On March 13-14, 2024, the UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development will focus on “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the UNECE region in times of multiple crises: The effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions.”
High-level speakers will engage in a policy debate on accelerating SDG progress and delivering transformative solutions. The debate will be informed by the UNECE Annual SDG Progress Report 2024. Government representatives will have the opportunity to share policy actions taken domestically, while other stakeholders will join the debate and report on their preparatory consultations.
The plenary session will bring together diverse stakeholders, including local authorities, private sector, science and academia, youth representatives, and other civil society actors who have contributed to the Regional Forum in various ways, making it a participatory and inclusive platform. They will share their perspectives on SDG acceleration, focusing on the upcoming Summit of the Future in New York in September.
Invited to speak at the UNECE Regional Forum… the GCH will emphasize the need for localizing SDGs by strengthening and empowering local and regional governments (LRGs) to advance the six transitions needed to achieve the SDGs: Food systems, Energy access and affordability, Digital connectivity, Education, Jobs and social protection, and Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Inclusive, co-created local actions can ensure that no one is left behind.
As put by UNECE in its report on the program “Urban trees for climate and SDGs”, delivering benefits requires the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason. The GCH aims to be the right stakeholder, in the right place, for the right reason: delivering the message that achieving or significantly advancing towards the SDGs requires an inclusive and localized approach involving local and regional governments in multilateral decision-making on global challenges with local effects.
One of the prime examples of contributions by local and regional governments to multilateralism is the Forum of Mayors. Scheduled for September 30 to October 1 in Geneva, this year’s forum will explore outcomes of the Summit of the Future relevant to cities, thus titled the “Cities Summit of the Future.” Stay tuned!
