By Michael Kunz, UNECE
The tenth Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, from 21-22 April 2026, offering a diverse multi-stakeholder space for action and collaboration on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
More than two-thirds of the 56 countries in Europe, North America, and Central Asia covered by the UNECE are high-income economies, another fourth falls in the upper-middle-income group. Yet, despite the institutional capacities and means of implementation available in this region, progress towards the SDGs continues to be insufficient or mixed at best, much like in the rest of the world.
The latest progress report, released in March 2026, shows that fewer targets are on track to be reached by 2030 compared to last year, and that more are in reverse.
The obvious explanation is that this is a result of various crises and conflicts hitting the region particularly hard. The COVID-19 pandemic after 2020 and the start of the war against Ukraine in 2022 have forced governments to shift political and fiscal priorities towards cushioning the economic and social impacts of these shocks. The challenging context is compounded by mounting geopolitical tensions and conflicts in other regions, as well as by rising divides and inequalities within countries.
However, there is also another, more optimistic perspective – both in the data and in the real world.
“Despite crises, conflicts, and other pressures, the overall picture on SDG progress across the UNECE region shows important signs of resilience: most targets still show forward momentum, reflecting substantial development gains achieved. The upcoming Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Geneva offers an opportunity to clarify priorities and chart a way forward”, stresses the UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean.
What the progress report also says is that almost 80% of the measurable targets in the UNECE region are moving in the right direction. It is true that only 15% are on track – but here it is worthwhile to recall what “being on track” means.
The 2030 Agenda defines target values only for a bit more than one-third of the indicators that are used to assess progress. For the others, the approach is, simply put, to identify the five top-performing countries and to use them as a benchmark for the entire region (the technical notes of the UNECE progress report do provide insights in this regard also for non-statisticians). If the region as a whole performs as well as the top performers, the target is considered on track. If it shows at least two-thirds of their progress, moderate acceleration is needed, and significant acceleration if the region is moving at less than two-thirds of the rate of change of the top performers – which could still be at 50% or 60% of the “champions.” Incidentally, the method also implies that the UNECE region aspires to reach higher target values than other regions in many cases.
This may require a more differentiated assessment, but the bottom line is that the bulk of targets is moving forward. Undoubtedly, what is needed is acceleration of progress and broader momentum. There are several trends that have already started to provide strategic opportunities for sustainable development across the board. Digital transformation, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) can be powerful tools if risks are well managed. Action at the city and local level responds directly to the needs of the population. The private sector is adopting more sustainable business models. Young people are rallying for a better future.
With the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and the RFSDs, the UN provides annual platforms for governments and other stakeholders to review SDG progress and share experiences on policy choices and innovative solutions to harness these opportunities.
Under the leadership of Co-Chairs of the Regional Forum, Timčo Mucunski, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia, and László Borbély, State Secretary, Government Counsellor and Head of the Sustainable Development Department of the Government of Romania, a wealth of initiatives and implementation efforts at regional, national, and local levels will be highlighted, including in peer learning round tables on the five SDGs that are under in-depth review in 2026.
The session on SDG 6 will discuss regional priorities for clean water and sanitation on the road to the 2026 UN Water Conference in December. The transformation towards more resilient and sustainable energy systems will be at the center of the round table on SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy). Under SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), the focus will be on public-private partnerships (PPPs), procurement, intelligent transport systems, and vehicle automation as drivers of innovation and cutting-edge infrastructure. The round table on SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) will highlight action at the local level and sustainable urban mobility, building up to the next UN Forum of Mayors in October 2026. The discussion on SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) will be dedicated to strengthening partnerships for human-centric digital transformation, led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Furthermore, a plenary debate on Beyond GDP will feature an exchange on how to achieve progress that goes beyond conventional metrics and includes well-being, sustainability, and resilience.
Complemented by a rich programme of side events, the Regional Forum seeks to spark inspiration and collaboration towards implementing the 2030 Agenda.