Youth

Highlights for Thursday, 18 July 2019 Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs, and Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC, share a light moment as HLPF 2019 draws to a close. Ten countries presented their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) on Thursday: Cameroon, Tunisia, Congo, Nauru, Guyana, Mauritius, Oman, Liechtenstein, Mauritania, and Turkmenistan.The General Debate continued in parallel in the afternoon, with 37 Heads of State and Government, ministers, and ambassadors making statements, which can be accessed here.A session on lessons learned from the first cycle of HLPF in the evening started with an “intergenerational dialogue” between David Donoghue, co-facilitator of the intergovernmental negotiations on the 2030 Agenda, and Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. Wickramanayake called for the empowerment of youth, and fulfillment of the SDGs to ensure young people, constituting half the world’s population, have security, jobs, and opportunities to fulfil their potential. Donoghue said the intention to put “the infinite capacity of young people for activism” at the heart of the 2030 Agenda had not yet been realized, and worried that young people feel “betrayed” by their political institutions.UN Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin listed the achievements of the HLPF so far, including: presentation of 142 VNRs; review of all of the SDGs; organization of regional fora; and stakeholder contributions. Presenting the preliminary and partial results of a survey conducted to inform the upcoming HLPF review process, Zhenmin said respondents believed the HLPF has fulfilled its functions; and the VNRs were useful to share lessons and challenges, advance implementation, and mobilize partners.In a discussion on lessons learned from the first cycle of the HLPF, speakers called for more inclusivity, more time and space for interaction, better use of regional institutions and spaces, a Ministerial Declaration that reflects the outcomes of a session, and better follow-up after a session, among many others.While discussing key messages for the SDG Summit, speakers highlighted the strong country ownership of the SDGs evidenced by national polices and actions; local-level reflection; and budgetary allocations for the SDGs. The challenges listed included difficulties in long-term planning, awareness building, and resource mobilization. Proposed focus areas included: a better understanding of interlinkages; the role of science, technology, and innovation in enabling co-benefits; governance, for integration and coordination; accurate and timely data for informed decision-making; gender equality and empowerment of women and girls; partnerships, including international cooperation; and regional forums that enable a space for peer learning and showcasing practical solutions.In the closing session, ECOSOC President King introduced the draft procedural report of the 2019 HLPF (E/HLPF/2019/L.1), which was adopted without amendments. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted three main areas: “the inclusion imperative”; democratic and effective institutions; and political commitment.The meeting was gaveled to a close at 6:04 pm.For more details on the day’s events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Voluntary National Reviews Ten VNRs were presented throughout the day. David Adeang, Minister for Finance and Sustainable Development, Nauru Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Cameroon Ingrid Olga Ghislaine Ebouka-Babackas, Minister of Planning, Statistics, and Regional Integration, Congo Belgacem Ayed, Ministry of Development, Investment, and International Cooperation, Tunisia Nandcoomar Bodha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade, and Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mauritius Dawn Hastings-Williams, Minister of State, Guyana Ali Masoud Ali Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Oman Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the UN El Moctar Djay, Minister of Economy and Finance, Mauritania Batyr Bazarov, Minister of Finance and Economy, Turkmenistan Lessons Learned from the First Cycle of HLPF and Messages for the 2019 HLPF Summit Helen Mountford, Vice-President for Climate and Economics, World Resources Institute (WRI), moderated the event, which focused on what Heads of State and Government should know and how the HLPF can be improved. David Donoghue, co-facilitator of the intergovernmental negotiations on the 2030 Agenda and Distinguished Fellow, Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs Oumar Bassirou Diop, Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, Senegal Muhammad Abdul Mannan, Minister of Planning, Bangladesh Saumya Aggarwal, Co-Founder, Youth for Peace International Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki, Finland Marianne Beisheim, German Institute for International and Security Affairs Gloria Amparo Alonso Másmela, Minister of National Planning, Colombia General Debate View of the dais during the General Debate. Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany Tlohelang Aumane, Minister of Development Planning, Lesotho Kira Christianne Danganan Azucena, Vice-President, ECOSOC Rachid Bladehane, Permanent Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Algeria Nigel Bruce, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia Closing of the HLPF Delegates gather for the closing of HLPF. