Discussions about the overall objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda 2030 are underway in New York at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2017.

Environmental Affairs minister Edna Molewa and her delegation are in attendance and will be participating in several panel discussions this week.

Held under the theme, ‘Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World’, the forum will provide a platform that will allow delegates to assess trends related to the implementation of Agenda 2030. It will also give them the opportunity to identify issues that may affect future achievements and the actions required to address poverty, hunger, health, gender equality, industry, innovation and infrastructure.

Molewa is also scheduled to participate in the Partnership for Action on the Green Economy (PAGE) high-level panel discussion. This will shed light on how the development of green and more inclusive economies and financial mechanisms are delivering on the SDGs.

Molewa said South Africa welcomed the progress made thus far with regards to the implementation of the SDGs worldwide.

“We note that given the reality of countries being at different levels of development, success will be largely uneven and where progress has been made, there could be under-reporting, given the enormous challenge of available, accurate, timely and verifiable data in some countries in Africa and across the developing world,” she said.

SA acknowledges global statistical system

South Africa commended the work undertaken by the UN Statistics Division in its commitment to the advancement of the global statistical system.

South Africa has called for capacity building in the area of reporting in developing countries, supporting and improving data collection and quality, and ensuring that reporting obligations do not overburden administrations.

The country has also called for better alignment and communication between the sub-national, national, regional and international levels. It wants an inclusive approach when formulating national strategies to ensure that these strategies are based on sustainable development principles and objectives.