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, 16 July 2019 GUEST ARTICLES Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting Provides Impetus to Focus on Economic Opportunities of Climate Action The Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting provided new impetus to make 2019 a year to focus on the economic opportunities of climate action. The UAE was proud to host the Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting, the precursor to the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in September 2019. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, presided over the gathering, sending a clear signal that we are once again raising our level of ambition. POLICY BRIEFS Why Biodiversity Matters: Mapping the Linkages between Biodiversity and the SDGs Biodiversity is a concept difficult to understand or appreciate, let alone regulate and communicate. Defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including … diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems,” the term attempts to reflect the variation of, and interaction among, all life on Earth. FEATURED Abu Dhabi Meeting Takes Stock of Progress Ahead of UN Climate Action Summit 1 July 2019: The Abu Dhabi Preparatory Meeting for the UN Secretary General’s UN Climate Action Summit brought together representatives from government, business, local authorities, civil society, the UN system and youth to take stock of progress ahead of the Summit. The meeting assessed progress across the Summit’s nine action areas, and identified and developed proposals for initiatives for announcement at the Summit. "No Accidental Outcomes": SDG 16 Review Shows Need for Policy 12 July 2019: For the first time since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, governments and stakeholders conducted an in-depth review of SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. Lead discussant Edward Thomas Porokwa, Pastoralists Indigenous NGOs Forum, said a one-size-fits-all strategy for SDG 16 implementation is guaranteed to leave indigenous peoples behind. HLPF Participants Reflect on Four Years of VNRs 15 July 2019: As part of the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), countries, UN officials and stakeholders shared views on the four first years of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), during which 142 countries presented reports. The discussion highlighted the VNRs' areas of added value, challenges and lessons learned, as well as specific initiatives taken at the regional and national levels to make progress on the 2030 Agenda. Delegates Discuss GSDR Ahead of SDG Summit 11 July 2019: A thematic review during the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) addressed the science-policy interface (SPI), with several UN Member States welcoming the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). The co-chairs of the group of scientists that produced the GSDR briefed participants. NEWS Concerns on Financing Sustainable Development Cited Ahead of UNGA Dialogue 12 July 2019: The UN’s Interagency Task Force on Financing for Development (FfD) held a discussion on the findings of its 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR). Meeting on the sidelines of the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), speakers drew attention to technology, data and digital finance, which will be in focus in the 2020 edition of the report. Progress in Fight Against Inequalities in HLPF Spotlight 11 July 2019: UN Member States and stakeholders reviewed progress towards SDG 10, which calls for reducing inequalities based on income, age, sex and other categories, as well as reducing inequalities between countries, which are driven by migration, development assistance and representation in international bodies, among other factors. UNDP Multi-Dimensional Poverty Report Reveals Wide Inequalities Among the Poor 11 July 2019: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has released its 2019 report on multi-dimensional poverty, which uses ten indicators to assess the severity and nature of deprivation around the world. The report goes beyond income to consider indicators of health, education, threat of violence, quality of work and standard of living, thus providing a single "headline measure" of countries' progress on at least seven different SDGs. HLPF Side Event Highlights Community-based Model of Landscape Management 15 July 2019: An event on the sidelines of the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) highlighted the ways in which a community-based model of landscape management can enhance the resilience of local ecosystems, protect biodiversity and support sustainable livelihoods of rural communities. Panels Discuss 2030 Agenda under G20 Japanese Presidency, Reveal Priorities for Saudi Arabia’s Presidency in 2020 15 July 2019: An event on the sidelines of the 2019 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) focused on the G20’s role in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provided insights into the G20 development agenda. Strengthening Science-Policy Interface Can Help Meet Climate, Sustainable Development Goals 12 July 2019: On the sidelines of the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), a side event addressed the need to strengthen the science-policy interface (SPI) to integrate climate change, resilience and the SDGs. Transparency International Calls for Annual HLPF Review of SDG 16 12 July 2019: Transparency International (TI) has suggested that SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) should be reviewed every year. To date, only one of the SDGs, Goal 17 on partnerships, is reviewed annually at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The organization also calls on the UN to set "concrete, advanced indicators" to measure progress on SDG 16. VNR Lab Discusses National Follow-up, Challenges and Way Forward 12 July 2019: Delegates discussed how national governments have followed up on their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) during the sixth VNR Lab of the 2019 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Presenters and attendees outlined follow-up experiences, challenges encountered during VNR preparations, and ideas for the way forward. HLPF Side Event Explores Impacts of Digital Revolution on Sustainable Development 12 July 2019: An event on the sidelines of the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) addressed opportunities and challenges regarding the digital revolution and sustainable development. The side event was presented by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and The World in 2050 (TWI2050) research initiative. HLPF Event Reinforces Synergies Between Human Rights, 2030 Agenda 12 July 2019: On the sidelines of the 2019 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), countries, UN entities and stakeholders shared views and experiences on ways to strengthen linkages between human rights and the 2030 Agenda. Some participants remarked that human rights are an intrinsic part of sustainable development, and said the 2030 Agenda is a human rights agenda. Five Years On: Civil Society Networks Outline Principles for Next HLPF Cycle 11 July 2019: Looking ahead to the UN General Assembly's (UNGA) review of the functions of the HLPF, as well as the five-year milestone of SDG implementation, an event organized on the sidelines of HLPF 2019 shared civil society perspectives on how to organize the upcoming review and improve stakeholder engagement in the process. HLPF Side Event Highlights Critical Role of Water in Integrated SDG Action 11 July 2019: A side event exploring the critical role of water in the realization of the SDGs under review at the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) highlighted how reliable water supplies help to achieve a number of SDGs, including: productivity and job security (SDG 8); reduced poverty (SDG 1); human rights, peace and justice (SDG 16); and reduced inequality, especially for marginalized and poor populations, women, and those affected by migration and conflict (SDGs 5 and 10). HLPF Side Event Explores Role of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform in Achieving Multiple SDGs 10 July 2019: A side event at the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) discussed how fossil fuel subsidy (FFS) reform can help to scale up climate ambition (SDG 13) and contribute to achievement of several other SDGs, including poverty reduction (SDG 1), health and well-being (SDG 3), energy (SDG 7) and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). WHO Event Highlights Opportunities to Accelerate Health-related SDG Targets 10 July 2019: A side event convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the sidelines of the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) raised awareness of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (GAP) as an instrument to support countries to strengthen their healthcare systems and accelerate the achievement of health-related targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Research and Partnerships Contribute to Synergies Between 2030 Agenda, Agenda 2063 and Paris Agreement in Africa 9 July 2019: An event held on the sidelines of the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) explored the interlinkages between the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs, the African Union’s ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’ and the Paris Agreement on climate change. ODI Paper Outlines Ways to Address SDG Synergies and Trade-offs July 2019: In a working paper released by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), David Donoghue and Amina Khan examine the implications of synergies and trade-offs among the SDGs. They stress that realization of the 2030 Agenda depends on the extent to which governments can manage trade-offs, mitigate their "more harmful impacts" and keep countries on track in overall terms. South African Hub Offers Recommendations for Cloud Computing and SDGs July 2019: The South African SDG Hub at the University of Pretoria has released a policy brief that explores the relationship between science, technology and innovation (STI) and the SDGs. Titled, ‘Cloud Computing and the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa: An Opportunity to Accelerate Progress,’ the brief focuses on the potentially transformative impact of cloud computing. Paper Evaluates Impact of Research Method on Global Assessment Results July 2019: As the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) considers how close countries are to achieving the SDGs, a new research paper explores the impact that the research method has on assessments of countries’ relative positions. Circle Economy Report Highlights Role of Local Governments in Enabling Circular Economy June 2019: A report by the Circle Economy, a membership-based organization, has provided a range of recommendations for municipalities to promote the transition from a linear to a circular economy. The report, based on research in several European cities, argues that municipalities and governments are responsible for creating conditions for the circular economy to thrive, and suggests that such a transition could create 700,000 new jobs in the EU by the year 2020. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » Open-ended Online Discussions on the Post-2020 Implementation Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Bio... 8-19 July 2019 | virtual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2019 Convened by ECOSOC 9-18 July 2019 | New York City, US 25th Session of the ISA Council (Part II) 15-19 July 2019 | Kingston, Jamaica 25th Session of the ISA Assembly 22-26 July 2019 | Kingston, Jamaica Species on the Move 2019 22-26 July 2019 | Limpopo {greater region}, South Africa Pacific Community Workshop on the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 23-25 July 2019 | Noumea, New Caledonia International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 26 July 2019 | worldwide Twelfth Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global Reporting... 29-30 July 2019 | New York City, US UAE SDG Photography Award 31 July 2019 | virtual Regional Planning Workshop for the North Pacific and Western Pacific Marginal Seas Towards the UN De... 31 July - 2 August 2019 | Tokyo, Japan 50th Session of the IPCC 2-6 August 2019 | Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland Africa Food Security Leadership Dialogue 5-6 August 2019 | Kigali, Rwanda Ninth Session of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management 5-9 August 2019 | New York City, US International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2019 9 August 2019 | worldwide International Youth Day 2019 12 August 2019 | worldwide 50th Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum 13-16 August 2019 | Tuvalu 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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