NGOs

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 17 July, 2018: Global Pact for the Environment: A Tool in Implementing the 2030 Agenda Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Pollution beyond 2020: Working Together for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet! Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Global Pact for the Environment: A Tool in Implementing the 2030 Agenda Presented by the Permanent Mission of France to the UN This event convened to demonstrate that the Global Pact for the Environment (Global Pact) can be a tool for all countries to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) by strengthening international environmental law and facilitating the implementation of the environmental pillars of sustainable development. Moderator Jamil Ahmad, Director, UN Environment (UNEP), opened the event, noting it provides an important milestone for moving the Global Pact forward. Brune Poirson, Minister, Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, stressed: accelerating collective and concrete actions against "widespread and catastrophic loss of biodiversity,” and said the Global Pact aims to bring together fundamental principles of environmental law in a single, short, and cross-cutting text, noting international environmental law remains fragmented. She explained the UN General Assembly resolution (A/72/L.51) decided to establish an ad hoc open-ended working group to identify gaps in international environmental law and make recommendations by June 2019. On implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the panelists addressed: impacts of current international law; what content in the Global Pact would be most useful; and how to ensure greater stakeholder participation and engagement. Victor Tafur, International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL), and Representative to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), said the incomplete and fragmented nature of current international law will retard implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On a set of global principles, he said: states can guide implementation; principles apply directly once recognized and need neither bureaucracy nor a budget; and principles will help level the playing field among states. Siim Valmar Kiisler, Minister of Environment, Estonia, and President, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), observed, as a minister, that countries track what commitments have been made by their neighbors, and clearer understanding in this regard would help national legislative bodies. He said UNEA’s role would be more on the practical vs. legal aspects of the Global Pact, and he looked forward to future clarification about the linkage with UNEA. Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UNEP, lauded France for its recent environmental initiatives, saying political leadership is a “raw material” more needed and valuable than gold. He outlined UNEP’s role as one of service, highlighting an upcoming gap analysis that will provide information about the need for and potential benefits of the Global Pact. On potential ways to ensure usefulness in implementing the 2030 Agenda, Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal, stressed opportunities to strengthen actions to implement the 2030 Agenda at various levels. He emphasized: the principles of transparency, participation, and inclusion; and partnerships to mobilize everyone. Minister Poirson underscored the need to act together to address environmental degradations that affect vulnerable groups, including youth, women, and marginalized and indigenous groups, and said the Global Pact is an important tool for addressing this issue in partnerships and in solidarity. Daniel Calleja y Crespo, Director-General for Environment, European Commission, outlined the Global Pact aims to: offer a coherent legal framework; create a cornerstone for more far-reaching norms; complement other environmental law by codifying certain principles; foster legislative and jurisdictional mechanisms to ensure monitoring and implementation; and increase legal certainty. On ensuring greater stakeholder participation and ownership, Lazarus Amayo, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, said the Global Pact process needs to: ensure strong leadership and high-level commitments on the 2030 Agenda: involve countries that might not have voted for the resolution to move forward together to achieve the SDGs; and engage non-state actors, such as NGOs, the private sector, academia, and youth. Cyriaque Sendashonga, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), noted IUCN’s involvement in creating the opportunity for non-state actors to be involved. She said IUCN fully supports the resolution as it: ensures multi-stakeholder participation; contributes to achieving the 2030 Agenda; and accelerates actions of IUCN member states. During a discussion period, participants commented on: language establishing the right to a healthy environment; support for the Global Pact from the private sector, and local and regional governments; lack of uniform regulations on methane pollution; the need for conversations at the national level to assess domestic implications; and taking into account traditional knowledge, and the rights of indigenous peoples and women. Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, and Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), outlined key principles in the Global Pact and identified two challenges it can help to advance: climate change, saying it is not a risk of the future, but a clear and present danger, and that a system of remediation could help by providing funds for restitution, especially for poor people; and global supply chains, calling for globalized co-responsibility, where both downstream users and upstream generators are held responsible for environmental impacts. Minister Poirson said the Global Pact process offers a momentum for collective actions to progress together quickly, and closed the event, saying, “you can count on France to tackle this global struggle.” Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, said emergency response, in the context of climate-related natural disasters, is not a system; it leaves behind an unsolved catastrophe. Minister Brune Poirson, France, emphasized strong political response is crucial for addressing the challenges of sustainable development Moderator Jamil Ahmad, UN Environment, listens to a presentation Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, thanked countries who remained open to the Global Pact if the UN began a formal process, even though they initially voted against the UNGA resolution. Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal, said his country supports the Global Pact because it will provide benefits to human beings, animals, and the planet A participant listens to the discussion A participant applauded the Global Pact’s emphasis on health, saying pollution is the largest cause of death on the planet Lazarus Amayo, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, said his country continues to support whatever makes change possible Siim Valmar Kiisler, Minister of Environment, Estonia, and President, UNEA, said the entire international community should be invited to help determine how the Global Pact can most contribute to implementation of the 2030 Agenda Victor Tafur, ICEL, said national governments will decide how to apply the principles included in the Global Pact Daniel Calleja y Crespo, Director-General for Environment, EC, called the Global Pact a ground-breaking initiative that will facilitate implementation of the SDGs and environmental legislation in a holistic manner Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN, said IUCN involvement in the process has brought multi-stakeholder participation Participants take a photo before the session A participant poses a question The room during the session Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, takes a picture with participants Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, greets participants Contact: pactemondialenvir.dgm-ddd-clen@diplomatie.gouv.fr More Information: www.pactenvironment.org/ Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Pollution beyond 2020: Working Together for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet! Presented by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany This event provided a platform for participants to exchange perspectives on chemicals and waste, including challenges and opportunities for sound management, in the context of SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns. Moderator Minu Hemmati, Adelphi, called addressing chemicals a key enabler for achieving SDG 12. Noting that asbestos kills more than 100,000 people each year, and that up to 22 million people can be at risk from exposure to lead-acid car battery recycling, she called for: raising awareness on chemical and waste issues; better risk management; and adequate global governance. Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, BMU, Germany, stressed her country’s  ambitious, practical framework on waste management to achieve the 2030 Agenda and circular economy. She underscored: clearly demonstrating the benefits of addressing chemicals to realize the SDGs nationally and globally; and promoting international cooperation to share experiences and mobilize support. Karolina Skog, Minister of Environment, Sweden, called for consumers to make more responsible choices. She outlined her country’s international high-level alliance on chemicals and waste, launched at the HLPF, which intends to mobilize public interest on chemicals and waste beyond 2020. Skog underscored the need to reform the chemicals management system, including regulations on: trade and e-commerce; international cooperation to deliver global action on SDG 12; development of natural chemicals: and capacity building. During the panel discussion, Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, addressed the issue of legally binding conventions and voluntary approaches. He said countries agree these three conventions provide a legally-binding approach, while the voluntary, multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) deals with issues not covered under the conventions. He also noted illegal trade in chemicals, and the need for proper exchange of information between countries, citing examples where the global availability or use of a specific chemical exceeds its known legal production. On the circular econmy of chemicals, Astrid Schomaker, European Commission, said that increasing complexity in the supply chain makes control more difficult, and noted the need to keep the product in the chain as long as possible, which may be at odds with industry’s effort to take it out. She also highlighted: building on high public awareness; strict EU chemical management legislation requiring information sharing with authorities; and constructive industry partners. On challenges for the industry, Martin Kayser, BASF SE, emphasized: ongoing efforts for sound chemicals management; gaps in knowledge and practice between developed and developing countries; and his company’s development of a responsible care management system, including workshops to build capacity in safe transportation, storage and handling of chemicals. He noted SAICM’s success in bringing stakeholders together and expressed support for its continuation. Susan Wilburn, Health Care Without Harm, noted the need to: identify consumption patterns of chemical products in procurement and patterns during use and disposal; and demonstrate possible solutions related to the SDGs. Stressing the importance of making information about safe or toxic chemicals available to consumers, she called for ensuring the distribution chain includes alternative, safer chemicals. In ensuing discussion, panelists discussed, inter alia: regulatory vs. voluntary frameworks on chemical management at different levels; making use of existing platforms such as the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent; ensuring chemical data is available to governments and consumers; how to prevent toxic chemicals from being included in recycled products while pursuing a circular economy; transparency; engagement with the health sector; and the role of the private sector. Gertrud Sahler, President, Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM), Germany, said addressing the chemicals and waste cluster is a requirement for sustainability policy at global and national levels. Saying we are likely to fall short of the SAICM 2020 Goal, which ends in 2020, she noted the 4th ICCM decision to implement an intersessional process on chemicals and waste management beyond 2020. She emphasized: maintaining a voluntary, multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach; stronger involvement of industry; addressing capacity needs in developing countries for chemicals management; more recognition of the issue in other UN processes, such UN Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization and UN Development Programme; and inadequate financing. She highlighted the 2019 meeting of the Open-ended Working Group as a starting point for negotiations on the issue. In