The 2026 session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) concluded with the adoption by acclamation of a 64-paragraph Ministerial Declaration structured around two main sections. The 2026 Ministerial Declaration identifies current trends, successes, and challenges, and their impacts on accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, alongside priority actions for advancing transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Declaration reaffirms UN Member States’ commitment to the 2030 Agenda while acknowledging progress on the SDGs is under pressure from widening inequalities, financing gaps, conflict, climate change, biodiversity loss, debt burdens, food and energy insecurity, and weakening trust in multilateral cooperation. It calls for urgent, coordinated, and inclusive action to accelerate implementation, including through strengthened multilateralism, scaled-up finance, digital and technological cooperation, gender equality, support for developing countries, and targeted action on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17.

On the specific SDGs under review during HLPF 2026, the ministers recommend, inter alia:

• accelerate SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) by actions to strengthen institutional capacity and achieve universal, equitable and affordable access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene; apply innovative technologies, enabling policies and shared practices; enhance climate- and disaster-resilient integrated water resources management; increase water-use efficiency; and scale up finance, investment and capacity-building. They also call to invest in water-related ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, glaciers and freshwater habitats; strengthen early warning systems and resilient infrastructure for floods; scale up monitoring and data systems; and improve water quality by reducing pollution, untreated wastewater and hazardous releases.
• accelerate SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) by actions to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030; promote cleaner and more efficient cooking and heating; and strengthen technology development, dissemination, innovation, capacity-building, data and technical cooperation. They also call to expand and modernize grids; scale up finance and investment; mobilize partnerships to help developing countries attract investment; foster international cooperation and dialogue; and increase women’s education, capacity-building and equal participation in the energy sector.
• accelerate SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) by actions to strengthen adaptive industrial policies and skills development; mobilize and align financing for structural transformation; build industrial ecosystems and value chains; and increase the value and competitiveness of developing-country exports, including critical minerals and commodities. They also call to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries, promote digital public infrastructure and responsible data governance, and promote decent work, women’s participation, and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and people of African descent.
• accelerate SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) by actions to progressively achieve adequate housing for all; make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; continue to strengthen access to safe, affordable and sustainable transport; and promote smart cities that integrate urban agriculture and food security into planning. They stress participatory urban planning, increased investment in sustainable infrastructure, strengthened disaster-resilient and inclusive urban policies, enhanced SDG localization, support to LDCs with resilient buildings, ensuring child-friendly environments, and promote public spaces free from violence and harassment.
• accelerate SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals) by taking action to implement the Sevilla Commitment; ensure, provide and mobilize coherent public, private, domestic and international resources; support reforms to close financing gaps; promote capital markets and innovative instruments; strengthen domestic resource mobilization; and recommit to combating illicit financial flows. They also urge ODA fulfillment, resolve to strengthen the WTO-centred trading system, digital inclusion, enhancing data capacity and partnerships, and recognizing volunteerism.

Before the Ministerial Declaration was adopted, UN Member States voted on whether to include: a reference to the UAE Consensus, which was adopted by the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, in the section on SDG 7; and a paragraph stating that factors that can give rise to conflict, such as inequality, corruption, poor governance, and illicit financial and arms flows are addressed in the 2030 Agenda. The amendment to remove the reference to the UAE Consensus was accepted and the reference to the UAE Consensus was removed. The amendment to remove the paragraph on factors that give rise to conflict was rejected; that text remains in the Declaration. [ENB coverage of the closing session of HLPF 2026] [Ministerial Declaration]