United Nations Department of Economic and Social AffairsDESA

44 countries to present their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals at HLPF 2017

Member States and leaders from civil society, business, UN System, specialized agencies, academia and other stakeholders will convene in New York from 10 to 19 July 2017 for the annual High-level Political Forum (HLPF) to review progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Forum is the central UN platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, its theme this year will be “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. The Sustainable Development Goals to be reviewed in depth in 2017 are:

• Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Goal 17, which aims to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, will also be considered in depth, as it is every year.

Various perspectives on these 7 SDGs are explored in a weekly HLPF Blog series that has seen 16 entries by a broad range of stakeholders. In the very first entry, the President of ECOSOC, Ambassador Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, highlighted a key function of the Forum: “Of vital importance will be to regularly hear from countries and other stakeholders about their experiences and lessons learned in implementing the SDGs. A key task of the HLPF, as the central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, is to provide a forum for inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue and to facilitate peer-learning and exchange,” he said.

In his blog entry, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Wu Hongbo emphasized the importance of continued commitment to the HLPF and the SDGs: “In a world that is going through rapid change, staying committed to the SDGs and multilateralism is essential to ensuring peace and security, the well-being of the planet and shared global prosperity,” he said.

Reviewing progress towards the SDGs

True to its multi-stakeholder nature, this year’s HLPF is expected to bring together Member States with representatives of the UN system, intergovernmental organizations and a record number of different experts and stakeholder actors. At the heart of the Forum are the Voluntary National Reviews of progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

44 Member States will be conducting such reviews during the three-day ministerial segment of the Forum from Monday, 17 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2017. The reviews are state-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants, and provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders.

The Forum will also see the presentation of the Secretary-General’s Report on Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, which provides a global overview of the current situation of the Goals, on the basis of the latest available data for indicators in the global indicator framework.

The outcomes of the historic Ocean Conference held on 5-9 June 2017 at United Nations Headquarter will be provided as an input to the HLPF for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. The Forum will look at the interlinkages of SDG 14 on oceans and seas with other SDGs as well as the follow-up to the Ocean Conference.

Ministerial declaration

The Forum will conclude in a negotiated ministerial declaration. The co-facilitators leading the consultations for the declaration in 2017 are Ambassador Jan Kickert, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations and Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations. Draft Elements for the Ministerial Declaration can be viewed on the HLPF website.

Events and activities

The eight-day programme of the HLPF is filled with a wide range of events and activities. The ‘SDGs Learning, Training and Practice 2017’, a capacity building and networking event in finding solutions to sustainable development challenges, is offering a total of eight courses to registered HLPF participants between 10 and 14 July.

A Partnership Exchange special event on 17 July will review the work of multi-stakeholder partnerships and other voluntary initiatives in driving implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14 and 17.

The second annual SDG Business Forum on 18 July will convene leaders from business and government, together with the heads of UN agencies, key international organizations, and civil society groups to delve into the role business will play in delivering the 2030 Agenda.

There will be over 100 side events taking place in the margins of the HLPF, as well an SDG live event with media interviews, brief panel discussions and other activities.

For more information:

2017 High-level political forum on sustainable development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council

Turning the tide to save our ocean

Our ocean is in serious trouble and the deterioration is increasingly posing a danger to people’s lives, livelihoods and well-being. On 5 June, the Ocean Conference kicks off in New York with a clear purpose of reversing this trend, presenting concrete solutions for healthy oceans and seas. Ahead of the event, UN DESA Voice spoke with Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General of UN DESA and Secretary-General of the Ocean Conference, about some of the urgent actions needed and his hopes for what the event will achieve.

“The state of our ocean is worrying,” said Mr. Wu, describing marine pollution, overfishing and other challenges threatening the state of our global waters which cover 72 per cent of the Earth’s surface and is home to between 500,000 and 10 million marine species. “The carrying capacity of our ocean has reached its limit.”

It is against this backdrop that the United Nations is organizing the Ocean Conference under the theme “Our oceans, our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14” from 5 to 9 June, bringing together thousands of participants from the international community.

Oceans and seas play vital role for our survival

Healthy oceans are critical for sustaining life, eliminating poverty and promoting prosperity. Taking care of them will save both lives and money. During our discussion, Mr. Wu mentioned several areas in which oceans and seas play a vital role in our daily lives. They provide the food we eat and the nutrition we need. They are also crucial for economic and social development, for communications, transportation and for creating job opportunities.

“But that is not all. Oceans and seas are the largest carbon dioxide sink,” Mr. Wu explained, referring to their role in slowing the rate of climate change by absorbing about 30 per cent of human emissions of carbon dioxide.

Mr. Wu also highlighted the fact that they produce half of the oxygen we breathe and serve as stabilizer of the Earth’s temperature. “So imagine if we do not have this ocean, if we have it all polluted, we will be in serious trouble, not only us, but the generations to come.”

“We have to know where the threats come from”

But despite their importance, our oceans and seas continue to be negatively affected by human activities. Every year, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans. This is equal to dumping a garbage truck of plastic every minute.

“You know people are joking, if you drop a plastic bottle on this side of the Atlantic, it may be picked up by the other side of the Pacific. All the plastic waste thrown into the sea, not only makes it dirty, but it is very harmful to all the inhabitants in the sea and also very harmful to our environment,” said Mr. Wu.

Indeed, it is estimated that plastic waste alone kills up to one million sea birds, a hundred thousand sea mammals and countless fish each year.

These challenges are affecting vulnerable groups and coastal communities. They are also impacting countries with a high dependency on the oceans and their marine resources, as well as the threats that the changes to our climate pose. “Climate change actually produces the adverse effect on oceans and seas. The melting of ice bergs would raise the sea level,” he said, affecting low-lying islands and coastal areas. “That would be natural disasters for many, many inhabitants on land.”

“We have to be fully aware, where the dangers come from, where the threats come from. Then we can take actions accordingly.”

Taking action now is critical

Mr. Wu stressed the need for urgent action, also expressing optimism for what the Ocean Conference will be able to accomplish. “We are going to have a very important and very large conference,” Mr. Wu said, highlighting the expected large turn-out in terms of Member States as well as NGOs gathering at UN Headquarters in New York.

“The Conference will not only serve as a place to raise awareness of the state of the oceans, but will produce a global call for action and generate new dialogues and partnerships aimed at implementing solutions. In addition, many participants will announce new voluntary commitments to address ocean challenges,” said Mr. Wu.

The main outcomes of the Conference will be a negotiated document, a “Call for Action”, with a concrete plan towards a more sustainable future for our oceans; a report featuring the co-chairs’ summary of the seven partnership dialogues; and voluntary commitments.

These pledges for ocean action have also been picking up pace in advance of the event. As of 26 May, 310 voluntary commitments have been registered on the Conference website. “We have seen a surge in new commitments to address the very real concerns that our oceans are facing,” Mr. Wu said. “We hope the pace will pick up even further.”

Helping our ocean will help our future

As we were about to wrap up our interview, we turned to the question of what people around the globe can do to help turn the tide towards healthy oceans and seas. “As ordinary citizens I think we should love our oceans, love our cities. With our love, we are going to protect them, just like with our own family.”

“As for the specific actions, it varies from place to place,” said Mr. Wu. “You have to identify the local problems in your area. For instance, in some areas and in some countries, the ocean pollution is the number one challenge. Then go to the local community and government officials to see what you can do, to help to remove all this rubbish, dumped into the sea, to clean the environment, to solve the pollution problem.”

“If it is the challenge of overfishing, then you may help the government authorities or local communities, to try to stop these overfishing activities. And of course everybody should get themselves mobilized to fight against climate change,” Mr. Wu said.

“As ordinary citizens we can do a lot. Let’s join forces with others in the community to take action immediately to help our oceans help our future,” concluded Mr. Wu.

For more information: The Ocean Conference

UN Forum to consider forest-based solutions to improve people’s lives and reduce poverty

The United Nations Forum on Forests will meet for its 12th session (UNFF12) from 1 to 5 May 2017 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The meeting marks the first session of the Forum since the historic adoption of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 by the United Nations General Assembly on 27 April 2017. Discussions at UNFF12 will focus on technical issues related to sustainable forest management and strategies to promote implementation of the Strategic Plan.

The UN Strategic Plan for Forests was forged at a special session of the UN Forum on Forests held in January 2017 and provides an ambitious vision for global forests in 2030. The Plan features a set of six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets to be reached by 2030, which are voluntary and universal. One of the bold, groundbreaking aspects of the Strategic Plan is a target to expand the world’s forests by 3%, an area of 120 million hectares, by 2030.

Forests presently cover 30 per cent of the Earth’s land area, or nearly 4 billion hectares. Sustainably managed forests are healthy, productive, resilient and renewable ecosystems, which provide vital goods and ecosystem services to people worldwide. An estimated 25 per cent of the global population – 1.6 billion people – depend on forests for their subsistence, livelihood, employment and income.

The Global Forest Goals and targets aim to stimulate and provide a framework for voluntary actions, contributions and enhanced cooperation by countries, partners and stakeholders. They cover a wide range of issues including: increasing forest area and combating climate change; reducing poverty and increasing forest protected areas; mobilizing financing and inspiring innovation; promoting governance and enhancing cooperation across sectors and stakeholders.

The key mission of the Strategic Plan is to promote sustainable forest management and promote the contribution of forests to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including by strengthening cooperation and political commitment at all levels.

Discussions at UNFF12 will take into account the 2017 theme of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), “Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World” and the Sustainable Development Goals under in-depth review by the HLPF this year. In particular, the meeting will focus on four thematic priorities related to forests and the SDGs, namely Forests and Poverty Eradication (SDG1), Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls (SDG5), Forests and Food Security (SDG2), Means of Implementation for Sustainable Forest Management (SDGs 15.b and 17).

For millions of people living in poverty, forest and tree resources provide food, fuel for cooking and heating, water, medicine, shelter and clothing and function as safety nets in crises. Foods from forests including – leaves, seeds, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, insects and wild animals – provide nutrition, dietary diversity and health to millions of rural people. Forests also contribute significantly to rural food security and health as sources of wood fuel to cook food and sterilize water.

The Forum is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council and is composed of all Member States of the UN. Since its inception, the Forum has reached notable milestones including the adoption of the first UN Forest Instrument in 2007, the creation of the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network in 2015 and most recently, the adoption in 2017 of the first UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017- 2030.

For more information: United Nations Forum on Forests

Changing population age structures and sustainable development: Achievements, challenges, opportunities

At its 50th session in April 2017, the Commission on Population and Development will consider a universal feature of recent population trends: changing population age structures. Gradual shifts in the age distribution of a population present both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. The world’s population has undergone profound changes as mortality and fertility levels have decreased around the world. This pair of changes, known together as the demographic transition, leads initially to rapid growth and a younger population, driven by an early reduction in child mortality.

A subsequent decline in fertility triggers population ageing, which is further accentuated by reductions in adult mortality and the resulting increase in the number of persons who survive to older ages. The speed and timing of the demographic transition have varied greatly across countries and regions.

Major achievement of human development

The demographic transition represents a major achievement of human development. It has brought higher rates of survival from childhood to adulthood and longer life spans, as a consequence of an overall improvement in health. Other important elements of the transition are the greater ability of couples to choose the number and timing of any children they may desire, and the increased certainty that both children and mothers will survive the challenges of birth and childbirth.

The historical reductions in mortality and fertility are driven by, and help to reinforce, other defining aspects of sustainable development, including expanded access to education, improvements in sexual and reproductive health, and greater gender equality. Collectively, these changes promote an increased productivity of workers, a larger workforce especially as women take on new social roles, and a higher standard of living.

Changing population age structures also present a substantial challenge, especially to countries that are unprepared for them. The failure to account for and adapt to changes in a population’s age structure can exacerbate existing gaps in development, especially when the shift in population over time is toward age groups that lack access to essential services and social protection. Countries with growing populations of young people must find ways to provide education and employment opportunities for youth or risk forfeiting some of their potential contribution toward sustainable development.

Preparing for ageing populations

Because of population ageing, the number of persons requiring extended care due to disability or functional limitation is likely to increase in all countries. National health systems should promote healthy lifestyles and provide quality care throughout the life course. Governments and other stakeholders should support family caregivers while also providing options for community-based and institutional care when needed.

Countries unprepared for the challenge of population ageing will face difficulties in managing its fiscal impacts on public support systems for older persons. One policy option is to increase the statutory age of retirement in tandem with increasing life expectancy. Many countries have pursued other reforms of their social security systems, focusing on both the adequacy and the sustainability of the systems.

The challenges of population ageing can be mitigated to some extent if the population maintains a birth rate that is sufficient to ensure replacement of successive generations. In many countries today, young and middle-aged persons, especially women, face substantial challenges in balancing the demands of work and family, including caring for children and older parents. Policies that support the participation of women in the labour force, parental leave for both fathers and mothers, affordable child care, and long-term care for older persons, when needed, can ease downward pressures on the birth rate while contributing to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Commission on Population and Development meets in early April

The Commission on Population and Development will consider these important issues when it meets from 3 to 7 April at UN Headquarters in New York. Informed by two recent reports of the Secretary-General, the Commission’s deliberations on the annual theme will be the main activity of delegates and other stakeholders, including many from civil society. There will also be keynote presentations, national voluntary presentations combined with a panel discussion and interactive debate, and a variety of side-events that will enhance and enrich the discussions.

It is anticipated that the Commission will point toward the ongoing changes in population age structure as important opportunities to enhance social and economic development. When the share of children in a population falls while that of working-age adults rises, there is typically a temporary increase in the ratio of workers to dependents.

The potential of a “demographic dividend”

A relative increase in the size of the working-age population can help to accelerate economic growth and the rise in income per capita. However, achieving the full benefit of this potential “demographic dividend” requires investment in human capital — ensuring access to health care and education at all ages — and opportunities for productive employment.

In later stages of the demographic transition, when population ageing puts pressure on budgets for public pensions and health care, the increasing proportion of older persons can nevertheless be accompanied by robust economic growth. Larger cohorts of older persons and increased savings per capita — partly in reaction to longer lifespans — can result in more money being available for capital investment, which can stimulate economic growth. To benefit fully from this second “demographic dividend”, countries should invest in education and health, ensure opportunities for productive employment, and encourage savings and investment.

In the video commemorating the 50th session of the Commission on Population and Development, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Wu Hongbo, stated that by the year 2050, the population may increase to 9 billion. Such dramatic population growth will present challenges for everyone – for governments and the international community. UN DESA’s Population Division and the Commission on Population and Development should use this opportunity to assess the trends and provide the policy guidance that is so important for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Commission

The 50th session of the Commission on Population and Development, taking place in 2017, also marks the 70th anniversary of the Commission, since its predecessor, the Population Commission, met for the first time in 1947. As stated by Carmen Barroso, former Director of International Planned Parenthood Federation, Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR): “The Commission plays a very important role because it has a solid technical background, but at the same time it is a space for political negotiation. The political negotiations are very complex, dealing with life, death, and power relationships”.

The Commission’s discussions this year on changing population age structures and sustainable development will encourage governments to become more familiar with a fundamental and universal aspect of demographic change that presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. The Commission’s work will help to ensure that policy making on these important topics will be informed by a factual understanding of the underlying population dynamics that are shaping countries, regions and the world.

Follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtags #CPD50, #UNPopulation and #UNDESA70. The plenary session will also be broadcast live via UN Web TV.

For more information: 50th session of the Commission on Population and Development