Blog Post

Join us at the 2019 UNGA!

  • By Lauren Barredo
  • •
  • 06 Sep, 2019
  • •
We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the following side events, which SDSN is hosting or are organized by our partners:

Securing Our Future: People, Food and Nature Solving the Planetary Emergency

Sunday, 22 September, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Cipriani, 42nd Street, 110 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA

This evening reception, co-hosted by SDSN, the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), the World Economic Forum, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Conservation International, UNDP, Nature4Climate, and National Geographic, will explore opportunities to transform food and land use systems to deliver resilient ecosystems and livelihoods and unlock the potential for nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. Providing healthy, safe and affordable food to 9 billion people in 2030 while protecting vital natural systems which sustain life will be one of the defining challenges of the coming decade. This event will showcase ambitious leadership, innovative partnerships, and mobilise collective action behind a movement in which people, food and nature play a central role in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement. Advance registration required, please register online.

Contracts for Data Collaboration Workshop

Monday, 23 September, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Infosys (One World Trade Center)

Contracts for Data Collaboration (C4DC),  an initiative seeking to address the legal barriers to data collaboration, is hosting a workshop convening thought leaders and decision-makers from across the public, private, and civil sectors. Led by partners SDSN TReNDS, the GovLab, the University of Washington, and World Economic Forum, participants will learn from those advancing data collaboratives across sectors and our understanding of their legal basis, review an initial prototype of a C4DC online tool, and contribute to the development of a requirements sheet for legal agreements supporting data collaboration. RSVP is required. Please email Andrew Young of The GovLab at New York University.

A 360 Look Towards 2030: Taking Stock of the SDGs

Monday, September 23, 2019 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

New York Marriott East Side, Morgan Room, 525 Lexington Avenue, New York NY

Presentation of the key findings of the 2019 SDG Index and Dashboards Report. Nearly four years have passed since the adoption of the SDGs, and countries are moving forward with the operationalization and implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This requires all stakeholders in government, business, and civil society to take stock of where their country, sector, region, or city stands with regard to achieving all 17 goals. In order to support this process, SDSN and Bertelsmann Stiftung developed the global SDG Index and Dashboards in 2016 and are excited to launch the 2019 report, which features a comparison of the performance of all 193 UN countries on the SDGs, a first indication on countries’ trajectories to reach the targets by 2030, and the first comprehensive analysis of government efforts on the SDGs in G20 countries. This index complements our guide on getting started with the SDGs. Advance registration required, please register online.

International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD)

Tuesday, 24 September, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Wednesday, 25 September, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Columbia University Campus (Faculty House & Lerner Hall)

The International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) provides a forum for academia, government, civil society, UN agencies, and the private sector to come together to share practical solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More information and registration online. 

The Cost of Success: Identifying SDG Financing Needs & Pathways for Low-Income Countries 

Tuesday, 24 September, 12:30 - 2:00 pm 
Danish Permanent Mission to the UN

This event will present the SDSN Financing Team's new paper, SDG Costing & Financing for Low-Income Developing Countries (LIDCs), which draws on existing studies and data contributions to present an estimate for the SDG financing needs and financing gap for LIDCs with a focus on the following sectors: health, education, infrastructure (including climate adaptation and mitigation), agriculture, biodiversity & ecosystem services, social protection, justice, and data for the SDGs.

Speakers will include
  • Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, SDSN
  • Ms. Trine Rask Thygesen, State Secretary for Development Policy, Denmark
  • Ms. Farah Kabir, Country Director, Action Aid Bangladesh
  • Mr. Jorge Moreira da Silva, Director, OECD-DAC
  • Mr. Morris Pearl, Chair, Patriotic Millionaires; Former, Managing Director, BlackRock
Panelists will address various strategies for assessing and closing LIDC financing gaps, including the revenue potential from internationally harmonized strategies around tax reforms, blended finance and private development assistance.

This event is invitation only. Inquiries can be sent to Ms. Taylor Smith at taylor.smith@unsdsn.org 

Fixing the Business of Food: The Food Industry and the SDG Challenge

Tuesday, 24 September, 4:00 – 6:00 pm

The Warwick Hotel, 65 W54th St, New York, NY 10019

The Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN) the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and the Santa Chiara Lab – University of Siena (SCL), are joining forces to accelerate progress towards the sustainable development of the agro-food sector.

A report on sustainable business practices in the food sector will be launched at this event, showcasing best practices and recommendations in four areas:

  1. Promoting and developing healthy diets
  2. Identifying sustainable ways to produce food
  3. Developing sustainable food value chains
  4. Being a good corporate citizen

We are convening institutional representative, experts, academics, entrepreneurs and opinion leaders will discuss in order to raise awareness on main challenges, opportunities and responsibilities for the food sector and identify effective sustainability pathways towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Registration is required, please register here.

Workshop on Linking evidence with policy to achieve the SDGs: The Social Systems Evidence Initiative

Tuesday, 24 September, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Columbia University Campus (Faculty House)

An invitation-only workshop for researchers and policy makers from across the SDSN community and beyond to discuss Social Systems Evidence, a new initiative that aims to bring the best available research evidence on what works to address the SDGs to policy and decision makers. For more information, please contact info@ap-unsdsn.org.

Data for Now: Accelerating SDG progress through timely data

Wednesday, 25 September, 7:15 – 10:15 am

Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice

Too much of our data is out-of-date, and too many people are missing from the numbers. The Data for Now initiative will dive into its work identifying robust methods and tools to improve the timeliness, coverage, and quality of SDG data at an invite-only event September 25th, featuring UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and representatives across sectors. Invitation only.

The Importance of the Principles of Environmental Law to Provide Legal Effectiveness to the Sustainable Development Goals  & Presentation of the Book Principios De Derecho Ambiental Y Agenda 2030

Wednesday 25 September, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

The Interchurch Center, 61 Claremont Ave (at 120th Street)

This event will be an opportunity to discuss on the importance of the principles of environmental law to reinforce its efficacy and to contribute to the sustainability of our planet. It will also be discussed whether the possibility of gathering these principles in an international agreement with ample consensus among countries would give binding legal force to the 2030 Agenda. Space is limited, advance registration is required. To register, please email Teresa Parejo.

Columbia International Investment Conference – Aligning Corporations with the Sustainable Development Goals

Wednesday, 25 September, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm

Columbia University Campus (Faculty House)

This conference aims to clearly and rigorously define SDG-aligned corporate activity to bring coherence and rigor to SDG measurement, reporting, and tools. It will also take stock of what has already been achieved in terms of identifying relevant metrics and indicators, and in ensuring meaningful reporting and assessment in accordance with those indicators, so that new voluntary and regulatory efforts can build on optimal approaches, and fill gaps where they exist. More information and registration online. 

Global Solutions Forum

Wednesday, 25 September, 5:00 – 8:30 pm

Columbia University Campus (Faculty House)

SDSN’s Global Solutions Forum (GSF) brings together the network’s sustainable development experts from around the world to showcase how they are implementing local initiatives that are advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The inaugural GSF will convene inspiring SDG actors for rapid-fire presentations where they can share progress, highlight victories, and inspire all of us to keep moving forward. Each Global Solution presentation will pack challenges and discoveries into 7 minutes of stories, images, and insights. More information online. 

The Global Pact for the Environment and the Sustainable Development Agenda

Wednesday, 25 September, 5:15 – 7:30 pm

Columbia University Campus (Law School)

This conference, the third annual of its kind, will build upon the last two years of diplomatic efforts to promote the Global Pact and discuss opportunities to strengthen international environmental governance. This conference focuses on the ability of a Global Pact for the Environment, which aims to unify international environmental governance and codify a human right to the environment in international law, to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including by linking the 2030 Agenda to the international environmental legal system. More information and registration online. 

Nigeria Kaduna State Government's Data Systems for SDG Implementation

Thursday, September 26, 9:00 - 11:00 am

Columbia University (School of International and Public Affairs)

The partnership of Columbia University's Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), SIPA's Master of Public Administration (MPA-DP) and SIPA Pan-African Network (SPAN) is delighted to welcome Kaduna State government of Nigeria in SIPA's Master of Public Administration in Development Practice (MDP) Seminar series.

The delegation from Kaduna State government will discuss the SDG implementation taking place at the state level, with a focus on highlighting the use of data in guiding policy and SDG implementation decisions. More information and registration online. 

Gender in Culture, Cities & Communities practicing SDGs

Thursday, September 26, 12:30 - 2:30 pm

The Interchurch Center

This event aims to celebrate individuals and organizations who keep the mission to support women and men in their daily endeavors while reflecting on the gaps that persist in their endeavors. Speakers and panelists will discuss gender equality from culture, cities and communities lens, to shed light on efforts for advancement and representation of women as well as ideas and discussions on what factos need to be further considered going forward. More information and registration online. 

SDSN Leadership Council Meeting

Thursday, 26 September, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Friday 27 September, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Columbia University Campus

This event is invitation-only.

The Climate Crisis, Global Land Use, and Human Rights

Friday, 27 September, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Ford Foundation

This conference will analyze the critical role that land plays in achieving climate solutions, the degree to which climate change may reshape regional abilities to support sustainable ecosystems, and the ways in which these land and climate interactions might affect land rights, human rights, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. More information and registration online. 

SDSN USA Pathways Project Open Meeting

Saturday, 28 September, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Columbia University Campus (Faculty House)

SDSN USA will host an open meeting at Faculty House of Columbia University from 8am-noon on Saturday, September 28. The event will be hosted by Jeff Sachs and Jim Williams and will focus on the SDSN USA Decarbonization Pathways Project. Following a light breakfast, attendees will discuss the Decarbonization Project to this stage, and will brainstorm together on the next steps. We deeply hope that network members will contribute actively to the SDSN project and to the national policy debate on climate change and energy policy! Advance registration required. 

