UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development:'No time for political luxury!'
Quoting the Forum's central message, Ambassador Dr Mostafa El-Sherbiny, international expert in climate and sustainability, said at the opening session:
'The world can no longer afford excuses. We are halfway through to 2030. Now is the time to take concrete actions that make a real impact on people's lives and save the planet,'
Dr Sherbiny participated with four official initiatives that have been listed on the UN website in partnership with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). He described this recognition as historic, the first time the UN publishes four initiatives led by an Egyptian, Arab, and international expert. These initiatives have shaped sustainable development efforts in the first half of the 2030 Agenda timeline:
• Climate Ambassadors Initiative: A youth and women-driven movement for climate awareness.
• Carbon Neutrality Pioneers Initiative: Introducing carbon footprint culture across Egypt and the Arab world.
• Sustainability and Carbon Auditors Initiative: The first to establish the profession of carbon footprint auditing in Egypt and the region.
• Water Ambassadors Initiative: Launched with the UN during the 2023 Water Conference.
Dr Sherbiny noted that the opening day of HLPF 2025 was packed with global concerns over declining progress in SDGs, especially in health, gender equality, economic growth, marine life, and global partnerships.
'The forum's opening was not just ceremonial, it was a humanitarian call to action. The world needs science-based decisions and resources directed to those furthest behind, not more political speeches,' he stressed.
The launch of the 2025 SDG Progress Report revealed a wide gap between commitments and outcomes, he said, pointing to regressions caused by overlapping crises: from climate change and political conflict to the pandemic and debt turmoil.
The presence and contribution of civil society organisations was evident from day one, with powerful interventions such as the Women's Group statement: 'Rather than accelerating progress, we are witnessing alarming setbacks.'
Dr Sherbiny stressed the importance of civil pressure to push governments toward equitable, just policies.
'Unless plans translate into real financing, built on accurate data, and provide genuine roles for civil society, we are merely reproducing the same old promises, while losing direction in the second half of the 2030 journey,' Dr Sherbiny warned.
He highlighted a key session by the World Health Organisation, addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), especially amid rising health threats in fragile regions. He called for integrating mental health into all national strategies due to its profound impact on productivity and social well-being.
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is the UN's central platform to review global SDG progress under the umbrella of ECOSOC. Held annually at the UN Headquarters in New York, it gathers heads of State, ministers, development experts, civil society, and the private sector in a global dialogue to evaluate where the world stands on these goals, and where it is heading.
The HLPF is the key venue to assess progress on all 17 SDGs and identify challenges and achievements. It is an international accountability mechanism, with countries submitting Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to transparently share performance. It also encourages collaboration among governments, UN agencies, donors, and civil society; and is an equity tracker that monitors disparities and reinforces the 2030 Agenda's core principle of 'Leave No One Behind.'
HLPF 2025: A Critical Moment on the Road to 2030, held from 14 July 14 to 23 July 2025, comes at the defining midpoint of the half way to 2030. Yet many goals—notably on climate, health, and gender equality—are lagging. This amid complex global crises of war, inflation, debt, and climate change that threaten development gains; also a trillion-dollar development financing gap that calls for innovative and fair funding mechanisms.
HLPF 2025 Focus Areas include in-depth reviews of:
o SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
o SDG 5: Gender Equality
o SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
o SDG 14: Life Below Water
o SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
It also features 37 Voluntary National Reviews and side events from WHO, UNDP, UNEP addressing mental health, climate finance, tech innovation, and women's empowerment.
Watani International
21 July 2025
Comments
comments
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
24 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Hamas leader slams Israeli withdrawal from Doha talks, denounces ‘theatrical' aid airdrops - War on Gaza
Khalil El-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas's political bureau in Gaza, strongly criticised Israel on Sunday for withdrawing from ceasefire negotiations in Doha, accusing it of attempting to 'evade' its responsibilities while intensifying its war on the besieged Palestinian territory. El-Hayya described Israel's retreat from the Qatari capital as a 'clear indication' that it is 'not serious about reaching an agreement,' and is instead 'buying time to continue its war of extermination' against Palestinians in war-torn Strip. 'In the last round of negotiations, we made clear progress and reached near agreement on what the mediators presented to us, especially on the files of withdrawal, prisoners, and the entry of aid,' he said in a recorded statement addressed to the Palestinian people in Gaza. 'We received positive responses from the Zionist occupation via the mediators. But we were surprised when the occupation abruptly pulled out of the talks, along with US envoy Steve Wietkoff, in a blatant and transparent step aimed at wasting time and deepening the genocide of our people.' The Hamas official said Israel later sent remarks objecting to the agreed-upon mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid, 'seeking to undermine the role of UN and local institutions' and insisting on maintaining a system that has 'turned aid into death traps, killing and wounding thousands of our people.' The talks in Doha—mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States—were part of a broader push to reach a ceasefire deal and secure the release of Israelis detained in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian detainees. Previous rounds have faltered over key sticking points, including Israel's refusal to commit to a permanent ceasefire and its rejection of a full withdrawal from Gaza. El-Hayya confirmed that Hamas remains in contact with mediators but warned that meaningful talks cannot continue under the current conditions of siege, displacement, starvation and genocide. 'The only serious and genuine indication that negotiations are worthwhile is the lifting of the blockade and the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to our people,' he said. He reiterated that the resistance group position remains anchored in four conditions: a permanent end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, the return of all displaced Palestinians to their homes, and a comprehensive plan for reconstruction. He also rejected recent foreign airdrops of humanitarian aid as 'farcical theatrics,' saying: 'We reject the farcical theatrics that are called airdrop operations for aid," he said. 'We reject the farcical theatrics called airdrop aid missions,' 'What is required is the permanent and unobstructed opening of land crossings, and aid delivery in accordance with international standards.' He also accused Israel of pushing to seize a large area of Rafah to create a buffer zone for displaced Palestinians, 'paving the way for the forced displacement of our people into Egypt or across the sea, in a clear plan aimed at liquidating our cause.' Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany's Merz calls on Israel to provide aid to Gaza's starving population - War on Gaza
Germany's chancellor on Sunday called on Israel's prime minister to quickly provide aid to "starving" Palestinians in Gaza, in a phone call between the two leaders. Chancellor Friedrich Merz "expressed his deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza," said a government statement. "He called on Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu to do everything in his power to achieve an immediate ceasefire. He urged him to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now. This aid must reach the civilian population quickly, safely, and in the required quantities." Israel's war on Gaza -- described as genocide by several prominent genocide scholars and numerous aid organisations -- has killed at least 59,821 Palestinians and injured more than 144,851, the majority of them women and children. The war has been compounded by Israel's blockade on the entry of all humanitarian aid, including food, which has persisted for nearly five months since it was imposed on 2 March. Israeli occupation forces have killed over 1,000 Palestinians attempting to access food aid in Gaza since a US-Israeli so-called humanitarian foundation, began operations in late May, according to the UN. The UN and NGOs on the ground have decried the severe scarcity facing Gaza's 2.4 million people, with shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel. More than 100 aid organisations have already warned that "mass starvation" was spreading across the Palestinian territory. Germany, seeking to atone for the Holocaust, has long been one of Israel's most steadfast supporters. It is one of the biggest suppliers of weapons to Israel, providing about 30% of Israel's arms imports between 2019 and 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It ranks second only to the United States, which accounted for over two-thirds (69%) of all arms sold to Israel from abroad during the same period. Last year, Germany's arms sales to Israel were worth €326.5m ($361m) -- a tenfold increase compared with 2022 -- with the majority of export licences granted after the war on Gaza began in October 2023, according to Germany's federal government. But as the civilian toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have worsened, Germany has recently intensified its subtle criticism of its ally. The German government has stated that it regards recognition of a Palestinian state as "one of the final steps on the path to achieving a two-state solution." *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
5 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Association of Real Estate Developers seeks urgent meeting over threatened land deallocation on Northwest Coast
The dispute over land ownership on Egypt's Northwest Coast is intensifying, as the government threatens to repossess undeveloped plots from real estate developers. This has prompted more than 120 companies to enter urgent negotiations to resolve their legal and administrative status. Developers are under mounting pressure following the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities' decision to temporarily suspend dealings with 74 real estate entities, citing failures to meet allocation conditions and delays in payments. The crisis deepened when authorities imposed retroactive fees for land transfer and improvement—ranging from EGP 500 to 1,000 per square metre. Developers strongly objected to what they described as an abrupt and uncoordinated move, especially given the challenging economic climate, marked by rising construction costs and significant currency fluctuations. Meanwhile, inspection committees uncovered multiple cases of land held without proper ownership documents, alongside licensing complications arising from overlapping responsibilities among government entities. In response, the state has moved to centralise land oversight under the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA). While 162 companies have been formally urged to rectify their legal status, many developers have called for the new fees to apply only to future projects, and for legislative dialogue to reassess the imposed amounts and introduce financial facilitations to ease market disruption. The Association of Real Estate Developers (arD) is closely following a recent decision issued by the NUCA Board of Directors during session No. 205 of 2025, which allows for the cancellation of land allocations to developers facing outstanding or rescheduled payments, delays in obtaining licences or ministerial approvals, or failure to sign contracts within three months of their last official interaction with the authority. The Association stressed that the decision has raised serious concerns among companies operating in the sector, particularly given current economic pressures, sharp rises in construction costs, and administrative delays often beyond developers' control—all of which could slow project completion. In response, the arD has submitted an official request for an urgent meeting with Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, to discuss the decision and propose solutions that both protect the state's rights and support the continuity of real estate projects—key drivers of Egypt's economy. The Association also called for the grace period for settling arrears to be extended from three to six months, allowing committed companies to regularise their status and meet financial obligations amid mounting economic pressures on the real estate sector. While affirming developers' full commitment to the state's urban development plans and to upholding market discipline, the arD urged the adoption of more balanced policies that take into account current economic challenges, helping ensure the continuation of projects and protecting the country's sustainable development agenda—a central pillar of Egypt's economic vision. The Association noted it has been the only entity actively working to engage all relevant stakeholders since the start of the crisis. It warned that enforcing the decision without adequate notice for companies to address compliance issues could harm the investment climate and undermine investor confidence—both domestic and international—in Egypt's real estate market.
