.png)
Our world is facing multiple global crises. While extreme inequality persists, poverty reduction has stalled. The number of violent conflicts is increasing, and geopolitical tensions are rising. At the same time, we are facing a climate and nature crisis that requires immediate action. The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at a crossroads. Although the world was off track before the emergence of COVID-19, the pandemic has reversed much of the progress on poverty reduction and low-income countries are now worse off. While the SDGs have influenced how government officials, civil society organizations, and businesses frame sustainable development policies in their external and internal communications, the 2022 SDG Impact Assessment, conducted by a global consortium of researchers, finds that the first phase of SDG implementation did not lead to a transformative reorientation of political systems and societies.
This year, as in previous years, our intention is to deepen the conversation about political commitment, funding, and the implementation of development programs aimed at achieving the SDGs. At this conference, we aspire to connect the worlds of research and policy, seeking a more comprehensive understanding of what is working, where, how, and why. Additionally, we will explore how to what extent governance for the SDGs must be substantially strengthened to allow these goals to “transform our world,” as the original 2015 UN declaration promised.
|
Catalyzing Sustainable Progress: Uniting Research and Policy
|