Click here to visit the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub knowledgebase.  SDG UPDATE A compilation of items recently posted to the SDG Knowledge Hub Friday, 29 June 2018 GUEST ARTICLES Three Things to Know about Partnerships for Development If the countries and people of the world are going to meet the ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we will need to meet SDG 17. This last (but not least) of the Goals emphasizes partnerships as an important means of achieving sustainable development. One crucial form of partnership is collaboration between development practitioners and academics – to ensure that development work is grounded in evidence, and that research is informed and guided by practice. Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Sustainable Food Systems – We Need to Measure It  The UN commented this week on the release of the 2018 Sustainable Development Goals Report that when it comes to meeting the 17 ambitious SDGs, progress is uneven and not moving fast enough. For example, the Goal to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG 2) – appears already out of reach, given the recent global increase in undernourished people. Features of Effective SDG Co-ordination Mechanisms: Emerging Good Practices Effective co-ordination of national implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a challenge faced by both developed and developing countries. As the South African SDG Hub, a national SDG co-ordination mechanism supported by the South African Government and hosted at the University of Pretoria, we recently released a briefing note on features of effective SDG co-ordination mechanisms. POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Migrants, Refugees and Data With the struggles of migrants and refugees dominating news cycles, this SDG Knowledge Weekly brief collates knowledge pieces on the subject and brings earlier reports to the fore, to shed light on the issues anew. GENERATION 2030 West Hollow Models the Climate Neutral Now Pledge for US School Communities The Climate Neutral Now (CNN) pledge of West Hollow Middle School has allowed students and faculty to not only become aware of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but understand how we can actively work towards reducing them. In addition, our school was able to spread the message throughout the community by engaging in a social media campaign to help drive enthusiasm and raise awareness. FEATURED Governments Commence Negotiations on HLPF Ministerial Declaration 22 June 2018: Governments commenced negotiations on a joint ministerial declaration for adoption at the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and the High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Ministerial on Climate Action Looks Towards Completing Negotiations on Paris Agreement Work Programme at COP 24 21 June 2018: The second meeting of the Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA), which is convened by the EU, Canada and China, focused on expected outcomes from the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP), a set of decisions to be adopted at COP 24 that will operationalize the Paris Agreement on climate change and facilitate its implementation. COP Presidencies Summarize Talanoa Dialogue at Bonn Climate Change Conference 18 May 2018: The UNFCCC has published a summary of the Talanoa Dialogue held at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, from 30 April to 10 May 2018. In it, the current and the incoming Presidencies of the UN Climate Change Conference outline the procedural aspects of all related meetings and provide a general overview of the issues discussed. NEWS GEF Council Adopts US$63.4 Million Work Program 26 June 2018: The Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved a Work Program comprising eight projects and one program concept that amounted to US$63.4 million, including GEF project financing and Agency fees. Secretary-General Announces Head of Transition Team for UN Development System 26 June 2018: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed the leader of a transition team to provide "strategic leadership and oversight" to all aspects of the repositioning of the UN development system, following the adoption of UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 72/279. The repositioning process aims to better align the UN's operational activities for development with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNITAR Partners with Danone to Advance Climate Change Education, Sustainable Change 26 June 2018: The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has launched a multi-year partnership with Danone, a global food and beverage company, to build a core set of knowledge to help promote conservation, restoration and safeguarding of the planet, and to empower Danone employees to take concrete action to drive sustainable change. EU Event Addresses Linkages Between Climate Change and Security 22 June 2018: An EU high-level event titled, ‘Climate, Peace and Security: The Time for Action,’ brought together ministers, UN officials and subject experts to discuss security threats brought on by climate change. The meeting focused on countries’ shared responsibility to prepare for climate risks and to take action in mitigating them. "Sea Change" Refugee Compact Discussed in New York 22 June 2018: Governments received an update on negotiations on the global compact on refugees, which is being led by the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Volker Turk, Office of the UNHCR, said that the compact – if adopted in a form similar the current draft – will represent a “sea change in how the world engages with refugees and host communities,” and have a transformative impact on those directly affected. HLPF Blog Posts Highlight Smart Cities, DRR, Inclusivity in SDG Implementation 20 June 2018: María Soledad Cisternas Reyes, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility, has called for planning and participative management in all countries to address the needs of the 15% of the world's population with physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments. Writing on the blog published in the lead-up to the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Reyes stresses that supporting persons with disabilities will solidify contemporary democracies and reinforce the sustainability of development. C40, UCCRN and Partners Quantify, Sound Alarm on Climate Threats to Urban Residents 19 June 2018: Cities and partners have issued a joint technical report, highlighting data analyses and case studies developed by the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN). It calls attention to urbanization trends, particularly in Asia and Africa, and illustrates the breadth and magnitude of climate change impacts on cities. Namibia, Switzerland Share Preview of VNR, All 47 Main Messages Available 21 June 2018: All 47 countries that plan to present voluntary national reviews (VNRs) during the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) have released their "main messages," providing an overview of SDG action and plans, and progress and challenges with SDG implementation. Main messages for Namibia and Switzerland were released on 21 June, bringing to 47 the number of countries for which main messages are accessible on the UN's webpage for the VNRs. Climate Bonds Initiative Launches Briefing Series on SDGs and Green Bonds 20 June 2018: The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) has published a briefing paper on the potential for green bonds to serve as a "bridge" to SDG achievement. The paper is the first in a series on synergies between green bonds and the SDGs. DESA Announces 16 Members of High-level Advisory Board 21 June 2018: The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs announced the membership of the UN High-Level Advisory Board (HLAB) on Economic and Social Affairs, which was established following a request from the UN Secretary-General as part of reforms to the UN development system. ICP-19 Discusses Anthropogenic Underwater Noise 22 June 2018: The nineteenth meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP-19) focused on anthropogenic underwater noise. Delegates also discussed inter-agency cooperation and coordination, the process for the selection of topics and panelists to facilitate the work of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and issues that could benefit from attention in the future work of the UNGA on oceans and the law of the sea. Third World Atlas on Desertification Offers Customizable Data to Combat Land Degradation 21 June 2018: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission has published a follow-up edition of the ‘World Atlas of Desertification.’ It aims to provide “the first comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of land degradation at a global level,” to highlight the urgency of adopting corrective measures and to offer decision makers a tool for improving local responses to soil loss and land degradation. The previous edition of the Atlas was published two decades prior. Stakeholders Discuss High Seas Governance before September BBNJ Talks 21 June 2018: Participants at a conference titled, ‘The High Seas, What’s at Stake?’ addressed the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). They also addressed expectations for the negotiations that will begin in September 2018 on an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) on the conservation and sustainable use of BBNJ. New Initiative Seeks to Increase Action, Investment in Natural Climate Solutions 20 June 2018: On the sidelines of the second meeting of the Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA), six partners launched an initiative titled, ‘Nature4Climate,’ which will seek to harness the potential of the land sector to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. UNEP and EC Partner on Healthy Ocean 20 June 2018: Building on past collaboration, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment) and the European Commission have agreed to a ‘Roadmap on Healthy, Productive and Resilient Oceans.’ The primary goal of the 2018 Roadmap is to “create enabling conditions for and support the UN Member States in their effort to achieve ocean-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Petersberg Climate Dialogue Builds Momentum for COP 24, Calls for Improving NDCs by 2020 19 June 2018: For the ninth year running, ministers met at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue for an informal exchange of views on issues relating to international climate diplomacy. In preparation for the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UNFCCC, ministers discussed enhancing climate action, strengthening international cooperation and shaping a just transition. Experts Identify Nutrition Linkages with HLPF-Reviewed SDGs 19 June 2018: A "food systems" approach to nutrition is critical to achieving the 2030 Agenda, experts highlighted, just as achieving the SDGs under review by the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is key to guaranteeing the right to adequate food and nutrition. EASAC Warns Against Classifying Forest Biomass as Renewable, Carbon Neutral 15 June 2018: The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has released a commentary and press release on carbon neutrality and energy generated from forest biomass, encouraging policymakers to reconsider their current approach to bioenergy from forests, in light of a recast of an EU renewable energy directive on 14 June 2018. UN-Water Responds to Recommendation for Meetings at Highest Level 14 June 2018: UN-Water has responded to the recommendations of the High-Level Panel on Water (HLPW) and the UN-Water External Review regarding the establishment of water meetings at the highest level. As an outcome from a recent retreat, UN-Water announced that a UN-Water Task Force will be created to support the review of the objectives, format, budget, frequency and other aspects related to the convening of such meetings, which would seek to review and accelerate implementation of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation). Experts Finalize Methodology to Measure Ocean Acidification 11 June 2018: Experts from the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) Executive Council finalized the methodology for the SDG target indicator 14.3.1 on marine acidity. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) is the custodian agency for the indicator. Blockchain Summit Explores New Technologies' Potential for SDGs 4 June 2018: Industry stakeholders representing the "blockchain ecosystem" discussed social innovation, fair and consistent public policy, and responsible guidelines for industry governance, during the first summit on blockchain held on the UN premises. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 5th International Marine Conservation Congress 24-29 June 2018 | Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Caribbean Urban Forum 2018 27-29 June 2018 | Kingston, Jamaica Climate Chance – Africa 2018 28-29 June 2018 | Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire LANDac Conference 2018 28-29 June 2018 | Netherlands Webinar: Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and the SDGs – Opportunities for Advocacy around the HLPF 30 June 2018 | virtual First Meeting of the Informal Advisory Group on Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area... 30 June - 1 July 2018 | Montreal-Est, Quebec, Canada 20th Meeting of the GCF Board 1-4 July 2018 | Incheon, Republic of Korea ECOSOC Coordination and Management Meeting 2-3 July 2018 2-3 July 2018 | New York City, US 16th Annual Colloquium of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law 2-6 July 2018 | Glasgow, Scotland, UK Twenty-Second Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice 2-7 July 2018 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada Learning From the Past to Inform the 2050 Vision 3 July 2018 | Montreal-Est, Quebec, Canada Global Compact on Refugees: Sixth Consultation 3-4 July 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2018 3-6 July 2018 | Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 1st Global Land Degradation Neutrality Forum 4-5 July 2018 | Seoul, Seoul-T'Ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea GEO Blue Planet Symposium 4-6 July 2018 | Toulouse, Midi-Pyrenees, France Interactive Civil Society Hearing on Non-Communicable Diseases 5 July 2018 | New York City, 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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