SDG Moment is organized based on the proclamation of the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development under the auspices of the UN General Assembly which took place on September 24 and 25, 2019 as the so-called SDG Summit. The aim of the proclamation is to accelerate the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development and achieving the development goals of the action decade 2020-2030 and to introduce ambitious plans and actions of all stakeholders. According to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres , the achievement of the SDGs is possible through transformation however, a political will is needed to implement ambitious policies and restrictions.

The first session of the SDG Moment was focused on current progress in achieving the sustainable development goals and identifying the largest roadblocks. Representatives of regional commissions, specialized agencies, funds and programs of the UN system were heard. The second session was for the head of states of 21 UN member states and it was initiated by the President of the 75th General Assembly of the UN Volkan Bozkir. The third session welcomed for all key stakeholders (civil society, private sector, youth, women, local governments and international financial institutions), who focused on financing the SDGs, climate policies and fighting inequalities.

The SDG Moment reiterated the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemics on achieving the SDGs and it showed that oftentimes it obliterated hard-won results. The pandemic also exacerbated existing global challenges such as poverty, inequalities, gender equality and climate change. Agenda 2030 should be an overall framework for all recovery policies. The current situation can also be understood as an opportunity for change and transformation in the spirit of “building back better”.

More information on the event can be found on SDG Moment website.