As the leading global environmental authority, UNEP and its governing body – the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) – has important contributions for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognizing that the main outcomes of the UNEA provide the key environmental perspective of sustainable development during the meetings of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Member States adopted a resolution entitled Contributions of UNEA to HLPF (UNEP/EA.3/Res.3). Through the resolution, UNEA “reiterate[d] its commitment to conveying the main messages agreed upon by the Environment Assembly to the HLPF to assess progress and challenges in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its interlinkages with the social and economic dimensions.”
UNEP has been working closely with Member States to fulfill this mandate under the guidance of the UNEA President. Structured in accordance with the template provided annually by the President of the Economic and Social Council, inputs submitted by UNEA and other intergovernmental bodies result in a “Synthesis of voluntary submissions by functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council and other intergovernmental bodies and forums,” which constitutes part of official documentation for HLPF each year.
Relevant documents pertaining to UNEA contributions to the most recent HLPF sessions include:
HLPF 2020: "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development "
- Contribution of the United Nations Environment Assembly to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
- UNEA President statement at HLPF
- Synthesis of voluntary submissions
UNEP also participated in and organized several events during the 2020 HLPF in order to spur discussion on the substantive environmental topics introduced by the President of the fifth session of the Environment Assembly, including:
- “Accelerating transformation to build back better and achieve the 2030 Agenda: nature-based solutions for people and planet”.
- “Advancing human development through social and environmental justice for all”.
- “Building back better for nature and people to achieve the 2030 Agenda, through a transformational green recovery and recognizing the right to a healthy environment”.
- “Engaging industry through the Global Partnership on Marine Litter to deliver Sustainable Development Goal 14”.
- “Green economy and COVID-19 recovery: implications for the Decade of Action”.
- “Recovering better: global opportunities for jumpstarting the real economy #GOforSDGs”.
- “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development”.
Additional documents pertaining to UNEA contributions to prior HLPF sessions can be found here.
