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, 11 September 2018 GUEST ARTICLES Cleaning up Toxic Soils in China: A Trillion-dollar Question Soil contamination is an urgent problem around the world, but the situation is much worse in developing countries undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. China, which underwent its own rapid industrialization in the 20th century, recently estimated nearly 20 per cent of its total farmland had been contaminated by heavy metals. POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Climate Action by State and Non-State Actors As previewed by the SDG Knowledge Hub’s Monthly Forecast for September, climate change features prominently on the global community’s agenda for the month. This week’s 'Knowledge Weekly' reviews events and papers from State- and non-state actors, highlighting those launched around this week's Global Climate Action Summit and the just-concluded Bangkok Climate Change Conference. FEATURED Report on Financing the UN Development System Launched 11 September 2018: At a special session for UN Member States, UN organizations, and civil society organizations in Geneva, the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) and the Dag Hammarsköljd Foundation launched a report titled, “Financing the UN Development System: Opening Doors.” This publication is the fourth in a series of reports published annually. It provides a big picture perspective of what financing looks like across the UN system and within the context of global financial markets. UNDP Gender Equality Strategy Addresses Structural Barriers to SDG 5 6 September 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) announced its Third Gender Equality Strategy, which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda and covers the period 2018-2021. The strategy outlines how UNDP will “elevate and integrate” gender equality across all of its work. Institutional Finance Update: Leveraging Digital Technologies, Using Blockchain for Climate Action and Sustainable Development 5 September 2018: Discussions in recent months have explored how emerging technologies such as blockchain and digitalization processes could serve the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change. In August, the World Bank launched a blockchain-operated US$110 million bond, with potential impacts on carbon market trading. Other multilateral institutions have stressed the potential of digitalization technologies for sustainable development. The UNFCCC issued a report that assesses financing climate technology entrepreneurship and actions needed to support overcoming specific challenges in developing countries. Adaptation Finance Update: More Climate Adaptation Projects and Initiatives Mirror the Need to Protect Against Increasing Vulnerabilities 3 September 2018: During the month of August 2018, the Adaptation Fund Board received more country and regional project proposals, amounting to a record high of US$264 million in funding requests. A number of other projects and initiatives received substantial support from public and private sector organizations, indicating continued recognition of climate adaptation needs throughout vulnerable regions in the world. NEWS Delegates Set Agenda for First Session on Global Pact for Environment 7 September 2018: UN Member States concluded the organizational meeting of the working group on a global pact for the environment, agreeing on the agenda for the first substantive session of the group. Also during the week the group set dates for three substantive sessions, all of which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya. Events, Disease Outbreak, Show Need for International Collaboration in Animal Disease Control 7 September 2018: The importance of addressing animal diseases for achieving the SDGs was recently underlined by an international conference to support the eradication of a disease affecting goats and sheep coinciding with an emergency meeting to discuss measures to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever in Asian countries after an outbreak of the disease in China. UNDP Innovation Facility Showcases Case Studies on Innovation for SDGs 6 September 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) Innovation Facility launched its 2017-2018 year in review report, presenting case studies from over 25 countries on how innovation can help achieve the SDGs and make development more impactful. The report also includes nine "think pieces" that consider concepts such as frontier technologies, scaling innovation and systems transformations. Basel Convention Working Group Considers Marine Litter, Nanomaterials, Sound Waste Management 6 September 2018: The 11th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (OEWG11) addressed ongoing work on new and updated technical and legal guidelines and additions to the Convention’s “toolkit” on environmentally sound management (ESM) of hazardous and other wastes. Marine Social Sciences Network Launched 6 September 2018: A group of marine social scientists launched an international network to increase awareness of the role of social sciences in the world’s oceans. The Marine Social Sciences Network will bring together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to increase public engagement on marine issues and influence marine and ocean policy. Pacific Regional Organizations, EU Sign Marine Partnership Programme Agreement 5 September 2018: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and The University of the South Pacific (USP) have signed an agreement with the EU to promote sustainable ocean management in the Pacific region. The Pacific-EU Marine Partnership Programme (PEUMP) will assist the regional organizations in supporting national and regional activities throughout the Pacific. Asia-Pacific Countries Develop Guidelines to Monitor Risks of Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture, Livestock and Poultry 4 September 2018: Animal producer networks in the Asia-Pacific Region are collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the