One and a half years after the Global Goals were adopted, what progress has been made so far and where do challenges lie?

A Regional Forum for Sustainable Development meeting in Geneva last month gathered representatives from 45 countries and all sectors of society from the pan-European region to take stock on these questions.  

Despite taking place at varying speeds depending on policy area or ministry, steps are already being made towards achieving the Goals, it emerged. Many countries have strong policies in place, while financial instruments and investments, data and monitoring are all lining up to support implementation. Further efforts are nonetheless needed – even for the most developed countries.   

Overall, national laws and policies are being adapted to reflect the 2030 Agenda in the region - Denmark is even assessing all new legislation to ensure it contributes to achieving the Goals. Parliaments, as well as local or regional decision-makers, must be fully involved in implementation, it was noted.

Civil society must meanwhile be involved in helping achieve and follow-up of the Goals, it was underlined during a preparatory consultation held the day before the forum. Awareness is furthermore growing among the private sector that a business case exists for the 2030 Agenda, noted John Danilovich - Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce.

On the environment, countries saw sub-regional cooperation as being crucial for a range of challenges surrounding shared natural resources, such as oceans and marine pollution.  

UN Environment administers a number of legal instruments in this regard, such as the Tehran Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea, the Barcelona Convention and Mediterranean Action Plan for the Sea, and the Carpathian Convention.

“While achieving the Goals can almost seem impossible at first, by working together step by step we can do it,” underlined one of the local pupils invited to address the meeting.

Outcomes from the Regional Forum will be submitted to the global High-level Political Forum due to take place in New York on 10-19 July.

Discover the Global Goals and their targets by clicking here. For more information please contact wondwosen.asnake@unep.org