Turning the Page on 2020: A Wake-up Call for Multilateral Cooperation to Protect People and Planet

This short policy brief seeks to take stock of 2020 by analysing the unfolding of the COVID-19 crisis and how it makes the 2030 Agenda and multilateral cooperation ever more relevant. The first section briefly looks at the unprecedented political significance of the 2030 Agenda to frame the ensuing reflection. The second section highlights the consequences of the crisis on our path to sustainable development. The third section explains how the UN is seeking to lead the response to the crisis. The fourth section makes a case for a socio-economic recovery based on the SDGs and stronger multilateral action. Finally, the conclusions share some of the results of the global conversations held on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the UN, giving food for thought on the way forward. Throughout its sections, the paper highlights the importance of partnerships with other key global actors like the European Union (EU).