Over the past ten days, world leaders, policy makers and key stakeholders gathered to review progress, share experiences and discuss strategies to advance sustainable development.
The HLPF serves as a central platform for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the SDGs, which were adopted by all UN member states in 2015. These goals encompass a wide range of goals, such as eradicating poverty, promoting gender equality, guarantee access to quality education. and health, and environmental protection.
Focused on the theme of sustainable and resilient recovery COVID 19 Pandemic, this year’s HLPF recognized the unprecedented challenges posed by the global health crisis.
Far-reaching impact of COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on all aspects of society, exacerbating existing inequalities and hindering progress towards the SDGs. The forum aimed to identify solutions and strategies to rebuild better in a post-pandemic world.
Admitting that the world is “woefully off track” to meet the SDGs by the 2030 deadline, senior UN officials, ministers and policy makers, as well as representatives of the private sector and leading public groups, discussed the ways to boost the implementation of five of the 17 SDGs.
They scrutinized the progress made so far in universal access to clean water, sanitation and energy, and reviewed ways to harness new technologies, and also discussed the crucial role of urban development.
Lachezara Stoeva, president of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), who led the work of the Forum, highlighted the importance of innovation, technology and high-impact partnerships.
“We are halfway to 2030 and yet nowhere near achieving the SDGs. The bad news is that we have lost seven years. The good news is that we still have seven years and victory is within our grasp” , he said.
National reviews
Throughout the HLPF, participants participated in more than 200 high-level panel discussions, interactive dialogues and voluntary national reviews. Thirty-nine countries provided data on their progress towards achieving the SDGs, one of the key components of the development agenda.
One of the important conclusions of the HLPF was the recognition that achieving the SDGs requires a collective effort that includes governments, civil society, businesses and individuals.
Fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships and mobilizing resources to accelerate progress toward goals is crucial. The private sector, in particular, has a vital role to play in driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth through responsible business practices and investments.
At the end of the HLPF, it is essential to build on the momentum generated during this week, the participants concluded. The results presented at the Forum are crucial to the success of the ODS Summit in September