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC Nelson Mandela Day UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Tourism, South Africa; UN Secretary-General António Guterres; María Fernanda Espinosa, President, UN General Assembly; Movses Abelian, General Assembly and Conference Management, UN; Gay McDougall, International Human Rights Lawyer; and Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor, New York City, attend the special event to celebrate International Nelson Mandela Day. UN Secretary-General António Guterres Gay McDougall, International Human Rights Lawyer Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Tourism, South Africa María Fernanda Espinosa, President, UN General Assembly This year, which would have been Nelson Mandela's 101st birthday, the theme of Nelson Mandela International Day was ‘Take action, Inspire change.’ A call was made for everyone to commit themselves to 67 minutes of service throughout the day, in recognition of the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for South Africa’s freedom. Around the Venue UN Secretary-General António Guterres around the venue. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs, holding a copy of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Delegates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Jaime Hermida, Nicaragua, speaks with delegates Belgacem Ayed, Ministry of Development, Investment, and International Cooperation, Tunisia Delegates between sessions. Visitors to the UN pose in front of the Nelson Mandela statue in celebration of International Nelson Mandela Day. Around UN Headquarters.

Events Covered on Wednesday, 17 July 2019 Marion Jansen, International Trade Centre (ITC) The following events were covered by IISD Reporting Services on Wednesday, 17 July 2019: Key Conditions for the Completion of Fundamental Education in Cameroon: Reforms to be Undertaken Trade and Sustainable Development: Progress and the Way Forward Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Key Conditions for the Completion of Fundamental Education in Cameroon: Reforms to be Undertaken Presented by the Permanent Mission of Cameroon to the UN and UN-Cameroon Room view during the side event Key messages: Significant progress has been made in Cameroon with regard to the expansion of access and reduction of gender disparities in schools; A new education sector strategy, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, is under elaboration. However, low retention of students and professors stand as impediments to the achievement of the universal education principle; and Education standards are affected by: qualitative and quantitative inadequacy of the required infrastructure; and insufficiency of teachers, notably to ensure inclusive education for children with disabilities. The event was convened to debate and gather suggestions for the completion of fundamental education reforms in Cameroon, fulfilling its commitment to the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. Event Summary: Jean Tchoffo, Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development of Cameroon, moderated the panel. Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development of Cameroon, shared the experiences of his country in increasing universal access to primary education. He highlighted key aspects of education reforms, notably promoting free tuition for primary education and free distribution of revised textbooks. As main challenges, he underscored, in particular, the low retention rate and overall insufficiency of teachers. Underlining that education “is not just a matter for governments,” he urged for more partnerships and support from all stakeholders to promote universal education. Allegra Maria Del Pilar Baiocchi, UN Development and Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, noted quality and inclusive education as a foundation for sustainable development. She explained how the UN has been supporting Cameroon by financing and stimulating: the establishment of institutional and legal frameworks; the adoption of evidence-based approach; the strengthening of curriculum, based on skills which match market needs; and the increase in the number and quality of teachers. She lamented security threats due to terrorism, noting that “education is under attack” in some areas in Cameroon, calling for more financial support to overcome these challenges. Joseph Oye, Sightsavers, spoke on inclusive education, highlighting actions to improve education for displaced children, refugees, and children with disabilities. He observed that civil society works to ensure equality and accessible education, noting that, in Cameroon, many organizations are working on SDG 4 (education). He stressed that his organization safeguards children’s education but that data gaps and the lack of teacher’s specialization, for example on children with disabilities, remain bottlenecks. He concluded that education is key for economic empowerment and more tolerant societies. During the ensuing discussion, panelists underlined that education has been increasingly perceived as an urgent matter and emphasized that data disaggregation is key. Baiocchi underscored education as a top priority for donors, on