Activating the SDGs

We need a transformation in how we define and measure economic value, and how we design economic systems to respect environmental boundaries of our planet and promote human well-being and prosperity within those limits. It is against this background that the SDG Lab is focusing on new lenses to sustainability, such as systems change and regenerative development. Complementing the What’s Next high-level event on “Rethinking economic systems for long-term sustainable development” of 31 October 2023, this article discusses the imperative to embrace a beyond growth approach for sustainable futures.

We are at the midpoint to 2030 and progress on the SDGs is nowhere where it should be. There are valid questions to be asked as to why the international community is not delivering on the promise of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Arguably, the lack of progress has led to frustration, complacency and ultimately inaction. So, what’s the missing link? Is it agency? Do people feel empowered to act? Are we omitting human emotions and psychology from the equation? Join us for a panel discussion on 29 November, 16h-17h30 followed by an Apéro, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

In this article, we discuss the links between safeguarding the rights of future generations and ensuring long-term sustainability. Today’s actions shape our future. That is why it is crucial to integrate the rights of future generations into today’s decision making, to avoid short-termism and instead strengthen long-term sustainability and intergenerational equity. How would your grandchildren perceive the choices you make today? Is there a way to thoughtfully consider the voices of the future today?

Without a radical transformation of our economic systems, we will not be able to honour the commitments and promise of the Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future that is equitable and leaves no one behind. On 31 October 2023, as part of the SDG Lab’s What’s Next Series, the SDG Lab organized an event on ‘Rethinking Economic Systems to Achieve Long-term Sustainability.’ It brought together influential speakers from the UN and various civil society organizations (CSOs) to address the urgent need for a paradigm shift in our economic systems.

In this special post-SDG Summit edition of the SDG Lab Dispatch, we delve into the insightful events and discussions that transpired during and after the 2023 SDG Summit. We envision a response from the viewpoint of the SDG Summit itself, reflect on our SDG Mobilization Day workshop on how to best manifest intergenerational sustainability values, and preview what's on the horizon. Read on!

As we approach the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addressing inequalities and challenges, while leaving no one behind, remains paramount for achieving a sustainable future. Localized approaches, transparent metrics, thinking beyond GDP, and collaborative efforts between governments, the private sector, and development organizations are key factors to accelerate efforts by 2030. Some of these findings, such as the beyond GDP or intergenerational equity are currently being discussed by the SDG Lab, through the “So What's Next” series, which aims to unpack new perspectives on the SDGs and long-term sustainability.

Now that the SDG Summit is one month behind us, we wanted to come up with a novel way to share our insights on the gathering. A general report back in narrative form is the standard go-to, but what about a different, perhaps more provocative format—hearing from the SDG Summit as if it were a person?

SDG Lab at SDG Summit 2023: "Manifesting New Sustainability Values: From aspirational envisioning to practical policymaking"

The SDG Lab discusses UN Secretary-General’s Policy Brief on UN 2.0, outlining his vision for strengthening the organization’s capacities for a modern, agile, and future-forward UN system. This vision is built around two core elements: a forward-thinking culture; and cutting-edge skills in data, digital transformation, innovation, strategic foresight, and behavioral science.

As the adage goes, “It’s that time of the year…”, and for individuals and organizations working in the sustainable development and multilateral spaces, September means the UN High-Level Week, commonly known as UNGA. This year’s high-level week is exceptional for its focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, with two key kick-starter events: SDG Action Weekend (16-17) followed by a two-day SDG Summit (18-19).

The Lab sat down with Michele Griffin of the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda (OCA) policy team to hear first-hand what the OCA represents, its origins, and why this agenda is so important and groundbreaking in efforts towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and promoting long-term sustainability.

The Geneva SDG Day, on September 28, organized by the Geneva Graduate Institute, the SDG Lab and UNDP, will provide an opportunity for Geneva’s interested stakeholders to discuss, through different sessions, in-person and online, the outcomes of the upcoming SDG Summit, which will take place in New York on September 18-19. This year’s Summit marks the halfway point for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.