Where are we heading? Visions and projections for the future of the SDGs

The last day of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC will take place the day after the HLPF, allowing for a broadening of the discussion around the 2030 Agenda and the theme. It will enable Member States to look further ahead. The 2019 High-level Segment of ECOSOC will focus on future-oriented trends, projections and scenarios addressing the most relevant issues around the SDGs. The focus on possible scenarios and future trends that will impact the implementation of the 2030 Agenda complements the work of the HLPF, as well as the various intergovernmental and other bodies related to ECOSOC, which examine the current state of implementation and possible solutions for advancement.

The morning session will consider possible scenarios and trends in selected areas and how they impact the implementation of the SDGs, and focus on whether the SDGs will be achieved if current trends continue. The interactive discussion will generate recommendations for policy actions that could be taken to address trends with a negative impact and to accelerate progress. An examination of future trends will also enable the Council to facilitate the link between researchers and policymakers and contribute to policymaking on issues that are not usually considered from a long-term perspective.

The Secretary-General’s report entitled “Long-term impact of current trends in the economic, social and environmental areas on the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals” (E/2019/66) will provide background, and the session could draw on the VNRs presented at the HLPF in identifying specific trends that have a particular impact on the SDGs. The session might also consider longer-term visions such as Africa’s Agenda 2063, the ASEAN Economic Community’s Blueprint 2025, and Europe 2050, as well as the experiences of Member States that have developed long-term national plans.

The session will welcome speakers from Governments and international organizations that have produced long-term planning documents, scenarios or projections for the timeline of the 2030 Agenda and beyond.

This session will have a roundtable format.

Background note is available here

Proposed guiding questions:

What transformational changes are crucial for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs?
How can future trends and scenarios influence the course of SDG implementation?
What do current scenarios tell us about our policy choices and how to accelerate SDG progress?

Chair:

H.E. Ms. Inga Rhonda King, President of Economic and Social Council

Keynote speakers:

Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (on megatrends)
Mr. Cristian Samper, President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society

Moderator:

Ms. Gerda Verburg, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement

Resource persons:

H.E. Ms. Li Andersson, Minister of Education, Finland
H.E. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing and Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, United Arab Emirates
Ms. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP
Mr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group
Mr. Masamichi Kono, Deputy Secretary-General of OECD
Mr. Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Acting Deputy Director General, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)