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POLICY BRIEFS
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth Advancing Climate Action and 2030 Agenda at COP 23
Described by some as a “transition COP,” the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017, is expected to make progress on developing modalities, procedures and guidelines for operationalization of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which are to be finalized in 2018.
Featured Image -179 UN Considering Reforms to Deliver the SDGs
In December 2016, more than one year after the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) 2017-2020, which is the policy instrument aimed at aligning the UN development system with the SDGs. The process that led to the QCPR spanned two years of intense negotiations and consultations between Member States, the UN system, and external experts. The QCPR mandated that, in June 2017, the UN Secretary-General should present reform proposals for the UN development system, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UN Photo/M Guthrie Leading up to Ministerial, WTO Negotiating Group Focuses on Fisheries Subsidies
Sixteen years after the World Trade Organization (WTO) began negotiations on fisheries subsidies at the Doha Ministerial Conference, its Eleventh Ministerial Conference (MC11) is expected to take up the issue when it meets in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this December. In advance of this meeting, the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules (NGR), tasked with “developing stronger rules while respecting the important policy concerns of WTO members” met twice in October to progress negotiations towards a fisheries subsidies outcome.

FEATURED
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth COP 22 and COP 23 Presidencies Outline Approach to Facilitative Dialogue 2018
1 November 2017: In preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference, the Presidencies of the 22nd and 23rd sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC issued an informal note on inclusive and transparent consultations on the organization of the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue, or the ‘Talanoa Dialogue.’
ENVIRONMENT-AIR POLLUTION UN Reports Urge Higher Ambition to Reach Paris Agreement Goals, Warn of Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations Reaching Record Levels
31 October 2017: UN Environment (UNEP) released its ‘Emissions Gap Report 2017,’ which argues that governments and non-state actors must increase their ambition to ensure the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change can be met. In addition, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) published its annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Bulletin, which states that atmospheric CO2 concentrations surged to their highest level in 800,000 years. The two reports were released in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference taking place from 6-17 November in Bonn, Germany.
Photo/Xinhua 19th National Congress Reaffirms China's Commitment to Climate Action, Sustainable Development
23 October 2017: During the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to climate action and sustainable development. He emphasized that China will continue to cooperate with other countries to tackle climate change, and that stepping up efforts on low-carbon development is in line with the country’s long-term sustainability strategies and development priorities.

