A high-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development started in New York yesterday.

The Forum, the first since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (S.D.Gs) last September, is the UN’s platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the S.D.Gs.

It is therefore expected to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations on the 2030 Agenda’s implementation and follow-up; keep track of progress of the S.D.Gs; spur coherent policies informed by evidence, science and country experiences; as well as address new and emerging issues. 

It is also an opportunity for the UN to highlight the work it has done in support of the goals.

The Forum is under the theme “Ensuring that no one is left behind” and will include voluntary reviews of 22 countries’ progress in implementation plans and a three-day ministerial meeting. 

It will also include a range of side events, a Partnership Exchange event, and S.D.Gs Learning, Training and Practice sessions.

The 22 countries that will present an overview of their implementation plans are Samoa, China, Colombia, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Madagascar, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey, Uganda and Venezuela.