par with food access and emergencies, noting the creation of the global fund “Education cannot wait.” Mey closed the event recalling that policy development, implementation, and monitoring are critical steps toward education for all, emphasizing that data is essential for policy elaboration and that funding, as well as human resources, are crucial for policy implementation. Drawing attention to the strong integrative aspect of all SDGs, he stressed the importance of participatory approach to foster education, stating that education is a human right. Event conclusions: Overall, the event focused on access and quality of education, as well as on equity, in terms of inclusiveness. Many participants congratulated Cameroon for its proactive efforts to support education. Questions included doubts about details on gender-disaggregated data, notably related to female disabled students, and methods to enhance the implementation of the SDGs in an integrated manner. Why Does it Matter: The HLPF 2019 offers a chance to evaluate how countries are responding to the challenges of the SDGs’ implementation. Access to education was highlighted as a major challenge in Cameroon. The event demonstrated that reforms at multiple levels are still needed, notably to sensitize donors, governments and civil society about the urgency of investing in education. Panelists, shared relevant experiences, including on inclusive education, showcasing how Cameroon is promoting people empowerment and the reduction of inequities. Leaving no one behind; addressing trade-offs through policy integration; and pursuing global partnerships, as means of implementation, are key elements determining the success of the SDGs. Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning & Regional Development, Cameroon Jean Tchoffo, Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development of Cameroon Joseph Oye, Sightsavers Allegra Maria Del Pilar Baiocchi, UN Development and Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon Participants interacting during the Q&A session. CONTACT Serge Pamphile Mezang Akamba | mezangakamba@yahoo.fr MORE INFORMATION cm.one.un.org Trade and Sustainable Development: Progress and the Way Forward Joint event presented by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) From L-R: Yonov Frederick Agah, World Trade Organization (WTO); Isabelle Durant, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Marion Jansen, ITC; and Eduardo Porter, The New York Times Key messages: Trade is a means of implementation for the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Trade can contribute to developing countries’ endeavours to achieve sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, but more concerted actions are required; and The Geneva Trade Hub agencies (UNCTAD, ITC and WTO) are adopting a joint new website that will provide comprehensive and detailed information on the progress of the trade-related SDG targets. The objective of this side event was to discuss policy areas that require the attention of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in the coming years and to formulate recommendations on ways to accelerate progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At this event, the Geneva Trade Hub agencies also announced their joint new website initiative on trade-related SDG targets, which will be online by the end of the year. Event summary: Eduardo Porter, The New York Times, moderated the panel. Yonov Frederick Agah, WTO, informed that the WTO published a report titled “Mainstreaming trade to attain the SDGs” to help Member States understand the role trade plays for the implementation of the SDGs. Highlighting that multilateral reform is key for more inclusive, equitable, and transparent engagement toward SDGs, he explained areas of WTO reform that can potentially contribute to achieving sustainable development by: addressing impasses in the appellate body; improving the regulatory work of the WTO for improved transparency and notification of trade policies; and advancing negotiations in the WTO, in particular on fisheries subsidies, as they impact social and environmental policies. Isabelle Durant, UNCTAD, said it is misplaced to classify trade as unfair noting that during the last 30 years globalization produced inequalities, but it also reduced the number of people globally suffering from hunger. To increase the positive role of trade, she highlighted that it is necessary to: adopt better regulations and policies; strengthen multilateralism; reinforce dispute settlement mechanisms; and address climate change effects on trade. Noting that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can make a positive impact on 60% of the individual SDG targets, Marion Jansen, ITC, shared information on how the ITC assists SMEs to reduce the negative perception of trade by facilitating their access to  market, finance, and new technologies. She also highlighted that ITC helps strengthen the financial and managerial capacity of women entrepreneurs. Modest Mero, Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the UN in Geneva, underscored the need to mainstream trade into national and sector strategies to achieve the SDGs, highlighting the growth of inequalities due to globalization. Mauricio Trujillo, UN Major Group for Children and Youth, highlighted the need to revise