Participants at an event on the sidelines of the 2026 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) called for moving the Beyond GDP agenda from analysis to implementation, emphasizing the need for country-owned approaches that can inform policy, investment, and public decision making.

The discussion, titled “Beyond GDP: Moving from Analysis to Impact,” took place in the SDG Lounge and brought together representatives of governments, international organizations, philanthropy, civil society, and the media. Lydia DePillis, reporter with the New York Times, moderated the exchange, asking speakers how the international community should build on the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP (HLEG).

The HLEG released its final report, “Counting What Counts: A Compass of Progress for People and Planet,” on 7 May 2026. The report proposes a conceptual framework, a dashboard of 31 indicators, and recommendations for implementing the agenda through statistical and policy systems. Speakers noted that while the framework is intended to be universal, implementation will need to reflect national circumstances and priorities.

Rodolfo Reta Haddad, Coordinator of Social and Economic Affairs, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the UN, described Mexico’s efforts to measure citizens’ well-being and said the country has already linked existing data to 21 of the 31 indicators identified in the HLEG report. Grace Wood, Development Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN, said the UK reports against 59 indicators related to Beyond GDP, including environmental conditions, renewable energy use, personal well-being, and voter turnout. She noted that these metrics help assess what drives sustainable and inclusive growth.

George Gray Molina, Head of Inclusive Growth and Chief Economic Advisor, UN Development Programme (UNDP), said the HLEG report has opened the door for a broader dialogue on Beyond GDP. Livia Bizikova, Lead, Monitoring and Governance, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), highlighted IISD’s work, supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), with Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia to assess how existing data can support Beyond GDP measurement and to develop national road maps for implementation. Otto Saki, Program Officer, Global Economic Governance, Civic Engagement and Government, Ford Foundation, cautioned that implementation should not be treated only as a technocratic exercise, saying metrics should reflect what societies value and what current generations owe to future generations.

During the discussion, speakers reflected on the political and practical challenges ahead. Molina recalled that an intergovernmental process began following release of the HLEG recommendations and noted that some had hoped the group would propose a single index. He suggested such an index could evolve later. Reta Haddad said countries face different challenges and vulnerabilities and asked how Beyond GDP approaches could help improve access to concessional finance. Wood said the discussion is taking place as governments begin to consider the post-2030 development agenda, and emphasized that Beyond GDP shifts attention from inputs to outcomes. [ENB summary of event]