The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development ( HLPF ) concluded on Wednesday following a week-and-a-half of substantive discussion between Member States, civil society representatives and UN agencies.
At the end of the conference, Member States adopted a Ministerial Declaration by a vote of 154-2-2 with the United States and Israel voting against the document and Paraguay and Iran abstaining.
"We strongly reaffirm our commitment to effectively implement the 2030 Agenda [which]... remains our overarching roadmap for achieving sustainable development and overcoming the multiple crises we face," the Declaration said.
15 years of HLPF
The HLPF has happened on an annual basis since 2010 and is convened by the Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC ) to discuss the progress - or lack thereof - on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) which were adopted in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda and aspire to create a more equitable and inclusive world.
This year, the forum focused on five of these goals - good health and well-being, gender equality , decent work and economic growth, life below water and partnerships .
Negotiations regarding the ministerial document were led by representatives from Czechia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who highlighted the significance of the proceedings.
"This year's deliberations have held particular significance - 10 years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, a range of interlinked and persistent challenges continues to jeopardize the full realization of the SDGs," said Jakub Kulhánek, permanent representative of Czechia and one of the two lead facilitators of the declaration.
The clock is ticking
In the Ministerial Declaration, Member States said that time is running out to achieve the SDGs which remain severely off track.
According to the Secretary-General's report on the Goals, which was released on the first day of the HLPF, only 18 per cent of the SDGs are on track to be achieved by 2030 with over half making progress that is too slow.
While the Ministerial Declaration addressed each of the five SDGs in the spotlight at the Forum, Member States particularly emphasized the role of poverty in impeding sustainable development and the worsening climate crisis that is threatening all aspects of the development agenda.
The Declaration called both of these issues some of the "greatest global challenges" that the world faces.
In keeping with SDG 16 which underlines the role that institutions, like governments, must play in promoting peace, Member States also affirmed that strong governance and partnership is essential to realizing peace as a prerequisite for development.
"We recognize that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development," it stated.
Plan of Action
In the midst of challenges to multilateralism, Member States said that the Declaration was an affirmation of the UN's commitment to multilateralism which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
"At a time when serious doubts about the future of multilateralism persist, your steadfast commitment has been both reassuring and inspiring," said Mr. Kulhánek.
Member States, in the Declaration, affirmed a commitment to urgently working towards the SDGs in order to achieve a better world.
"We will act with urgency to realize its vision as a plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, leaving no one behind."