current economic models and put economic reforms in place to achieve the SDGs, suggesting changing the incentives that evaluate economic growth, such as the gross domestic product (GDP). He recommended further attention to equity and human rights in trade regulations. Noting the absence of a representative of the private sector on the panel, he proposed that trade rules take into account the effects of digitalization, calling for mutual cooperation to ensure action against climate change and sustainable development. In the ensuing debate, panelists highlighted that: a regional approach for the SMEs facilitates their insertion into the global trading system; there is urgency to promote a “systemic change”; there’s a need to support fair competition in trade and explore solutions for better regulations, in particular, for global financial markets and data; there is also urgency to fill the gaps and complete the existing agendas of the WTO to rebalance social inequalities. Event conclusions: The discussion focused on how trade can contribute to equitable and sustainable development. Participants recalled how some countries, such as China, have benefited from a free trade to achieve a middle-income status. However, current trade controversies provide a reminder that trade “brings losers as well,” creating anger and conflicts among nations. Panelists revived discussions about current global institutional architectures and highlighted how the Geneva Trade Hub agencies have collaborated and invested in measures, such as trade related indicators to achieve the SDGs. Participants agreed that it is key to strengthen the multilateral systems to continue supporting SDGs and to combat poverty, in particular. Raúl Torres, WTO, and Miho Shirotori, UNCTAD Eduardo Porter, The New York Times Isabelle Durant, UNCTAD Yonov Frederick Agah, WTO Marion Jansen, ITC Mauricio Trujillo, UN Major Group for Children and Youth Modest Mero, Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the UN CONTACT Raúl Torres | raul.torres@wto.org MORE INFORMATION www.wto.org

Highlights for Tuesday, 16 July 2019 UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivers an address at the opening of the High-level segment. Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Tuesday, 16 July 2019 The High-level Segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Ministerial Segment of HLPF opened with several high-level statements on Tuesday morning. UN Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres called for “dramatically scaling up” private and public investments in SDGs and called on governments to “kickstart a decade of delivery and action”. María Fernanda Espinosa, President, UN General Assembly, said the five summit-level meetings at UN Headquarters in September 2019 will be a key opportunity to show that multilateralism works.Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders, said the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement can no longer be considered voluntary, after the alarming findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Richard Curtis, Screenwriter, Producer, and Film Director, UK, called on governments to seize the “unique opportunity” presented by the SDGs before the window of opportunity begins to close, and an acceptance of failure sets in. Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair, said achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be made more challenging by the impacts of global warming, but the impacts will be considerably less if global average temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C, instead of 2°C.This opening of the High-level Segment was followed by the presentation of voluntary national reviews (VNRs) by 14 countries through the day: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Pakistan, Palau, UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Fiji, and Mongolia.In the afternoon, as part of the High-level Segment, a session took place on "What are regions telling us about implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs?". Chairs of the regional forums on sustainable development, held annually, presented their outcomes. Inequality was a key challenge for most of the regions. A respondent to the presentations, Sarah Zaman from Women’s Action Forum, pointed to the under-utilized potential of regional level-bodies, which she said could address issues such as illicit financial flows, tax avoidance, and trade. She also proposed that interim VNRs should be presented at the regional level, before they are presented at the HLPF.In the session on messages to the HLPF, representatives of the UN Environment Assembly, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Forum on Forests, ECOSOC Youth Forum, and International Labour Organisation presented messages to HLPF, highlighting synergies with the SDGs and 2030 Agenda.The General Debate started with a presentation of key messages from the UNSG’s reports on long term trends and scenarios and on the theme of ECOSOC 2019 session; and from the Committee on Development Policy (CDP) report. Statements by Member States followed.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening of the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC and Ministerial Segment of HLPF Delegates gather in the UN General Assembly for the opening of the high-level segment. Creative group 'Gruppo Jobel - Art for Earth' perform a interpretive dance to officially open the session. Five youth deliver key messages about the importance of the SDGs. Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders UN Secretary-General António Guterres María Fernanda Espinosa, President, UN General Assembly Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair Richard Curtis, Screenwriter, Producer and Film Director Jean Jacques Elmiger, President of the 108th International Labour Conference (second from right), hands over the International Labour Organization (ILO) Centenary Declaration on the Future of Work to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Voluntary National Reviews Fourteen VNRs were presented throughout the day. Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland Kanwal Shauzab, Parliamentary Secretary, Pakistan Lassane Kabore, Minister of Economy, Finance, and Development, Burkina Faso Tlohelang Aumane, Minister of Development Planning, Lesotho Sinton Soalablai, Minister of Education, Palau Khurelbaatar Chimed, Ministry of Finance, Mongolia Rachid Bladehane, Permanent Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Algeria Zhaslan Madiyev, Vice-Minister of National Economy, Kazakhstan Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Fiji Joseph Seka Seka, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Côte d'Ivoire Rory Stewart, Secretary of State for International Development, UK Josip Brkić, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina Zdravka Bušić, State Secretary for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Croatia Yanara Chhieng, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary-General, Cambodia Rehabilitation and Development Board, Council for Development, Cambodia What are Regions Telling Us About Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? During the session, Chairs of the five regional forums shared their experiences about implementing the SDGs. Moderator Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Cuba Nezha El Ouafi, Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, Morocco Fidelis Magalhaes, Minister for Legal Reforms and Parliamentary Affairs, Timor-Leste Ogerta Manastirliu, Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albania Nouri Al-Dulaimi, Minister of Planning, Iraq Messages to the HLPF Ola Elvestuen, President, UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), and Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway Michelle Bachelet Jeria, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Boris Greguška, Chair, UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) 14 Bureau Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Guy Ryder, Director-General, ILO General Debate Delegates gather in the Trusteeship Council for the start of the General Debate. Elliott Harris, Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Development and Chief Economist, UN DESA José Antonio Ocampo, Chair, Committee on Development Policy (CDP) President Thomas Esang Remengesau, Palau, speaking on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States Epsy Campbell Barr, Vice-President, Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the Group of Middle Income Countries Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China Around the Venue The UN General Assembly Hall is decorated with the SDGs. Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister for National Development Planning, Indonesia Richard Curtis, Screenwriter, Producer and Film Director UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair Delegates from Pakistan Delegates from Serbia Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders Seán Canney, Minister of State for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment, Ireland (left) Macharia Kamau, Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya

Highlights for Monday, 15 July 2019 Members of civil society hold an aerobics session outside of UN Headquarters, calling on governments to "workout" the debt crises that threatens to derail the development agenda. Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Monday, 15 July 2019 HLPF participants discussed “moving from words to action” on financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Monday morning. Reporting on progress, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) said official development assistance (ODA) totaled USD149 billion in 2018, down by 2.7% in real terms from 2017; and humanitarian aid fell by 8%. She noted a reduction in aid to least developed countries and African countries, saying donor countries are not living up to the pledge to scale up ODA.Homi Kharas, Brookings Institution, noted that while more than USD20-30 trillion has been spent on the SDGs so far, this investment has taken place mainly in high- and middle-income economies. He presented research showing that while minimum spending of around USD340 per capita annually is needed in the various sectors to implement the SDGs in low-income economies, with needs rising with country income levels, there is a big gap between this and current spending levels. Delegates discussed, among other things, the importance of implementing the shared vision of the 2030 Agenda through meeting aid commitments; reducing illicit financial flows; improving tax collection; reducing the