World Organization on Animal Health (OIE) to develop a series of guidelines to mitigate the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the region. The most recent consultations focused on preventing AMR in aquaculture and enhancing AMR surveillance in diseased livestock and poultry. African Union, Donors Launch US$10 Billion Water Fund for Projects 3 September 2018: The African Union Commission (AUC) and its partners launched a water project under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden. The project, to be known as PIDA Water, is allocating US$10 billion of funds over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024 to supporting infrastructure for transboundary water and hydropower projects as part of a thrust towards regional economic integration. ESCAP Committee Agrees to Develop National STI Roadmaps for SDGs 31 August 2018: A regional body will develop plans for Asia-Pacific countries to use information and communications technologies (ICT) to reduce inequality and overcome the digital divide. A UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) committee reached the agreement on national plans at the close of its senior officials’ meeting. Report Urges Accelerated Global Climate Action by All Stakeholders to Achieve Paris Agreement Goals 31 August 2018: While actions by cities, subnational states, regions and businesses are accelerating climate action and contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, more support from national governments and all areas of society is needed to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and to as close as possible to 1.5°C, according to a collaborative report published in advance of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS). UNEP, UK Launch Plastic Challenge Badge for Girl Guides and Scouts 30 August 2018: UK Prime Minister Theresa May and UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment) Executive Director Erik Solheim launched a Plastic Challenge Badge for Girl Guides and Scouts at the UN offices in Nairobi, Kenya. The Plastic Challenge Badge aims to promote education and action on reducing plastic consumption and kick-starting behavior change through hands-on environmental stewardship. Lesotho Deliberates Changes to Water Policy 30 August 2018: The Lesotho Water Partnership, part of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) network, is supporting the country’s water ministry to revise its national water and sanitation policy. The revision seeks to incorporate greater recognition of water supply and sanitation services, integrated catchment management, and the SDGs. UNESCO Outlines Statistical Challenges of Measuring Literacy, Numeracy 29 August 2018: The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) has outlined the methodological and practical challenges of measuring literacy and numeracy worldwide, as a basis for understanding progress toward SDG 4 (quality education). The Institute highlights the need for a comparable and universally adopted definition of literacy and numeracy, in order to assess progress towards SDG target 4.6, which seeks to ensure that youth and adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy skills. Mitigation Finance Update: Support for Tidal Energy in France, Loans for Energy Efficiency and Distribution in India 28 August 2018: During the Month of August 2018, India demonstrated its commitment to improve energy distribution and efficiency by signing on new loans with the World Bank. In Europe, support for renewable energy continues with a tidal technology pilot project in France and the expansion of a Wind Power Park in Greece. FAO-AfDB Alliance Aims to Boost Investments to Fight Hunger in Africa 27 August 2018: In a new strategic alliance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) agreed to raise US$100 million in five years to catalyze investments in African agriculture to fight hunger and malnutrition and support economic development in Africa. Danish Initiative Funds 11 "Start-up Partnerships" in Support of SDGs 23 August 2018: Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) will provide funding for 11 projects related to clean drinking water, plastic waste and sustainable agriculture, among other topics. Each of the P4G "start-up partnerships" will receive US$100,000. P4G was established by Denmark to boost projects in developing countries that are in line with the SDGs, and which focus mainly on food and agriculture, water, energy, cities and the circular economy. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » First Session of the Intergovernmental Conference on BBNJ 4-17 September 2018 | New York City, US SER Europe Conference 2018 (SERE 2018) 9-13 September 2018 | Reykjavik, Iceland 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 International Symposium on Black Soils 10-12 September 2018 | Harbin, Heilongjiang, China 67th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC 67) 10-14 September 2018 | Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil Fourteenth Meeting of the Rotterdam Convention Chemical Review Committee 10-14 September 2018 | Rome, Lazio, Italy Carbon Pricing Delivering Climate Ambition 11 September 2018 | San Francisco, CA, US The Land-Energy Nexus in Climate Change Mitigation 11 September 2018 | San Francisco, CA, US Behavior Change for Energy Efficiency Scoping Workshop: Opportunities for International Cooperation ... 12 September 2018 | Paris, Ile-De-France, France We Are Still In Forum 12 September 2018 | San Francisco, CA, US Africa Regional Mountains Forum (ARMF-2018) 12-14 September 2018 | Kigali, Rwanda Global Climate Action Summit 12-14 September 2018 | San Francisco, CA, US Korea International Water Week 2018 12-15 September 2018 | Daegu, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea Rural-Urban Linkages and the Key Role of Subnational Governments in the Achievement of the SDGs 13 September 2018 | San Francisco, CA, 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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