High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Established in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 67/290, it replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development and convenes annually under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly.

Overview and establishment

The forum was created as a direct outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. Its establishment was mandated by the conference's outcome document, "The Future We Want", which called for a universal, intergovernmental body to address sustainable development challenges. The subsequent United Nations General Assembly resolution formally defined its modalities, including its universal membership and the cyclical nature of its meetings. The inaugural meeting took place in 2013, with the forum becoming fully operational in 2016 following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit. Its creation marked a significant evolution from the previous Commission on Sustainable Development, aiming for a more action-oriented and politically engaged platform.

Functions and mandate

The primary function of the forum is to provide political leadership, guidance, and recommendations on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its core mandate includes overseeing a network of follow-up and review processes at the global level, enhancing integration of the Sustainable Development Goals' three dimensions—economic, social, and environmental—and addressing new and emerging challenges. It is tasked with promoting the sharing of best practices and fostering coherence and coordination within the United Nations system, including with related bodies like the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme. The forum also plays a key role in strengthening the science-policy interface, often drawing on assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other expert bodies.

Annual themes and voluntary national reviews

Each session of the forum focuses on a specific annual theme, such as "Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality" or "Accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda". A central feature of its work is the presentation of Voluntary National Reviews, where Member States present their progress, challenges, and lessons learned in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. These reviews are conducted in a spirit of peer learning and are a cornerstone of the forum's accountability mechanism. The themes and the set of goals under review are decided in advance, often aligning with major events like the Paris Agreement climate conferences or the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction monitoring cycles.

Participation and stakeholders

Participation in the forum is universal, open to all United Nations Member States, with active involvement from the entire United Nations system and related international institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. A distinctive feature is the broad engagement of non-state stakeholders, including Major Groups and other Stakeholders as defined in Agenda 21, such as the International Chamber of Commerce, Oxfam, and indigenous peoples' organizations. Representatives from civil society, the private sector, the scientific community, and local authorities participate in dialogues, side events, and can make interventions during official sessions, making it a multi-stakeholder platform.

Outcomes and impact

The main outcomes of each forum session are a negotiated ministerial declaration and a summary by the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. While the declarations are not legally binding, they carry significant political weight, providing guidance to Member States and the United Nations system. The forum's impact is seen in its role as a global barometer for Sustainable Development Goals progress, influencing national policy dialogues and mobilizing action through partnerships like the United Nations Global Compact. Its work feeds into other major intergovernmental processes, including the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

Category:United Nations Category:Sustainable development