cost of remittances; ensuring funds are available at the local level; and leveraging the private sector.Seven countries then presented their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) for the second time, in two panel discussions: Azerbaijan, Chile, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Turkey. They described progress in nationalizing SDG targets, implementation of priority SDGs, and efforts to engage multistakeholders.In the afternoon, participants discussed lessons from four years of VNRs. Speakers highlighted challenges related to, among other things: data accuracy, collection, and disaggregation; lack of meaningful stakeholder involvement, and of “civil spaces”; lack of adequate attention to root causes of inequality in VNRs; institutional fragmentation; lack of adequate country ownership; and lack of follow-up, after presentations at HLPF. The role of VNRs in fostering coordination on SDGs and clarifying roles and responsibilities for implementation were also recognized.This was followed by a wrap-up session of the first five days of HLPF 2019. UN DESA summarized messages from the five days, saying that while governments are on the right track, the level of ambition is not enough to achieve the SDGs by 2030. UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Inga Rhonda King highlighted, among other things, the importance of investing in data capacity, and the role of science in shaping policies. She urged governments to speed up implementation and kickstart transformative action.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Financing the SDGs: Moving from Words to Action The morning session focused on financing the SDGs and how to move from words, into action. Min Yongyi, Statistics Division, UN DESA Homi Kharas, Interim Vice-President and Director, Global Economy and Development Program, Brookings Institution Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development, Norway Iñigo Urkullu Renteria, President, Basque Government, Spain Belgacem Ayed, Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, Tunisia Thomas Gass, Head, South Cooperation Department, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Moderator Courtenay Rattray, Co-Facilitator, 2018 Financing for Development Outcome Document Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice-President, World Bank Group Voluntary National Reviews Delegates gather in plenary to listen to the VNRs. Ali Ahmadov, Deputy Prime Minister and Chair, National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development, Azerbaijan Ernesto Pernia, Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority, Philippines Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone Alejandra Candia, Vice-Minister of Social Development, Chile A delegate listens to the presentations. Miguel Ángel Moir, Secretary, Planning and Programming for the Presidency, Guatemala Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister for National Development Planning, Indonesia Naci Ağbal, Minister and Chief of Strategy and Budget of the Presidency, Turkey Videos are shared during the VNR presentations. Four Years of VNRs: What Have We Learned on Implementing the SDGs? Moderator Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Seán Canney, Minister of State for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment, Ireland Luis Gerardo González Morales, Statistics Division, UN DESA Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary Secretary of State, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, Germany Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Shannon Kindornay, Director of Research, Policy and Practice, Canadian Council for International Co-Operation, and Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, The New School Judy Njino, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Kenya Abel Hibert, Deputy Chief, Office of the President for Analysis and Innovation, Mexico Chris Derksen-Hiebert, Global Senior Director, Advocacy, Policy and External Relations, World Vision Sugath Yalegama, Director-General, Sustainable Development Council, Sri Lanka Wrap-up Session of the First Five Days A wrap-up session was held to provide a broad overview of the sessions that took place during the first five days of HLPF. Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General, Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, UN DESA Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC Civil Society Demonstration Members of civil society participate in the ‘great debt workout,’ calling on governments to address the new wave of debt crises that is undermining the achievement of the SDGs. They called for a global Debt Workout Mechanism, insisting it is time for governments to ‘work it out.’ Around the Venue Delegates stand at the back of the room as plenary is filled to capacity. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN (left), speaks with delegates. Iñigo Urkullu Renteria, President, Basque Government, Spain (center) speaks with delegates Delegates speak informally between sessions. An exhibition hosted by Ghana highlights the work they are doing to achieve the SDGs. In celebration of World Youth Skills Day on 15 July 2019, a WorldSkills exhibition at HLPF highlights the importance of promoting technical and vocational skills to support both local and global economies.

