Finland has prominent role in UN's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Prime Minister Sanna Marin and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will give a speech at a meeting which will review the global progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Minister Marin will also present Finland's 2030 Agenda Voluntary National Review to the UN.

Finland is one of the 47 countries that will present their national reviews of their progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on a national level. The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) was launched virtually on 7 July. This year, the meeting will focus on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and on sustainable recovery that is based on the goals of the 2030 Agenda. 

On Tuesday 14 July, Prime Minister Marin and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will speak at the opening session of the High-Level Segment of the HLPF and Minister Marin will present Finland's 2030 Agenda Voluntary National Review. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 17 goals (SDGs), which aim to eradicate poverty from the world and safeguard wellbeing in an environmentally sustainable manner.

In the implementation of the SDGs, Finland’s strengths have included, among other things, equality in society and invitation of various parties, such as cities, municipalities, companies, organisations and citizens, to engage in the implementation and monitoring of the goals. Globally, Finland has promoted especially gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The annual HLPF is the most significant global follow-up forum on sustainable development. Finland supports the worldwide implementation of the SDGs together with the EU, which has supported the UN all along. Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, who held a keynote speech at the event on 7 July, quoted President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen by saying that the EU wants a global recovery initiative that links investment and debt relief to the SDGs. 

The segment on Tuesday, which will be important for Finland, is scheduled to start at 16.00 Finnish time. The event can be viewed live online on the UN  Web TV(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) and afterwards on the Government's YouTube channel(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).

Read more: Government press release(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)