closing remarks, Jacob Duer, UN Environment (UNEP), noted agreement among diverse stakeholders in a number of areas, including on stepping up efforts. He cited concurrent work on SDGs and at other international processes. Recounting important political leadership and increased engagement of industry and civil society, he called for sharpening the narrative and acting together to address the sound management of chemicals and waste. Minister Karolina Skog, Sweden, said we need to know what effect buying a product has on ourselves, the people surrounding us, and the environment A participant takes a photo of the event Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, Germany, said her country is working with non-state actors to make “healthy people and healthy planet” a reality Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, said illegal trade in chemicals affects companies’ business models Moderator Minu Hemmati, Adelphi, posed questions to the panelists Astrid Schomaker, Directorate General for the Environment, EC, emphasized maintaining the valuable components of the three chemicals conventions Martin Kayser, BASF SE, said using chemicals safely is at the core of his business   Susan Wilburn, Health Care Without Harm, described a review of the UN procurement process for chemical products Panelists interact with the audience A participant taking notes A participant poses a question Moderator Minu Hemmati, collecting questions from the audience A participant poses a question In closing remarks, Jacob Duer, UNEP, said we need policies and frameworks so low and middle-income countries have the capacity to address sound chemical and waste management Gertrud Sahler, President, 5th ICCM, and BMU, Germany, said addressing governance, structure and finances for chemicals management will remain challenging Engagement during the Q&A session Participants after the event Contacts: Nils Simon | simon@adelphi.de More Information: www.saicm.org

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Monday, 16 July, 2018: Healthy Ecosystems for Sustainable Development: Engaging Governments and Civil Society towards the 2020 Biodiversity Milestones Making the SDGs Work for the Lake Chad Basin Leading Sustainable Mountain Development Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Healthy Ecosystems for Sustainable Development: Engaging Governments and Civil Society towards the 2020 Biodiversity Milestones Presented by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Government of France, and the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat Moderated by David O’Connor, IUCN, this event focused on the importance of biodiversity conservation and healthy ecosystems to human livelihoods and well-being, and addressed ways forward to: integrate or align the Aichi targets with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development (2030 Agenda); form a coalition among stakeholders to enhance actions to reduce biodiversity loss; and mobilize funding for nature conservation. During opening remarks, Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN, asked how we can accelerate momentum to achieve the 2020 biodiversity milestones. John Robinson, WCS, said the 2030 Agenda recognized that sustainable development and biodiversity conservation are inextricably linked, and neither can succeed without progress on the other. He noted that many lands under protection are not in the right places or lack effective management, and that one-third of the world’s lands are highly degraded. Brune Poirson, Minister, Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, outlined her country’s ambitions for conservation of biodiversity, domestically and internationally, highlighting the need for: concrete action at the national level; voluntary commitments from the private sector; and a knowledgeable and engaged citizenry. She said the 2020 CBD Conference of Parties in Beijing would be an opportunity to assess the need for changes to national commitments and that we have an historic opportunity to slow degradation of biodiversity by acting together. Cristiana Pasça Palmer, CBD Executive Secretary, highlighted the need for: urgent, inclusive, and transformative actions on biodiversity to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Stressing that business-as-usual will generate negative impacts on human well-being, she called for: a systemic approach; raising awareness in the media; and uplifting the momentum of CBD COP 10, up to 2020 and beyond. Palmer also stressed: mainstreaming biodiversity into non-environmental sectors; addressing consumer behavior; engageing all stakeholders, including marginalized and indigenous groups; and intensifying efforts to mobilize financing for biodiversity protection. Offering perspectives from the national level, Kazuaki Hoshino, Kagoshima University and CBD COP 10 Acting President, Japan, recalled the concept of “living in harmony with nature” and stressed a bottom-up approach, noting Japan’s Satoyama Initiative as a model for promoting sustainable use of biodiversity in local production landscapes. He also called for internalizing the value of biodiversity conservation into economic activities, including through promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, and implementing a biodiversity certification scheme. Edda Fernández, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico, outlined her country’s efforts on biodiversity conservation, including: adopting and implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy; mainstreaming the biodiversity agenda into the economy, including through agriculture, forestry, tourism, and health sectors; and introducing a circular economy approach as the best tool for engaging the business sector. She called for partnering with civil society organizations, including developing simple language on biodiversity to communicate with the financial and economic sectors. During the panel on engagement with civil society and scientists, Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN, described IUCN’s work with governments, NGOs, scientists, and indigenous peoples, highlighting: generation of knowledge to guide action; action on the ground; and the quadrennial World Conservation Congress, to convene in France in 2020. John Robinson, WCS, described evidence suggesting a potential “decoupling” of biodiversity loss from other indicators, noting that, between 1993 and 2014, the human population grew by 23%, and the economy by 153%, but the biological impact of increased human pressure increased by only 9%. He identified urbanization as a possible explanation, due to more efficient energy