Highlights for Friday, 12 July 2019 As HLPF focused on SDG 13 (climate action), members of civil society demonstrate outside the UN Headquarters, saying 'we need you to wake up, we need you to rise up.' Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Friday, 12 July 2019 As the first week of HLPF 2019 drew to a close, two sessions reviewed the implementation and interrelations among Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), on SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). In the discussion on SDG 13, Luis Alfonso de Alba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Action Summit, pleaded with governments to bring ambitious plans to the Summit, to deliver a 45% reduction of emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Carolina Schmidt, Minister of Environment, Chile, and President-designate of the 2019 Climate Conference identified seven priorities for the Conference: ambition in implementation; rules for the carbon market mechanisms; climate finance; science for climate solutions; adaptation and loss and damage; forests and food security; and oceans and climate change. Gender will be a crosscutting theme for all the issues, she said. In the discussion on SDG 16, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) reported no substantial progress on SDG 16 targets in recent years, with thousands at greater risk of intentional murder, aggression, and sexual violence. Women comprise 70% of the victims of violence, and murders of human rights defenders increased by 2 victims per week in 2018 compared to 2017. Speakers called for involving women, youth, and children in policy-making related to SDG 16; promoting non-discriminatory policies; instituting and enacting policies to protect human right defenders; and putting technology at the center of enhancing institutional capacity.A brief session in the morning also discussed the 2019 report of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum, which called for strengthened capacity and policies for development of STI roadmaps, and for tackling the fragmented nature of official development assistance for STI. Speakers said the UN General Assembly should be requested to report on progress of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM); member states should include STI in their voluntary national reviews (VNRs); and indigenous knowledge and citizen science should be considered as part of STI.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Discussion on SDG 13 – Climate Action Plenary is filled to capacity as delegates participate in the discussion on SDG 13 (climate action). Luis Alfonso de Alba, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Action Summit Carolina Schmidt, Minister of the Environment, Chile, and COP 25 President Moderator Ovais Sarmad, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Deputy Executive Secretary Leena Srivastava, Co-Chair, UN Secretary-General’s Science Advisory Group for Climate Summit Omar Hilale, Vice-President, ECOSOC Javier Manzanares, Deputy Executive Director, Green Climate Fund (GCF) Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Penny Abeywardena, Commissioner, New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs Zhao Dong, Chairman, Xiamen Airlines, China Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) Dimakatso Sekhoto, World Farmers' Organization (WFO), and Farmers Major Group Johanna Lissinger Peitz, Sweden Mainassara Assouman, Niger Amatlain Elizabeth Kabua, Permanent Representative of the Marshall Islands to the UN Report of the STI Forum Panel speakers discussed key findings and recommendations for the STI Forum, international collaborations needed, and how to best mobilize STI to improve the lives of those furtherest behind. Marie Chatardová, Co-Chair, STI Forum Elizabeth Thompson, Co-Chair, STI Forum Yushi Torigoe, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, Institute for Global Environment Strategies, Japan Vaughan Turekian, Co-Chair, 10-Member Advisory Group to the STI Forum Paul Maseli, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Paulo Gadelha, 10-Member Group to the STI Forum Hasina Efunyemi, Women's Major Group Discussion on SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions The session included discussions on: policy reforms; local actions and strategies to strengthen the resilience of communities and institutions to best deliver on SDG 16; and how SDG 16 targets and indicators can leverage human rights norms, standards, and analytical approaches to inform the measurement, monitoring, and implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen, Statistics Division, UN DESA Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica, and Vice President, Club de Madrid Emanuela del Re, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Ahona Paul, Cambodia, and Charles Young, Jamaica, Children and Youth Representatives on ending violence against children Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, Vice-Minister of Justice, Argentina Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director, Mo Ibrahim Foundation Widya Sadnovic, Indonesia Marina de Paiva, NGO Major Group Lead Discussants Edward Thomas Porokwa, Executive Director, Pastoralists Indigenous NGO’s Forum, and Harib Al Amimi, President, State Audit Institution, UAE Climate Strike As discussions about climate action continue inside the UN Headquarters, members of civil society join in the Fridays for Future movement and demonstrate outside, calling on global leaders to take immediate action to solve the climate crisis. Around the Venue Carolina Schmidt, Minister of the Environment, Chile; Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary; and Omar Hilale, Vice-President, ECOSOC Omar Hilale, Vice-President, ECOSOC, consults with Marie Chatardová, Co-Chair, STI Forum Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica (left), speaks with delegates Ayman Cherkaoui, Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment Delegates between sessions A delegate visits the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) website to keep track of the meeting's proceedings