Global Citizens Festival, New York

Saturday, 28 September

Great Lawn, Central Park, New York

The Global Citizen Festival brings together top artists with world leaders to make commitments toward ending extreme poverty. This year with Queen ft. Adam Lambert, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, ONE Republic, H.E.R, and Carole King. More information.

SDSN Newsletter - July 2021

By SDSN Secretariat • 03 Aug, 2021 •
This month, SDSN celebrated its growing network, talked about the incredible amount of media coverage on the 2021 SDR, and reflected on this year's High Level Political Forum

WRI Report Spotlight: “Unlocking a Renewable Energy Future: How Government Action Can Drive Private Investment”

By Fiona Laird • 02 Aug, 2021 •
World Resources Institute recently released Unlocking a Renewable Energy Future: How Government Action Can Drive Private Investment, a report outlining key challenges to increasing clean energy investment and deployment. This report digs into the financial and regulatory mechanisms available to support policy frameworks like that outlined in SDSN USA’s Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP), released in October 2020.

European Commission launches proposals to reach 55% emissions reduction by 2030

By Sam Van Hoof • 30 Jul, 2021 •
The ‘Fit for 55' package includes a ban on combustion engines from 2035, a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and a Social Climate Fund among other provisions.

SDSN Canada 2021 Members Meeting Recap

By Giovanni Bruna • 29 Jul, 2021 •

SDSN Canada reconvened the network membership on June 16th, 2021 for the annual Members Meeting.

This year's meeting featured conversations on the current state of the SDGs in Canada, emerging opportunities for post-secondary institutions, networking breakout sessions, and a featured joint presentation by the Brookings Institution and Rockefeller Foundation on mobilizing campuses and communities for the SDGs using the 17 Rooms initiative. A lightning round of member initiatives was also included to highlight a portion of the SDG work happening across the network.

Recap the discussion by reading the meeting notes   or listening to the audio recordings for each session.

Meeting Highlights:

  • The SDSN Global annual Sustainable Development Report 2021  was released June 2021, tracking progress on the SDGs by country (Canada ranked 21st in the world). The report outlines the short-term impacts of COVID-19 on the SDGs and describes how the SDGs can frame the recovery.
  • The Government of Canada has released Canada’s National Strategy for the SDGs, Moving Forward Together. The strategy outlines a set of 30 actions towards the SDGs, including localizing the SDGs, supporting partnerships with Indigenous initiatives, and advancing research into the gaps in Canada's efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
  • The 17 Rooms initiative  is a tool for advancing SDG collaboration, community-centric conversations, and bottom-up action. There are three key principles of consideration:
    • Every SDG gets a seat at the table (a dedicated room).
    • Identify what the next step is, and not the perfect step. What are things you can do together over the next 12 to 18 months that you can implement action on the SDGs?
    • It is about conversations, not presentations. The goal is to learn from each other and create a community of practice.
    • Join the 17 Rooms-X Community of Practice to access the beta toolkit.
  • A ‘lightning round’ of presentations by members spotlighting SDG work from Colleges and Institutes Canada, the Interdisciplinary Research Center in the Operationalization of Sustainable Development (CIRODD), Vancouver Island University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Waterloo.

The meeting was also a chance to invite the membership into initiatives designed to be more intentional about the network’s collective presence and impact. In this vein, the network thinks that the 17 Rooms process can be a critical resource for campus conversations on the SDGs. It also relaunched the Member Challenge , is starting the ‘SDG Teaching Community’ for faculty across the network, and is convening a small working group of interested members to talk about an enhanced governance structure for the network.

Public Consultation on SPA Report

By Lauren Barredo • 29 Jul, 2021 •
We encourage stakeholders to provide meaningful input to aid the development of a better and more complete report. We invite feedback from individuals and organizations, from all sectors.

Environmental and Agricultural Impacts of Dietary Shifts at Global and National Scales

By FABLE • 28 Jul, 2021 •
The FABLE Consortium is releasing two policy briefs over the coming months intended to advise national governments on sustainable land-use and diets. The first brief, entitled “Environmental and agricultural impacts of dietary shifts at global and national scales'' is now available.

Media Coverage of the Sustainable Development Report 2021

By SDG Index • 23 Jul, 2021 •
The Sustainable Development Report 2021 has been covered by the BBC, the Guardian, Washington Post, and more than 100 other media outlets.

The Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

By Isabella Massa • 21 Jul, 2021 •
SDSN together with the United Nations Resident Coordinators in SIDS and the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda hosted on 12 July 2021 a High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) side event to discuss the issue of measuring multidimensional vulnerability, and its relevance for international financing mechanisms.

SDGs Today Launches My School Today!

By SDGs Today • 20 Jul, 2021 •
SDGs Today recently launched their My School Today! call to action, meant to support students and local communities to geo-reference their schools and education facilities as part of an effort to promote timely information on school locations in Africa

SDSN at the 2021 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)

By SDSN Secretariat • 20 Jul, 2021 •
SDSN and our networks are hosting a number of events alongside the UN's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the following events, which SDSN is hosting or are organized by our partners.
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