A reflection by Liana Almony, Chair of the NGO CSocD for the 2024-2026 term
Today the 2024 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development came to a close with the presentation of two reports by the Secretary-General on the priority theme. The first report is titled “Multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow: the role of ECOSOC towards a sustainable and resilient path by 2030.” This report emphasizes that catastrophic global and national events have negatively affected the ability of developing countries and the international community at large to eradicate poverty, and urges countries to prioritize the eradication of poverty in order to foster resilience to deal with new and emerging risks.
The second report is titled “Long-term impacts of current trends on the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.” The five trends identified are:
- Geopolitical tensions/fragmentation
- Changing labor market and future work
- Rapid technological change
- Continuing and intensifying impacts of climate change
- The evolving nature of social contracts
The findings in these reports highlight the importance of the World Social Summit set to be held in Qatar in 2025. The World Social Summit will provide an opportunity to build on the discussions and outcomes of this year’s HLPF, and dive deeper into the social policies and frameworks necessary to achieve the SDGs. It will not be possible to make good on the 2030 Agenda without placing people at the center of development, and reinvigorating support for the commitments made in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration which include poverty eradication, reducing inequality, promoting full employment, and social inclusion.
Both reports from the Secretary-General also emphasize the need for stronger multilateral cooperation to achieve the SDGs and address the challenges of today and tomorrow. People-centered multilateralism requires expanding the role of civil society partnerships. As we look ahead to the World Social Summit, civil society must be included in shaping its agenda and priorities. All stakeholders must work together to address the gaps identified during this year’s HLPF and drive progress towards the ambitious vision of the Copenhagen Declaration and the SDGs, the same vision echoed throughout the ECOSOC chamber today.
