The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stresses the importance of the regional and sub-regional dimensions in the follow-up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Member States at the highest level reaffirmed this principle in the Political Declaration adopted at the 2023 SDG Summit. Since the creation of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, Regional Forums on Sustainable Development have been organized by the five United Nations Regional Commissions to identify innovative pathways, review progress, challenges, and opportunities for accelerated SDG implementation in the regions.
In 2024, the Regional Forums contributed to mobilizing transformative action, building on the reservoir of hope and momentum generated during the SDG Summit, and rekindling a spirit of solidarity and cooperation towards the Summit of the Future. Taking place between these so-called twin Summits, the session “Messages from the regions” will showcase regional challenges, innovative pathways and opportunities for accelerating progress towards the SDGs and present transformative policies and actions for the remaining six years until the established deadline for the SDGs in 2030.
The session will discuss the recommendations from the Regional Forums on Sustainable Development and provide regional perspectives on this year’s theme of the HLPF, with particular focus on the Pact for the Future and its pillars on sustainable development and financing for development as well as science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation.
The session will feature an interactive discussion and will address the following guiding questions:
- How can we mobilize innovative regional pathways and leverage regional frameworks to support countries in overcoming crises to ensure full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and connect the dots between the SDG Summit in 2023 and the Summit of the Future in 2024?
- How can Regional Commissions ensure integrated approaches to sustainable development and advance key transitions, including in the area of digitalization, while leaving no one behind (LNOB)?
- What lessons have the regions learned about harnessing digitalization to enable SDG progress and what should be done differently going forward?
- What are some innovative policy actions that can scale financing for development and accelerate progress towards multiple SDGs?
Chair:
- H.E.Ms. Paula Narváez, President of the Economic and Social Council
Interactive discussion
Moderator:
- H.E.Ms. Paula Narváez, President of the Economic and Social Council
Speakers:
- H.E. Mr. Said Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy, Sultanate of Oman, and Chair of the 2024 Arab Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
- H.E. Ms. Ester-Anna-Liisa Shiwomwenyo Nghipondoka, Minister of Basic Education, Arts and Culture of the Republic of Namibia, and First Vice-Chair of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development
- H.E. Mr. Radim Sršeň, Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Czech Republic, and Co-Chair of the 2024 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region
- H.E. Mr. Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Vice-Chair of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development
- H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan-Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, for the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development
Lead Discussant:
- Mr. Alberto Jaramillo, SDGs coordinator of the National Worker’s Union of Mexico on behalf of the International Trade Union Confederation (MGoS)
Followed by interactive discussion with Member States and other stakeholders:
Member States, regional organizations and other stakeholders will be given the floor to express their views on the regional dimension of accelerating SDG progress and the follow-up to the outcomes of the Regional Forums. (up to 2-3 minutes each)
Responses by the Executive Secretaries of Regional Commissions with focus on innovative policy solutions if time allows:
- Mr. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Coordinator of the UN Regional Commissions
- Ms. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
- Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
- Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
- Ms. Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)