A set of expert group meetings is underway in the lead-up to the 2021 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Participants include experts from academia, civil society, and government participating in their individual capacity, as well as UN system technical experts.

The meetings are being organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ (DESA) Division for the SDGs.

The meetings aim to foster an exchange of views on the implementation of the SDGs under review this year and the overall theme of the session, which is ‘Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.’

The format for the virtual meetings is an “EGM week” taking place from 18-20 May, in which each SDG in focus (except for SDG 17) will be discussed in a dedicated session, followed by discussions on cross-cutting issues.

The nine SDGs in focus during the 2021 HLPF are:

• Goal 1: No poverty
• Goal 2: Zero hunger
• Goal 3: Good health and wellbeing
• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
• Goal 13: Climate action
• Goal 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions
• Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals

The dedicated sessions on each of these SDGs will seek to identify: measurable progress and trends on the Goal; changes in trends since the last time the HLPF held an in-depth review of the Goal, and any promising new opportunities for tracking progress; and strategies to accelerate action and ways to monitor them.

The cross-cutting sessions are open to all participants of the SDG sessions. They will focus on three topics that are also the basis for thematic sessions during the HLPF in July:

• How do we get on track to end poverty and hunger, and transform towards inclusive and sustainable economies? (Topic of the 7 July session on SDGs 1, 2, 8, and 17);
• How do we revamp and transform consumption and production and address and mitigate climate change? (Topic of the 7 July session on SDGs 12, 13, and 17); and
• How do we get on track for building more peaceful, equal and inclusive societies (Topic of the 8 July session on SDGs 3, 10, 16 and 17).

The messages from the EGMs will be used to update the 2020 version background notes on each SDG, and inform the thematic sessions during the 2021 HLPF.

The 2021 session of the HLPF will take place from 6-15 July under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). According to a letter from the ECOSOC President, sessions will take place through virtual means with simultaneous interpretation, except for the opening of the ministerial segment (13 July) and the conclusion of the HLPF (15 July), during which governments will take action on the draft ministerial declaration. Those sessions are expected to take place in person. The general debate will be conducted through the submission of video and written statements. [Concept note and schedule of EGMs]