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, 4 September 2018 POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Connecting Migration, Business, Food Production and Labor In recent months, the SDG Knowledge Weekly has looked at food and agricultural supply chains (30 April and 2 July) and their connection to decent work (27 August).We have also examined business engagement with the SDGs (24 July and 30 July) and migration (29 January and 25 June). This week, we look across these topics by connecting events and knowledge pieces not previously covered, to articulate the linkages among the issues as well as their relationship to the 2030 Agenda. FEATURED Finland Invites Operational SDG Commitments, Innovates on Budget Process 31 August 2018: Finland has launched an updated web portal for its 'Society's Commitment to Sustainable Development' initiative, which invites organizations, companies and individuals to make operational commitments for sustainable development. During the same week, the government approved the proposed budget for 2019, which includes analysis of the connections to the priority area of a "carbon-neutral and resource-wise" Finland. World Water Week 2018 Reveals Insufficient Progress on SDG 6, Calls for Nature-based Solutions 31 August 2018: The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) organized World Water Week 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden, under the theme, ‘Water, Ecosystems and Human Development.’ UN-Water released a suite of seven monitoring reports showing progress on several SDG indicators, but also an increased level of water stress in 26 countries. Among other activities, participants celebrated the winners of the Stockholm Water Prize and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. World Bank Bond Series to Raise US$3 Billion to Support SDGs 6, 14 29 August 2018: The World Bank has launched a Sustainable Development Bond series to raise awareness on opportunities to support the SDGs on water, sanitation and marine protection. The bond series is part of the World Bank’s strategy to engage investors on SDG implementation. NEWS GLF Africa 2018 Calls for Increased Global Ambition on Ecosystem Restoration 31 August 2018: The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Nairobi 2018 discussed strategies to scale up ambition to achieve global forest and landscape restoration targets. Among other proposals, the Forum considered a call by El Salvador, backed by UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment) Executive Director Erik Solheim, for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to declare 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. Global Partnership Report Discusses Opportunities for Ecosystem Restoration 30 August 2018: The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), on behalf of the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), has published a report titled, ‘Restoring Forests and Landscapes, the Key to Sustainable Future,’ which showcases the success of large-scale restoration of landscapes burdened by natural or man-made disasters. UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Paris Mayor Call for “Inclusive Multilateralism” to Achieve Climate Goals 30 August 2018: UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and Mayor of Paris and C40 Cities Chair Anne Hidalgo have penned an op-ed in advance of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS), calling for “inclusive multilateralism” that involves participation of all stakeholders to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the SDGs. Sweden, Partners Launch Initiative to Manage Climate-related Security Risks 30 August 2018: The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and four Stockholm-based think thanks have launched a knowledge hub on the security implications of climate change, which will help support the management of climate-related security risks. The Stockholm Climate Security Hub aims to enhance cooperation on research and analysis on climate security, communicate the latest knowledge in the field, promote policy dialogue and provide evidence-based support to policymakers, the UN and other international organizations. UNFCCC Updates and Relaunches E-Commerce Web Platform 29 August 2018: The UNFCCC has relaunched its Online Platform for Voluntary Cancellation of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), where organizations, governments, businesses and citizens can purchase UN-vetted carbon offsets to compensate for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Tech Company Develops Aquadrone to Tackle Plastic Pollution 29 August 2018: The Dutch company RanMarine Technology has developed the WasteShark, an aquadrone that can “suck up” garbage from the water. The aquadrone aims to stop plastic pollution at the source, eliminating floating debris before it drifts into the world’s oceans. World Bank, FAO Urge Building Resilience of Water Resources in Arab Region 28 August 2018: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the World Bank predict that water scarcity, induced by climate change, will potentially reduce gross domestic product (GDP) of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by 6 to 14% by 2050, if nothing is done to address this. In a joint report about the possibilities for sound water resource management to promote peace and stability, the agencies highlight water and agriculture as key to conflict recovery, stabilization and peace building in a region currently experiencing armed conflicts and large refugee movements. Clean Energy Commitments: South Africa, California, Facebook Update Targets as Cities Pledge Net-zero Buildings 28 August 2018: Every day countries, sub-national actors, businesses and organizations announce new commitments supporting the global clean energy transition. At the end of August, South Africa, California, Facebook and members of the C-40 Cities Network were among the actors to present new and updated targets and pledges. Global Aviation Gender Summit Calls for Action on Gender Equality in the Skies 14 August 2018: Almost 80% of flight attendants are female, but barely five percent of pilots are women and the proportion of women in technical or leadership positions in aviation is even lower. Recognizing that gender equality in air transport requires action, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) convened the first Global Aviation Gender Summit to advance gender equality and women empowerment in the global aviation sector. Summit participants adopted a communique outlining key measures to support gender equality in aviation. WHO and UNICEF Issue Global Baseline