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, 30 October 2018 FEATURED IISD Report: Move Beyond GDP to Measure Progress on Sustainable Development Goals 30 October 2018: A report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) urges countries to look beyond GDP when measuring progress and sustainability. Titled 'Comprehensive Wealth in Canada 2018 - Measuring What Matters in the Long Run', the report draws on reports from Statistics Canada to measure the value of wealth assets that form the basis of well-being. World Forum Calls for Increased Ambition to Advance Sustainable Mountain Development Agenda 26 October 2018: The fourth World Mountain Forum (WMF 2018) brought together around 300 participants to discuss the overarching theme, ‘Mountains in a Changing World: Strengthening Partnerships and Pathways Towards a Thriving Mountain Future.’ Highlights included consolidation of messages for the outcome document titled, ‘A Call for Mountains,’ that will be released on International Mountain Day 2018, and a proposal to embark on a process towards a global convention on mountains. World Data Forum Discusses Data Science, Platforms, Privacy and Finance 24 October 2018: Participants at the second UN World Data Forum convened in 85 panel discussions to consider issues related to six themes: innovations and synergies across different "data ecosystems"; leaving no one behind; building trust in data and statistics; how far have we come?; understanding the world through data; and new approaches to capacity development for better data. Circular Economy Forum Highlights Need for Shared Vision, Leadership 24 October 2018: The second World Circular Economy Forum 2018 (WCEF2018) called for action across all countries and regions, highlighting that a circular economy is good for business, trade and job creation, but the world lacks a shared circular economy vision, and noting an urgent need for stronger leadership and international collaboration. Africa Climate Conference Discusses SDGs-Agenda 2063-NDC Nexus 11 October 2018: Focusing on the nexus between the SDGs, African Union’s Agenda 2063 and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the seventh Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-VII) conference sought to advance an integrated approach to the sustainable management of Africa’s environmental resources. NEWS A4SD, UN Foundation Collect Views on HLPF, SDG Implementation 25 October 2018: Action for Sustainable Development (A4SD) and the UN Foundation have developed surveys to gather stakeholder views on the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in order to ensure effective SDG implementation and engagement. The A4SD survey also explores follow-up and review processes for SDG implementation at all levels. Pre-COP Seeks to Bridge Proposals on Paris Agreement Implementation Guidelines in Preparation for COP 24 24 October 2018: Ministers from 35 countries convened in advance of the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UNFCCC to discuss key issues related to implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement on climate change, which COP 24 is expected to adopt. Silk Road Countries Form Alliance to Protect “Roof of the World” 24 October 2018: Partners from protected areas in Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan have created the “Bam-e-Dunya” (Persian phrase for “roof of the world”) network to promote long-term conservation and sustainable mountain development in the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape (HKPL). Issue Brief Highlights Data Priorities for Implementing Mountain-related SDGs 24 October 2018: An issue brief titled, ‘Leaving No One in Mountains Behind: Localizing the SDGs for Resilience of Mountain Peoples and Ecosystems,’ presents initial steps towards localization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to mountain areas. UNEP-WCMC Launches China-Africa Partnership for Sustainable Development 23 October 2018: The UN Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) launched the Development Corridors Partnership, an international collaboration that will support the sustainable growth of development corridors in East Africa through funding from the UK Research Council’s Global Challenges Research Fund until 2021. Asia Pacific National Statisticians Call for Whole-of-Government Approach 19 October 2018: Governments in the Asia-Pacific region adopted a declaration on strengthening national statistical systems in order to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that no one is left behind. Hongjoo Ham, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said the recommendations require a whole-of-government approach. Mining Forum Discusses Evolving Policies, Role of Mining in SDGs 18 October 2018: The 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) focused on the theme of 'Modern Mining Law and Policy: Accountable, Equitable and Innovative Approaches.' Participants discussed their experiences in the revision of mining codes and laws, public access to geological information, gender impacts of mining, policy responses to support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and mine inspection systems. UN Member States Call for Technology Governance 18 October 2018: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) held an informal briefing and a plenary discussion on opportunities and risks associated with rapid technological change, with a focus on the millions of people at risk of being "left behind" by technological development. Member States called for increased cooperation to both harness the positive and transformative power of technology to improve livelihoods, and address the security and development challenges it brings. UN, Morocco Prepare for Migration Compact Conference 17 October 2018: In preparation for the Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for Migration, the Secretariat has released a list of 70 side events, along with other documents and information on ‘Migration Week’ in Marrakech, Morocco. LDC Ministers Outline Group’s Priorities for COP 24, Call for Enhanced Ambition 17 October 2018: Ministers and other high-level representatives from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Group issued a communiqué outlining LDCs’ priorities for the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) to the UNFCCC, which is expected to adopt the implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement on climate change. UNFCCC Report Calls for Synergies among Adaptation Goals/Indicators, SDGs, Sendai Framework 16 October 2018: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a report on the expert meeting on national adaptation goals/indicators and their relationship with the SDGs and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The report highlights ways to enhance effective and functional adaptation monitoring and evaluation (M&E) on goals/indicators in collaboration with the SDGs and the Sendai Framework. GSDR Background Report Outlines Circular Economy Benefits, Initiatives October 2018: The Finnish Environment Institute released a report on the concept of circular economy as a background contribution to the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) 2019. The authors note that in Europe alone, a circular economy could create "direct primary resource benefits" worth €600 billion by 2030. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 37th Meetings of the CCAMLR Commission and Scientific Committee 22 October - 2 November 2018 | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 2018 Great Rivers Forum 28-30 October 2018 | Wuhan, Hubei, China 2nd AMWAJ Forum 29-30 October 2018 | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Our Ocean Conference 2018 29-30 October 2018 | Bali, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia Urban 20 (U20) Mayoral Summit 29-30 October 2018 | Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina 19th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF 19) 29-31 October 2018 | Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany 2018 Sustainable Development Transition Forum (SDTF) 29-31 October 2018 | Incheon, Republic of Korea Adaptation Committee Workshop: Fostering Engagement of the Agri-Food Sector in Resilience to Climate... 29-31 October 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland 7th Africa Water Week 29 October - 2 November 2018 | Libreville, Estuaire, Gabon Water and Health 2018: Where Science Meets Policy 29 October - 2 November 2018 | Durham, NC, US Promoting Youth Engagement in Water Governance through Youth-led Research and Innovation 30 October 2018 | Libreville, Estuaire, Gabon Global Forum on Human Settlements 2018 30-31 October 2018 | Bangkok (Krung Thep), Thailand Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health 30 October - 1 November 2018 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland Inter-regional Preparatory Meeting for Mid-term Review of SAMOA Pathway 30 October - 1 November 2018 | Apia, Tuamasaga, Samoa 2018 REDD+ International Symposium 31 October 2018 | Seoul, Seoul-T'Ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea 2018 Urban Innovation Challenge: Citypreneurs Young SDGs Start-up Competition 31 October 2018 | Seoul, Seoul-T'Ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea 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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