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, 21 May 2019 FEATURED Zero Draft of SDG Summit Outcome Sets Out 10 Commitments 17 May 2019: The co-facilitators for the outcome document of the SDG Summit released a “zero draft” for Member States’ consideration ahead of an intergovernmental consultation on 22 May 2019. The draft text includes ten commitments to be made by Heads of State and Government attending the Summit, beginning with "leaving no one behind." Stakeholder Coalition Suggests Six Principles for HLPF Review 17 May 2019: A coalition of stakeholders developed a set of principles for the upcoming intergovernmental review of the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF). In a paper explaining the principles, the stakeholders call for the HLPF to continue to have "a central role in overseeing a network of follow-up and review processes of the 2030 Agenda at the global level." SEI Tool Predicts "Ripple Effects" of Each SDG Target 15 May 2019: The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) released a brief presenting a practical approach to prioritize action on SDG targets. The approach enables decision-makers to identify how interactions between different SDG targets shapes policy outcomes, and promises to help users generate shared understanding of opportunities and challenges, and identify effective collaborations and partnerships between actors and sectors. GSDR Co-Chair Briefs Delegations on Report Finalization Process 20 May 2019: The independent group of scientists for producing the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) released a draft version of the report to UN Member States on 17 May 2019. The group's co-chair, Peter Messerli, then provided a briefing on its process and selected messages on 20 May. Following a comment period for Member States, key findings of the report will be presented during the July 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). NEWS Global Platform Calls for Action on DRR to be Integrated in SDG Implementation 17 May 2019: The sixth session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2019) took stock of countries’ progress towards achieving the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, and affirmed the role of DRR in scaling up action on climate adaptation and resilience. GP2019 urged governments to step up their efforts in implementing the Sendai Framework, noting the imperative for countries to develop their own national and local DRR strategies, and recommended that a mid-term review of the Sendai Framework be conducted, and DRR be fully integrated in SDG implementation. WMO Launches Tool for Analyzing Changes in Water Resources 16 May 2019: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, launched the Dynamic Water Resources Assessment Tool (DWAT) to help water managers understand changes in land use and water availability at the basin level. Pacific Island Leaders, UN Secretary-General Call for “Decisive and Transformative Action” to Reduce Emissions 16 May 2019: Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have issued a statement calling on all countries to take “decisive and transformative action” to reduce emissions and to ensure mitigation and adaption support at scale for countries in need. On his first official visit to the Pacific Islands region, UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the PIF, Fijian parliamentarians, and youth, urging “radical” emission reductions by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050. STI Forum Considers Progress in Technology Facilitation 15 May 2019: During the fourth annual meeting of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for the SDGs, also referred to as the STI Forum 2019, participants called for greater science-business connections to drive implementation, more resources and funding, operationalization of an online inventory of STI, and making the STI Forum a culmination of intersessional work. UN Regional Commission Heads Call for PPPs to Put People First 15 May 2019: The heads of the UN Regional Commissions supported “People-first” public-private partnerships (PPPs), during the Fourth UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) International PPP Forum. The Forum showcased people-first approaches to PPPs, including as a way to implement the SDGs. UNGA Debates Areas of Progress, Difficulty in Reducing Global Inequality 14 May 2019: A high-level debate addressed progress made in reducing inequalities within and among countries, and shared best practices in inclusive development. Participants highlighted the need for disaggregated data and political will to ensure no one is left behind, in order to achieve SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), which will be reviewed during the July 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Fiji Launches Guidance for Parliamentary Oversight of SDGs 15 May 2019: The Parliament of Fiji and partners launched a Guidance Note on integrating the SDGs across the work of all Fijian Parliament committees. The document features concrete, tangible actions that committees can take to improve oversight of the SDGs. Global Assessment Report Explores Role of Risk Reduction in Achieving SDGs 15 May 2019: Highlighting the risks from air pollution, biological hazards, earthquakes, drought and climate change, the 2019 Global Assessment Report (GAR) on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) warns that unsustainable patterns of economic activity hide systemic risks across sectors. WWF Initiative Aims to Help Companies Translate Commitments on Plastic into Measurable Action 14 May 2019: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launched an “activation hub” to help companies and organizations translate commitments to reduce or eliminate plastic into measurable action. The hub is part of WWF’s global ‘No Plastic in Nature’ campaign, which tackles marine litter and plastic consumption as part of efforts to protect the world’s biodiversity and oceans. UNStats, Esri Produce "Story Map" on SDG 5 13 May 2019: A "story map" on women and sustainable development draws on geospatial information to address women's economic empowerment, women’s voices, and women’s safety and human rights. The story map was produced by the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), through the Global Gender Statistics Programme, in collaboration with Esri, ahead of the fourth annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the SDGs (STI Forum). Candidate for UNGA Presidency Promises Inclusion, UNSC Reform Push 13 May 2019: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) held an informal interactive dialogue with Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Permanent Representative of Nigeria and the first candidate for President of the UNGA’s 74th session. From the reform of the UN Security Council to inclusion and human rights and plans for high-level events in 2019 and 2020, Member States inquired about his plans and envisioned measures. UNDP Publications Support Inclusive, Resilient Disaster Recovery 10 May 2019: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and partners have launched reports and guidelines on disasters. The publications highlight the increasing impacts of disasters, and aim to support resilient, human-centered disaster recovery. UN Member States Set Stage for Discussion of Development Reforms 3 May 2019: In preparation for the UN Economic and Social Council's (ECOSOC) 2019 Operational Activities for Development Segment (OAS), the UN Secretary-General reported on the implementation of reforms to the UN development system. During a briefing with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, UN Member States provided preliminary feedback on the advance, unedited version of the report, setting the stage for the OAS. UN Deputy Secretary-General Reports on Resident Coordinator System Reform 18 April 2019: The UN Deputy-Secretary General, as Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), issued an update on the reform of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system. The report will be presented to UN Member States during the 2019 Operational Activities for Development Segment (OAS) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Mitigation Finance Update: Which Banks Take Climate Action Seriously? May 2019: In the context of an international community committed to making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-resilient development, banks play a crucial role in facilitating a prudent use of global investment capacity. This Mitigation Finance Update reviews what different banks are doing to help in this effort, ranging from supporting investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects to innovative strategies that guide low-carbon and sustainable consumer and business behavior. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » Finance for Nature Global Summit 20-21 May 2019 | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK First Expert Working Group Meeting on Sustainable Infrastructure 20-21 May 2019 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland OECD Forum 2019 20-21 May 2019 | Paris, Ile-De-France, France 4th World Congress on Agroforestry 20-25 May 2019 | Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Towards a Global Pact for the Environment: Third Substantive Session 20-25 May 2019 | Nairobi, Kenya Seventy-second World Health Assembly 20-28 May 2019 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment 21-23 May 2019 | New York City, US Partners for Review 6th Meeting 21-23 May 2019 | Oaxaca, Mexico International Day for Biological Diversity 2019 22 May 2019 | worldwide International Conference on Climate Action – ICCA2019 22-23 May 2019 | Germany Urban Future Global Conference 22-24 May 2019 | Oslo, Norway 2019 European Forum on Urban Forestry 22-25 May 2019 | Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Conference on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: A Common Agenda to 2020 and Beyond 23-24 May 2019 | Brussels, Belgium Growing Blue Conference 23-24 May 2019 | Maputo, Mozambique Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2019 23-24 May 2019 | Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland High-level Dialogue on the Implementation of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014-2019: ... 23-24 May 2019 | New York City, 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). Click here for further information on the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub .