The 2025 Excessive-Stage Political Discussion board, or HLPF, follows two latest profitable UN conferences targeted on important improvement points: one in June in Good, France, devoted to ocean safety, and one other held in Sevilla, Spain, centred on boosting financing for sustainable initiatives.
The Sevilla assembly ended with a robust name to motion: to urgently handle the huge $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing wanted to attain the SDGs. It additionally highlighted the urgent want for higher funding and deep reform of the worldwide monetary system.
Held below the auspices of the UN Financial and Social Council (ECOSOC), the discussion board will happen from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York.
Listed below are 5 key issues to learn about this yr’s discussion board:
1. It’s all about accelerating motion
The HLPF is the United Nations’ primary platform for monitoring world progress on the Sustainable Improvement Targets. It meets annually to assessment nations’ efforts, share options, and push for sooner motion to fulfill the 2030 targets
The 2025 discussion board is convening below the theme:
Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based options for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Improvement and its Sustainable Improvement Targets leaving nobody behind.
This displays a rising sense of urgency. With the 2030 deadline quick approaching, the discussion board will emphasise sensible, data-driven methods to shut implementation gaps– notably within the face of intersecting world disaster together with local weather change, inequality, and financial instability.
© ILO/Fauzan Azhima
The 17 Sustainable Improvement Targets are all interconnected, as an illustration progress on SDG 2 to finish starvation is intently tied to advances in well being and training.
2. 5 SDGs within the highlight
Every year, the HLPF conducts in-depth evaluations of chosen Targets. In 2025, the main focus will probably be on:
SDG 3: Good well being and well-being
SDG 5: Gender equality
SDG 8: First rate work and financial progress
SDG 14: Life beneath water
SDG 17: Partnerships for the targets
These Targets span a variety of points – from public well being and gender fairness to financial resilience and marine conservation.
SDG 17, which is reviewed yearly, highlights the significance of revitalising world partnerships and enhancing technique of implementation – together with financing, which nations dedicated to only final month in Sevilla.
© UNICEF/Lasse Bak Mejlvang
3. Nations will share their progress, voluntarily
An indicator of the HLPF is the Voluntary Nationwide Opinions (VNRs) – self-assessments by Member States on their progress towards the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of nations are anticipated to current their VNRs, providing insights into each achievements and chronic challenges.
These evaluations foster transparency, peer studying, and accountability. Additionally they present a platform for civil society and different stakeholders to interact instantly with governments on improvement priorities.
VNR Labs – interactive classes targeted on nationwide evaluations – create house for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration
4. It’s not simply governments
Whereas the HLPF is a UN intergovernmental platform, it brings collectively a various vary of voices, together with youth teams, native authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, lecturers, the non-public sector, and UN system businesses.
A wealthy programme of aspect occasions, exhibitions, and roundtable-discussions. This inclusive strategy displays the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, which recognises sustainable improvement is a common, shared endeavour.
UN Photograph/Manuel Elías
A large view of the opening of the 2023 Excessive-Stage Political Discussion board on Sustainable Improvement convened below the auspices of the Financial and Social Council (ECOSOC), held within the Basic Meeting Corridor.
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 The Closing Countdown
With solely 5 years left to ship on the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 HLPF marks a important inflection level.
It’s greater than a yearly check-in. This yr’s session comes at a time when science, solidarity, and pressing motion should converge. It’s going to assist set the tone for the subsequent Sustainable Improvement Targets Summit in 2027, the place world leaders will take inventory of collective progress and decide the ultimate push towards 2030.
What occurs now – at this two-thirds deadline second – will form whether or not the SDGs will realise a worldwide promise or turn out to be a missed alternative.
