Brookings Global Connection September 15, 2023 : the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) focusing on the 2030 agenda and SDG's.

 

What to Watch for at UNGA 2023

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September 15, 2023   Leaders from around the world are gathering for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This year's session focuses on accelerating the 2030 agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which face stalled progress at their halfway mark.   To address our shared challenges and achieve a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous economic system, policymakers at UNGA (and the public) must have the right tools and information. Below, Brookings experts provide just that.

Brookings experts on what to watch for at UNGA   The UNGA agenda is packed with issues to discuss. Our experts break down what they will be keeping an eye on and share important priorities for leaders as they come together for the gathering.    Read more

A 21st-century multilateralism that works for all   Many of the challenges and transformations we face today cross borders—from the emergence of new technologies and extreme wealth concentration to climate change and pandemic risks. Managing the dangers and turning them into opportunities will require cooperation at international scale.    Read more

America's second-half opportunity for global leadership on the SDGs   The U.S. National Security Council has requested all the country's development assistance agencies to show a deliberate link to the SDGs. Anthony F. Pipa and George Ingram outline how agencies are responding and discuss how the United States can strengthen its leadership on the goals.   Read more

Doing things differently for the SDGs' second half   Despite an array of success stories, the world is not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In a collection of short essays from our Center for Sustainable Development, scholars offer insights and recommendations for countries and communities to rejuvenate their efforts to deliver an inclusive world of sustainable prosperity for all.

Overview: The ‘Second Half’ of the Sustainable Development Goal era By John W. McArthur     Hey journalists, we have a story for you   By Matthew Bishop    Caring about care  By Caren Grown    A participatory approach to transforming education By Rebecca Winthrop    Constructive risk-taking in fragile states  By Naheed Sarabi    Expanding trusted digital infrastructure  By Priya Vora and George Ingram    Scaling private sector engagement  By Jane Nelson and George Ingram

A new paradigm for human rights education  By Sarah E. Mendelson    Making multilateral development banks fit for purpose  By Amar Bhattacharya and Homi Kharas    A purpose-driven fund to end extreme poverty  By Homi Kharas and John W. McArthur    Turbocharging Canada’s SDG approach  By Margaret Biggs and John W. McArthur    Renewing US leadership on the SDGs  By Sarah E. Mendelson and Anthony F. Pipa    Stewarding collective action  By Jacob Taylor

Financing SDG progress   Scaling up lending by the IBRD. “Strong climate action can unlock the growth story of the 21st century, one that is more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.” Homi Kharas and Amar Bhattacharya make the case for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to become a $1 trillion bank by 2030.   Investments in Africa's sustainability. Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez and Jamal Saghir compare the benefits of a sustainable recovery investment program that puts climate adaptation and resilience at its core with a more traditional financial stimulus package.    Averting sovereign debt crises in the developing world. Addressing developing countries’ growing sovereign debt burden can help restore fiscal sustainability and free up resources to finance development agendas. To this end, Brahima S. Coulibaly and Wafa Abedin recommend that the G20 explore a Brady bond-like scheme to replace current private sector debt with new bonds that have guarantees and longer maturities.   Strengthening multilateral development banks. Radically reformed and strengthened MDBs are essential to address today's immense global challenges. But the window for action is closing fast. This independent expert group report commissioned by the Indian G20 Presidency lays out a three-pronged agenda for change. Homi Kharas and Amar Bhattacharya served as lead author and key adviser, respectively.

More on the SDGs   Local collaboration can drive global progress on the SDGs. Anthony F. Pipa and Kait Pendrak share success stories illustrating how cities across the United States are adapting the SDGs to accelerate solutions to local problems while contributing to global progress.    Universities pushing forward on the SDGs. Jacob Taylor draws lessons from more than a dozen universities worldwide who are taking the SDGs into their own hands and spurring community-wide action.   International education financing will make or break the SDGs. "Investing in human capital is the only sure path to sustainable development." David Sengeh and Mathias Esmann call for a focus on education finance as key to advancing the SDGs.   Imagining a more digitally inclusive future. Bridging the digital gender gap is not only vital from an economic standpoint, it's also key to ensuring women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people have access to health, education, and other rights put forward in the SDGs, Amna Qayyum and Atenea Rosado-Viurques explain.