BACKGROUND
The Political Declaration of the 2019 SDG Summit stresses the urgent need for concerted, accelerated action by all stakeholders at all levels to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the lead up to the SDG Summit, UNDESA set up an online platform (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgactions) to capture new and ambitious SDG Acceleration Actions. Moving ahead on the Decade of Action for SDG implementation by 2030 launched by the Secretary-General, this platform will continue to mobilize ambitious actions and track their progress.
HIGHLIGHTS
As of 20 February 2020, a total of 147 Acceleration Actions have been published, including major commitments from Finland, United Kingdom and India. Actions submitted by a significant number of countries (79%) aim to address multiple SDGs leveraging interlinkages, while 21% of initiatives focus on addressing one SDG. Of the 147 registered actions, SDGs 16 and 17 have mobilized the largest number of actions, followed by SDGs 13, 8, 5 and 1. With regard to geographical location of initiatives, 41% of registered actions come from Europe; 20% from Latin American and the Caribbean; 13% from Asia and the Pacific; 11% from North America; 8% from Africa; and 5% from West Asia.
WHAT IS AN SDG ACCELERATION ACTION?
SDG Acceleration Actions are initiatives voluntarily undertaken to accelerate the SDG implementation by national governments and any other non-state actors - individually or in partnership. Any new action or action that builds on existing efforts (scaling up, new phase, etc.) could be considered as an SDG Acceleration Action. Examples include: announcement of a new or enhanced policy, programme, or project—or financing of a project—related to the achievement of one or more of the 17 SDGs or addressing the interlinked nature of the 2030 Agenda.
IMPACT?
Registered actions will be highlighted at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and other key global meetings, including the annual ECOSOC Partnership Forum, and through UNDESA’s Acceleration Action platform and social media channels.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Registration is open online. Submissions will be reviewed by UNDESA in accordance with a set of criteria (click here for more information).