About the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the United Nations’ central platform for annual follow-up and review of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It convenes in New York over the course of two weeks in July.
Under the theme of “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies” this year’s HLPF will focus on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG15: Life on Land, and SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Events (co-)organized by WBCSD
WBCSD is engaged in the organization of a series of business-focussed events during the course of the HLPF which will provide an opportunity to advance the conversation around the role of the private sector in the realization of the SDG agenda.
WBCSD Networking Reception
Time: 18:30 – 20:30
Venue: Grant Thornton International premises located at 757 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York
The reception offers representatives from WBCSD member companies, key partners and special guests, an opportunity to come together ahead of the SDG Business Forum on 17 July with a view to network and exchange perspectives on the SDG agenda.
If you are interested in attending, please contact aujouannet@wbcsd.org before 10 July.
The SDG Business Forum
Venue: UN Headquarters, New York
WBCSD is co-organizing the third edition of the SDG Business Forum held alongside the Ministerial segment of the UN HLPF. As one of the major business-led events at the UN in 2018, the SDG Business Forum will report on significant achievements and activities undertaken by business in support of the SDGs. An outline of the program can be accessed at this link. Each year, the Forum provides a unique multi-stakeholder platform to support business action and partnerships to achieve the SDGs — fostering public-private dialogues, catalyzing new alliances, and exploring innovative business solutions to accelerate sustainable development. The SDG Business Forum was attended by over 1,500 representatives in 2017, with interest predicted to be strong again this year.
To request an invitation for the event, please click on the link below and enter the code: [WBCSD] REQUEST AN INVITATION
Business and the SDGs - Accelerating Transformation
Date: Wednesday 18 July 2018
Time: 09:00 am – 13:00 pm
Venue: UN Headquarters, New York
Back to back with the SDG Business Forum, WBCSD and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), will host a half-day event which will convene sustainable business leaders to deep-dive into the challenges encountered in integrating and advancing the SDG agenda. Although business continues to take important steps by designing innovative solutions and creating partnerships in support of this crucial agenda, the clock is ticking. Realizing the ambitions of the SDGs calls for radical acceleration in the pace and scale of uptake of these solutions across key economic systems. The event will seek to catalyze further action by facilitating a fruitful dialogue and exchange of know-how among sustainability champions for accelerating systems transformation towards a sustainable future. Details on the agenda of the event are available here.
For more information about the event, please contact aujouannet@wbcsd.org Registration details
SDG12 – Transforming Consumption and Production Globally
Time: 14:00 – 15:45
Venue: Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN, 633 Third Avenue, 29th floor New York, NY 10017, USA
This event, hosted by the Government of Switzerland and WBCSD, will convene leading businesses and policymakers with a view to exploring challenges and solutions in the context of advancing SDG 12. In particular, the session will seek to advance discussions around how we can accelerate the transition to a circular economy and achieve the transformation of aspirations across cultures that could make more sustainable lifestyles possible around the world. More information about the event and the agenda are available here.
To express your interest to attend this event, please contact us at events@wbcsd.org.
View the amalgamated agenda for business at the HLPF
Additional events featuring WBCSD members and staff
How can joint advocacy between civil society and business help to shape the public policies and action needed to achieve the SDGs?
Time: 12:30 – 14:00
Venue: UN Foundation
Please note: The event is already at full capacity, no registrations accepted
Business Fights Poverty, the Corporate Responsibility Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Business Council for the UN will be convening this roundtable discussion which will explore how joint civil society and business advocacy can help to drive the changes to policy, attitudes and practices needed to achieve the SDGs. The session will present the findings and recommendations from of a new report titled Advocating Together for the SDGs. The ensuing roundtable will then facilitate a discussion on how to enable more joint advocacy by civil society and business in support of the SDGs going forward. WBCSD will be represented at the roundtable by Filippo Veglio, Managing Director.
Ending AIDS is everyone's business
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Venue: UNAIDS New York Office – 801 2nd Ave, 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017
Hosted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), this event will discuss how more and better business action can be catalyzed toward the AIDS response – in alignment with the efforts of governments, civil society and donors for maximum impact. WBCSD will be represented by Filippo Veglio, Managing Director, who will moderate a panel with representatives from Anglo American, Viiv Healthcare, OraSure Technologies, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
If interested in attending, please RSVP to Frauke Joosten at mailto:partner@unaids.org.
Transforming our economies and lifestyles: Greener and fairer for future generations
Time: 17:00 – 19:30
Venue: Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
This event organized by PAGE (Partnership for Action on Green Economy), a collaborative initiative between five UN agencies (UN Environment, International Labour Organization, UN Development Programme, UN Industrial Development Organization, and UN Institute for Training and Research) will seek to hold interactive discussions how to transform economies and lifestyles that underpin a greener, fairer world for both current and future generations. The event will include interventions from a number of senior policymakers and UN officials as well as from Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO Solvay and Vice-Chair of WBCSD.
For more details and to register please visit the dedicated event website.
Multistakeholder Action for Responsible Consumption and Production: Holistic Approaches for Sustainable Food Systems
Time: 18:30 – 20:00
Venue: UN Headquarters, Conference Room 12
This event, hosted by the governments of Switzerland and South Africa, will explore how the UN 10-Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on sustainable consumption and production supports countries and other stakeholders to effectively promote the implementation of SDG 12 and other interlinked SDGs. High-level representatives from UN agencies, civil society and private sector (including WBCSD member Nestlé) will discuss innovative collaborations, using food systems as an example when presenting multi-stakeholder processes that drive integrated solutions to SCP-related challenges. Event details available here.
Strengthening the Business Case for WASH
Time: 07:00 – 08:45
Venue: UN Global Compact, 685 3rd Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017
This session, convened by the Swiss government, will further solidify the social and economic benefits of private sector investments in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to help drive transformational change at scale in support of SDG 6. Speakers will include WBCSD members Diageo and Unilever, while WBCSD will share data and insights into the business implementation of it WASH at the Workplace Pledge. For more information, see this leaflet.
To register to attend please RSVP to Mai-Lan Ha (ha@unglobalcompact) no later than 11 July.
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