Highlights for Thursday, 11 July 2019 A delegate takes notes on the third day of HLPF 2019 as discussions focused on perspectives of society, the science-policy interface, and a review of SDG 10 - reduced inequalities. Posted by IISD Reporting Services on Thursday, 11 July 2019 HLPF 2019 continued into its third day with a thematic review on empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality, focused on the perspectives of society. Interventions by women and stakeholders were noticeably predominant in this session, which addressed four issues: guiding principles for strengthening the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda, including HLPF reform; integration with other crosscutting and thematic processes such as Financing for Development (FfD), Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Forum, Committee on World Food Security (CFS), and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; strengthening the interplay between global and regional processes; and ensuring vibrant participation and effective dialogue in the voluntary national review (VNR) process at national and global levels. There were calls for further inclusivity and space for civil society involvement; moving away from tokenism and “tick-boxing”; and honest assessments of global and national processes, moving away from “rose tinted” messages to a more critical review of progress, with space for civil society to present alternative reports. The potential of using regional spaces for better civil society engagement was also recognized. A session on the science-policy interface followed, with a briefing from the independent group of scientists on the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). Peter Messerli, GSDR Co-Chair, noted uneven progress in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and called for integrated approaches in implementation. The value of science in achieving the Goals, and identifying challenges beyond the Goals; the importance of making science accessible; and the need for scientific institutions to be involved in policy making and resource planning were emphasized. In the afternoon, a review of implementation and interrelations among SDGs focused on SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). A statistical snapshot of SDG 10 showed that income and other forms of inequality are on the rise. Globally, the bottom 40% receive less than 25% of overall income, and an increasing share of income going to the top 1% in many countries. Meanwhile, 50% of those affected by extreme poverty are children below 14 years. The principles of “leaving no one behind” and “nothing for us, without us” were evoked as essential for achieving SDG 10. For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Thematic Review: Perspectives of Society Delegates during the session discussing perspectives of society. Donovan Guttieres, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Kira Christianne Danganan Azucena, Vice-President, ECOSOC Warda Rina, Co-Chair, Asia Pacific Regional Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Engagement Mechanism Pooja Rangaprasad, Civil Society Financing for Development (FfD) Group Co-Moderators Paola Simonetti, Co-Chair, Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) Steering Group, and Katarina Popovic, Secretary-General, International Council for Adult Education Jose Viera, CEO, World Blind Union (WBU) Gisele Fernández Ludlow, Mexico Flore De Pauw, Youth Delegate, Belgium Emily Mattheisen, NGO Major Group Science-Policy Interface Panel speakers during the session, which included a briefing from the Independent Group of Scientists on the 2019 GSDR. Peter Messerli, Co-Chair, GSDR Heide Hackmann, CEO, International Science Council Endah Murniningtyas, Co-Chair, GSDR Nicola Barker-Murphy, Jamaica A slide shown during the presentation of the 2019 GSDR “sounds the alarm bell” to scale-up and accelerate SDG implementation. Moderator Romain Murenzi, Executive Director, World Academy of Sciences Meera Joshi, outgoing Commissioner, New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Stephan Contius, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany Virginia Murray, Public Health England Discussion on SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities Valentin Rybakov, Vice-President, ECOSOC, convened the session, which focused on: best practices for reducing inequality; changing the narrative around SDG 10 to capture the value of equality and inclusion for multiple stakeholders; the interlinkages between SDG 10 and other goals and targets that can be leveraged to reduce inequality; and which dimensions of inequality can be lowered most or least quickly, and which groups are the easiest and most difficult to reach. Benjamin Rae, Statistics Division, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Moderator Sarah Cliffe, New York University Martha Chen, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) Network Justice Edwin Cameron, Constitutional Court of South Africa Máximo Torero Cullen, Assistant Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Eun Mee Kim, Dean, Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea Mayra Lisseth Sorto, El Salvador Mikael Lånström, Finland Cho Tae-yul, Republic of Korea, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of SDG 10 Prudence Kaoma, Zambia Nalini Singh, Executive Director, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement Jane Barratt, Secretary-General, International Federation on Ageing Around the Venue Delegates speak informally between sessions Ovais Sarmad, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Deputy Executive Secretary, speaks with Zitouni Ould-Dada, FAO Abdullah Abu Shawesh, State of Palestine In the exhibition area, Peace Boat US shares information on their work to build a culture of peace around the world by connecting people across borders and creating opportunities for learning, activism, cooperation, and sustainability, with a particular focus on SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). A display by 'Bridge 47 - Building Global Citizenship' highlights their work advocating for SDG target 4.7, mobilizing global civil society to achieve a 'vision of life-long education that inspires hearts and minds'.