The 2024 High political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) is a sequel to the one from last September SDG Summitdescribed at the time by the UN Secretary-General as a ‘moment of unity’ to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into practice.
Government ministers, activists and members of civil society will meet and debate during a packed programme at UN headquarters, much of which will be broadcast live on UN Web TV.
On the eve of the HLPF, here are five key things you need to know about this important event.
1. It’s about achieving the Global Goals
HLPF was born in the wake of the founding of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015.
The Agenda, agreed and adopted by the UN member states, is often described as the blueprint for a better future, for people and the planet. It is divided into 17 Goalsin crucial areas such as poverty, education, gender equality and the environment.
The 2023 SDG Summit marked the midpoint of the goals and underscored the fact that most of them are way off track. At this year’s Forum, delegates will seek to sow new enthusiasm and accelerate action toward the goals.
© WFP/Lena von Zabern
Grandmother Jeanette (66 years old) and her grandchildren prepare cassava for dinner.
2. Five goals in the spotlight
The goals being revised this year are SDG 1 (End Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The discussions will revolve around some of the key takeaways from this year’s conference. SDG Progress Reportan extensive inventory that, according to the UN Secretary-General António Guterresshowed that “the world is getting a failing grade”.
Some of these lessons include the fact that in 2022, 700 million people lived on less than $2.15 a day and a staggering 783 million people went hungry, the past nine years were the warmest on record, and large swaths of the U.S. population still lack access to justice.
Each goal is divided into targets, some of which are being met (for example, child mortality has fallen), but they represent less than a fifth of the total. About a third are stalled or even regressing.
© UNICEF/Mark Naftalin
Young girls study at a school in Mazar-i-Sharīf, Balkh Province, Afghanistan.
3. Countries will share their success stories
However, the UN is keen to show that not all hope is lost. It points to recent steps in deploying renewable energy, the fact that girls in most regions have as many children in school as boys, and even more children, and progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Several countries will share their examples of best practices and lessons learned, and report the outcome of their Voluntary National Reviews. You can find the full list of countries presenting their reviews here here.
“Humanity has shown time and again that if we work together and use our collective spirit, we can find solutions to seemingly intractable problems,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías
A delegate of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the floor of the General Assembly hall.
4. It is not just the Member States: other voices will be heard too
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development impacts all sectors of society, not just governments, and this is reflected in the Forum. There will be a range of special events and side-events throughout the two weeks, involving groups representing a range of special interests, including women, children and youth, NGOs, indigenous peoples, farmers and local authorities.
The first week will feature events dedicated to science-based action on the SDGs, mobilizing local and regional governments, and transforming education. The second week will focus on food security and nutrition, water action, and climate.
The full programme can be found here here.
UN Photo/Laura Jarriel
Young people queue at a display at the UN headquarters in New York depicting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
5. Next stop: Summit of The Future
The forum will help build momentum for the Top of the future which will take place on 22 and 23 September. The Summit, the centrepiece of the General Assembly’s High-Level Week, is being billed as an opportunity to revitalise the multilateral system and get the world back on track to achieve the SDGs.
Progress on financing will play a key role at both events. Discussions at the July forum will feed into the statements and documents presented at the Future Summit.
These include the Pact for the Future, which aims to define priorities and actions to address global challenges; the Declaration on Future generationswhich will include specific steps to take into account the interests of future generations; and the Global Digital Compact, which is expected to map out a path towards an open, free, secure and human-centred digital future for all.
