Click here to visit the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub knowledgebase.  SDG UPDATE A compilation of items recently posted to the SDG Knowledge Hub Monday, 12 April 2021 GUEST ARTICLES Making Green Hydrogen a Global Trade Commodity for Enhanced Climate Ambition To comply with the Paris Agreement on climate change, a growing number of countries are setting ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets for the coming decades to achieve carbon neutrality. Suriname and Bhutan have already become carbon-neutral, largely due to small populations and dense forests absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). Denmark, France, Hungary, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK have written their net-zero commitments into law. The EU and five other countries (Canada, Chile, Fiji, the Republic of Korea, and Spain) have included net-zero targets in proposed legislation. Fourteen states mention net-zero commitments in policy documents, and almost a hundred other countries are currently discussing potential adoption of net-zero targets. NEWS Energy Working Groups Release Draft Reports Preparations for the UN’s 2021 energy summit are advancing through the work of five inter-agency, multi-stakeholder groups. The initial drafts of five thematic reports have been released for discussion at working group meetings in April. Forum Seeks to Hold Decision Makers Accountable to Future Generations The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convened the tenth annual Youth Forum, a gathering described by the UN Secretary-General as the UN’s “foremost platform” for tackling the challenges facing youth. This year’s Forum also served as the launch of the first progress report of the UN’s system-wide youth strategy. Circular Economy Toolbox for Europe Points to Guidance, Regulations The UN Economic Commission for Europe released a toolbox of instruments to support governments’ adoption of a more circular economy. The instruments include legal frameworks, policy analysis documents, and good practice guidance. WTO Informal Dialogue Discusses Concept Note, Roadmap on Plastics and Trade The Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade discussed World Trade Organization (WTO) members’ efforts to reduce plastics pollution and promote sustainable trade in plastics, with a focus on international cooperation and transparency. The Informal Dialogue aims to establish a “solid factual basis” on the topic with the aim of reaching an outcome at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), which is scheduled for late 2021. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 2021 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up (FfD Forum) 12-15 April 2021 | New York City, US VEF Virtual Series: Inclusive Infrastructure Development for Driving Low Carbon Industrialisation 14 April 2021 | virtual Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity (GSOBI21) 19-22 April 2021 | Rome, Lazio, Italy (virtual) VEF Virtual Series: Financial Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency and Buildings 21 April 2021 | virtual Earth Day 2021 22 April 2021 | virtual International Mother Earth Day 2021 22 April 2021 | worldwide Leaders' Climate Summit 22-23 April 2021 | virtual International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 2021 24 April 2021 | worldwide World Malaria Day 2021 25 April 2021 | worldwide World Intellectual Property Day 2021 26 April 2021 | worldwide 16th Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF 16) 26-30 April 2021 | virtual Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2021 27-28 April 2021 | virtual World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021 28 April 2021 | worldwide High-level Interactive Dialogue on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 29 April 2021 | New York City, US Special Meeting of the Council on International Cooperation in Tax Matters 2021 29 April 2021 | New York City, US ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2021 3 May 2021 | New York City, US (virtual) Funding for the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub has been provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) The IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub is a knowledgebase tracking implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Click here for further information on the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub .