Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region 2024

About the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

For the UNECE region, the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development is a broadly recognized platform that has brought together a growing number of actors and groups since its first stand-alone session in 2017. The Regional Forum has engaged member States in the exchange on regional priority issues of prosperity, innovation, inclusion, gender equality and environmental sustainability, climate change and sustainable consumption and production, with a positive impact on SDG implementation at the national level.

Other stakeholders such as civil society, youth, businesses, international and regional organizations, academia, parliamentarians and local governments have participated in and contributed to the Regional Forum in manifold ways, making it a participatory and inclusive platform. The Regional Forums on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region are convened by UNECE, in close collaboration with the other entities of the regional UN system in the framework of the Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP).

RFSD 2024

The Regional Forum for Sustainable Development 2024 will take place in Geneva on 13 and 14 March 2024, preceded by pre-meetings on 11 and 12 March. While taking place at a time of multiple crises, in recognition of the strong affirmation of the 2030 Agenda at the SDG Summit, Governments and Stakeholders across the UNECE region are now looking for impactful, innovative and crisis-resilient policies and solutions to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Against this background, the theme for the 2024 Regional Forum is: « Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Economic Commission for Europe region in times of multiple crises: The effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions ».

The Forum will includ five peer learning roundtables, including on SDG 13 Climate Action – Solving the Rubik’s cube of the planetary crisis: lining up policy solutions for climate risks and biodiversity loss.

Registration

Registration to attend in person is possible through INDICO.

Side Events @ Environment

11 March 2024

• Advancing the Six Transitions: What Role for Young People? | 11:30 – 12:30 CET | Online, Webex
• Addressing the interconnected challenges of poverty, food security, and climate change through a One Health approach and effective governance and policy coherence | 14:30–15:30 CET | Online, Webex
• Are Climate Policies Recognizing the Role of Social Protection for Achieving Climate Action in Europe and Central Asia? Gaps and Opportunities | 15:00 – 16:30 CET | Online, Teams
• Achieving Net-Zero: EU’s Path to 90% Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction by 2040 | ECB Sustainable Youth Foundation | 17:00 – 18:30 CET | Online
• Navigating food security in times of crises in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions | UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth Black Sea & UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth Med | 19: 30 | Online, Google Meet

12 March 2024

• Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development a Must for the Six Transitions to Succeed Between Now and 2030 | 14:30–15:45 CET| Online, Webex
• The future of youth climate litigation | ClimaTalk | 18:00 – 19: 35 CET | Online
• Women in Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Action | UN Women | 12:00 – 13:30 CET | Online

13 March 2024

• Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures: Green Policies, Political Development, and Youth Activism | Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM Skopje, N. Macedonia) | 08:15 – 09:45 CET | Online, Zoom
• Food Systems Transformation as an Accelerator for the SDGs Implementation and Climate Action | UN Food Systems Hub | 08:15 – 09:45 CET | Palais des Nations, Room 207-209 & Online
• Tackling Climate Change: Private Sector Engagement and Scales Coordination | UN Global Compact Network France | 13:15 – 14:45 CET | Online, Zoom

14 March 2024

• Environmental Rule of Law and the Role of Access to Justice in Delivering on SDGs 16 and 13 | RFSD 2024 | 08:30–09:45 CET | Online, Webex
• Glaciers as a source of Fresh Water | Permanent Mission of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations | 08:15 – 09:35 CET | Online
• Galvanising the young professional climate action workforce| AquaFed (International Federation of Private Water Operators)
• Youth as driver of sustainable solutions for a better future |  Permanent Mission of Belarus to the United Nations Office at Geneva | 13:15 – 14:45 CET

GEN & UNEP Europe Office Events

Advancing the Six Transitions: What Role for Young People? | RFSD 2024

11 March 2024 | 11:30–12:30 CET | Online (Webex)

Cyprus, UNEP Europe Office, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Youth and Environment Europe

 

Addressing the Interconnected Challenges of Poverty, Food Security, and Climate Change through a One Health Approach and Effective Governance and Policy Coherence | RFSD 2024

11 March 2024 | 14:30–15:30 CET | Online (Webex)

 

World Health Organization, UNEP Europe Office

Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development a Must for the Six Transitions to Succeed Between Now and 2030 | RFSD 2024

12 March 2024 | 14:30–15:45 CET | Online (Webex)

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, UNEP Europe Office, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Environment Management Group

Solving the Rubik’s cube of the planetary crisis: lining up policy solutions for climate risks and biodiversity loss

13 March 2024 | 15:00 – 18:00 CET | Palais des Nations, Room XIX

UN Issued-based Coalition on Environment and Climate Change for
Europe and Central Asia,

Environmental Rule of Law and the Role of Access to Justice in Delivering on SDGs 16 and 13 | RFSD 2024

14 March 2024 | 08:30–09:45 CET | Online (Webex) 

UNEP Europe Office, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, United Nations Development Programme Office in Geneva, Geneva Environment Network

Links and News

• Sustainable development in the UNECE Region: Facing a Headwind in 2024 | UNECE | February 2024