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, 23 October 2018 POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Finance Continued, and Private Sector Actions Building on the previous edition of the SDG Knowledge Weekly, which focused on the recent annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF, this week continues the discussion on financing sustainable development, bringing in private actors that are embracing new practices to support SDG implementation. We also highlight recent events that demonstrate how businesses can take action. FEATURED GCF Board Approves Over US$1 Billion for 19 Projects in Developing Countries 21 October 2018: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board launched GCF’s first replenishment, approving over US$1 billion for 19 new projects in developing countries. Together with co-financing, these projects will channel over US$4.2 billion in climate financing for low-emission and climate-resilient development. So far in 2018, GCF has approved 42 new projects mobilizing over US$8 billion in climate financing, including co-financing. CFS 45 Expresses "Deepest Concern" About Rising Hunger, Decides to Develop Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition 19 October 2018: The 45th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 45) expressed "its deepest concern about the rising number of food insecure people in the world and the negative trends in hunger and malnutrition." The Committee also endorsed terms of reference for work on policy guidance on food systems and nutrition. NEWS UNGA Calls for Financing, Debt Relief to Ensure Africa is Not Left Behind 19 October 2018: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) discussed Africa’s sustainable development, including progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063. Speakers called for increased resource mobilization, debt relief and technology transfer to ensure Africa is not left behind. UNDP, Tourism and Dive Organizations Partner to Support SDG 14 in Fiji 18 October 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), in partnership with Beqa Adventure Divers (BAD), launched an initiative to mobilize tourism resources to implement SDG 14 (life below water). The ‘My Fiji Shark Initiative’ aims to promote the use of traditional knowledge, science and technology to advance sustainable management and marine conservation in the Pacific. Financial Centres for Sustainability Network Launches Asia-Pacific Centre 19 October 2018: The Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) network launched its Asia-Pacific Centre at the second meeting of the global network. The regional Centres aim to scale up financing for climate action and sustainable development. Global Commission Launches with Calls to Accelerate Climate Adaptation 17 October 2018: Global leaders have launched a commission to bring scale and speed to climate adaptation solutions, and address obstacles that are slowing adaptation and the transformation required to adapt to climate change. The Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) seeks to elevate the visibility and political importance of climate adaptation, and encourage solutions such as smarter investments, new technologies and better planning to become more resilient to climate-related threats. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Highlights Role of Climate Finance ahead of GCF Board Meeting, COP 24 17 October 2018: UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa stressed the importance of a successful outcome from the 21st meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, outlining the effects that the meeting will have on the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, in December 2018. UNGA President Flags Priorities for Second Committee 15 October 2018: Addressing the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee (Economic and Financial), UNGA President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés said the success of the 2030 Agenda depends on strengthening financing for development. She also highlighted the imminent “first implementation stage” of the SDGs in 2020. World Bank, Governments Launch Risk Financing Facility for Vulnerable Countries 12 October 2018: The World Bank Group and the Governments of Germany and the UK, with support from representatives of the Vulnerable Twenty Group (V20), have launched a US$145 million Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) to help vulnerable countries manage the financial impacts of climate change and natural hazard-induced shocks. European Investment Bank, Government Partners Launch Initiative to Clean up Oceans 12 October 2018: The Agence Française de Developpement (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and KfW Group, on behalf of the Government of Germany, launched the Clean Oceans Initiative. The five-year initiative will support the development and implementation of sustainable projects to reduce pollution, particularly plastics, in the world’s oceans. Governments Recommit to Tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade as Serious, Organized Crime 12 October 2018: The 2018 London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade agreed on a renewed global commitment to tackle wildlife crime, recognizing the importance of increased political support at the highest levels to combat illegal trade in wildlife. The declaration adopted at the conference: describes the impact of illegal trade in wildlife; calls for tackling the illegal trade in wildlife as a serious, organized crime; recognizes the need to address demand for illegal wildlife products; and recommends partnerships to combat wildlife crime. Guatemala to Use Bio-fences to Reduce Plastic Pollution 12 October 2018: Guatemala announced a commitment to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans as part of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP, or UN Environment) Clean Seas Campaign. Guatemala will stop plastics from entering the ocean by installing bio-fences in its rivers to recover plastic debris. Documentary Films Show Business Advantages of Each SDG 10 October 2018: A series of documentary films showcases ways in which global businesses and organizations are embedding sustainability principles into their operations. The films, created by Reuters in collaboration with The Business Debate and the UN, explore why sustainable business is better for companies and society at large, and how economic development and prosperity can be achieved in a socially just and environmentally sustainable manner, in alignment with the SDGs. Task Force Highlights Linkages among Climate-related Displacement, SDGs 17 September 2018: The Task Force on Displacement published a report with recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change. Accompanying reports on the Task Force's activities highlight interlinkages among actions directed at addressing climate change-related displacement and achieving the SDGs. University of Cambridge Tool Shows Biodiversity Contributions to SDG Targets 8 October 2018: Researchers from the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute (UCCRI) developed an online tool to help identify the contribution of biodiversity conservation projects to SDG targets. Also, UCCRI recent research shows that REDD+ projects demonstrate strong alignment with the SDGs. UN Global Compact Announces 2018 SDG Pioneers, Most Engaged Companies 24 September 2018: The UN Global Compact recognized ten business leaders as 'SDG Pioneers' for working to embed the Compact's principles into their companies' core strategies. In addition, 34 companies were recognized for their engagement in responsible business. Task Force Discusses Public Participation in Chemical Decisions, Protecting Environmental Defenders 9 October 2018: A task force on access to environmental information discussed systemic issues related to ensuring effective public participation. At the eighth meeting of the Task Force on Public Participation in Decision-Making under the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), Parties shared experiences and best practices on public participation, and recognized the Convention’s contribution to the SDGs, particularly SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP1... 21-29 October 2018 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates Eye On Earth Symposium 22-24 October 2018 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates Pre-COP to the Katowice Climate Change Conference 22-24 October 2018 | Kraków (Cracow), Lesser Poland, Poland Second UN World Data Forum 22-24 October 2018 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates Seventh Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development 22-24 October 2018 | Tehran, Iran World Circular Economy Forum 2018 22-24 October 2018 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan World Investment Forum 2018 22-25 October 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland 73rd Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organizati... 22-26 October 2018 | London, England, UK 37th Meetings of the CCAMLR Commission and Scientific Committee 22 October - 2 November 2018 | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia EMG Nexus Dialogue Series 2018: Greening with Jobs: A Just Transition to Sustainability 23 October 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland World Mountain Forum 2018: Mountains in a Changing World 23-26 October 2018 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan World Green Economy Summit 2018 24-25 October 2018 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates 14th Meeting of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee 24-26 October 2018 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Local Renewables Conference 24-26 October 2018 | Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Regional Agreements 25-26 October 2018 | Campeche, Mexico 2018 Great Rivers Forum 28-30 October 2018 | Wuhan, Hubei, China 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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