SDG Halfway Point!

All about the upcoming SDG Summit in New York and Ireland's role in it

The SDG Summit is a high-level meeting of world leaders that will take place on 18-19 September 2023 at the UN Headquarters in New York. It will mark the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 goals that aim to promote prosperity, address inequalities and protect the environment by 2030.

World leaders will agree on a Political Declaration for the SDGs at the Summit. Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the UN has been appointed co-facilitator for the negotiations on this declaration.

The SDG Summit is expected to reignite hope, optimism and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda. It will also provide an opportunity to identify key levers for transformative change and mobilise high-impact initiatives and commitments. The Summit will be convened by the President of the General Assembly and the centrepiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly.

Ireland has been a strong supporter and advocate of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs since their adoption in 2015. Ireland co-facilitated the negotiations that led to adopting the SDGs, along with Kenya. Ireland also co-facilitated the negotiations that led to the adopting of the Political Declaration for the SDG Summit, along with Jordan.

Ireland is committed to implementing the SDGs both at home and abroad. Ireland launched its first National Implementation Plan for the SDGs in 2018, which outlines how Ireland will achieve the goals by 2030. Ireland has also integrated the SDGs into its international development policy, A Better World, which focuses on four priority areas: gender equality, reducing humanitarian needs, climate action and strengthening governance.

Ireland is also actively engaged in promoting and monitoring the progress of the SDGs at the global level. Ireland is a member of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which oversees the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. Ireland has also presented its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the SDGs at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2018, and plans to present its second VNR in 2024.

Ireland has a lot to contribute and learn from the SDG Summit. Ireland will use this opportunity to showcase its achievements, challenges and best practices for implementing the SDGs. Ireland will join other countries in making ambitious and concrete commitments to accelerate SDG action. I believe that Ireland can play a leading role in building a human rights economy, placing human rights at the heart of care and support systems, enhancing environmental action, especially climate action, anchoring ‘leaving no one behind’ implementation in equality and non-discrimination and empowering people as active agents of sustainable development.

I look forward to following the SDG Summit online and hearing from speakers and stakeholders. I encourage you all to do the same and join me in supporting this important global event. Together, we can make a difference for people and the planet.

Further Reading:

https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023

https://www.ohchr.org/en/sdgs/sdg-summit

https://www.ireland2030.org/news-and-updates/2023/7/26/the-sdg-summit-in-september-what-you-need-to-know