January 2019: An online consultation launched on the UN’s SDG Knowledge Platform seeks to gather inputs from Major Groups and other stakeholders on the SDGs that will be reviewed in depth at the July 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). A new channel for stakeholder input, the consultation will result in a summary highlighting the main points raised by participants, and for dissemination by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
According to the E-consultation webpage, the consultation, which runs through 8 February 2019, will serve to improve stakeholders’ access to information and promote broad and participatory engagement on the follow-up and review related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It notes that “concise and straightforward inputs” should be submitted online for a limited number of questions that are proposed for each SDG under review in 2019, which are: SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals), which is reviewed every year.
Per the webpage, the consultation will complement and feed into other ongoing processes for the in-depth reviews, including a series of expert group meetings (EGMs). As reported here, EGMs on the respective Goals began in December in Brussels, Belgium, with a focus on SDG 4. The remaining meetings are expected to convene in March and April in cities around the world, as follows:
- SDG 13 (climate action): 1-3 April 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark;
- SDG 10 (reduced inequalities): 2-3 April 2019, Geneva, Switzerland [updated 14 February 2019];
- SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions): 3-5 April, Rome, Italy;
- SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth): 4-5 April, Geneva, Switzerland; and
- SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals): 12 April, New York, US.
In 2019, the HLPF will meet twice: at the ministerial level under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in July, and at the level of Heads of State and Heads of Government under the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
The July session of the Forum will finalize the first cycle of thematic reviews, considering that it will have reviewed all the SDGs since 2017. In addition to the Goals that will be reviewed in 2019 (outlined above), the 2017 HLPF reviewed SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 14 (life below water) and 17. The 2018 HLPF reviewed Goals 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 15 (life on land) and 17. [HLPF 2019 Website]