High-level Political Forum 2014 (under the auspices of ECOSOC)
30 Jun 2014 - 9 Jul 2014, New York
Monday, 30 June 2014
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Adoption of the provisional agenda of the HLPF

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Opening session

Mr. Peter Davies, Wales’ Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, Local Authorities Major Group

Mr. Usman Mushtaq, Youth Commission on Global Governance for Health, Children and Youth Major Group

Ms. Caroline Usikpedo Omoniye , Founder and current National President of the Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace & Development (NDWPD), Women Major Group

Remarks by
H.E. Mr. Martin Sajdik, President of ECOSOC

Mr. Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Moderated Dialogue “From Rio+20 to post-2015: towards an integrated and universal sustainable development agenda”

• What does it mean to have sustainable development at the heart of the post-2015 agenda?
• What commitments and steps will countries be willing to undertake in order to translate sustainable development goals and targets into national policies?

Background papers
Moderator
Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka, Bangladesh and Chair of Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals

Mr. Bapna, Manish, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, World Resource Institute

Panelists
H.E. Mr. Csaba Korosi, Co-Chair of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

H.E. Ms. Frankinet, Bénédicte, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the UN

H.E. Mr. Antonio de Aguliar Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN

Lead discussants
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka, Phumzile , Executive Director of UN Women

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Moderated Dialogue “Means of implementation for sustainable development”

• What are the best options for financing sustainable development and future SDGs and technology development in the context of the global partnership?
• What can trigger new partnerships and voluntary commitments, and what can make them successful in advancing economic, social and environmental progress?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Saner, Raymond , International Relations & International Management Sciences Po, Paris & University of Basle, Switzerland

Panelists
Mr. Mansur Muhtar, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing

Mr. Rojas , Claudio Rachel , Director for the Economic and Development Unit, Director General for Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile

Mr. Waygood, Steve , Chief Responsible Investment Officer, AVIVA

Lead discussants
Ms. Louise Kantrow , International Chamber of Commerce, USA

5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Moderated Dialogue “How could sustainable consumption and production contribute to SDGs?”

• How can more sustainable consumption and production patterns contribute to achieve the SDGs and implement the post-2015 development agenda?
• How could SCP help address the linkages between sectors such as transport, energy, sustainable agriculture and climate change?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Peter Hazlewood, Director, Ecosystems and Development, World Resource Institute

Panelists
Dr. Ulf D. Jaeckel, Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Germany and Chair of the 10YFP Board

Mr. Laszlo Borbely, President of the Committee for Foreign Policy in the Romanian Parliament

Mr. Cesar Barahona , President of Global Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Network, and Director of the National Cleaner Production Centre of Nicaragua

Lead discussants
Ms. Ceille, Kaye , President of Zipcar

Mr. Christian Frutiger, Deputy Head of Public Affairs Department, Nestle

Mr. Didier Bergeret, Head of the Global Social Compliance Programme

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Dialogue with the Chair of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production

“Sustainable consumption and production in action: The work of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns”

• What opportunities exist for improving the comprehensiveness of programmes under the 10YFP in support of national sustainable development transitions?

• What key policy measures within the current programme areas of the 10YFP have the greatest potential to provide early wins? Can they be replicated and brought to scale?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Peter Hazlewood, Director, Ecosystems and Development, World Resource Institute

Lead discussants
H.E. Mr. Balthasar Kambuaya , Minister for the Environment, Indonesia

Ms. Sylvia del Carmen Trevino, Director General of Industry, Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources, Mexico, Chair of the 10YFP Board

H.E. Ms. Lisa Emelia Svensson, Ambassador for Water and the Sea, Sweden

Mr. Lewis Akenji, Senior Policy Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, NGOs Major Group

Tuesday, 1 July 2014
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Morning meeting of the President of ECOSOC with representatives of major groups and other stakeholders

“Inclusive science: promoting the role of stakeholders in the science-policy interface”

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Presentation of a Prototype Global Sustainable Development Report

Moderated Dialogue

“How to improve the conversation between science and policy: scope and methodology of a global sustainable development report”

• What lessons can be learned from the key findings of the proposed Global Sustainable Development Report?

