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, 6 March 2018 POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Renewable Energy and Linkages Across SDGs This SDG Knowledge Weekly follows energy-related events in Bangkok and Geneva, as governments and stakeholders begin preparing for the review of SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) at this year’s session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). As energy is a ‘nexus issue’ that spans the breadth of the SDGs, our attention was also drawn to knowledge products that directly link energy to decent jobs (SDG 8), infrastructure (SDG 9) and climate action (SDG 13). GENERATION 2030 Together, We Can Do So Much More Than We Ever Imagined “Let the SDGs shine on people around you, like a star shines on its galaxy.” Grazyna Pulawska Imagine a world, without hunger and poverty. Where people live together in equity, and in peace. Where all conditions favor sustainable development, and all activities that do not contribute to the development of our planet are either taxed or banned. Imagine that world. FEATURED UNISDR Launches Online Tool to Track Progress on Achieving Sendai Framework, SDGs 1 March 2018: The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has launched an effort to collect comprehensive data on disaster losses through an online tool that will capture data on achieving the targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). It will contribute to reducing mortality from disasters, decreasing the numbers of those affected by disasters, reducing economic losses, lessening damage to critical infrastructure, and recording the number of countries with national and local DRR strategies. Mixed Messages on Achieving Zero Hunger in Africa 27 February 2018: Mixed messages emerged during the last week of February regarding the prospects for achieving zero hunger in Africa. Optimistic statements at the Regional Conference for Africa of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) according to which zero hunger in Africa can be achieved by 2025, were followed by a warning that adverse weather could affect food security in Southern Africa in the short term. European Council Outlines Path to COP 24, Resolves to Mainstream Climate Change-Security Nexus 26 February 2018: The European Council has adopted a set of conclusions on climate diplomacy, highlighting the need for urgent implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the SDGs, and reiterating the EU’s commitment to climate action at all levels. NEWS Climate Mitigation Finance Update: From Divestment to Investment, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 2 March 2018: The past month has seen the launch of new renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, investment in the green economy and capacity building, and climate finance approvals through the Green Climate Fund. Carbon Pricing and Markets Update: EU ETS post-2020 Reform Adopted 4 March 2018: During the month of February 2018, the European Council formally approved the post-2020 reform of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) and Sri Lanka announced it will initiate carbon pricing readiness activities with support from the World Bank’s Partnership for Market Readiness (PMR). A status report by the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) concluded that 2017 saw a number of positive developments in carbon pricing and trading. To Conserve Big Cats, World Wildlife Day Talks Communities and Crime 3 March 2018: The 2018 World Wildlife Day convened under the theme, ‘Big cats: predators under threat,’ and an array of global events called for the conservation of species such as the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar as well as the cheetah, snow leopard, and puma. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank issued reports addressing crosscutting issues such as the role of communities, livelihoods, tourism, and wildlife crime that affect big cat conservation, while other agencies took to social media and film. IISD Presents SAVi Tool at UNECE Forum Side Event 2 March 2018: On the sidelines of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Region, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) presented a modelling tool for analyzing the costs of externalities of infrastructure projects. The Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) method can currently be used for infrastructure related to energy, roads, buildings and water. Adaptation Committee Advances Work on Long-term Adaptation Planning, ExCom Receives Submissions on Finance for Loss and Damage 2 March 2018: The UNFCCC Adaptation Committee (AC) has met to consider, among other issues, technical support and guidance to Parties on adaptation action, including through a technical paper on long-term adaptation planning. The Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) has received submissions from Parties and stakeholders on the type and nature of actions to address loss and damage for which finance may be required. GCF Board Approves over US$1 Billion in Funding for 23 Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Projects 1 March 2018: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board has approved 23 new projects for climate adaptation and mitigation, totaling over US$1 billion in GCF funding, following discussions at its most recent meeting. This brings the GCF portfolio to 76 projects and programmes worth US$3.7 billion in GCF funding to help developing countries in their low emission and climate-resilient development. NYFD Global Platform Discusses Monitoring, Launch of Community of Practice 1 March 2018: The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) Global Platform held an online session to provide stakeholders with an overview of its goals and to identify opportunities for further engagement as well as contributions to the development of its 2018 work plan. The webinar highlighted how the Platform monitors progress towards the 10 goals of the NYDF as well as plans for launching an online community of practice. Statistical Commission to Discuss Data, Indicators for 2030 Agenda March 2018: The UN Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs released several documents on the SDG indicators and 2030 Agenda, for consideration at the 49th session of the UN Statistical Commission. UNSC 49 is convening from 6-9 March 2018. UNECE Case Studies Share National Implementation of SDGs 6, 7, 11, 12, 15 March 2018: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) released a compilation of case studies on the SDGs under in-depth review at the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The case studies supported peer learning round tables during the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) for the UNECE Region, which convened from 1-2 March 2018. Businesses Commit to Promote Gender Equality in Workplace 28 February 2018: Participants at the Fourth Global Forum on Business for Gender Equality committed to promote gender equality in the workplace, including as a strategy to achieve the SDGs. The Forum outlined its commitment to eliminate gender gaps in the workplace in the ‘Call to Action of Chile.’ Chad Accedes to Water Convention 27 February 2018: On 22 February, Chad submitted its instruments of accession to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), becoming the first country outside the pan-European region to accede to the Convention, which is serviced by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). APA, SBI, SBSTA Agendas for Bonn Climate Change Conference Released 26 February 2018: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published the provisional annotated agendas for the 48th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 48) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 48), and the annotated agenda for the fifth part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-5). SBI 48, SBSTA 48 and APA 1-5 will convene during the Bonn Climate Change Conference. Paris Agreement Reaches 175 Ratifications 22 February 2018: The Paris Agreement on climate change has reached 175 Parties. With 22 more ratifications, the Paris Agreement will have the same number of Parties as the UNFCCC, which, with 197 Parties, is nearly universal. UN Agencies and Donors Support Transformations in Food and Water Sectors 22 February 2018: International and national initiatives are promoting agricultural and water sector reforms to boost the livelihoods of poor farmers and reduce negative impacts on human health and ecosystems. With funding from Germany, the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) programme at the UN Environment Programme (UN Environment or UNEP) is supporting national, regional and local government capacity to produce tailored economic assessments of ecosystems. Stakeholder Initiative to Support Implementation of Paris Agreement, SDGs, Sendai Framework 21 February 2018: The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has proposed a collaborative initiative and an all-inclusive engagement strategy to support implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the SDGs and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Online Platforms Support Climate Change Adaptation Innovation, Knowledge Exchange 21 February 2018: The climate change adaptation community stands to benefit from two recently developed online tools designed to promote innovation and knowledge exchange. BRidging the Gap for Innovations in Disaster resilience (BRIGAID), a project under EU Horizon2020, has launched a portal for climate change adaptation innovation. Brazil has launched an online knowledge platform for climate change adaptation. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Elected GGGI President and Chair 20 February 2018: Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Republic of Korea, has been elected Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Assembly President and Council Chair. Ban began his two-year term on 20 February 2018. He succeeds Gemedo Dalle, Ethiopia, who served as Acting Assembly President and Council Chair since July 2017. Co-facilitators Issue Background Paper to Inform ECOSOC Review 16 February 2018: The co-facilitators for the review of UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) reforms have issued an informal background paper as an input to future discussions. Per the paper, the ECOSOC review process offers the potential to discuss whether the Council's current arrangements are sufficient for supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related commitments, and offers the potential to make refinements as needed. Doha Amendment Reaches 109 Ratifications 13 February 2018: The EU and 11 of its member States, along with Brazil and Gabon, have brought the number of Doha Amendment ratifications to 109. The Amendment is now 35 ratifications away from entry into force. Botswana Natural Capital Accounting for Water Supports SDG 6 Monitoring February 2018: The Government of Botswana has published its fourth round of natural capital accounting for the water sector, which shows that mining and agriculture account for more than half of water abstractions from the environment and deserve greater policy attention. The water accounting reports are meant to support implementation of national development plans as well as the Sustainable Development Goal on clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » Online Course for Policy Makers: Sustainable Energy for SIDS 5 February - 11 March 2018 | virtual Cities and Climate Change Science Conference 5-7 March 2018 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Fragility Forum 2018: Managing Risks for Peace and Stability 5-7 March 2018 | Washington D.C., US International Conference on Forestry Training 5-7 March 2018 | Douala, Littoral, Cameroon FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and Caribbean (LARC) 5-8 March 2018 | Montego Bay, Saint James, Jamaica 24th Annual Session of the International Seabed Authority (First Part) 5-9 March 2018 | Kingston, Jamaica Forest Resources Assessment 2020 Launch: Technical Meeting of National Correspondents and CFRQ Partn... 5-9 March 2018 | Toluca, Mexico Global Partnerships Week 2018 5-10 March 2018 | Washington D.C., US The World in 2050: 2018 Writing Meeting 6-7 March 2018 | Laxenburg, Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), Austria WASH 2018 Symposium 6-7 March 2018 | Boulder, CO, US Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Trans-boundary Biodiversity Conservation 6-8 March 2018 | Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia 49th Session of UN Statistical Commission 6-9 March 2018 | New York City, US 11th Meeting of the CTCN Advisory Board 7-9 March 2018 | Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark World Ocean Summit 2018 7-9 March 2018 | Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observing: A European Strategy 8 March 2018 | Brussels, Belgium International Women's Day 2018 8 March 2018 | worldwide 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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