consumption, and said work on biodiversity conservation may not be a “totally gloomy picture.” Lin Li, WWF International, urged collective ambition and commitment so that, by 2020, declining trends related to biodiversity would be reversed. She highlighted: engagement at the top levels of countries, companies and households; and revisions of Aichi targets and related national targets in the post-2020 world. Patricia Zurita, Birdlife International, said we have not made the biodiversity crisis clear, urgent or important enough for most people to understand, and called for going beyond traditional partnerships, noting the absence of ministers of finance at the event. Chantal Marijnissen, European Commission, highlighted working with communities, such as its ‘Larger than Tigers’ program, noting that vulnerable people need to see the benefits of conservation. She also emphasized use of private sector financing, including through guarantees and loans on projects related to ecosystem services. Citing a need to increase visibility, she said CBD COP 15 could be the biodiversity equivalent of what Paris was for climate change. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Egypt, said challenges remain to achieve the Aichi targets by 2020 and the 2030 Agenda, including lack of business and financial sector participation; and implementation gaps among different sustainable development agendas. She highlighted that CBD COP 14 aims to address these challenges and to translate science into policies and actions on the ground, including through: involvement of all stakeholders by stressing “the cost of inaction”; building different levels of partnerships for creating innovation; and stock-taking of lessons to scale up and accelerate actions on biodiversity. Brune Poirson, Minister, Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, says being pessimistic is useless, we still have the power to reverse the trend of biodiversity loss Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Egypt, called for greater recognition of the linkages between biodiversity and climate change Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN, highlighted IUCN’s work with 350 projects in 60 countries around the world Cristiana Pasça Palmer, CBD Executive Secretary, said we need to shift from a linear to a systemic approach to implement the 2030 Agenda Moderator David O’Connor, IUCN Kazuaki Hoshino, Kagoshima University, said it is crucial to translate the concept of planetary boundary into local context Lin Li, World Wildlife Fund – International, said no one organization, sector or country can solve the biodiversity challenge alone Brune Poirson, Minister, Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, and Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN Edda Fernández, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico, said we need to encourage the private sector to use our knowledge on biodiversity Patricia Zurita, Birdlife International, said birds are ambassadors for nature John Robinson, WCS, said biodiversity as a concept is not appreciated to the extent necessary Chantal Marijnissen, European Commission, highlighted a shift from “pure conservation” to working more with communities, especially in fragile regions Participants capture the discussion Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Egypt Panelists confer after the session Participants prepare for the side event Cyrie Sendashonga poses with participants after the event Contact: David O'Connor | David.OCONNOR@iucn.org More Information: www.iucn.org www.cbd.int www.wcs.org www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/ Making the SDGs Work for the Lake Chad Basin Presented by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Permanent Missions of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic to the UN, in collaboration with African Development Bank and Lake Chad Basin Commission This side event highlighted the UNESCO Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad (BIOPALT) project as an example of multidisciplinary cooperation, linked to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and implemented in five countries to address the crisis in the Lake Chad area. Flavia Schlegel, UNESCO, opened the event noting: increasing hardships experienced by those living in the Lake Chad Basin, and the 2017 UN Security Council recognition of security challenges in the region. She said the event offers a platform for governments, UN agencies, civil society and academia to reflect on the relevance of adopting a multisectoral and multidisciplinary response to solving the humanitarian and ecological crisis. She noted that BIOPALT is an ambitious project and that participation of five countries has proven its relevance for turning transboundary conflict into cooperation. Moderator Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor for the Sahel, said the changed lake is shrinking like an old skin, causing loss of livelihoods, and leading to despair on behalf of millions of young people. He called BIOPALT a wonderful natural resource planning and management tool that aims to address the deeper causes of the crisis. He underscored opportunities in the Sahel region, despite the challenges, including: the abundance of renewable energy resources; youth, who are increasingly educated and eager to work; and its culture. Four country representatives shared perspectives on regional challenges and the value of BIOPALT. Suleiman Hussein Adamu, Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Nigeria, emphasized: devastating impacts on the socioeconomic wellbeing by the Boko Haram insurgency; the importance of development for promoting peace; and Nigeria’s commitment to the partnership. Issa Dourbagne, Minister, Economy, Planning and Development, Chad, stressed the: importance of the area for its terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity; impacts on women and youth; opportunity for collaboration and synergy between different scientific centers created by BIOPALT; and, the will of the five countries to join together in response to the threat. Abdallah Wafy, Permanent Representative of Niger to the UN, underscored links between the humanitarian crisis and development, and the need to promote the SDGs, saying it is necessary to address the hydrologic condition of the lake, conservation of natural resources, and the heritage of the region. Zacharie Serge Raoul Nyanid, Permanent Mission of Cameroon, noted that a 90% reduction in rainfall has affected more than 40 million people. He congratulated the BIOPALT project for its sustainable development approach on management of the hydrological and cultural resources of the basin. Maman Nuhu, Lake Chad Basin Commission, identified key project elements: management of water resources to ensure access to clean water and sanitation, including through restoring ponds and preserving oases; developing policy briefs as advocacy tools targeted at decisionmakers; action plans to support communities in monitoring and management of resources; and addressing the plight of women and youth to fight the Boko Haram insurgency. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, M’Bororo Indigenous Women and People Association of Chad, said any solution to the Lake Chad crisis must include engagement of women, who know the resources, needs, and priorities for survival of the community and their children. She highlighted the need to carry the project forward so the people will not remain dependent on humanitarian aid, but be in charge of own livelihoods. Ousmane Doré, Director-General, African Development Bank, attributed the success of the BIOPALT project to: a focus on socioeconomic development; UNESCO’s multi-disciplinary approach, with cultural expertise complementing on-the-ground work; changing behavior by ensuring ownership, from project design through implementation; and an understanding among the countries that success of the project required contributing to the common pool. Adeshola Olatunde Adepoju, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, and African Network of Man and the Biosphere Programme, emphasized the project’s scientific and economic prongs, including biodiversity restoration and the green economy approach using cultural enterprises that reduce pressure on biodiversity resources. He described a transboundary reforestation project as a unique example of five African countries coming together in peace and collaboration. During ensuing discussion, panelists addressed: cultural issues; causes of the lake’s shrinkage; gender issues; and high rates of child marriage, with panelists noting the importance of mainstreaming gender and the need to understand and address root causes of poverty and education. In closing remarks, moderator Thiaw highlighted stories of deprivation and degradation, but also hope, and Ernesto Ottone Ramírez, UNESCO, said BIOPALT is not only a personal struggle in an important part of the world, but also represents the possibility that communities, governments and the international community can come together to build a future for everybody. Traditional dress and logo for M’Bororo Indigenous Women and People Association of Chad Information on the BIOPALT project L-R: Suleiman Hussein Adamu, Minister, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Nigeria and Flavia Schlegel, UNESCO Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Secretary-General Special Advisor for the Sahel, said the UN Support Plan for the Sahel facilitates: cross-boundary cooperation; conflict prevention; inclusive and equitable growth; climate change responses; access to renewable energy; and empowerment of women and youth Abdallah Wafy, Permanent Representative of Niger to the UN, emphasized promoting the three pillars of the SDGs as key to turning the page for the Lake Chad area Issa Dourbagne, Minister, Economy, Planning and Development, Chad, said damages to the region are changing the society for the millennial culture  Capturing the moment Zacharie Serge Raoul Nyanid, Permanent Mission of Cameroon to the UN, said the UN Food and Agriculture’s 2017-2019 response strategy (to ensure food security of conflict-affected communities) will contribute to lessening the impact of the crisis Ousmane Dore, African Development Bank, said a paradigm shift is needed to change cultural norms about how to manage resources Flavia Schlegel, UNESCO, said the people of the Lake Chad basin once traveled hours to fetch water, but now cannot find it; girls once could not attend school, now are held as hostages by terrorists Maman Nuhu, Lake Chad Basin Commission, said the only lasting solution to the crisis is one that empowers the people to take control of the means of livelihood in the ways they know best Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, M’Bororo Indigenous Women and People Association of Chad, urged ministers, ambassadors and other partners to carry this project forward and give the people hope Noeline Raondry Rakotoarisoa, UNESCO and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, M’Bororo Indigenous Women and People Association of Chad Ibrahim Thiaw greets participants Contacts: Noeline Raondry Rakotoarisoa | n.raondry-rakotoarisoa@unesco.org More Information: www.en.unesco.org/biopalt Leading Sustainable Mountain Development Presented by the Government of Andorra, in partnership with the Mountain Partnership, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the Governments of Argentina, Chile, Italy and Switzerland This side event convened to advocate for pro-mountain policies and actions to increase the visibility of mountain issues in the international and national processes for implementing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). Moderator Grammenos Mastrojeni, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy, and Chair, the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee, said mountains cover 22% of the earth's land surface, are home to 13% of the world’s population, and provide 60-80% of the world's fresh water, but no one talks about them in international processes. He stressed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without increased attention to sustainable mountain development. Silvia Calvó Armengol, Minister, Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra, emphasized that mountains contribute to the welfare of her people and highlighted her country’s VNR and efforts to implement the SDGs, in particular SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 15 (life on land). Regarding areas requiring action, she highlighted: introducing legislation on biodiversity and ecosystems; a target of 75% renewable energy by 2050; and pursuing energy efficiency and savings in the construction and building sectors. She called for better visibility of mountains in implementing the 2030 Agenda and said Andorra continues its leadership on sustainable mountains development. René Castro, Assistant Director General, FAO, said mountain ecosystems provide vital resources including water, energy, biodiversity and food, but they are extremely vulnerable to climate change, which alters water regimes and intensifies natural disasters. He called for integrating sustainable mountain development into the 2030 Agenda to avoid jeopardizing food security