Latest news with #2025High-LevelPoliticalForumonSustainableDevelopment
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
High-Level Political Forum Concludes With Call For Accelerated Action On Sustainable Development
Ministerial Declaration reaffirms commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals The 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) concluded this week with Member States calling for urgent, coordinated action to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Member States adopted a ministerial declaration that demonstrates the political will to achieve the SDGs for the benefit of all. 'The SDGs represent the common sense of humanity,' said Bob Rae, President of the UN Economic and Social Council. He further noted that 'strengthening national ownership of the SDGs is essential. That means integrating them into national development plans, budgets, and policies—not as an add-ons, but as the core of how Governments serve their people.' He added that 'We need to reaffirm the UN's relevance through results—by showing that multilateralism delivers real, tangible benefits for people at every level of society.' Held from 14 to 23 July under the auspices of the ECOSOC, the HLPF came at a critical time as countries strive to address intersecting global challenges—from protracted conflicts and economic instability to the escalating climate crisis. Building on the outcomes of the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla – that ended with a call to urgently address the $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing needed to achieve the SDGs – the progress made at the HLPF will help inform discussions at the upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'The Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream,' said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his opening remarks on 21 July. 'They are a plan. A plan to keep our promises — to the most vulnerable people, to each other, and to future generations.' Over the course of two weeks, the Forum brought together over 6,000 in-person participants, including governments, youth, civil society, scientists, the private sector, and other key partners, to share experiences and spotlight innovative, inclusive solutions to advance SDG implementation. Discussions focused on integrated responses to today's most pressing issues under the theme 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for leaving no one behind.' The SDGs reviewed in-depth were Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 14 (Life Below Water) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Accelerating SDG implementation critical to address global challenges The recently launched the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 revealed that significant progress has been made in global health, education, and sustainability: new HIV infections have fallen nearly 40 per cent since 2010, malaria prevention has saved over 12 million lives since 2000, and social protection now reaches more than half the world's population. Yet only 35 per cent of targets are on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are advancing too slowly and 18 per cent have regressed. More than 800 million people continue to live in extreme poverty, while billions lack access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Temperatures reached 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024, making it the hottest year on record. Conflicts led to nearly 50,000 deaths that same year, and forced displacement affected over 120 million people worldwide. At the same time, low- and middle-income countries faced record-high debt servicing costs of $1.4 trillion in 2023. The report called for action across six priority areas where intensified efforts could deliver transformative impact: food systems, energy access, digital transformation, education, jobs and social protection, and climate and biodiversity action. Voluntary National Reviews Thirty-five countries presented their Voluntary National Reviews at the Forum — highlighting the actions they have taken to achieve the SDGs. Snapshot of countries' reporting on progress: Bangladesh leverages the Future nation platform to connect thousands of young people from marginalized and mainstream backgrounds to skill-building, entrepreneurship, and job opportunities, bridging skill gaps through digital tools and global mentorship. Ethiopia's"5 Million Coders Initiative" equips youth with digital skills using free, certified, offline-accessible courses to bridge divides. Finland has made progress in marine protection, reaching the target of conserving 10 percent of its total marine area. It actively participates in negotiations for a new treaty to end plastic pollution. Finland's protected areas cover about 13% of its land area. Germany's Gender Equality (Management Positions) Act mandates a 30% quota for women on supervisory boards of certain companies, with a national target of increasing this to 40% by 2030. The federal public service aims for gender parity in leadership positions for women by 2025. Japan's 'SDGs Award" system has successfully promoted nationwide efforts, significantly increasing public awareness of the SDGs from 50% in 2021 to approximately 90% in 2023. Various SDGs-related award programs sponsored by ministries and agencies continue to advance specific initiatives, such as the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Promotion Award and the Green Infrastructure Award. Lesotho has improved its legal framework with laws like the Counter Domestic Violence Act (2022) and has seen increased women's political participation at local levels due to legislated quotas. Malta's Electronic Public Procurement System (ePPS) has digitized procurement processes, incorporating modules for Green Public Procurement (GPP) and energy efficiency standards. Nigeria is making investments to foster innovation, support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), enhance e-governance, and create jobs through expanded access to affordable, high-speed internet. Papua New Guinea is investing in digital literacy programs, especially for rural women, providing ICT training for entrepreneurs, coding courses, and digital financial literacy. Qatar actively engages youth through its Qatar Youth Innovation Award and hosts the Doha Forum, Youth Edition, which brings together young leaders globally for discussions on pressing challenges. Seychelles has enacted a Marine Spatial Plan in 2024, which legally designates 33% of its ocean territory for conservation and sustainable use. They have also achieved a notable reduction in plastic pollution through clean-up efforts and public awareness campaigns. Suriname 's Labour Market Policy addresses workforce development through skill-building initiatives and labor market integration strategies, including a national strategy for Youth Employment Events held in connection with HLPF In connection with the 2025 HLPF, there were 12 high-level special events, 13 VNR labs, 190 side events and 8 exhibitions, with a number of noteworthy outcomes including but not limited to the below: Launch of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments 9th Report on "Towards the Localization of the SDGs" Launch of new SDG 6 Country Acceleration Case studies (the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Republic of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) (UN Water) Launch of three Thematic Reports by the Expert Group on Climate and SDG Synergies (co-convened by UN DESA and UNFCCC): Synergy Solutions 2025: How Nature Conservation Can Advance SDG and Climate Action Synergy Solutions 2025: Closing the Climate and Disaster Insurance Protection Gap
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi Minister sounds alarm on "serious challenges"
Shafaq News – New York Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Mohammed Ali Tamim, said on Monday that the country continues to face major challenges, particularly those related to climate change and the worsening water shortage. Representing Iraq at the opening session of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development—held by the United Nations in New York from July 21 to 24 to assess global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—Tamim stressed that the water crisis remains one of Iraq's most urgent challenges. He expressed gratitude for the UN's continued support to developing countries and acknowledged the meaningful cooperation of international partners in addressing this critical issue. Earlier, Iraq's Green Observatory estimated the country's annual groundwater reserves at 3.4 billion cubic meters, with sustainable yields potentially exceeding 5 billion cubic meters per year. Official Iraqi data indicate the country could face a 20% decline in surface water availability by 2035, driven by upstream flow reductions and the escalating impacts of climate change.
Watani
6 days ago
- Politics
- Watani
UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development:'No time for political luxury!'
The 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), organised by the United Nations in New York, carried strong messages on the urgent need to accelerate the practical implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially amid mounting global challenges. 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
