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, 5 March 2019 GUEST ARTICLES Geoengineering at UNEA-4: Why the SDGs Require a Governance Debate Based on Precaution, Rights and Fairness Geoengineering – large-scale intentional manipulation of the Earth’s natural systems such as oceans, lands, atmosphere and carbon cycles – is increasingly being presented as a strategy to counteract, dilute or delay climate change and its effects. The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) is expected to address the issue at its fourth session, convening in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11-15 March 2019, and should do so with caution. Reflections on the Third Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific and its Input to UNEA4 The Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific is a regional preparatory meeting for the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), which is the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment and is organized by UNEP every other year. As we near the opening of the fourth session of UNEA, which will convene in Nairobi from 11-15 March 2019, under the theme “Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production,” the deliberations of the regional preparatory meeting provide a guide for what to look for from the Asia Pacific delegates. POLICY BRIEFS SDG Knowledge Weekly: Finance and Crowdfunding for the SDGs The Financing for Sustainable Development Office of the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is organizing a series of informal technical briefings from 4-8 March on topics covered in the advance unedited version of the ‘2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report’ issued by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on Financing for Development (FfD). This SDG Knowledge Weekly provides an overview of the report and covers some less-frequently discussed subjects relating to financing for the SDGs, such as crowdfunding. Monthly Forecast March 2019: Global Events Shine Spotlight on Environmental Challenges, Data Needs and Momentum on Climate Action In March, discussions on environmental challenges and solutions and climate action take center stage. Many of the events take place in Africa, highlighting the continent’s role in and its contribution to sustainable development and climate action, among other issues. FEATURED UNEA at a Glance: What You Need to Know about the Environment Assembly’s Fourth Session 5 March 2019: The upcoming fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) will address the theme, ‘Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production.’ The meeting is expected to adopt a negotiated ministerial declaration and a number of resolutions submitted by Member States. GCF Board Paves Way for the Fund’s First Replenishment, Looks Forward to Increasing Impact 28 February 2019: The 22nd meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board discussed the Fund’s first replenishment and strategic programming, and steps required to strengthen operations, reinforce standards and close policy gaps. The Board approved: nine new climate resilience and low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission projects totaling USD 440 million in GCF resources; and applications for accredited entities from Armenia, Australia, Benin, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, New Caledonia and Pakistan. The Board also announced Yannick Glemarec as the new GCF Executive Director. NEWS UNDP, Open Government Partnership Collaborate to Support SDGs 5, 16 28 February 2019: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) made a joint commitment to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through open government initiatives. As outlined in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two organizations will support progress on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). Officials Stress Relevance of Human Security in SDG Era 28 February 2019: To mark the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the concept of human security to the UN, Member States, UN entities and other stakeholders met to discuss the relevance of human security for achieving the SDGs. They noted the need to renew momentum and increase investments for its implementation. Code 8.7 Brings Together Big Data Community to End Slavery 21 February 2019: The Computing Community Consortium, the UN University (UNU) and other institutions brought together computer scientists, policy strategists and slavery experts to explore how to use big data to achieve SDG target 8.7 on ending forced labor, modern slavery and human trafficking by 2030 and the worst forms of child labor by 2025. The Conference aimed to facilitate connections between the global computational research and tech communities and the community working to achieve SDG target 8.7. WHO, IARC Seek to Double Global Survival Rate of Children with Cancer 15 February 2019: The World Health Organization's (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is calling for better health data on cancer in children, to support efforts to double the current survival rate globally. The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer seeks to achieve a 60% survival rate for children with cancer globally, by 2030. Port Authorities Launch Strategy to Integrate SDGs 14 February 2019: The World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP) has launched a plan to integrate the SDGs into the business strategies and governance of port authorities, to help align them with global sustainability standards. The WPSP was established by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) in 2017. IUU Index Finds World Off Track on SDG Targets 14.4 and 14.6 7 February 2019: The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and Poseidon – Aquatic Resource Management Ltd. launched an index to track illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Index scores “provide a strong indication” that SDG targets on ending IUU fishing “will not be achieved and that combatting IUU fishing remains a huge global challenge.” Newsletter Highlights How Big Data Can Support SDGs February 2019: The Big Data for Development Network (BD4D) highlights current uses and applications of big data for sustainable development, emphasizing its importance for implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the global south in particular. As outlined in the first edition of its newsletter, the BD4D initiative aims to develop research on big data for development, and generate capacities among researchers in support of the SDGs. Sixth Global Environment Outlook to Launch at UNEA-4 February 2019: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published the pre-edited version of the summary for policymakers (SPM) of the first comprehensive assessment of the global environment to be released in almost seven years, the ‘Sixth Global Environmental Outlook’ (GEO-6). The SPM and the underlying report will be launched at the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4). UNEP Previews Global Resources Outlook 2019 February 2019: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published the summary for policymakers (SPM) of a major global report on the status and trends of natural resource use and management, the ‘Global Resources Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future we Want.’ The SPM and the underlying report will be presented at the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4). Challenge Invites Solutions to Plastic Waste Crisis in Ocean February 2019: National Geographic and Sky Ocean Ventures launched an ‘Ocean Plastic Innovation Challenge’ that invites problem solvers to develop innovative solutions to tackle the world’s plastic waste. The competition will focus on three complementary tracks: design, circular economy and data visualization. Social Justice Ranking Finds “Significant Challenges” for Ireland on SDGs 7, 10, 12 and 17 February 2019: Social Justice Ireland published a report that assesses Ireland’s SDG performance compared to 15 other EU countries on economy, environment and society indicators. The report finds that Ireland is doing relatively well on SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) but has room for improvement on many SDGs. UNFCCC Publishes Overview of Katowice Climate Package February 2019: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published an overview of the Katowice Climate Package, which elaborates implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement on climate change, including procedures and mechanisms that will operationalize the Agreement. Ireland Revises International Development Policy to Promote SDG Achievement 28 February 2019: The Government of Ireland launched a framework policy setting out its development aid priorities for promoting achievement of the SDGs. The international development policy, titled 'A Better World,' outlines steps toward reaching the Government’s commitment of contributing 0.7% of Ireland’s Gross National Income (GNI) for official development assistance (ODA) by 2030. The policy announces new initiatives around four areas of focus: prioritizing gender equality; reducing humanitarian need; acting on climate change; and strengthening governance. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » Arab States Modern Land Administration for Sustainable Development Forum 4-6 March 2019 | Amman, Jordan OECPR 4 4-8 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya World Ocean Summit 2019 5-7 March 2019 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 50th Session of UN Statistical Commission 5-8 March 2019 | New York City, US UNSC 50 Side Event: How the Inclusive Data Charter is Being Used to Improve the Availability and Use... 6 March 2019 | New York City, US UNSC 50 Side Event: Where We Live and Work 6 March 2019 | New York City, US 18th Global Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum (GMGSF-18) 7-8 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya Religions and the Sustainable Development Goals 7-9 March 2019 | Italy International Women’s Day 2019 8 March 2019 | worldwide UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment 8-10 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya Sustainable Innovation Expo 10-15 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya Scenarios Forum 2019 11-13 March 2019 | Denver, CO, US Fourth Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) 11-15 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya 63rd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women 11-22 March 2019 | New York City, US EMG Nexus Dialogue Series 2019: Sustainable Food Systems: Ensuring Food Security for Future Generati... 12 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya Innovative Actions Towards a Pollution-free Planet: Implementing the UNEA-3 Resolution on Soil Pollu... 12 March 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya 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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