In preparation for the 2024 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN Secretariat has published a synthesis of submissions from the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies and forums. The report offers recommendations for urgent follow-up actions to strengthen the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to eradicate poverty in times of multiple crises.

Dated 19 April 2024, the document (E/HLPF/2024/4) discusses how global crises, including the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as well as challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, displacement, and armed conflicts, have affected implementation of the SDGs undergoing in-depth review in 2024 – SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). It also identifies areas where sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions are being delivered in response to the 2023 SDG Summit’s political declaration.

Regarding SDG 1, the report notes that “[g]eopolitical, socioeconomic, and climatic disruptions have impeded progress on ending poverty” and that by 2030, 575 million people, or 7% of the world’s population, may still experience extreme poverty.

On SDG 2, the document highlights findings from the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report (SOFI 2023), according to which global hunger, measured by the prevalence of undernourishment, was affecting around 735 million people in 2022, and nearly 30% of the global population – some 2.4 billion people – experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, of which 900 million people were facing severe food insecurity.

The report highlights climate change as “the biggest economic, social, and environmental threat facing humanity,” flagging that current measures to address the crisis (SDG 13) are inadequate. Underscoring the need for collective action, political leadership, and financing, the document acknowledges that many countries affected by the high debt burden and countries in conflict “have limited fiscal space to commit to climate action.”

With respect to SDG 16, the report warns that ongoing and new conflicts have resulted in major setbacks to global peace and security, leading to heightened vulnerabilities. However, challenges such as weak institutions and governance, limited data availability, and limited human and financial resources hinder efforts to promote effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies to mitigate immediate risks and build resilience to future shocks.

Under SDG 17, which the HLPF reviews every year, the report notes challenges associated with the high costs of borrowing and servicing debt, rising global interest rates, high food and energy prices, lingering effects of the pandemic, and inflation. Yet, “[p]artnerships and global cooperation are not at levels required to achieve the Goals in full by 2030.”

Among sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions for implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the report highlights efforts to:

• Integrate approaches to interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution;
• Invest in solutions for sustainable food systems and healthy nutrition;
• Ensure social protection to empower women and reduce poverty; and
• Strengthen institutions through digital governance.

Recommendations for urgent actions to reinforce the 2030 Agenda and eradicate poverty in times of multiple crises identified in the report include: political will for shared commitments; systemic approaches for reform; leveraging innovation and drivers of change; and continued follow-up beyond the Summit of the Future (SoF).

HLPF 2024 will focus on the theme, ‘Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.’ The Summit of the Future in September is expected to adopt a Pact for the Future, to strengthen the global commitment to the 2030 Agenda and reinvigorate multilateralism. [Publication: Advanced Unedited Version: Synthesis of Submissions by Functional Commissions of the ECOSOC and Other Intergovernmental Bodies and Forums] [HLPF 2024] [ECOSOC Subsidiary Bodies]