In early July, the UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) led UNU contributions to the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) — the main United Nations platform on sustainable development, with a central role in the follow-up and review of the SDGs. The 2022 meeting focused on the theme “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
UNU-IAS co-organised two side events (with contributions from the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security), which drove discussions on synergies and trade-offs between climate action and the SDGs, and ecosystem restoration to build back better from COVID-19. The events showcased UNU research and education programmes while enhancing partnerships in these critical areas.
The first side event on 7 July examined challenges and opportunities in scaling up climate action while advancing sustainable development. The online event brought together diverse perspectives from the UN system, academia, and civil society on critical gaps and how they can be closed by realising synergies between the two agendas. The event provided valuable inputs for the Third International Conference on Enhancing Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the SDGs held in Tokyo on 20–21 July 2022, and for the upcoming Transforming Education Summit in New York on 19 September 2022.
The second event on 13 July explored the role of the Satoyama Initiative in achieving the SDGs and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers emphasised the need for integrated approaches based on a harmonious relationship with nature to create lasting solutions to the challenges of climate change and promote well-being.
Visit the UNU-IAS website for full, post-event write-ups of each event:
