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Discussion Group II: Recovering Better for Sustainability

Background

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020 shows that humanity is on an unsustainable path, with climate change occurring much faster than anticipated, accelerating ocean acidification, 1 million plant and animal species at risk of extinction, deepening inequality and persistent poverty, and unsustainable consumption and production patterns. To arrest these trends and steer the global economy towards a more sustainable direction, the recovery of the COVID-19 crisis provides a unique opportunity. For instance, incentives associated with support measures can steer businesses, citizens, and governments away from the status quo before the crisis and towards a sustainable and more inclusive world. A fundamental principle is to link short-term measures to fight the pandemic to the path we want to travel going forward, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This Discussion Group will propose concrete measures for that purpose.

Co-leads and country members

Member State Co-Leads: Fiji, Rwanda, United Kingdom and European Union

Member State Participants: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Russia, Spain, Sweden
(Please note that the list of member State participants is open and will be updated frequently.)

UN Entity Focal Point: UNDP

Meeting summaries

First Meeting: 15 July 2020

Second meeting: 5 August 2020

Upcoming meetings

Third meeting: 26th August, 8:00-10:00 a.m. EDT

Deadline for submission of final draft of menu of policy outcomes: 28th August, EDT

Meeting with Ministers of Finance: 8th September, EDT

Head of States and Government Meeting on the sidelines of the 75th Session of the 51³Ô¹Ï General Assembly: 29th September, EDT

Related documents

Discussion Group 2 Background Document