Role of parliaments in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Background

As we approach the halfway mark between the adoption and the finish line of the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development, it is obvious that the progress is uneven and insufficient. The world is lagging behind and the most time-bound targets of the 2030 Agenda are far from reach. There is an urgent need to reinvigorate the work of our key institutions in order to accelerate the full and timely implementation of the SDGs.

Parliaments given their unique mandate as elected representatives of people could be “game-changers” in transforming our commitments to real actions. They serve as an interface between the people and state institutions, putting viable solutions for planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring the progress toward achieving the SDGs.

The UNGA resolution 77/159 adopted last year, among other things, recognised the essential role of parliaments at all levels of government through their enactment of legislation, adoption of budgets and their role in ensuring accountability, also with regard to national plans and strategies, for the effective achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Objectives

This side event will look at innovative approaches and common challenges for national and supra-national parliamentary structures in ensuring SDGs are put back on track, despite the many recent and current challenges, which have caused lack in their implementation.

Accelerating the implementation of the SDGs depends critically on enhancing national ownership of development plans and budgets through the greater engagement of parliaments, including by improving the representation of all, particularly women and youth, in parliaments, by engaging parliaments more thoroughly in the Voluntary National Reviews to the HLPF, and by facilitating greater cooperation between UN Country Teams and parliaments to strengthening their oversight and legislative capacities.

Policy makers on national and supra-national level will exchange views on how they contribute to achieving SDGs and share good practices on success factors and exchange knowledge on strategies and action plans that enable legislators to add real value.

Discussions will produce recommendations on innovative ways of mobilizing the strong support and active engagement of parliaments in accelerating the achievement of all 17 SDGs by 2030.

Key Topics

The discussions will focus on the main thematic topics of the HLPF 2023:

• Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (SDG7);
• Building resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation (SDG9);
• Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG11);
• Strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development (SDG17).

Special attention also will be given to exploring opportunities in further strengthening parliaments’ role in ending poverty in all its forms, ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, guaranteeing quality education, promoting gender equality and empower women and girls, as well as addressing the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution.

Guiding questions

1. How can parliaments meaningfully engage in the implementation process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in post COVID-19 era?
2. What are the best ways of ensuring favourable legal environment for the full achievement of the SDGs?
3. What are the key objectives for enhancing parliaments’ role as convening power and driver for progress in order to promote comprehensive approach towards the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?
4. What are the innovative ways of promoting effecting parliamentary monitoring and assessment of the implementation process of the SDGs? 

Program