The SDG Action Weekend sought to leverage stakeholders’ participation, contributions, and catalytic mobilization to implement the ambitious vision of the 2030 Agenda.
During the SDG Mobilization Day, on 16 September, civil society, the private sector, youth, women, scientists, and local and regional governments, among others, outlined their contributions to the SDG Summit and beyond.
The SDG Acceleration Day, on 17 September, focused on the 12 UN High Impact Initiatives the UN Secretary-General identified for the UN development system to mobilize around for the SDG Summit.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened an SDG Action Weekend to maximize the impact of the SDG Summit on accelerating the delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The two-day event provided opportunities for stakeholders to come together and register their contributions and commitments to the SDG movement.
The UN recognizes the critical roles stakeholders play in driving the transformative change needed to achieve the SDGs. The SDG Action Weekend sought to leverage their participation, contributions, and catalytic mobilization to implement the ambitious vision of the 2030 Agenda.
Addressing participants during the opening of the SDG Action Weekend, UN Secretary-General António Guterres saluted civil society groups and young people for their courage and conviction as they fight for the SDGs, which often comes at a risk to their safety, health, liberty, and even life. He urged the business community to see that sustainable development is “the best business plan of all,” encouraged scientists, academics, and innovators to keep “pushing the boundaries of human knowledge,” and urged local authorities to continue listening to their communities and “embedding their needs and concerns across … policies and investments.”
In his opening remarks, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Dennis Francis called for all stakeholders to “focus their energies on the goals where progress is lagging, on the countries in acute vulnerability, [and] on the roots of inequality that persist, still today.”
During the SDG Mobilization Day, on 16 September, civil society, the private sector, youth, women, scientists, and local and regional governments, among other stakeholders, outlined their contributions to the SDG Summit and beyond.
The SDG Acceleration Day, on 17 September, profiled actions, investments, and support to accelerate SDG implementation between now and 2030. The Day focused on the 12 UN High Impact Initiatives the UN Secretary-General identified for the UN development system to mobilize around for the SDG Summit. The High Impact Initiatives are:
Acceleration Day special sessions addressed the topics of: Advancing Sustainable Development in Complex Settings; SDG Digital; and Generation Equality.
The SDG Action Weekend demonstrated that “transformative progress is both possible and already happening in some of the most crucial drivers” of the SDGs. It took place immediately prior to the 2023 SDG Summit, convened in New York, US, from 18-19 September. Held at the midway point in SDG implementation, the Summit sought to “be a moment of unity to provide a renewed impetus and accelerated actions for reaching the SDGs.” [SDG Action Weekend Draft Programme-at-a-Glance] [SDG Action Weekend Draft Programme] [UN News Story]