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, 12 June 2018 GUEST ARTICLES Chad’s Accession to the Water Convention: Benefits, Lessons Learned and the 2030 Agenda On 23 May 2018, Chad became the first country from outside the pan-European region to accede to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (the Water Convention), the Secretariat of which is provided by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). A Plan for the Future: How Strong Strategies Can Bring a More Sustainable Europe Around 1,000 days ago, the EU signed a historic agreement, along with 200 other countries. It was a UN-brokered deal to make every aspect of the world’s economies and societies truly sustainable. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set 17 SDGs for 2030, which, once met, will transform everything from health to nature, to gender, to jobs. Unity in Diversity: How ITU Supports Smart Sustainable Cities and the Achievement of SDG 11 Rates of urbanization show no signs of slowing down, giving rise to significant challenges for city leaders. New technologies, however, present us with new opportunities to meet these challenges. POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Finance, Development Cooperation, Data and Innovative Technology As a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on breaking the bottlenecks to SDG investment convenes in New York, this brief explores a wide range of sources for SDG financing, as well as some challenges associated with their advancement. Data and technology continue to feature strongly in such conversations, and are also highlighted in the items below. FEATURED Six Countries and EU Reaffirm Strong Commitment to Paris Agreement, Carbon Neutrality at G7 Summit 9 June 2018: The leaders of the Group of 7 (G7) issued a communiqué on the 2018 G7 themes: investing in growth that works for everyone; preparing for jobs of the future; advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment; working together on climate change, oceans and clean energy; and building a more peaceful and secure world. Main Messages from 35 VNR Countries Outline SDG Actions and Plans 7 June 2018: A majority of countries scheduled to present Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) during the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) have issued the main messages of their reviews. According to the 35 messages currently available online, most of these countries have put in place institutional arrangements to advance SDG implementation, and have outlined the importance of engaging multiple stakeholders. Peer Review of Germany's Sustainable Development Strategy Results in 11 Recommendations 4 June 2018: Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), has presented the outcome from an International Peer Review Group's review of the German Sustainable Development Strategy to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. NEWS Governments to Consider Revised Resolution on ECOSOC Reforms 8 June 2018: The co-facilitators of the process to review reforms to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) have circulated a revised draft resolution. UN Member States will consider the text in an all-day consultation session on 13 June 2018. Delegates Continue Migration Compact Negotiations, Hear Plans for UN Migration Network 8 June 2018: During the fifth round of negotiations of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, delegates discussed the second revised draft of the compact. Member States' opinions diverged with regard to the principle of non-refoulement, among other issues, and some remarked that the text "blurs lines" between refugees and migrants. India-UN Fund Supports 22 Projects for SDG Implementation in First Year 8 June 2018: The UN announced that a partnership with India has supported 22 SDG-related projects during its first year of operation, including on climate early warning systems in Pacific countries, and governance in Africa and Latin America. The Government of India initially pledged US$100 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund over ten years, and in April 2018 committed an additional US$50 million for projects in Commonwealth countries. The purpose of the Fund is to support implementation of the SDGs in low-income countries. World of Work Summit Highlights Links between SDG 8, SDG 16 7 June 2018: Participants at the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) World of Work Summit underscored linkages between work and peace, noting the role of job creation in building resilience, preventing conflict and tackling poverty. The Summit also considered the ILO’s work to support strategic partnerships for peacebuilding and the sustainable development agenda. South Sudan First State of Environment Report Emphasizes Sustainable Resource Management for Peace 7 June 2018: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment) and South Sudan’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued the first-ever report on the state of the environment in South Sudan. Titled ‘South Sudan: First State of Environment and Outlook Report,’ the publication highlights that droughts, floods, pollution, deforestation and conflicts could worsen South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis and threaten the livelihoods of ten million of the country’s 12 million people. Special Event Highlights "Integrated Technological Solutions" for SDGs 7 June 2018: A special event on technological solutions for the SDGs took place as part of the Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation Conference series (G-STIC). The event shared key outcomes from the first edition of the Conference, in 2017, offered an early look at themes to be discussed at G-STIC 2018, and showcased examples of market-ready, integrated technological solutions for advancing the SDGs. European NGOs Launch Campaign to Drive Progress on SDG 10 6 June 2018: At the 12th edition of the European Development Days (EDD), 25 organizations from 15 EU countries launched a campaign to raise awareness of the need for action on SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) in order for the world to achieve the SDGs. Over the next three years, the 'Fight Inequalities' campaign plans to integrate gender, climate and migration issues into focused campaigns on equality, sustainable farming and changing consumption and production patterns. ECLAC Calls on Countries to Sign Escazú Agreement 5 June 2018: The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) called on countries to sign the ‘Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in LAC,’ or the Escazú Agreement. The call was made on the occasion of World Environment Day, the theme of which, 'Beat Plastic Pollution,' reinforces that participation by society and its access to information and knowledge are critical to developing and applying policies for a pollution-free planet. Global Climate Action Summit Co-Chairs Urge More Carbon Disclosure, Businesses Pledge to Go Climate Neutral Now 5 June 2018: Co-Chairs of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) California Governor Jerry Brown, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and Mahindra Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anand Mahindra have challenged businesses, cities, states and regions to step up their reporting on and progress in reducing emissions ahead of the Summit. Two businesses have joined the Climate Neutral Now initiative. Seawalls in Tanzania Build Climate Resilience 5 June 2018: The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment), with the Government of Tanzania, have completed large-scale coastal defense structures along the coastline of Tanzania, contributing to the country’s coastal area resilience to climate change. Portugal, Lebanon to Lead Open-ended Group on Environment Pact 4 June 2018: UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Miroslav Lajcak has appointed the permanent representatives of Portugal and Lebanon to lead consultations on a global pact for the environment. The process to create the pact was initiated by France, and aims to address the challenges posed by environmental degradation in the context of sustainable development. FAO Discusses Biodiversity Mainstreaming across Agricultural Sectors 31 May 2018: Transformative changes are needed to produce healthy and nutritious food while simultaneously safeguarding the planet's biodiversity. This was one of the messages of the 'Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Biodiversity Mainstreaming across Agricultural Sectors,' hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). GLF Event Discusses Mitigation of Land Tenure Risks 30 May 2017: A survey carried out by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Indufor North America and the European Investment Bank uncovered six lessons on how to design investment policies and programmes that help land investors assess risks and protect the land rights of local communities. Co-Facilitators Appointed for 2019 Meeting on Universal Health Coverage 22 May 2018: UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Miroslav Lajcak has appointed the permanent representatives of Hungary and Thailand to act as co-facilitators for preparations towards a high-level meeting on universal health coverage (UHC). The Assembly resolved, on 12 December 2017, to organize the meeting in 2019, before the end of its 74th session (Resolution 72/139). New York Declaration on Forests Launches Community of Practice May 2018: The Global Platform for the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF Global Platform) has launched its Community of Practice, an online platform to enhance multi-stakeholder collaboration and knowledge sharing towards achievement of the 10 NYDF goals. The platform offers a space for identifying challenges, sharing best practices, and for community users to keep abreast of current events. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 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 Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Development Goal 17 12 June 2018 | New York City, US Stockholm Dialogue 12 June 2018 | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden Global Compact on Refugees: Fifth Consultation 12-13 June 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland ECOSOC Coordination and Management Meeting June 2018 12-14 June 2018 | New York City, US XII UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Meeting 12-15 June 2018 | Katowice, Slaskie, Poland EU for Talanoa 13 June 2018 | Brussels, Belgium Expert Group Meeting on Navigating Policy and Data to Leave No One Behind 13-14 June 2018 | Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand Gender Equality Advisory Council for Canada’s G7 Presidency 14 June 2018 | virtual G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting 15 June 2018 | Bariloche, Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina World Day to Combat Desertification 2018 17 June 2018 | Ecuador (worldwide) Petersberg Climate Dialogue IX 17-19 June 2018 | Berlin, Germany 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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