Click here to visit the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub knowledgebase.  SDG UPDATE A compilation of items recently posted to the SDG Knowledge Hub Thursday, 7 June 2018 GUEST ARTICLES Harnessing Innovation and Bringing It To Scale The Syrian refugee crisis, famine in Yemen, and Venezuela’s economic and political crisis — just a few of the many crises the humanitarian sector is contending with. The unprecedented scale and severity show no signs of slowing down, so what better time to rethink how the humanitarian sector works. FEATURED EU, UN Advance 'Spotlight Initiative' on Violence against Women and Girls 6 June 2018: The UN and the EU highlighted the role of their joint ‘Spotlight Initiative’ in achieving SDG 5, at the 2018 European Development Days (EDD), which convened in Brussels, Belgium with a focus on gender equality. Technology Bank Inaugurated in Turkey, Work Under Way in 16 LDCs 4 June 2018: The Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was inaugurated at its headquarters in Gebze, Turkey. According to the UN, the Bank's establishment marks the first SDG target to have been reached, among the 169 SDG targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Institutional Finance Update: Gaining Clarity on How Finance and Technology Needs Inform Climate Investments 31 May 2018: The Bonn Climate Change Conference concluded with the refrain that finance and technology are crucial means to achieve international climate goals. During the month of May, several institutions acknowledged this fact and took action, including forming financial partnerships, increasing budget allocations to implement climate change policy, and identifying priority sectors with technological needs. NEWS Least Developed Countries Call for Climate Leadership from G7 6 June 2018: In advance of the 2018 Group of 7 (G7) Summit, taking place in Charlevoix, Canada, from 8-9 June, the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group has released a statement calling on the G7 to take the lead on ambitious climate action. Non-State Actors Urge G7 to Send Strong Signals on Climate 6 June 2018: In advance of the 2018 G7 Leaders’ Summit, taking place from 8-9 June in Charlevoix, Canada, groups representing non-State actors, including businesses, civil society, global investors and think tanks, have published statements urging the G7 countries to enhance climate action and support as well as research tracking progress on previous commitments made by the G7. Stakeholders Discuss Science, Technology and Innovation for DRR 6 June 2018: On the sidelines of the third Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the SDGs (STI Forum), delegates discussed approaches through which STI can advance disaster risk reduction (DRR), and challenges related to early warning systems. On World Environment Day, Governments Announce Bans on Single-Use Plastics 5 June 2018: Governments, UN organizations and other entities launched partnerships and publications on World Environment Day (WED), which focused on the theme, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution.’ The Day represents a call to action for citizens around the world to consider how everyday changes can reduce the impact of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health. UN Takes Action on Infectious Disease 4 June 2018: The UN announced that recent outbreaks of Ebola and lassa fever in sub-Saharan and West Africa abated in the month of May, as agencies worked to reduce their spread through emergency relief and increased human capacity in affected countries. UN agencies are also working to stop the spread of HIV, globally, by calling for an end to discrimination against LGBTI people so they can better access healthcare and social services. UNWTO Annual Report Highlights Sustainable Tourism’s Contribution to SDGs June 2018: The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has published its 2017 annual report, highlighting the importance of tourism to achieving the SDGs, as well as SDGs and targets that are particularly relevant to sustainable tourism. The report provides an overview of campaigns and events that took place during 2017, with a focus on sustainable tourism and the SDGs. UNWTO, UNDP Report Explores Role of Tourism in SDG Implementation June 2018: The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have published a report describing the ways in which the tourism sector can advance SDG implementation. The report titled, ‘Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030,’ aims to help governments, policymakers and tourism companies incorporate the SDGs into policy and financing frameworks, business operations and investments. Youth Discuss Education Needs, Facing Roots of Extremism 30 May 2018: Youth participants at a high-level event exchanged ideas, needs and concerns regarding education and employment, as well as how to prevent radicalization of youth. The Youth Dialogue organized by UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Miroslav Lajcak aimed to galvanize the efforts of many global alliances and initiatives that are empowering young people. The event featured a performance by singer Emmanuel Kelly. UN-Habitat’s Annual Report Spotlights SDG 11, NUA Implementation May 2018: The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has published its ‘Annual Progress Report 2017,’ which discusses the impact of UN-Habitat’s work at the national and subnational levels, and presents case studies demonstrating the organization’s approaches to sustainable urbanization and implementation of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda (NUA). CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 4th International Symposium: The Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Oceans 4-8 June 2018 | Washington D.C., US EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW2018) 4-8 June 2018 | Brussels, Belgium Intergovernmental Negotiations on Migration Compact - June 2018 4-8 June 2018 | New York City, US Mountain Futures Conference 4-8 June 2018 | Yunnan, China Industry Strategy Meeting 6-7 June 2018 | San Francisco, CA, US Global Science, Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC) Special Event 7 June 2018 | New York City, US International Mayors Climate Summit 7 June 2018 | Boston, MA, US Global Symposium on the Role of Micro-, Small- and Medium- Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Achievement of... 7-8 June 2018 | New York City, US Launch of UN Global Compact Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business 7-8 June 2018 | New York City, US 2018 G7 Leaders' Summit 8-9 June 2018 | Canada UNGA High-level Event on SDG Financing 11 June 2018 | New York City, US EAT Stockholm Food Forum 2018 11-12 June 2018 | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden Council of European Municipalities and Region (CEMR) Conference 11-13 June 2018 | Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain Sixth Session of the Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly 11-13 June 2018 | Roma, Lazio, Italy 28th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS 11-14 June 2018 | New York City, US Devex World 2018 12 June 2018 | Washington D.C., US 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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