UN Secretary-General stated that “We have the collective responsibility to turn these landmark agreements into tangible actions.”

GFDD/Funglode participated in three major conferences at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the week of April 18, 2016. Although the events covered different topics they were all interconnected in providing the pathway to achieve the post-2015 Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through interactive panel discussions and presentations led by international policy experts, the participants gained valuable insight on each
country’s standing on the implementation of the goals, and solutions to ensure that no one is left behind.

The UN hosted the Inaugural ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum) from Monday April 18 to Wednesday April 20, 2016 under the overarching theme: “Financing for sustainable development: follow-up to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA).” The Forum addressed the follow-up and review of the Financing for Sustainable Development outcomes and means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. During the inaugural ceremony the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, highlighted that “the adoption of the AAAA realigns financial resources towards global sustainable development”, as
well as strengthens global partnership for mobilizing and delivering resources and technology needed for inclusive sustainable development. On this matter, the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) highlighted the “urgent need for mobilization of financial resources”, as well as continuous official development assistance (ODA) for developing countries to implement the 2030 Agenda.

Moreover, the 2016 inaugural report on Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development was released during the conference, mapping out the commitments and action items contained in the AAAA and laying out how the Task Force will monitor their implementation in future years. The Forum resulted in
intergovernmentally agreed conclusions and recommendations that will feed into the overall follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development  taking place this July in New York.

On April 21st the Foundations covered the High-level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This event served to increase international awareness and political momentum around the implementation of the SDGs. All stakeholders in attendance addressed the interlinkages between the Paris Climate Agreement (COP21) and the outcome of the 2030 Agenda. Heads of states discussed how to catalyze means of implementation for the SDGs, including ICTs and financing for “sustainable,
resilient and climate smart infrastructure.” Finally, the discussants considered how to foster accountable and transparent multi-stakeholder partnerships to support the 2030 Agenda. The President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, stated that the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement in 2015 “delivered
a clear message to the world: that a transformation has begun which will ensure both shared prosperity and the vitality of our planet.”

Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, took the floor on behalf of the European Unionto stress that “implementation starts at home.” He explained that that for the EU a key priority was the need to conduct a comprehensive mapping of policies supporting sustainable
development, both internally and externally this year, to showcase how the region is meeting its obligations.

Concluding a week of highly topical discussions, 175 countries gathered at the UN on Friday to sign the Paris Agreement, “to ensure that the landmark accord for
global action on climate change enters into force as soon as possible.”  With the objective to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and strive to limit global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the agreement will enter into force 30 days after a minimum of 55 countries, accounting for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification.

Academy Award-winning actor and UN
Messenger of Peace, Leonardo DiCaprio, expressed his concern about the damage that climate change has produced around the world, including historic flooding, unprecedented droughts, sea level rise and the rapid disappearance of ancient glaciers. He noted that the “tools reversing the course of climate change” are “in our hands”, and urged the need
to “apply them before it’s too late.” Commenting on the role of clean technology and low carbon solutions in combatting climate change, DiCaprio emphasized that “this transition is not only the right thing for our world, but it also makes economic sense.”

Concluding the week of UN conferences, the UN Secretary General referred to the recently adopted Paris Agreement, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and AAAA to
emphasize that “2015 was a year of crucial milestones for development”. He delivered his comments before an audience comprised of a wide range of stakeholders, from Heads of States to Civil Society Organizations, in the hope of providing them with the necessary motivation and guidance to move from words to actions.

Related Links:
http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/ffd-follow-up/ecosoc-ffd-forum.html
http://www.un.org/pga/70/events/sdgs/
http://newsroom.unfccc.int/unfccc-newsroom/finale-cop21/