8 November 2013: The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) organized a regional workshop on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss regional priorities and cooperation. The outcomes will be conveyed to the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs.

The “Regional Workshop on Sustainable Development Goals: Priorities and Solutions” took place from 7-8 November 2013, co-organized by SDSN with the Monash Sustainability Institute at Monash University, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), and the office of the Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Around 100 representatives of government, business, civil society and academia took part in the workshop. In a draft outcome statement, they call for: the use of the Multidimensional Poverty Index; a systems approach to providing food security; greater attention to non-communicable diseases (NCDs); quality and lifelong learning under an education goal; and an SDG on cities. They highlight the role of the business sector, the media, and youth in promoting, implementing and achieving the SDGs. They also stress the importance of interdisciplinary science, technology and innovation for sustainable development.

The Kuala Lumpur workshop is the first meeting convened by a regional network established under the SDSN. The Network has launched regional centers hosted at universities in the Australia/Pacific, Mediterranean, Sahel, South Asia and Southeast Asia regions, as well as national chapters in Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and South Korea.

SDSN also recently launched a campaign for a stand-alone SDG on cities, which it says will be necessary to mobilize cities and address the role of urbanization in sustainable development. Campaign partners include the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), AND ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. The campaign is announced in the November issue of the SDSN Newsletter, which also highlights its support for the ‘Future Earth’ research programme, and the launch of the SDSN Deep Decarbonization Pathway Project. [SDSN November 2013 Newsletter] [IISD RS Sources] [Publication: Why the World Needs an Urban Sustainable Development Goal]