Turning crisis into opportunity: World leaders meet at UN to help drive pandemic recovery
The hybrid (online and in-person) conference, which takes place between 6 and 15 July, will focus on the lessons, successes, shortcomings and plans to emerge from the unprecedented health crisis, and advocate for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the best way to build more inclusive, resilient and healthier societies.
“Countries will share and reflect the actions they have been taking to overcome the pandemic, to address its impacts and to build back better”, said Munir Akram, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which convenes the Forum. “A core issue would be whether and how they are using the SDGs as the blueprint for their response to COVID-19.”
Helping the most vulnerable
This year, 43 countries will present actions they have taken to improve people’s standard of living, despite the impact of the pandemic; to date, 168 countries have presented their progress on the SDGs since the first Forum, in 2016.
In the area of climate action, for example, the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is implementing a $1.3 million project to improve its civil society access to climate financing. In Norway, measures to combat climate change have led to total greenhouse gas emissions dropping to the the lowest level since 1993, and also, Angola’s decision to enact measures aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on oil.
For many countries, the response to the pandemic has involved investing in their citizens, enhancing social protection systems and labour markets in order to help the most vulnerable populations.
Egypt’s “Decent Life” scheme aims to improve the lives of millions of poor in rural areas; Denmark inaugurated its “Children First” project, to ensure better conditions for equal opportunities in childhood; and Cyprus has adopted a support package for employees, the self-employed, vulnerable groups and businesses, worth some 2.6 billion Euros.
Years of progress erased
Despite these welcome initiatives, ECOSOC warns that the pandemic has erased years of progress on some SDGs, and delegates will identify areas that need more attention, and policies likely to have maximum impacts on achieving the Goals.
Before the onset of the pandemic, progress was already being described as unsatisfactory, with pervasive inequalities, hunger, climate change, lack of access to education, growing unemployment, and extreme poverty
By highlighting these ongoing issues, it is hoped that countries will chart a recovery path that is people-centered and underpinned by economic reform, digital transformation, vaccine equity and climate action.
HLPFc2021 highlights
- Launch of the SDGs Report 2021 The annual Sustainable Development Goals Report provides an overview of the world’s efforts to implement the SDGs to date. The 2021 report will be launched on 6 July.
- Laying the groundwork The Forum takes place under the theme of sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, laying the ground for the upcoming Food Systems Summit in September, the UN Climate Conference in November and other high-level events
- Other Special Events In addition to over 300 side events, there will be several special events, including the SDG Learning, Training and Practice event (6-12 July), the SDG Acceleration Action event (8 July), the SDG Film Festival (12 July), the Local and Regional Governments Forum (12-13 July), the Chief Sustianability Officers Special Event (15 July).
- Media Zone (6 to 16 July) Under the theme, Global Challenges, Local Solutions, the SDG Media Zone at the Forum will feature media-led conversations on socioeconomic recovery and SDG action from around the world. You can find the programme here. All of the videos will be available on UN Web TV.
© UN News (2021) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: UN News
Where next?
Browse related news topics:
Read the latest news stories:
- The trial that brought down a warlord Saturday, November 23, 2024
- Preparing for climate chaos in Timor-Leste, one of the world’s most vulnerable nations Saturday, November 23, 2024
- Insights From Negotiator into How COPs Move Needle Towards Healthy, Liveable Planet Saturday, November 23, 2024
- Climate Change in Azerbaijan is Putting Women at Increased Risk of Gender-Based Violence Friday, November 22, 2024
- Once in a Blue Moon, Things Dont Fall Apart Friday, November 22, 2024
- International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Friday, November 22, 2024
- Migration Remittances: Pursuit of Greener Pastures Opens Door for Climate Financing Friday, November 22, 2024
- Stand Up, Speak Out: A Global Call to Men on the 25th Anniversary of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Friday, November 22, 2024
- UN's OCHA Calls to Correct the Imbalance in Climate Finance Allocation Friday, November 22, 2024
- Where Is Mental Health in Global Climate Negotiations? Friday, November 22, 2024