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, 10 August 2018 GUEST ARTICLES Effective Governance for Sustainable Development: 11 Principles to Put in Practice The full realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally agreed development objectives strongly depends on a common understanding of the basic principles of effective governance for sustainable development. On 2 July 2018, the UN Economic and Social Committee endorsed a set of 11 principles prepared by the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and UN DESA. This is an important starting point: without such guiding principles, implementation of the SDGs risks being inconsistent and ineffective. POLICY BRIEFS Monthly Forecast August 2018: Civil Society, Youth, Water, and a Full Agenda for the Final Quarter of 2018 As the increased number of out-of-office messages we receive at this time of year reminds us, many take advantage of the fewer number of events in August to relax and recharge. Nonetheless, those events that are taking place this month will convene around key topics for the SDGs, and with them will bring a focus on options for moving the 2030 Agenda forward. SDG Knowledge Weekly: Increasing the Coherence and Scale of Public and Private Contributions In the wake of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), a number of reports and articles have continued to surface on how governments can finance and implement the SDGs in collaboration with the private sector. These include engaging businesses to align their operations and investments with the SDGs as well as using tools to ensure good governance and policy coherence, both in-country and through development cooperation. FEATURED APA Co-Chairs Prepare “Tools” to Facilitate Bangkok Climate Discussions 6 August 2018: The Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA) have prepared, and the UNFCCC Secretariat has published, a set of seven “tools” to facilitate deliberations during the sixth part of the first session of the APA (APA 1-6), which will convene during the Bangkok Climate Change Conference. The tools, which are presented in a series of Co-Chairs’ informal notes, were prepared at the APA’s request and with support from facilitators of the various agenda items. Agencies Find Poor Quality Healthcare Stymies Universal Health Coverage 5 July 2018: The World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have published a joint review of healthcare quality around the world that finds that inaccurate diagnoses, inappropriate treatment and hospital infections are problems in all countries. UNFCCC Expert Meeting Compares National Adaptation Goals to SDGs, Sendai Framework 1 August 2018: The UNFCCC Adaptation Committee convened an expert meeting on the theme, ‘National Adaptation Goals/Indicators and Their Relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.’ The meeting sought to provide guidance to Parties on the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of adaptation actions and mobilizing knowledge and experience for adaptation planning and implementation in the context of relevant international frameworks. Global Climate Action Summit Selects 22 “Climate Trailblazers” 1 August 2018: The Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) has announced 22 “Climate Trailblazers:” individuals from around the world representing both emerging and established voices on climate change action, activism and ambition. The Trailblazers, who show through action that “everyday people can do extraordinary things,” will raise awareness regarding the Summit’s goals within their own networks and specific climate arenas in the lead up to the GCAS. NEWS UNGA Adopts Resolution on Migration Conference, Decisions on UHC Meeting, SAMOA Pathway Review 6 August 2018: The 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on the upcoming migration conference and a decision with plans for high-level meetings in 2019, including meetings related to the UNGA’s 2019 General Debate, the 2030 Agenda, universal health coverage (UHC) and small island developing States (SIDS). WHO, UNICEF Deploy Aid to Ebola Outbreak in DRC 3 August 2018: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced its emergency response to a fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu region, bordering Uganda and Rwanda. The outbreak occurs just one week after WHO declared the outbreak in the country’s western Equateur region over. EU Carbon Accounting System to Measure Forest Impacts on GHG Emissions 2 August 2018: The European Union (EU) has adopted a carbon-based accounting system for measuring how forest management practices can help mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The EU will use the approach as the scientific basis for integrating the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector in its climate strategy. Guide Facilitates Businesses’ Integration of SDGs into Corporate Reporting 1 August 2018: The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and UN Global Compact launched a publication that offers guidance to companies seeking to integrate the SDGs within their corporate sustainability reporting. The paper describes a process through which companies can prioritize SDG actions and impacts without “cherry-picking” Goals that they already positively contribute to, and highlights principles for effective, comprehensive reporting. FAO Report Calls for Urgent Assistance to Underfunded Crises 1 August 2018: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a report that warns that droughts, floods, conflicts and other shocks could push millions of people into food insecurity and acute hunger, threatening their lives, well-being and future. Without urgent support to the world’s most underfunded crises, the report cautions, situations in these areas are likely to deteriorate in the second half of 2018. UNDP Joins Consortium to Develop Safe AI for SDGs 1 August 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has joined a consortium of companies, academics, and NGOs working to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is developed in a safe, ethical and transparent manner. Through the partnership, UNDP’s Innovation Facility will support the testing and scale-up of AI for the SDGs. UN Secretary-General Appoints Special Adviser on Reforms 31 July 2018: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed a Special Adviser on Reforms. Jens Wandel, currently the Assistant Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), will lead a coordination structure meant to ensure a unified and cohesive approach to the change management programme across three areas of ongoing UN reforms, according to the UN's biographical note on the appointment. UN Global Compact Report Highlights Local Networks’, Businesses’ Contributions to SDGs 18 July 2018: Launched in the margins of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), a UN Global Compact publication shows how Local Networks can engage businesses and investors to help close SDG achievement gaps. The document titled, ‘Global Compact Local Networks: Accelerating National SDG Implementation,’ describes outputs from 69 Local Networks highlighting the opportunities for both business and for impact. Switzerland’s VNR Reports Progress, Identifies Future Challenges 17 July 2018: Switzerland submitted its first country report on SDG implementation to the 2018 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Switzerland is one of the 46 countries that presented a Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the 2018 HLPF. Australia Delivers VNR, Holds Senate Inquiry on SDG Implementation 11 July 2018: Australia launched its first report on implementing the SDGs, initially to a domestic audience and then to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, US. Commentators note that the SDG Index, a global ranking, shows Australia is performing well on health, education and well-being, but is doing poorly on environmental goals, and ranks lowest in the world on climate action. Australia is currently holding a Senate inquiry into actions for promoting SDG implementation domestically and through its aid programme. Caucasus and Central Asia Ministers Commit to Forest Restoration 22 June 2018: The First Ministerial Roundtable on Forest Landscape Restoration and the Bonn Challenge in the Caucasus and Central Asia adopted the Astana Resolution, which commits the region to restore more than 2.5 million hectares of forest landscape. The commitment is in line with the Bonn Challenge, a global effort to restore 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030. Global Climate Action Summit Appoints UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth as Sixth Co-Chair 1 August 2018: The Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) has announced Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, as its sixth Co-Chair. She joins five other GCAS Co-Chairs: Governor of California Jerry Brown, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, Mahindra Group Chair Anand Mahindra and Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs, China. UNFCCC Publishes Report of the Suva Expert Dialogue on Loss and Damage August 2018: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published the report of the two-day Suva Expert Dialogue on Loss and Damage Associated with Climate Change Impacts, which sought to enable open and interactive exchanges between technical and policy experts and the co-creation of comprehensive risk management solutions. FAO, IFAD, IMO, WFP Report Examines Linkages Among Migration, Rural Development, Food Security August 2018: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have released a report that analyzes the direct and indirect interlinkages between migration, agriculture, food security and rural development. The report highlights the role of agriculture and rural development in addressing the adverse drivers of migration. New ECOSOC President Prioritizes a Successful HLPF, Climate Action 26 July 2018: The incoming President of the UN Social and Economic Council (ECOSOC), Inga Rhonda King, identified as her main priorities delivering a successful High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and reviving ECOSOC, especially with regards to its deliberative function. She also stressed her intention to highlight the actions that can be taken to help countries manage climate change and become more resilient. ALivE Tool Enables Effective Ecosystem-based Adaption 20 July 2018: The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment), in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), have published the Adaptation, Livelihoods and Ecosystems (ALivE) Planning Tool. The tool allows users to assess and prioritize ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options in a broader planning process. UN Member States Briefed on Dushanbe High-Level Conference on Water Decade 19 July 2018: During a briefing on the outcomes of the High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, representatives from UN Member States, international organizations and civil society organizations learned that plans are underway for subsequent meetings – the “Dushanbe process” – to follow up on the June 2018 meeting. Signatories to Inclusive Data Charter Showcase Commitments to Leave No One Behind 17 July 2018: The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD) launched an Inclusive Data Charter in the margins of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The Charter’s goals include improving the quality, quantity, availability, and financing of disaggregated data to ensure that no one is left behind as society endeavors to achieve the SDGs. GWP Supports Transboundary Water Projects, IWRM in Africa 12 July 2018: The Global Water Partnership (GWP) has announced a joint project with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which will support transboundary water and hydropower projects in the region by preparing them for financing. UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility Evaluates Accountability in Water and Sanitation June 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) have published a joint evaluation of accountability in the water supply and sanitation sectors, which finds that urban water services demonstrate the highest levels of accountability, and rural sanitation services the lowest. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » Social Pre-COP in Poland to the Katowice Climate Change Conference 8-12 August 2018 | Katowice, Slaskie, Poland International Youth Day 2018 12 August 2018 | worldwide 21st World Congress of Soil Science 12-17 August 2018 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Youth 20 Summit (Y20 2018) 13-19 August 2018 | Cordoba, Argentina ReGeneration2030 Summit 18-19 August 2018 | Finland People and Forests Forum 2018 19-20 August 2018 | Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand XXVII International Primatological Society Congress 19-25 August 2018 | Nairobi, Kenya Youth Employment in Agriculture as a Solid Solution to Ending Hunger and Poverty in Africa 20-21 August 2018 | Kigali, Rwanda Second Clean Pacific Roundtable 20-22 August 2018 | Suva, Central, Fiji Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week 20-23 August 2018 | Montevideo, Uruguay Forum on Strengthening Capacities of Public Administration in Island States 20-24 August 2018 | Colombo, Sri Lanka Latin American and Caribbean Carbon Forum 21-23 August 2018 | Montevideo, Uruguay Eleventh Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global Reportin... 23-24 August 2018 | New York City, US G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting 23-24 August 2018 | Salta, Argentina 29th UN-Water Meeting 24-25 August 2018 | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden World Water Week 2018 26-31 August 2018 | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden 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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