• What should be the scope and methodology of future editions of the Global Sustainable Development Report in order to strengthen the science-policy interface?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Huepe Minoletti, Claudio , Professor of Universidad Diego Portales, Chile

Panelists
Mr. Manuel Montes, Senior Advisor on Finance and Development, South Centre

Mr. Colglazier, E. William , Visiting scientist, Centre for Science Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Ms. Jaeger, Jill , Independent Researcher, (Sustainable Europe Research Institute)

Lead discussants
Mr. Keola, Souknilanh , Institute for developing economics, Japan external trade organization

Mr. Peng Sizhen , Deputy Director-General, the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21, Ministry of Science and Technology, China

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Moderated Dialogue “Ideas and trends that can shape the lives of present and future generations”

• What critical new trends and ideas will affect future generations? How should they be reflected in the post-2015 development agenda?

• What are the new trends and emerging challenges on sustainable development that the forum should address?

Background papers
Panelists
Mr. Manuel Montes, Senior Advisor on Finance and Development, South Centre

Mr. Gordon McBean , President-elect, International Council for Science

Mr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic , Deputy Director of IIASA, Director of Global Energy Assessment, and professor of Vienna University of Technology

Lead discussants
Mr. Peter Davies, Wales Commissioner for Sustainable Futures

Mr. Marcel Szabó , Deputy-Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Responsible for the Protection of the Interest of Future Generations, Hungary

Ms. Catherine Pearce , World Future Council

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Moderated Dialogue “Island voices, global choices: promoting genuine and durable partnerships”

• How best to build the resilience of SIDS and meet their unique challenges in the post-2015 development agenda?

• How can we ensure effective implementation of the outcomes of the Samoa conference on SIDS including through genuine and durable partnerships?

Background papers
Moderator
Ms. Ellis, Amanda , Head of the New Zealand Agency for International Development

Panelists
Ms Peseta Noumea Simi, Assistant CEO of Ministry of Finance, Samoa

H.E. Ms. Cristina Duarte, Minister of Finance and Planning, Republic of Cabo Verde

Dr. Anjeela Devi Jokhan, Dean, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, University of the South Pacific

Mr. Taholo Kami , IUCN Regional Director for Oceana and the Pacific

Lead discussants
Ms. Noelene Nabulivou, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Women Major Group

5:45 PM - 8:15 PM
Moderated Dialogue “ Countries in special situations: Building resilience”

• How best to address the needs of countries in special situations in the context of universal goals and a universal development agenda?

• Are we succeeding in building resilience in vulnerable countries and how can these gains be consolidated?

Background papers
Moderator
Ms. Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG)

Panelists
Mr. Dasho Sonam Tshering, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan

Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick, Mayor of Tevragh-Zeina, Mauritania and Chair of the African Elected Women Network

H.E. Mr. Zinsou, Jean-Francis R. , Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations in New York

Mr. Soprano, Paolo , Director, Sustainable Development Division, Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Italy

Lead discussants
Mr. Samuel Tumiwa, Deputy Representative, North American Representative Office, Asian Development Bank

Mr. Lino Pascal Briguglio, Professor of Economics, University of Malta

Ms. Helen Stawski, Senior Policy Advisor on Post 2015 at Islamic Relief, NGO Major Group

Wednesday, 2 July 2014
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Morning meeting of the President of ECOSOC with representatives of major groups and other stakeholders

“Implementing Rio+20 and reviewing progress: spurring action and ensuring accountability”

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Presentation by The World Bank Group:

“Natural Capital Accounting for sustainable development”

10:15 AM - 1:00 PM
Moderated Dialogue “From silos to integrated policy making”

• How can traditional institutional arrangements be reorganized to be more flexible, adaptive and collaborative in order to promote integrated policy and decision making?

• What lessons have we learned from successful integrated policy making in areas such as climate change-energy or sustainable agriculture-water-food security?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. David Nabarro , Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Food and Nutrition

Panelists
Ms. Maria Ivanova, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston, Member of the Secretary-General's Science Advisory Board

Mr. Joel Khathushelo Netshitenzhe , Executive Director of Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, and Commissioner of the National Planning Commission, South Africa

H.E. Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak , Permanent Representative of Croatia to the UN (ECOSOC Vice-President in charge of integration segment)

Ms. Indomatee Ramma , Agricultural Research and Extension Unit, Mauritius

Lead discussants
H.E. Mr. Ferit Hoxha , Permanent Representative of Albania to the UN [TBC]

Mr. Ngum, Ousainou , Executive Director of ACORD International

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Moderated Dialogue “Reviewing progress and implementation: making the most of the HLPF reviews after 2015 “

• How can the national and regional reviews of implementation under the HLPF be designed and conducted to help accelerate progress on the SDGs and sustainable development, building on the lessons learned from other review processes?

• How can accountability be made relevant to all countries and actors in the context of the post-2015 development agenda?

Background papers
Moderator
H.E. Mr. Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN

Panelists
Ms Marianne Beisheim, Senior Researcher, Global Issues Division at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Germany

Mr. Ndangiza, Fatuma Nyirakobwa , Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons, African Peer Review Mechanism

H.E. Mr. Christian Wenaweser , Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the UN

Mr. Averous, Christian , Economist, France, Head of Division Environmental Performance and Information, OECD Environment Directorate

Lead discussants
Mr. Baba Drame , Technical Advisor on Sustainable Development at the Directorate of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal

Mr. Daniel Angelim, Coordinator of labor and environment work for the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) , Workers and Trade Unions Major Group

Thursday, 3 July 2014
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Morning meeting of the President of ECOSOC with representatives of Governments, UN system, major groups and other stakeholders

“The future of the HLPF – agenda setting”

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Moderated Inter-regional Dialogue “Unlocking and reshaping development and enhancing implementation: the regional context”

• What are the key priorities that emerged from the regional consultations on post 2015 that can have a truly transformative effect in the respective regions? Which priority areas are not adequately addressed through the global process to develop sustainable development goals?

• How can inequalities between and within countries be addressed in the post-2015 development agenda including the SDGs? How can employment and inclusive growth be addressed?

Background papers
Moderator
Ms. Amina Mohammed, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Post-2015 Development Planning

Panelists
Ms. Barcena Ibarra, Alicia , Executive Secretary of ECLAC since May 2008 (coordinator of UN regional commissions)

Mr. Carlos Lopes , Executive Secretary of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) (since 2012)

Ms. Shamshad Akhter , Executive Secretary, ESCAP

Mr. Andrey Vasilyev , Deputy Executive Secretary, ECE

Lead discussants
Ms. Shahira Wahbi, Chief, sustainable development and international cooperation, League of Arab States

Mr. Mahomed, Osman , Executive Chairman, Commission on Sustainable Development, Mauritius

Mr. Daniel Tygel, Operations Manager Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS)

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Moderated Dialogue “Shaping the forum for post 2015”

• What kind of agenda setting should the forum have to promote integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions review and respond to new trends and challenges and strengthen policy science interface?

• How can we ensure ownership and implementation of the outcomes of the forum?

Background papers
Moderator
Ms. Amina Mohammed, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Post-2015 Development Planning

Panelists
Mr. Paul Gulleik Larsen, coordinator for the post 2015 process, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

Mr. Michael O'Neill, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, UNDP

H.E. Ms. Liz Thompson, Former Executive Coordinator of the Rio+20 conference

Mr. Soprano, Paolo , Director, Sustainable Development Division, Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Italy

Mr. Janos Pasztor, Director, Policy and Science, WWF International

Lead discussants
Mr. Michael O'Neill , ASG for external relations and advocacy and Assistant Administrator, UNDP

Ms. Leena Srivastava, Hony. Executive Director (Operations) at TERI, and Vice Chancellor of the TERI University

Ms. Shantal Munro, Executive Coordinator at the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), Caribbean Development Policy Center, NGO Major Group

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Wrap up session

Remarks by the President of ECOSOC: “Messages for the Ministerial Segment”

Monday, 7 July 2014
10:00 AM - 10:35 AM
Opening of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC and opening of the Ministerial Segment of High-level Political Forum

H.E. Mr. John Ashe, President of the General Assembly

Ms. Esther Agbarakwe, Co-Founder, Youth Climate Coalition, Nigeria

Remarks by
H.E. Mr. Martin Sajdik, President of ECOSOC

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

10:35 AM - 1:00 PM
High-level policy dialogue: “Macroeconomic policies in support of a post-2015 sustainable development agenda”

• What are the key features of a broad, coherent and integrated macro-economic policy framework to support global sustainable development through economic efficiency, social equality and environmental sustainability?

• How can we ensure economic and financial stability with macro-economic policies that foster robust and inclusive growth of output and employment?

• What are the greatest challenges faced by international financial, trade, development and environmental institutions in coordinating policies for supporting the formulation and implementation of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda?

Mr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD

Mr. Achim Steiner , Executive Director, UNEP

Mr. Guy Rider, Director General, ILO

Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director, IMF

Mr. Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director-General, WTO

Mr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Corporate Secretary and Special Envoy on Millennium Development Goals, the post-2015 process and the financial development, World Bank

Remarks by
Mr. Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
HLPF Ministerial Dialogue “ A universal integrated policy agenda to implement Rio+20 and realize the future we want”

• What are the ingredients of a universal, integrated and ambitious sustainable development agenda?

• What does the post-2015 development agenda mean for countries at different stages of development and for countries in special situations?

Background papers
Moderator
Ms. Helen Clark, Administrator of UNDP

Panelists
H.E. Mr. Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment

H.E. Ms. Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana

H.E. Mr. Gian Luca Galletti, Minister of Environment and Protection of Land and Sea, Italy

H.E. Mr. Yoon Seong-kyu , Minister of Environment, Republic of Korea

H.E. Ms. Silvia Velo, Under Secretary for Environment, Land and Sea, Italy

Lead discussants
H.E. Mr. Massina, Palouki , Minister, Secretary General of Government, Togo

H.E. Mr. Federico Ramos de Armas, Vice Minister for Environment, Spain

H.E. Mr. Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China to the UN

Mr. Chungong, Martin, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
General debate

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
HLPF Ministerial Dialogue “Weaving regional realities and regional priorities into the post-2015 development agenda”

• What are the commonalities and differences between the priorities of the various regions for the SDGs and the post 2015 development agenda and how can we ensure that they are appropriately addressed?

• How will the SDGs and the agenda impact on policies and trends in the respective regions?

Background papers
Moderator
H.E. Mr. Juan Somavía, UN Secretary-General Special Adviser on Interregional Policy Cooperation and Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Chile

Panelists
H.E. Ms. Sanchez Oviedo, Olga Marta , Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy, Costa Rica

H.E. Mr. Marcin Korolec , Special Envoy for Climate Change, Poland

H.E. Mr Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh

H.E. Mr. Mothae Maruping, Anthony, Commissioner for Economic Affairs of African Union Commission

Ms. Akhter, Shamshad , Executive Secretary, ESCAP on behalf of the five Regional Commissions

Lead discussants
H.E. Mr. Phuangketkeow, Sihasak , Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Thailand

H.E. Mr. Al Nasser, Nassir Abdulaziz , UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations

Ms. Francisco, Gigi , Global Coordinator of the Development Alternatives for Women in the New Era (DAWN), Chair of the International Studies Department of Miriam College in the Philippines, Women Major Group

Tuesday, 8 July 2014
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Remarks by a keynote speaker

Keynote
H.E. Ms. Oyun Sanjaasuren, President of the United Nations Environment Assembly and Member of the Parliament of Mongolia

10:10 AM - 11:40 AM
HLPF Ministerial Dialogue “Long term measures to make poverty eradication irreversible and reduce inequalities”

• Which long term trends have the greatest impact on poverty and equality?

• What have been successful strategies to reconcile the imperatives of eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, strengthening resilience and preserving natural resources? How can policies ensure the sustainability of gains across generations?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF

Panelists
H.E. Ms. Sophie Karmasin, Federal Minister for Family and Youth, Austria

H.E. Ms. Maria Angela Holguin, , Minister of Foreign Affairs, Colombia

H.E. Ms. Bathabile Dlamini, Minister of Social Development, South Africa

H.E. Ms. Aida Kurmangaliyeva, Executive Ssecretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, Kazakhstan

Mr. Yong Li, Director General, UNIDO

Lead discussants
H.E. Ms. Paola Bustamante, Minister of Social Inclusion, Peru

H.E. Ms. Annick Girardin, Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie, France

Mr. Jim Clarken, Executive Director of Oxfam Ireland

11:40 AM - 1:00 PM
HLPF Ministerial Dialogue “International cooperation for sustainable development”

• What new commitments are countries willing to undertake for cooperation to truly spur sustainable development progress? How do they plan to reach existing commitments?

• How can all countries harness new and transformative technologies to support sustainable development?

Background papers
Moderator
H.E. Mr. Saber Chowdhury, Member of Parliament, Bangladesh

Respondents
Mr. Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University

Panelists
H.E. Mr. Fulbert Macaire Amoussouga Gero, Minister of MDGs policies and Sustainable Development, Benin

H.E. Mr. Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway

H.E. Mr. Han Seung-Soo, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Disaster Risk Reduction and Water

Lead discussants
H.E. Ms. Emilia Pires, Minister of Finance, Timor-Leste

H.E. Mr. Pekha Haavisto, , Minister, International Development, Finland

H.E. Mr. Federico Ramos de Armas, Vice Minister for Environment, Spain

Mr. Hiroshi Imanaga, Deputy Mayor of Kitakyushu, Japan

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
General debate

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
HLPF Multi-stakeholder Dialogue “Multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments for sustainable development – ensuring accountability for all”

• How can we promote partnerships to achieve the post-2015 development agenda including the SDGs?

• How can we promote accountability in the context of multi-stakeholder partnerships?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director , UNFPA

Panelists
H.E. Mr. Pio Wennubst, Ambassador and Deputy Director, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation

Mr. Juan Carlos Lastiri Quiros, Deputy Secretary for Perspective, Planning and Evaluation at the Ministry of Social Development, Mexico

Ms. Petra Bayr, Member of Parliament, Austria

Mr. Dagfinn Høybråten, Board Chair of the GAVI Alliance

Mr. Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General and CEO, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, NGOs Major Group

Lead discussants
H.E. Mr. Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iceland

Ms. Myrna Cunningham , former Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Peoples Major Group

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
HLPF Ministerial Dialogue “Preparing the high-level political forum for post 2015: Steering implementation of the development agenda and reviewing progress”

• What would be the best way for HLPF to review implementation and progress towards future sustainable development goals?

• How can the agenda and working methods of the forum allow promoting integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions?

Background papers
Remarks by
Mr. Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs

Panelists
H.E. Mr. Rémi Allah Kouadio, Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Cities and Sustainable Development, Cote d’Ivoire

H.E. Mr. Attila Korodi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Romania

H.E. Mr. Shinji Inoue, Senior Vice-Minister of the Environment, Japan

Mr. Joseph Moser, Secretary General, International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions

Lead discussants
Mr. Erik Solheim, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee

Wednesday, 9 July 2014
11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
Remarks by a keynote speaker (HLPF)

Mr. Li Pengde, Deputy Administrator, National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation of China

11:10 AM - 12:30 PM
HLPF Ministerial Dialogue “Charting pathways to the future we want”

• What is the cost of inaction on sustainable development?

• What does science tell us on the best policy choices to a sustainable future?

