This requires us to work even harder and smarter on global challenges like marine litter.

Amongst others, UNEP was also involved in the launch of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), Strategy 2021-2030. This aims to drive support for a just transition to a low-carbon, resource efficient, nature-friendly and socially-inclusive economy.