Global Policy Watch
Published on Wed, 2023-11-01 16:42
Considered a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to address inequities in global governance and reset international cooperation, the Summit of the Future (SoTF) will be a cornerstone among a series of high-level UN meetings in 2024. While Member State priorities differ, they have confirmed that the Summit will be held on 22-23 September 2024 and have agreed on the elements and next steps towards the adoption of “a concise, action-oriented outcome document entitled ‘A Pact for the Future’, agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations”. This Global Policy Watch fact sheet explores the process and negotiations going forward and the different priorities revealed in Member State statements. |
Published on Fri, 2023-10-06 21:59
Many world leaders during the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate (19 to 26 September 2023) referenced the sorry state of multilateralism and the various alignments and groupings, some to counter the lack of agency and redress power asymmetries across multiple policy streams. In conjunction with the historical responsibilities of developed countries for carbon emissions, many called for reparations for slavery and colonialism, highlighting the historical injustice that continues to disadvantage developing countries. Reform of the international financial architecture featured consistently on the agenda, as did a focus on demands for action on Loss and Damage at the upcoming COP 28 and the devastating debt distress, especially in small- and medium-sized countries. |
Published on Sat, 2023-09-16 17:14
The UN ECOSOC High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), operating under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has convened regularly since it was established by the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). It is a means for Member States, the UN System and Major Groups and Other Stakeholders to assess progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2023, the HLPF took place from 10 - 19 July, and the main SDGs subjected to in-depth review were SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities and SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals. |
Published on Thu, 2023-09-07 18:25
At the half-way mark to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN "SDG Summit" is charged with igniting a correction course as the UN, Member States and numerous studies agree that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are seriously off-track and the consequences of failure affect all countries and sectors of society. Key themes include: the SDG Stimulus, debt swaps, international financial architecture reform, re-channeling of Special Drawing Rights amongst other issues. Global Policy Watch’s factsheet highlights the significance, programme, events and Political Declaration of the Summit and includes relevant links and documents for further exploration. |
Published on Thu, 2023-09-07 01:38
A key theme for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), 10-20 July 2023, was the issue of the current international financial architecture (IFA) that disproportionality disservices low and middle-income countries. Reforms to IFA, tackling debt difficulties for vulnerable countries, the SDG Stimulus, and references to SDG Summit, Summit of the Future and Summit for a New Global Financing Pact were highlighted by various Member States and other stakeholders at the HLPF and at the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris (22-23 June 2023). |
Published on Mon, 2023-09-04 00:00
GPW Fact Sheet on UN General Assembly High-Level Week features a run-down of the high-level events & collection of relevant resources. Happening soon, the UNGA High-Level Week will be an opportunity for a discussion on current challenges to global multilateralism. |
Published on Mon, 2023-08-28 09:47
This GPW Round Up #6 - 2023 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment: Financing for effective UN Development System & Country Teams - features a selection of perspectives from the sessions held in May 2023. Sustainable Development is one of the three pillars of the United Nations, yet the recent Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) and the consensus from the recently concluded High-Level Political Forum highlighted the dangerous lack of progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. |
Published on Fri, 2023-08-11 20:38
This GPW Round Up - 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5): Highlights from High-Level Roundtable discussions at LDC5 - features a selection of perspectives from different groups of participants at the LDC5 Conference held in March 2023. LDC5 was the first major high-level event of 2023, a crucial year of decision-making at UN headquarters. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that "the 2030 Agenda will fail if we fail least developed countries”. |
Published on Mon, 2023-08-07 15:52
This GPW Round Up #4, UN 2023 Water Conference: Highlights from the conference in UN year for Water Action and Focus, features a selection of perspectives from different groups of participants at the UN Water Conference held in March 2023. This year (2023) is the midpoint of the International Decade of Action on Water for Sustainable Development (2018-2028) and is also the midpoint for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. |
Published on Tue, 2022-11-15 19:29
The UN established the category of least developed countries (LDCs) in 1971, as many developing countries were navigating a path to development in the post-colonial period. The classification identified specific development challenges faced by these countries. |