and economic development of mountain peoples and downstream communities, including displacement of local communities. Alejandro Verdier, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN, noted that 85 million people live in the mountains of Latin America, and stressed his country’s efforts to: strengthen regional and national mountain initiatives; develop action plans; and implement concrete mountain policies. He underscored the need to: consider innovative ways to embed mountains in regional policies; and continue fostering and strengthening the Mountain Partnership. Jorge Iglesias, Deputy Permanent Representative of Chile to the UN, said his country has approximately 64% of mountain areas, which provide 60-80% of fresh water to domestic agriculture and industrial consumption. He stressed that natural resources have been threatened by the impacts of climate change and outlined a national policy on sustainable mountain development implemented through collaboration with the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs). He noted the importance of the Mountain Partnership’s leadership on advocating for the importance of mountains in the 2030 Agenda. Christoph Lang, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland, highlighted his country’s efforts to develop and implement policies and guidelines for rural and mountain areas through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Noting the absence of a strong voice for mountains at the global level, he stressed the Mountain Partnership Framework of Action as an essential tool for sharing experiences among and beyond mountain areas and increasing visibility globally. Giorgio Grussu, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, FAO, said the Mountain Partnership serves as the “custodian agency” of SDG 15. 4, known as the Mountain Green Cover Index, which measures changes of green vegetation in mountain areas of 157 countries. He said challenges remain in collecting accurate data, especially across borders, and emphasized the need for regional and international support in securing data availability and accuracy. Yoko Watanabe, UNDP Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grant Programme (SGP), noted that the Mountain Partnership is a platform to bring mountain communities’ voices to discussion on the SDGs. She outlined the GEF SGP’s projects on sustainable mountains and highlighted challenges, including: lack of access to investment and technologies for sustainable energy, farming, and water management; weak environmental enforcement by national institutions; and lack of recognition on traditional knowledge. She called for increasing dialogue between mountain communities and governments: and ensuring targeted support for mountain communities to enable effective interventions. In ensuing discussion, topics included: the importance of working with CSOs to bring more mountain communities together; integrating mountain biodiversity issues into international processes, such as a process on the reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; and the need to collectively raise awareness on “why mountains matter.” The room during the discussion Silvia Calvó Armengol, Minister, Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Andorra #mountainsmatter, the hashtag for the Mountain Partnership René Castro, Assistant Director General, FAO Alejandro Verdier, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN Participants confer during the session Giorgio Grussu, FAO Grammenos Mastrojeni, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy Yoko Watanabe, UNDP GEF SGP Christoph Lang, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Contact: Sara Manuelli | Sara.Manuelli@fao.org More Information: www.fao.org/mountain-partnership/home/en

The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Thursday, 12 July, 2018: Sanitation for Education and Health – An Integrated Approach to Human Development Leaving No One Behind Through Data Revolution: Evidences from Bangladesh Effective Implementation, Monitoring and Financing of SDG 11 Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Sanitation for Education and Health – An Integrated Approach to Human Development Presented by Water Supply and Sanitation Collaboration Council (WSSCC), State of Qatar (Qatar Fund for Development), Global Citizen, and Education Cannot Wait This side event focused on sanitation as a key determinant of health and education. Panelists shared examples of successful projects, celebrated effective partnerships, identified ongoing challenges, and highlighted the need for continued progress. Moderator Madge Thomas, Global Citizen, opened the event, saying it is not possible to have transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies without addressing the crosscutting issue of sanitation. Thomas announced that Global Citizen is launching an accountability report which makes reference to and tracks sanitation, health and education commitments, and underscores what is possible through partnerships. Rolf Luyendijk, WSSCC, highlighted the importance of safe water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), noting that 40 years ago the Alma Ata declaration on primary health care recognized the interlinkages. Emphasizing the value of multi-sectoral partnerships, he said investments in sanitation offer an overall five-to-one return in related health-care benefits. He offered concrete examples, including: improved neonatal health; a 36% reduction in diarrhea; a 23% reduction in stunting; and a 26% reduction in acute respiratory infections, which he called the “number one child killer.” On education impacts, he said access to gender-segregated sanitation facilities keeps girls in schools. Luyendijk announced WSSCC would be signing an agreement with Qatar Charity at the close of the event, representing important investments in fragile areas. The agreement will facilitate exchange of information, allow for coordination, and support sanitation and hygiene programme design and development, specifically in the Darfur Region of Sudan. Ali Abdulla AL Dabbagh, Qatar Fund for Development, outlined his country’s commitment to and strategy for promoting peace and justice, in alignment with progress on the SDGs focused on health,  education, and sustainable economic empowerment. On financing and education, he said every dollar invested produces two dollars in economic benefit and noted that when communities are educated about the importance of sanitation, they express a higher demand for improved facilities. He also underscored the need for tangible progress on SDG 6 (water and sanitation) and its linkage with SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). Irene Gai, Kenya Water for Health Organization, outlined her organization’s WASH initiatives, including links to education. She described the pressing need for action and offered examples: a school where enrollment jumped from 200 to 1,000 students without improving sanitation facilities; and that 6 million people still defecate in the open in Kenya, often in the rain, a situation especially challenging for women, who often must be accompanied outside. She said investment in sanitation and hygiene must also address issues of equity and human rights. Yasmine Sherif, Education Cannot Wait, said delivery on education goals, under SDG 4, is not a stand-alone process, but must be tied to other sectors. She noted that quality learning is not possible without access to drinkable water or to sanitation facilities, saying 42% of girls in Uganda have their schooling interrupted because they have to fetch water. She stressed the role of national NGOs who know the country, problems and solutions, and emphasized the need for collaboration, such as through joint needs assessments, and for multi-year programs.   During the ensuing discussion, panelists shared perspectives on: the need to focus on those most left behind, noting that investing “in the last mile” provides the best return;  giving donors confidence in their investment through good monitoring processes; accountability that includes establishing clear goals and objectives; investing in and working with local NGOs; a tendency for investments to focus on urban areas, when small investments can have significant impacts in rural areas; investments in behavior change; addressing root causes, such as water scarcity; educating communities about the importance of sanitation using concrete tools; collaboration, not competition, when fundraising for WASH initiatives; education in the home and preschools on WASH; and addressing the sanitation needs of people with disabilities, including recognizing that disabilities are often hidden. Luyendijk closed the event, noting that 40 years have passed since the Alma Ata declaration, and urged accelerated action on WASH. Madge Thomas, Global Citizen, said water, health, and sanitation are basic rights Irene Gai, Kenya Water for Health Organization (KWAHO), said civil society organizations are key to implementation at the local level Panel (L-R): Ali Abdulla AL Dabbagh, Qatar Fund for Development; Rolf Luyendijk, WSSCC; Madge Thomas, Global Citizen; Irene Gai, KWAHO; and Yasmine Sherif, Education Cannot Wait Ali Abdulla AL Dabbagh said a key success factor for any development project is localization and ownership by local communities regardless the funders The panel responds to questions from participants Yasmine Sherif said disabilities can limit the ability to physically access a toilet A participant views a handout from the event A participant takes notes An interpreter for a participant A participant highlights the need to address the impacts of disability on access to water and sanitation A participant asked about the extent to which local communities are involved in planning of sanitation projects View of the room (L-R): Yousuf Ahmad Al-Hammadi, Qatar Charity; and Rolf Luyendijk, WSSCC, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding to support WSSCC projects Contact: David Trouba | David.Trouba@wsscc.org More Information: www.wsscc.org Leaving No One Behind Through Data Revolution: Evidences from Bangladesh Presented by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN, Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) This side event was convened to share best practices and exchange views on how governments can mobilize the data revolution to ensure that no one is left behind. Moderator Abul Kalam Azad, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh, opened the event and stressed the potential of data revolution to help governments move from a silo-approach to a whole-of-government approach. Masud Bin Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, outlined challenges on data revolution, including: ensuring accessible and qualified data in developing countries; lack of resources and capacity on data collection; and minimizing risks of data revolution, such as privacy and confidentiality. He called for regional and international support to improve data availability. Live Margrethe Rognerud, Statistics Norway, underlined the important role of national statistics offices in: collecting and managing data already available; improving civil registration systems through public-private partnerships; and efficiently producing statistics at lower cost. She called for alternative data sources to fill the information gaps between the data we use, and available data not used. Stefan Schweinfest, UN DESA, underscored the need to establish a mechanism to coordinate and synthesize various sources of statistical data, including: geospatial information; administrative data; big data; and open data. Anir Chowdhury, Access to Information (a2i), Bangladesh, outlined his country’s efforts to: institutionalize data mindset, with the government using one performance management system across ministries and agencies; promote the Open Government Data Portal, a one-stop access to publicly available government data; and develop a data integration framework to set technical standards on data use. He stressed that data analytics are essential for decision making. Douglas Keh, UNDP, stressed the lack of resources and emphasized the importance of advocacy urging governments to prioritize and invest more in data revolution. Robert Kirkpatrick, UN Global Pulse, stressed the need to scale up projects on big data, including: use of remote sensing to count roofs and identify the type of material used as a proxy poverty indicator in Uganda; and the creation of a social media platform in Africa to understand fluctuations in food price and situations of flood. Umar Serajuddin, World Bank, underscored the benefits of open data, including increased data availability and easier access to information. He stressed the need for open standards and called for “open mind” to make data accessible and usable for all. Thao Nguyen, Strategic Partnership for the Asia Pacific, Airbnb, said data sharing on maps helped cities and communities in Asia develop resilient transportation systems. She called for conversation with governments at the HLPF to discuss the potential of data sharing to achieve the SDGs. In ensuing discussion, participants commented on: potential regulations on open data and big data; the need for qualitative analyses on making data revolution