Report on WASH 27 August 2018: The World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have published results of a study by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in schools. The report titled, ‘Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools: 2018 Global Baseline Report,’ highlights the importance of WASH facilities in promoting school attendance and providing a healthy learning environment. California Climate Assessment Provides Tools to Support Responses to Climate Impacts 27 August 2018: Two­-thirds of Southern California’s beaches could disappear and the average area burned by wildfires could double by 2100, according to California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, which highlights new science on the impacts of climate change and provides various planning tools to support the response to them. WWF Report Explores Rivers’ Less Valued Benefits 26 August 2018: WWF has published a report that highlights the capacity of healthy rivers to help mitigate natural disasters, among other less valued benefits. The publication provides a framework for improving how societies measure, value, and promote rivers’ diverse benefits. It also offers solutions to support better decisions and management. Report Assesses Progress on Water-related Ecosystems 26 August 2018: A report that assesses progress on water-related ecosystems, which was published by UN Environment on behalf of UN-Water, was launched during World Water Week 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. The publication titled, ‘Progress on Water-related Ecosystems: Piloting the Monitoring Methodology and Initial Findings for SDG Indicator 6.6.1,’ finds that, over the past 100 years, the world is estimated to have lost half its natural wetlands and with this a significant number of freshwater species. Liberia Launches Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy 15 August 2018: Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), has launched its National Policy and Response Strategy on Climate Change. The Policy and Response Strategy aim to ensure an effective and coherent climate change adaptation process and serve as the pillar for comprehensive sectoral strategies and action plans. UNDP Presents Framework for Ensuring No One is Left Behind 9 August 2018: A UN Development Programme (UNDP) discussion paper looks at what leaving no one behind means in practice. The authors note that ensuring that no one will be left behind entails "taking explicit action to end extreme poverty, curb inequalities, confront discrimination," as well as fast-tracking progress for those who are most marginalized. Nepal Highlights Lessons Learned, SDG Linkages in Adaptation 26 July 2018: A report launched by the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network reflects on Nepal’s NAP process to date. Prioritizing activities to be taken in the near-term, the report synthesizes knowledge gained from the early stages of the Plan’s formulation, and informs coming steps in the process, which is being undertaken with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). HLPF Blog Explores Tourism, DRR for SDGs 20 July 2018: In a set of blog posts published during the 2018 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), UN officials, economists, academics and athletes highlight initiatives and recommendations related to water, health, disaster risk reduction (DRR), tourism and energy. OECD Fragility Report Examines Challenges to Sustainability, Peace 17 July 2018: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) 2018 report on fragility exposes the critical challenge posed by fragility in achieving the 2030 Agenda, sustainable development, and peace. In order to better understand, anticipate and respond to fragility, the publication examines conflict, forced displacement, violent extremism, and famine, among others – all causes and consequences of fragility. World Bank Report: Not Educating Girls Costs Countries Trillions 11 July 2018: A World Bank report indicates that limited educational opportunities for girls and barriers to completing 12 years of education are costing countries between US$15 trillion and US$30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity and earnings. The report highlights that the positive effects of secondary school education for girls include near-elimination of child marriage. SDSN, Colombia Pilot Use of Private Sector Data to Fill SDG Gaps July 2018: The Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s (SDSN) research network ‘SDSN TReNDS’ has released a case study on lessons learned from integrating sub-national private sector data into Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). The brief describes a pilot project to identify and access private sector data to fill gaps in the government’s SDG indicator set. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 49th Pacific Islands Forum 3-6 September 2018 | Nauru Eleventh Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG 11) 3-6 September 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland Shelter Academy 2018 3-7 September 2018 | Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands UArctic Congress 2018 3-7 September 2018 | Oulu, Finland East Asia Air Quality Forum 4-5 September 2018 | Seoul, Seoul-T'Ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea Bangkok Climate Change Conference 2018 4-9 September 2018 | Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand First Session of the Intergovernmental Conference on BBNJ 4-17 September 2018 | New York City, US G20 Education Ministerial Meeting 5 September 2018 | Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina Towards a Global Pact for the Environment: Organizational Session 5-7 September 2018 | New York City, US G20 Joint Education and Employment Ministerial Meeting 6 September 2018 | Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina G20 Employment Ministerial Meeting 6-7 September 2018 | Mar Del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina SER Europe Conference 2018 (SERE 2018) 9-13 September 2018 | Reykjavik, Iceland Mobilizing Green Energy Finance and Investment in Emerging Economies 10 September 2018 | San Francisco, CA, US First Arctic Resilience Forum 10-11 September 2018 | Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland Ocean & Climate Platform High Level Scientific Conference 10-11 September 2018 | Paris, Ile-De-France, France 18th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF 18) 10-12 September 2018 | Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand 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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