the health strategist
institute for strategic health transformation
& digital health
Joaquim Cardoso MSc.
Chief Research and Strategy Officer (CRSO),
Chief Editor and Senior Advisor
September 20, 2023
What is the message?
Global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and conflicts, have placed the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk, with only a small percentage of targets on track for 2030.
The document underscores the urgency for Heads of State and Government to convene at the 2023 SDG Summit, where they are urged to commit to a “Rescue Plan for People and Planet” through global and national commitments, while engaging civil society and the private sector.
The Summit’s central focus is to accelerate SDG implementation, identify challenges, and mobilize actions to place the world on a sustainable development path, leaving no one behind.
What are the main points of the agenda?
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly on September 18-19, 2023, addressed the urgent need for action to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda in the face of global crises. These crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and conflicts, have severely impacted various aspects of sustainable development, including poverty, health, education, and the environment.
The 2023 Special Edition of the SDG Progress Report highlighted that only about 12 percent of SDG targets with available data are on track, while nearly half are moderately or severely off track, and 30 percent have seen no progress or regression. The 2023 SDG Summit aimed to provide political leadership and guidance on the 2030 Agenda, identify challenges, and mobilize actions to accelerate implementation.
Objectives and Expected Outcomes
The Summit sought to place the world on a sustainable development path, focusing on integrated SDG implementation while leaving no one behind. It aimed to adopt a concise, action-oriented political declaration as its outcome document. The Secretary-General urged world leaders to deliver a “Rescue Plan for People and Planet” through global commitments to the SDGs, national commitments to SDG transformation, and engaging civil society and the private sector.
The Summit would be followed by the Summit of the Future in 2024, building on its outcomes and enhancing 2030 Agenda implementation.
Program Overview
The Summit’s program included an opening segment with remarks from the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, and the President of ECOSOC, followed by the adoption of the Political Declaration. The “Setting the Stage” segment featured key messages from stakeholders and a moderated panel to assess achievements and challenges.
Plenary segments allowed group statements from Member States to outline their actions and commitments. The Summit included six Leaders’ Dialogues, where Heads of State and Government discussed specific themes related to SDG transformation. Each dialogue featured interventions from various stakeholders.
The Closing Segment summarized commitments and recommendations, with three-minute time limits for statements. The list of speakers was open from July 19 to August 31, 2023.
Leaders’ Dialogues
The Leaders’ Dialogues were based on the Secretary-General’s report and the Global Sustainable Development Report. They aimed to elicit concrete solutions for rescuing the SDGs:
- Scaling up actions on key transitions focused on policy actions and investments to drive transitions in areas like energy, digitalization, and food security.
- Building resilience and leaving no one behind addressed socioeconomic inequalities, resilience, and inclusiveness, including for marginalized and vulnerable groups.
- Game-changers explored the application of science, technology, innovation, and data for transformative action.
- Strengthening integrated policies and public institutions discussed holistic approaches, synergies, and trade-offs in SDG implementation.
- Unity and Solidarity aimed to strengthen the multilateral system, international cooperation, and follow-up and review of SDG progress.
- Mobilizing finance and investments addressed financing, leadership, and international financial architecture reform for SDG achievement.
The Summit emphasized the need for immediate measures, global cooperation, and reform to align the international financial system with sustainable development objectives.
In conclusion, the 2023 SDG Summit provided a crucial opportunity to accelerate efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, address global challenges, and rescue the SDGs through political leadership, concrete commitments, and stakeholder engagement.
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