19 December 2017
Together 2030 Reviews Head of State Messages on SDGs
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The report confirms that political supports exist at the highest level for the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, with 144 countries (87 percent) referring to the 2030 Agenda or SDGs.

Only 43 countries mentioned the alignment of their national plans with the 2030 Agenda.

Financial resources and means of implementation are still far from being materialized, the authors note.

6 December 2017: The civil society initiative Together 2030 has reviewed government statements on sustainable development, as delivered during the General Debate of the 72nd Session of UN General Assembly (UNGA). The report finds a prevalence of strong political will in support of 2030 Agenda, taking the form of measures such as mobilizing finance and strengthening global partnerships.

The report titled, ‘Is the 2030 Agenda at the Center of Global Discourse? A Review of Statements delivered during the United Nations 72nd General Assembly General Debate (September 18-23 2017, New York),’ analyzes 166 statements of Heads of State and Government and other government representatives, 87% of which, or 144 countries, referred to the 2030 Agenda or SDGs at least once.

Two years into its implementation, the “aspirational and ambitious character” of the 2030 Agenda was still leaders’ main reference.

Statements reflect political support for the SDGs at the highest level, the report’s authors note. However, two years into the Goals’ implementation, the “aspirational and ambitious character of the Agenda is still the main reference” by leaders speaking during the UNGA debate. The report notes that countries tended to refer to the 2030 Agenda as a “roadmap,” “blueprint,” or “framework,” with very few providing details on translating those into implementation.

On national implementation, only 43 countries (30% of those mentioning the 2030 Agenda) referred to alignment of their national plans with the UN’s sustainable development framework, and most did not refer to specific policies or plans. Some highlighted the creation of new institutions or responsibilities.

On financing sustainable development, the report notes that financial resources and means of implementation are still “far from being materialized,” but many statements included sections on resource mobilization and financing the SDGs. Ecuador, Germany and Nepal, among others, stressed the opportunity to redirect resources from war into sustainable development.

The countries most affected by climate change pushed for synergy between the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda, the authors write. Kiribati stated that it has decided to “take charge of our fate and put in place innovative financing modalities,” to allow fast-track financing support for its sustainable development agenda, especially in relation to climate change and natural disaster risk reduction.

The report finds that countries expressed confidence in the potential impact of partnerships, with 45 statements highlighting the importance of partnerships in capacity-building and financing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However, it concludes that expectations for positive private sector roles “may be overemphasized,” and concrete outcomes are still to be achieved.

Together 2030 is a global initiative aiming to generate and share knowledge on the implementation and accountability of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, and to project voices of different civil society groups and stakeholders around the world on the challenges and opportunities of implementing the Agenda. [Publication Landing Page] [Publication: Is the 2030 Agenda at the Center of Global Discourse? A Review of Statements delivered during the United Nations 72nd General Assembly General Debate (September 18-23 2017, New York)]


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