HLPF

What is HLPF?

The establishment of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was mandated in 2012 by the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), “The Future We Want”. The format and organizational aspects of the Forum are outlined in General Assembly resolution 67/290.

The Forum meets annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council for eight days, including a three-day ministerial segment and every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the General Assembly for two days.

For the positioning of the HLPF in the UN system, please click here.

The Forum’s first meeting was held on 24 September 2013. It replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development, which had met annually since 1993.

The HLPF is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development and it has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level. General Assembly resolutions 70/299 and 75/290 B provide further guidance on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

The Forum adopts intergovernmental negotiated political declarations.

Click here for information on HLPF 2019 under the auspices of the General Assembly – the SDG Summit, including the Political Declaration and its call on “gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.

Click here for information on HLPF 2021 under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council.

As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda encourages member states to “conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven” (paragraph 79). These national reviews are expected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the HLPF. As stipulated in paragraph 84 of the 2030 Agenda, regular reviews by the HLPF are to be voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and shall provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders.

For more information on the Voluntary National Reviews, click here.

General Assembly resolution A/RES/70/299 decided to review the format and organizational aspects of the HLPF. For more information, click here

The sections below reflect on the activities of the EASG at the HLPF Sessions