Caterina Sullivan
What to Expect from the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

From the 6th until the 15th of July, the United Nations will host their High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. This annual event will be analysing global progress on the Global Goals after this past year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main focus of the HLPF will be on the goals most closely related to social and economic development and growth. Goal 13: Climate Action is the only environment-related goal being given priority at the event. This shows the deep concern United Nations member states currently have for the impact COVID has had on our economy and our social progression, including health, poverty and inequality.
During the HLPF, there will be a review of the targets which were supposed to be achieved by 2020. It is important these targets are reviewed to ensure the best course of action for these targets from here.
43 countries will be presenting their Voluntary National Reviews, 8 of which will be presenting for the first time.
Conversations will be had about continuing to rebuild after COVID and improving our global resilience against further disasters, whether they be health pandemics, economic recessions or climate emergencies.
There will be a special dialogue on leaving no one behind, one of the key overarching themes of the Global Goals, which Global Goals Australia is proud to have worked on over the years.
The HLPF will also include an important dialogue on science and technology and the role innovation will play in the eventual achievement of the Global Goals. This conversation will be happening in close temporal proximity to the discussions on the support needed for small island developing states and least developing countries not to be left behind in this agenda.
The latest major theme being discussed at the high-level political forum is the importance of public private partnerships. This is an increasingly major issue in a world where the balance of power is held by the world's largest corporations.
Global Goals Australia will cover the outcome of the forum, the main takeaways and the areas for potential growth. We look forward to sharing this with you!
This article was originally published on the Global Goals Australia Campaign website.