truly inclusive; and challenges on ensuring transparency. Douglas Keh, UNDP, said we need to use statistics and data revolution more effectively for development Moderator Abul Kalam Azad, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh, said it is imperative to leverage the right data at the right time for achieving the SDGs Panelists during the discussion Robert Kirkpatrick, UN Global Pulse, highlighted the use of mobile data for predicting or tracking disease outbreaks and population displacement A participant at the event Contacts: Ramiz Uddin | ramizuddin@a2i.pmo.gov.bd More Information: www.a2i.gov.bd/ Effective Implementation, Monitoring and Financing of SDG 11Presented by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) This side event was convened to provide inputs to the HLPF review of SDG 11 on inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements, focusing on: how interrelations across development goals can be enhanced and policy coherence be achieved; and key enablers that accelerate implementation, monitoring, and financing for SDG 11. Moderator Eduardo Lopez Moreno, UN-Habitat, opened the event, noting that implementing the New Urban Agenda helps measure actions and create synergies between SDG-related initiatives. He said that data and information is “no longer a secret.” Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat, stressed that SDG 11 plays a fundamental role in catalyzing all 17 SDGs, especially ones related to energy, economy, environment, society, and science and technology. She said the voluntary national reviews (VNRs) demonstrated that countries are making progress but not aligning SDG-related policies to: enforce ownership; effectively collect and use data; and improve finance. Mohd Sharif said that the UN Habitat’s City Prosperity Initiative (CPI) offers tools and methodologies for cities to formulate policies and monitor and report progress, and highlighted that over 400 cities worldwide are using the CPI. Sylvia Meier-Kajbic, Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), noted that the EU has identified SDG 11 as a priority, and that it was integrating the SDGs into its policies, including though: the EU Cohesion Policy that promotes local implementation of national urban policies by earmarking funds for integrated sustainable urban strategies; voluntary commitments, such as the Urban Agenda for the EU; the International Urban Cooperation Programme; development of a common definition of cities; and the EU Council conclusions, which aim to renew support for SDGs implementation at the local level. She said that the next step is to develop the EU Reflection Paper on mainstreaming SDGs into EU policies in the longer term. Thomas De Bethune, European Commission, said the Urban Agenda for the EU is a new multi-level cooperation mechanism that aims to: involve cities in design and implementation of EU funding and legislation; and include the urban dimension in EU policies. He called for an integrated approach to tackle complex urban challenges. Rosario Robles, Minister of Agrarian, Land and Urban Development, Mexico, outlined her country’s efforts to: integrate SDGs into national urban policies, including a housing policy; and reform laws, such as those related to human settlements, territorial planning and urban development, to better align with the SDGs; and develop a national strategy for land management. Noting challenges remain on ensuring accountability and improving data, she said Mexico will continue its commitment to implementing the SDGs. Carlos Zedillo, Infonavit, noted that 305 cities in Mexico use the CPI. He said Infonavit’s study on urban planning and social housing in Mexico provides guidelines for coordinating data and developing urban indicators. He emphasized the need to synthesize results of this study and share them with other cities in the world. Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Executive Director, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), spoke about the importance of deepening regional efforts for successful implementation of SDG 11 and other SDGs, including through: adoption of a regional urban agenda and regional and sub-regional action plans; multi-stakeholder platforms for the private sector to understand what local authorities need; a regional observatory for comparative analyses of national urban plans; and harnessing data availability and accessibility. Noting that cities in Latin America have the least productivity in the world, she underscored the importance of a people-centered and gender-sensitive approach. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice President, World Bank, underlined challenges for securing development finance for cites, including inadequate data on cities and the need to effectively utilize local knowledge and capacities. He called for: mobilizing finance through partnerships; involving the private sector; and improving coordination between central and local governments to enhance transparency on how money is spent and data are utilized. During the ensuing discussion, topics included: disaggregating data at the local level to enhance access and usability; the role of culture and heritage as a cross-cutting issue in the SDGs; tools and solutions for implementation of the SDGs; municipal ID, the Right to the City, and no one left behind in the UN-Habitat framework; linking culture and urban renewal; and strengthening partnerships on SDG 11 and under SDG 17. Thomas De Bethune, EC, presenting the “Urban Agenda for the EU” Sylvia Meier-Kajbic, EU, said EU is now strengthening partnerships with local authorities in the third countries Carlos Zedillo, Infonavit, stressed CPI is a strategic tool to use data for decision making on urban sustainability Mahmoud Mohieldin, World Bank, said improving data quality helps cities mobilize finance for implementing SDG 11 Panel during a presentation on the importance of an integrated approach Rosario Robles, Minister of Agrarian, Land and Urban Development, Mexico, said her country made progress on affordable housing, compact cities, and access to public space UN-Habitat reports on sustainable cities and communities A participant taking notes at the event Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, ECLAC, emphasized the need to improve urban data production and processing capacities for the attainment of SDG 11 Eduardo Lopez Moreno, UN-Habitat, brings the event to a close Participants in the Trusteeship Council Chamber Capturing the moment Contact: Eduardo Moreno | eduardo.moreno@un.org Alejandra Perez | alejandra.perez@un.org More Information: www.unhabitat.org Around the Venue