Click here to visit the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub knowledgebase.  SDG UPDATE A compilation of items recently posted to the SDG Knowledge Hub Tuesday, 28 February 2017 GUEST ARTICLES Agriculture in the 21st Century: New Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Increasing population and consumption are placing unprecedented demands on agriculture and natural resources. Today, approximately a billion people are chronically malnourished while our agricultural systems are concurrently degrading land, water, biodiversity and climate on a global scale. We can all agree, regardless of our background, that feeding everyone while maintaining the Earth’s ecosystems are critical goals. But how can this be done? Sustainable and Healthy Ocean Ecosystems: Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are The Sustainable Development Goal on the ocean and seas, SDG 14, explicitly calls for the elimination of subsidies that contribute to overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by 2020. And rightly so: it is estimated that taxpayers spend some US$30 billion a year on fisheries subsidies around the world, 60% of which (approximately US$18 billion) directly encourages unsustainable, destructive and even illegal practices.[1] POLICY BRIEFS Monthly Forecast: March 2017 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are interdependent by design. In March, we will continue to see how focusing on one Goal draws attention to, and spurs action on, others. The 45th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for example, will highlight links between climate change (SDG 13) and the ocean (SDG 14), land (SDG 15), and food security (SDG 2), while a high-level “event for action” on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will emphasis cross-cutting benefits, especially regarding land use (SDG 15), energy (SDG 7) and the ocean (SDG 14). The International Day of Forests (SDG 15) will highlight wood fuel as a source of renewable energy (SDG 7). FEATURED Caribbean Forum Drafts Recommendations for Regional Cooperation 23 February 2017: The Caribbean Sustainable Development Forum brought together representatives from governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academia throughout the Caribbean to discuss areas in which strengthened regional cooperation could promote sustainable development. Symposium Discusses 2030 Agenda Implementation in SIDS 23 February 2017: The Government of the Bahamas, with the support of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), organized a Symposium on the theme, 'Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Equipping public institutions and mobilizing partnerships.' NEWS Secretary-General Announces Internal Review on Peace and Security 14 February 2017: UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced an internal review of the UN’s peace and security strategy, functioning and architecture, which will provide recommendations by June 2017. The recommendations of the review team will lead to a process of consultations with UN Member States and relevant entities. Governments Prepare for HLM to Combat Trafficking in Persons 13 February 2017: UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Peter Thomson has initiated a process to appraise the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, appointing two co-faciliators of preparations for a high-level meeting on the topic. The high-level meeting is expected to address targets under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Gender equality), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions). February 2017 Climate Finance Update: Focus on New Financing Tools February 2017: During the month of February, a number of climate finance initiatives reported on new financing tools and approaches being piloted with an eye on replication and scaling up. Mitigation Actions Get a Boost in Transport, Tourism Sectors February 2017: Over the past few weeks, several announcements have sought to catalyze mitigation action, including in the transport and tourism sectors. In addition, authors of the special report on warming of 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels were appointed, and a study highlighted emissions from forest degradation. Adaptation and Loss and Damage Update: Polar Sea Ice at Record Low, Climate Change a “Security Story” February 2017: Recent reports of waning Polar sea ice volumes and persisting droughts in Africa have added to a long list of damaging climate change impacts occurring over the past months. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » Consultation on Indigenous Peoples’ Participation 27-28 February 2017 | New York City, US Aid and Development Africa Summit 2017 28 February - 1 March 2017 | Nairobi, Kenya ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment 2017 28 February - 2 March 2017 | New York City, US Global Festival of Ideas for Sustainable Development 1-3 March 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany World Wildlife Day 3 March 2017 | worldwide Open Meeting on Synergies Between UNGA, ECOSOC, 2030 Agendas 6 March 2017 | New York City, US Second Meeting of Issue-based Coalition on Health 6 March 2017 | Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark 15th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance 6-9 March 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany TAG Meeting on IATI 6-9 March 2017 | Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania IPBES-5 and Stakeholder Day 6-10 March 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany UNESCO Week for Peace and Sustainable Development 6-10 March 2017 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Global Cities Summit 7-9 March 2017 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates 11th Meeting of the Adaptation Committee 7-10 March 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany 31st Meeting of the LDC Expert Group 7-10 March 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany 48th Session of UN Statistical Commission (UNSC 48) 7-10 March 2017 | New York City, US Water and Human Settlements of the Future: 4th Advisory Committee of Experts Meeting 8-10 March 2017 | Paris, Ile-De-France, France 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). 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