Click here to visit the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub knowledgebase.  SDG UPDATE A compilation of items recently posted to the SDG Knowledge Hub Wednesday, 27 March 2024 GUEST ARTICLES Unveiling the Political Landscape of True Cost Accounting By Marlene Ohlau and Olivia Riemer, TMG – Think Tank for Sustainability The hidden costs of the global agrifood system have recently come to light, revealing startling figures that underscore the profound impact of current food production and consumption on the environment, human health, and society at large. According to new analysis from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the hidden costs associated with these impacts amount to a staggering USD 12.7 trillion – USD 5 per person, or 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP). This revelation stems from the latest State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report, published in November 2023. The Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data for a More Inclusive Data Ecosystem By Haoyi Chen, Peter Koblowsky, and Yongyi Min In early March 2024, chief statisticians from over 100 countries convened in New York for the 55th session of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC), focusing on debating and establishing statistical standards, partnerships, and capacity building. One of the less familiar topics that was brought to the table was the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data. Citizen data, encompassing citizen-generated data, community-driven data, and citizen science data, typically fall outside of official statistics, despite being part of the national data ecosystem.  Celebrating a Healthy Planet on World Rewilding Day By Magnus Sylvén and Mark Halle A new paradigm is gaining increasing attention in the world of nature conservation – ‘rewilding.’ It addresses the urgent need to rebuild ecosystem functioning across our lands, freshwater ecosystems, and seas. Science has shown that less than 3% of the terrestrial part of our planet is still fully functional. Our oceans are not faring much better: 97% of the marine environment is exposed to “fishing of some kind” from humans. To Thrive Amid Climate Change, We Must Turn to Agriculture for Solutions By Kaveh Zahedi, Director, FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its ‘State of the Global Climate 2023’ report this week, with information from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Climate Risks team. It’s a chilling read – a graphic demonstration of runaway climate change and its impacts. World Water Day 2024: Unleashing the Power of Water for Peace By the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on behalf of the UN-Water Task Force Water, the essence of life, stands as a cornerstone in the sustainable development of societies worldwide. It serves as the linchpin for energy, health, and food sectors, while also playing a crucial role in biodiversity conservation. Yet, the alarming reality looms: roughly half of the world’s population faces severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. POLICY BRIEFS ICJ to Rule on States’ Climate-related Obligations: How Did We Get Here? By Elena Kosolapova, SDG Knowledge Hub Do countries have an obligation to protect our climate for the well-being of people living today? What about the well-being of those not yet born? If countries harm the climate system and vulnerable states, what might be the legal consequences under international law? These are the questions the UN General Assembly (UNGA) posed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the principal judicial organ of the UN – in a recent request for an advisory opinion. This Policy Brief reflects on this request, its nature, the process thus far, and what we can expect in the coming months. NEWS Co-facilitators Publish Zero Draft of Resolutions on ECOSOC, HLPF Reviews The co-facilitators for the consultations to review arrangements for the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) have published a zero draft of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions. The co-facilitators will introduce the zero draft during informal consultations on 28 March 2024. Climate Inaction is More Expensive Than Climate Action: WMO Report The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its annual assessment of the state of the global climate. The report shows that 2023 broke records for greenhouse gas (GHG) levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice cover, and glacier retreat. It highlights the potential of renewable energy to help achieve decarbonization targets, warning that the cost of inaction is higher than the cost of action. Forum Showcases Methane Mitigation Successes for Stronger Climate Action The Global Methane Initiative (GMI) and UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), gathered national and international policymakers, country representatives, project developers, and organizations from more than 50 countries to share replicable successes to catalyze methane emission reductions in line with the Global Methane Pledge. IISD Tool Tracks Opportunities for Input in UN Climate Negotiations The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has published a tool that tracks opportunities for parties and stakeholders to provide views on issues under negotiation in the UN climate change talks. The UNFCCC Submissions Tracker raises awareness of these input opportunities, by subject and deadline, while providing broader context and suggestions on which stakeholders may be especially interested. UNDP Report Calls for New Generation of Global Public Goods The latest Human Development Report, published by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), finds that development progress is uneven, leaving the world’s poorest countries behind, compounding inequalities, and fueling political polarization on a global scale. The report calls for collective action to address interconnected challenges and break this “global gridlock.” World Happiness Report 2024 Assesses Happiness Across Generations The 2024 edition of the World Happiness Report (WHR) provides an analysis of happiness trends across different ages and generations in more than 140 countries. It finds that the well-being of 15- to 24-year-olds has fallen in North America, Western Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and South Asia since 2019. UN Report Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Preserve Peace A secure and equitable water future underpins prosperity and peace for all, while poverty and inequality, social tensions, and conflict can amplify water insecurity. This is the main message of the 2024 edition of the UN World Water Development Report, which highlights “the complex and interlinked relationships” between water, prosperity, and peace, outlining how progress in one can have positive impacts on the other dimensions. Monaco Blue Initiative Highlights Role of Collaboration, Co-development The 15th edition of the Monaco Blue initiative (MBI 15) reflected on how to accomplish the urgent tasks for 2024, including progressing on ratification of the UN treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), delivering on the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by 2030, and addressing challenges like deep seabed mining. UNECE Forum Highlights Opportunities for Key Transitions Towards 2030 The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) convened its annual regional forum on sustainable development (RFSD) in preparation for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July. The forum explored opportunities for advancing key transitions and cooperation towards achieving the SDGs in the region and discussed progress towards the Goals undergoing in-depth review in 2024. Civil Society Coalition Unpacks Trends in VNR Reporting A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has launched the eighth edition of the ‘Progressing National SDGs Implementation’ report, which provides an independent analysis of reporting by UN Member States to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The report examines the current status of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, discusses trends in reporting, and highlights good practice for civil society participation. UN-Water Meeting Reflects on Implementing UN Water and Sanitation Strategy The 39th UN-Water Meeting brought together its Members and Partners to brainstorm how to implement the first-ever UN system-wide water and sanitation strategy. Another key focus during the meeting was coordination and collaboration with other international processes. Discussions on the launches of upcoming reports were also prominent. CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS SEE MORE » 29th Session of the International Seabed Authority Assembly and Council (Part I) 18-29 March 2024 | Kingston, Jamaica EGM on SDG 2 and Its Interlinkages with Other SDGs 26-27 March 2024 | Roma, Lazio, Italy International Day of Zero Waste 2024 30 March 2024 | worldwide Second Session of the SIDS4 Preparatory Committee 1-5 April 2024 | New York City, US ECOSOC Management Meetings 2024 9 April 2024 | New York City, US 2024 OECD Infrastructure Forum 9-10 April 2024 | Paris, Ile-De-France, France 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference 10-12 April 2024 | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain High-level Thematic Debate on Debt Sustainability and Socioeconomic Equality for All 15 April 2024 | New York City, US 2024 Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Forum on Sustainable Development 15-19 April 2024 | Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile UNGA Sustainability Week 15-19 April 2024 | New York City, US 23rd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 15-26 April 2024 | New York City, US High-level Thematic Event on Sustainable Tourism 16 April 2024 | New York City, US Our Ocean Conference 2024 16-17 April 2024 | Athens, Attiki, Greece 11th Meeting of the ITPGRFA Working Group to Enhance the Functioning of the MLS 16-18 April 2024 | Roma, Lazio, Italy ECOSOC Youth Forum 2024 16-18 April 2024 | New York City, US High-level Meeting on Sustainable Transport 17 April 2024 | New York City, US Funding for the IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub has been provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) The IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub is a knowledgebase tracking implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 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