07 April 2020 | BANGKOK – Entering the last decade to meet the 2030 Agenda, every effort is made to ensure cities are able to reach the target. The Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) has played an important role in contributing inputs to the High-Level Political Forum where intensive discussion and monitoring of SDGs accomplishment is conducted. With the remaining ten years and cities facing a global health challenge with massive impact on economy, a series of discussions to prepare for the 7th APFSD, scheduled on 20 May 2020 through video conferencing back-to-back with the 76th Session of the Commission, took place virtually. Playing its role as Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Local Government Body (APLG), UCLG ASPAC delivered its statement that amplifies the voice of local governments.
In line with the theme “Accelerating Action on and Delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific,” the virtual consultations were conducted from 31 March to 08 April 2020. The consultations focused on the six entry points identified in the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019: 1) human well-being and capabilities, 2) sustainable and just economies, 3) food systems and nutrition patterns, 4) enhancing power grid connectivity to achieve affordable and clean energy for all, 5) urban and peri-urban development, and 6) global environmental commons.
UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, on behalf of APLG, delivered the local government intervention during the discussion on urban and peri-urban development that supports the policy recommendation of the entry point profile aimed at accelerating decentralisation and providing financing frameworks for cities. Proposed actions to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs include strengthening of SDGs ownership, mainstreaming and upscaling local actions, and involving local and regional governments in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs).
UNESCAP also conducted a separate consultation to prepare the APFSD Chair’s Statement through the collection of written inputs from stakeholders. UCLG ASPAC facilitated the preparation of the local government input in cooperation with the APLG.