NEWS
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth Adaptation and Loss and Damage Outlook for UN Climate Change Conference
31 October 2017: The UN Climate Change Conference, taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017, is expected to advance negotiations on a number of issues, in particular operationalization of the Paris Agreement on climate change. This Update provides an overview of issues relating to adaptation and loss and damage that are expected to be addressed by the Conference.
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth Capacity Building and Tech at UN Climate Change Conference
31 October 2017: The UN Climate Change Conference will convene in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017. First and foremost, it is expected to advance negotiations on operationalization of the Paris Agreement on climate change. This Update provides an overview of issues relating to capacity building, and technology development and transfer that are expected to be addressed by the Conference.
UN Photo/Mark Garten WRI Launches Interactive Platform to Support Action on Climate, SDGs
31 October 2017: The World Resources Institute (WRI) has launched ‘Climate Watch,’ an interactive platform providing data and visualizations on countries’ efforts towards achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe Energy-intensive Industries Emerge as Drivers of Renewable Energy Expansion
31 October 2017: The private sector is becoming an increasingly important actor for renewable energy expansion, not only as a customer of clean power, but also as developer of renewable energy generation projects. Recent announcements by technology companies and other energy-intensive industries provide examples of this trend.
Photo by IISD | Lynn Wagner UN Designs SDG Boardgame for Children
30 October 2017: The UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) developed a board game called ‘Go-Goals!’ to teach children about the SDGs. It is available through a free download that allows the user to print the instructions, question cards, and game board and pieces.
UN Photo/Eva Fendiaspara FAO, ITTO Meetings Call for Collaboration, Technology to Achieve Forest-Related SDGs in Asia-Pacific
27 October 2017: A pair of forestry meetings recently convened in the Asia-Pacific region. The 27th meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC 27), organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), focused on collaboration in the forestry sector to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ‘Tokyo International Conference on the Forest Governance Initiative: Improving Forest Governance Using Forest Early Warning Systems and Satellite Technologies,’ convened by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), addressed the need to tackle illegal logging in the tropics with satellite technologies and improved governance.
Featured Image - 157 UNECA Events Highlight Climate Information Services as Critical for Africa’s Development
27 October 2017: Africa’s growth and development depends, in part, on increased investments in climate information services (CIS) and their uptake and use in economic development programmes, according to participants attending a workshop that was held on 27 October 2017 to mark Climate Information Services Day.
Photo by IISD/ENB IAEG-SDGs to Discuss Reclassifying 29 Indicators
26 October 2017: The UN’s expert group on the SDG indicators will consider the re-classification of 29 indicators. The indicators to be discussed at the upcoming meeting in Bahrain pertain to targets under all of the SDGs except for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 13 (climate action).
Photo by IISD | Lynn Wagner CDP Report: Companies Ramp Up Efforts to Combat Climate Change
25 October 2017: More companies are ramping up their efforts to respond to climate change by including low-carbon goals in their long-term business plans, and many intend to increase ambition over the next few years, according to a report by CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project. Titled ‘Picking up the Pace: Tracking corporate action on climate change,’ the publication highlights the role companies play in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth UN Entities Discuss SDG Implementation in Jordan
25 October 2017: At a UN Country Team (UNCT) meeting in Jordan, UN entities highlighted that the UN’s support to Jordan has evolved from a largely humanitarian operation responding to the impacts of the Syria crisis, towards a more developmental approach that seeks to support the country to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Jordan Vision 2025, a national vision and strategy for the country.
UN Photo/Christopher Herwig Climate Mitigation Finance Update: Addressing the Energy Transition in the Caribbean and Beyond
25 October 2017: Recent announcements in climate mitigation finance include funding for projects of all scales in many geographic regions, including large-scale solar projects in Kazakhstan and Egypt, distributed rooftop solar in Sri Lanka, investments in clean public transport in China, and several initiatives to boost access to electricity in island states in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth WHO Conference Charts NCD Roadmap
20 October 2017: Government leaders at a global health conference in Uruguay agreed to prioritize action to reduce premature mortality from non-commuicable diseases (NCDs). The adopted roadmap outlines actions toward this goal, including investing in national health systems, financing national NCD responses, and addressing poverty, livelihoods, shelter, diet and lifestyle issues.
Peter Luethi, Biovision Foundation Joint Report Outlines SDG Progress, Challenges in Africa
18 October 2017: A report from several UN bodies urges sustained efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and gender inequality in Africa, and calls to improve statistical capabilities to implement and track progress towards the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063. Titled ‘2017 Africa Sustainable Development Report: Tracking Progress on Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals,’ the report is the first publication to simultaneously track progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 and its first ten-year implementation plan.
UN Photo/R Marklin Canada, UK and the Netherlands Commit to Accelerate Coal Phase-out
13 October 2017: One indication that the global transition towards low-carbon forms of energy is picking up speed is the decline in demand for coal, as renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly attractive for building new generation capacity and countries are making efforts to decommission existing coal-fired power plants. The governments of Canada, the UK and the Netherlands have announced commitments to further accelerate this trend.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe AOSIS and IRENA Launch Island Renewable Energy Initiative
13 October 2017: Participants to the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Initiative for Renewable Island Energy (IRIE) discussed measures to facilitate the transition to renewable energy among AOSIS member states.
Photo by IISD/Mike Muzurakis UNGA Agrees to Four-Year Process on Indigenous Participation
8 September 2017: UN Member States will hold interactive hearings during the next three UNGA sessions to address the participation of indigenous peoples at the UN, according to a resolution adopted on 8 September 2017. Governments also decide to expand the mandate of a fund to ensure participation of indigenous peoples' organizations and institutions in the hearings.

CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE »
2017 Solar World Congress
29 October - 2 November 2017 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Seventh Session of the Governing Body of the ITPGR
30 October - 3 November 2017 | Kigali, Rwanda
39th Session of the UNESCO General Conference
30 October - 14 November 2017 | Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Pacific Workshop on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
1-2 November 2017 | Apia, Tuamasaga, Samoa
South and South-West Asia Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
1-2 November 2017 | Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal
Strategic Materials in a Low-Carbon World: From Resource Scarcity to Availability
2-3 November 2017 | Oxford, England, UK
UNECE 4th Session Group of Experts on Renewable Energy
2-3 November 2017 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland
People’s Climate Summit 2017
3-7 November 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
2017 CityNet Congress
5-8 November 2017 | Colombo, Sri Lanka
ESCAP Regional Preparatory Meeting for Global Compact on Migration
6-8 November 2017 | Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand
Gender Summit 11 – North America
6-8 November 2017 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada
UNFCCC COP 23
6-17 November 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
31st ASEAN Summit
10-14 November 2017 | Philippines
GCA Thematic and High-level Days
10-15 November 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Development & Climate Days 2017
11-12 November 2017 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Sixth Meeting of IAEG-SDGs
11-14 November 2017 | Manama, Al Manamah, Bahrain