Background papers
Moderator
Mr. Romain Murenzi, Former Rwandan Science Minister and Executive Director of The World Academy of Sciences

Panelists
H.E. Ms. Elba Viviana Caro Hinojosa, Minister of Development Planning, Bolivia [TBC]

H.E. Ms. Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany, and Member of the German Bundestag

H.E. Ms. Vesna Kos, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Croatia

Lead discussants
Ms. Irina Bokova , Director-General of UNESCO

Ms. Irene Khan , Director-General of the International Development Law Organization

Mr. Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Professor and Director General of CERN

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
General debate (if needed)

12:30 PM - 12:50 PM
Closing of HLPF

• Adoption of the HLPF Ministerial Declaration

• Adoption of the report of HLPF to ECOSOC

• Closing remarks by the President of ECOSOC

The 2014 High-level Political Forum met under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from Monday, 30 June, through Wednesday, 9 July 2014

Ministers, senior government officials, international organizations, major groups from civil society and scientists debated "Achieving the Millennium Development Goals and charting the way for an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals".

It adopted a Ministerial Declaration

Summary (from E/HLPF/2014/2 - Report of the first meeting of the high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the aus pices of the Economic and Social Council)

The high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council met when the sustainable development goals and the options for a financing strategy for sustainable development were being formulated. The outcomes of those two processes are expected to form central elements of the post-2015 development agenda soon to be negotiated. At the forum there was a great sense of opportunity and a strong commitment to arrive at an ambitious outcome that would be able to lift countries and people out of poverty and put the world on a sustainable development path.

An integrated approach to sustainable development is essential for the post-2015 development agenda. The agenda should be universal, transformative, inclusive and people centred. It should be built on the principles of human rights and on respect for the Earth and its ecosystems.

Climate change is threatening development and the fate of future generations. New cooperation models and partnerships are crucial. The global community needs to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and, later, the sustainable development goals through a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, and enable all nations to develop sustainably.

The post-2015 development agenda must complete the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals. Poverty eradication is a precondition for sustainable development, and sustainable consumption and production is an essential requirement. Economic growth should be inclusive, sustainable and create decent employment, particularly for young people. Inequalities within countries between different segments of the population need to be reduced progressively.

The post-2015 development agenda must focus dedicated attention on and provide support to countries in special situations. A number of small island developing States and least developed countries have enjoyed social and economic progress as a result of effective policy interventions, measures to promote inclusive and gender-sensitive development, and good management of natural capital. Others can learn from their experience. Many of these countries are also highly vulnerable, however, to natural disasters, climate change and other shocks that are outside of their control.

Undertaking a new development agenda requires establishing common understanding and mutual trust. Rule of law, transparent and accountable institutions, access to justice, inclusion and empowerment are essential. Voluntary national reviews to be conducted by the high-level political forum after 2015 can be a valuable tool in supporting the progress of countries towards sustainable development goals. An effective mechanism to review implementation must engage all actors, including civil society, in a meaningful way, in order to strengthen legitimacy and effectiveness. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments should strengthen implementation by involving a range of relevant stakeholders.

The post-2015 development agenda must be underpinned by the strengthened framework constituted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum, under their respective auspices. It should leave policy space for national and subregional specificities. The high-level political forum will be crucial for promoting and reviewing the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda and the sustainable development goals. It must offer guidance on how to move from global commitments to national implementation and sustainable development results.

A strong interface between science and policy will be very important for the high-level political forum to establish itself as a forum from which relevant policy guidance on sustainable development emanates. The global sustainable development report could be an important tool in setting the agenda of the forum, identifying new challenges and reviewing progress on sustainable development.

Integration should be a high priority for United Nations operational activities in countries. Cooperation among United Nations entities is increasing, but more effort is needed to realize an organization that thinks, plans, programmes, monitors and evaluates as one. United Nations bodies need to have a consistent message for Governments that integrates the various dimensions of sustainable development and, as far as possible, a common reporting mechanism and set of indicators to measure progress on the sustainable development goals.

The international processes on the sustainable development goals, sustainable development financing and technology facilitation will ultimately need to converge in order to set an integrated and inclusive agenda for development beyond 2015. An ambitious global agreement in 2015 on climate change under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will also be critically important to the future of sustainable development.
Copyright United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs