Since 2015, Switzerland has been working with all UN member states to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. At the 'High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development' in July, the focus was on clean water.
Switzerland participated in the UN's 'High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development' (HLPF) in July. At this forum, the focus was on Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) and Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities) out of a total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Switzerland focused on transboundary water management and organized an event in New York on cross-border water management as a driver for sustainable development and peace. It has also contributed to the creation of a regional platform that promotes political dialogue in Central Asia. It helps affected countries better regulate the management of their water resources and contain tensions between user groups at regional and national levels.
Switzerland's expertise in water management is recognized
Switzerland's expertise in cross-border water management is well recognized. Sharing six rivers and four lakes with its neighboring countries, Switzerland launched the «Blue Peace» initiative in 2010, linking diplomacy and development cooperation. It was also involved in the launch of the 'Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition' at the end of 2022, which includes over 40 countries and non-state actors.
Forum is an important preparation for the summit in September 2023
Organized by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the HLPF is an important step in the preparation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, which will take place in September 2023 during the UN General Assembly. At the summit, the heads of state and government of all UN member states will adopt a political declaration with further measures needed to ensure the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The summit marks the halfway point in relation to the deadline adopted in 2015 for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The central issue is the allocation of additional funds
Negotiations on this political declaration were already underway during the HLPF. One of the central issues is the allocation of additional resources for the implementation of the SDGs in the global South. Switzerland is committed to ensuring that non-state actors from business, academia and civil society play a significant role. «Switzerland is determined to give new momentum to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We need to revive the optimism and will to act of 2015. The UN's 2023 Sustainable Development Goals report shows that the majority of the SDGs cannot be achieved or can only be partially achieved without additional measures. Both at the national and global level, there is a need for faster implementation of the SDGs as well as appropriate measures to enable a just and sustainable transition», emphasized Markus Reubi, Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda and Head of the Swiss Delegation at the HLPF.
About the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda contains 17 goals and 169 sub-goals for sustainable development. These cover a range of areas, from the fight against poverty to education, food security, gender equality, the protection of marine resources and terrestrial ecosystems, and access to clean energy. For the Federal Council, the 2030 Agenda is the appropriate reference framework for addressing the world's common challenges.
