World Leaders Assess Progress on Sustainable Development Goals at the UN High-Level Political Forum
Childhood Education International’s UN Representative Elisabeth Shuman recently provided the following update regarding the High-Level Political Forum.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – also known as the Global Goals – were agreed to in 2015 by all United Nations Member States, with the (aspirational) timeline of achieving them by 2030.
In order to track progress, each July the UN hosts the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), where Member States and Civil Society report on progress and challenges, share experiences, and explore solutions toward achieving the SDGs, together with the private sector and non-government organizations. Childhood Education International is represented as a member of the “Major Groups and Other Stakeholders.”
HLPF Theme
This year’s HLPF is July 10-20, with the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.”
Of the 17 SDGs, the HLPF will host an in-depth review of the following: SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities; and SDG 17– Partnership for the Goals.
Because of its role in achieving all the SDGs, SDG 17 is reviewed every year.
Voluntary Reviews
The formal way for Member States to report on their progress (or lack of progress) is through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs).
This year, 39 representatives will present their VNRs: Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Comoros, Chile, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, European Union, Fiji, France, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Mongolia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Việt Nam, and Zambia.
Achieving Sustainable Futures
The Sustainable Development Goals are meant for all of us, and everyone can play a part toward achieving them.
At CE International, our work directly relates to SDG 4 – Quality Education but also connects deeply with all of the SDGs. We believe education is an essential element in achieving progress toward sustainability across all sectors.
Next Steps
Because we are at the half-way point toward the 2030 target date to achieve the SDGs, there will also be an SDG Summit in September under the auspices of the General Assembly, where heads of state, along with thought leaders from governments, international organizations, private sector, civil society, women, youth, and other stakeholders, will engage in a series of high-level meetings to carry out a review of the state of the SDGs. They will also respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions.