Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series

Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ webinar series consists of eight 90 to 120-minute expert panels – with stakeholder participation – in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. This review of two SDGs each month commenced in November 2022 and ran through June 2023 in the run-up to the July 2023 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development – known as the HLPF.

The webinars, found below, are part of a group of interlinked initiatives within Stakeholder Forum’s newest project, ‘The 2023 Platform,’ for which it is currently seeking funding. A multi-year project, the 2023 Platform is envisioned to be an instrument to support more effective monitoring and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the 2023 United Nations HLPF review cycle. An overarching goal is greater stakeholder participation in the SDGs Summit 2023 and the Summit of the Future in September 2024, and through that greater engagement strengthen the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

The webinar series explores where we are in SDG implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages.

The series brought together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish a community of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and beyond.

In addition, summaries of the webinars – along with recommendations related to each of the first 16 SDGs – will be submitted to the HLPF and UN SDG Summit 2023 processes.

You can view all eight webinars posted on the ‘Live’ page of the Stakeholder Forum YouTube channel – and/or the audio podcast versions – below.  And please share your thoughts or ideas on the subject by writing to [email protected].


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Series Webinar 8: SDGs 15 & 16 – Life on Land, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

29 June 2023

This 2-hour webinar was the eighth and last in Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of 8 webinars in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. Our review of two SDGs each month commenced in November 2022. This webinar continues to explore where we are in their implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages, with an emphasis on strengthening the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

The series brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish communities of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and the Summit of the Future in 2024.

This session focussed on SDGs 15 and 16 – Life on Land, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. It was moderated by Dr. David O’Connor, Permanent Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to the United Nations, in dialogue with a host of SDG and sustainability experts:

Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Senior Adviser, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, Dr. Elisa Morgera, Professor of Global Environmental Law and the Director of One Ocean Hub, University of Strathclyde Law School, Dr. Emlyn Koster, Director Emeritus, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, Alberta, Canada, Pieter van der Gaag, Executive Director, Ecosystem Restoration Communities and Chairman of the Board, Ecosystem Restoration Foundation, Dr. Louis Meuleman Vice Chair/Member United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration and Senior adviser on Governance, Dr. Pooja Balasubramanian, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Mr. David Kode, Advocacy & Campaigns Lead, CIVICUS, South Africa, and Professor Lichia Saner-Yiu, President of the Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND), with opening comments by Stakeholder Forum Director Irena Zubcevic, and with the support of Dr. David Horan, Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School in Trinity College Dublin and Fellow of Stakeholder Forum where he advises on SDG Partnerships & Governance for the SDGs.

The session was hosted by Charles Nouhan, Chairman of Stakeholder Forum.

The full video recording can be found here, or you can listen to the audio podcast now, right here:

You can also download the concept note and the text from the webinar chat, as well as the presentations by Dr. Elisa Morgera, University of Strathclyde Law School, Louis Meuleman, UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, and Professor Lichia Saner-Yiu, CSEND.


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar No. 7: SDGs 13 and 14 – Climate Action & Life Below Water

25 May 2023

This 2-hour webinar was the seventh in Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of 8 webinars in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. A review of two SDGs each month, commencing November 2022, the series continues to explore where we are in their implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages, with an emphasis on strengthening the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

The series brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish communities of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and the Summit of the Future in 2024.

This session focussed on SDG 13, Take Urgent Action to Tackle Climate Change and its Impacts, and SDG 14, Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas, and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development. It was moderated by Dr. David Horan, Trinity College Dublin and Fellow at Stakeholder Forum, in dialogue with a host of SDG and sustainability experts:

Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Senior Adviser, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, Charles Karangwa, Head, Nature-based Solutions Team, IUCN, on Nature-based Solutions, Dr. Lisa Sanderink, Assistant Professor, Energy Transition and Climate Governance, University of Twente, The Netherlands, Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh, Fredrik Myhre, Marine Biologist and Team Leader Oceans at WWF-Norway, Dr. Marjo Vierros, Head of Science-Policy Research at the University of Edinburgh-Nippon Foundation Ocean Voices Programme, Oliver Wragg, Commercial Director at Orbital Marine Power Ltd, and Member of the Board of Ocean Energy Europe, on mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change by enhancing oceans’ contribution to tackling climate change, and Dr. Elisa Morgera, Professor of Global Environmental Law and the Director of One Ocean Hub, University of Strathclyde Law School, closing comments by Stakeholder Forum Director Irena Zubcevic, and with the support of Dr. David O’Connor, Permanent Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to the United Nations.

The session was hosted by Charles Nouhan, Chairman of Stakeholder Forum.

The full video recording can be found here, or you can listen to the audio podcast now, right here:

You can also download the concept note and the text from the webinar chat, as well as the presentations by Charles Karangwa, IUCN, Fredrik Myhre, WWF-Norway (coming soon), Dr. Elisa Morgera, One Ocean Hub, and the video clip shared by Oliver Wragg, Commercial Director at Orbital Marine Power Ltd.


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series Webinar 6: SDGs 11 & 12 – Make Cities & Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient & Sustainable, and Ensure Sustainable Consumption & Production Patterns

27 April 2023

This 2-hour webinar was the sixth in Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of 8 webinars in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. A review of two SDGs each month, commencing November 2022, the series continues to explore where we are in their implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages, with an emphasis on strengthening the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

The series brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish communities of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and the Summit of the Future in 2024.

This session, which focussed on Sustainable Cities, & Sustainable Consumption and Production, was moderated by Dr. David O’Connor, IUCN Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York, in dialogue with a host of SDG and sustainability experts: Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Senior Adviser, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, a keynote address by Assitant Secretary-General Michal Mlynar, Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat, and with interventions by Juliana Oliveira Cunha, Policy Economist, International Growth Centre, London School of Economics, Maruxa Cardama, Secretary General, Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT), Fernando Ortiz-Moya, Policy Researcher, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan, Zeenat Niazi, Sr. Vice-President, and Chief Knowledge Officer, Development Alternatives Group, India, Ramona Liberoff, Executive Director, PACE (Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy), Gemma Scott, Recycling & Circular Economy Specialist, Jan-Anton van Zanten, SDG Strategist, Robeco: The Investment Engineers, The Netherlands, Dr. Luca Coscieme, Programme Lead Sustainable Lifestyles, Hot or Cool Institute, Berlin, and Fabienne Pierre, Programme Management Coordinator, One Planet Network, UNEP, and with the support of Dr. David Horan, Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, and a Fellow at Stakeholder Forum where he advises on SDG Partnerships & Governance for the SDGs.

The session was hosted by Charles Nouhan, Chairman of Stakeholder Forum.

The full video recording can be found here, or you can listen to the audio podcast now, right here:

You can also download the concept note and the text from the webinar chat.


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series Webinar 5: SDGs 9 and 10 – Industry, Innovation, & Infrastructure and Reduced Inequalities

30 March 2023

This 90-minute webinar was the fifth in Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of 8 webinars in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. A review of two SDGs each month, commencing November 2022, the series continues to explore where we are in their implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages, with an emphasis on strengthening the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda.

The series brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish communities of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and beyond.

This session was moderated by Dr. David Horan, Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, and a Fellow at Stakeholder Forum where he advises on SDG Partnerships & Governance for the SDGs, in dialogue with a host of SDG and sustainability experts: Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Senior Adviser, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, Ms. Stine Lise Hattestad Bratsberg, Partner/Head of strategy and transformation in EMA ESG Hub KPMG, Norway, Dr. Tommaso Ciarli, Senior Researcher, UNU-MERIT, United Nations University and SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School, Dr. Lidia Stępińska-Ustasiak, Area Leader, International Cooperation & Partnerships, Ms. Andrea Ordonez, Director, Southern Voice in Ecuador, Dr. Sajid Amin, Deputy Executive Director and founding head of the Policy Solutions Lab at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan, and Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief of the Energy Section, Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster, UN Economic Social Commission West Asia (UN ESCWA) with summary remarks by Irena Zubcevic, Director, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, and with the support of David O’Connor, a Fellow of Stakeholder Forum and the Permanent Observer at the United Nations of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN.

The full video recording can be found here, or you can listen to the audio podcast now, right here:

You can also download the concept note and the text from the webinar chat.


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series Webinar 4: SDGs 7 and 8 – Sustainable Modern Energy for All & Decent Work and Economic Growth

22 February 2023

This 100-minute webinar was the fourth in Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of 8 webinars in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. A review of two SDGs each month, commencing November 2022, the series explores where we are in their implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages.

The series brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish a community of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and beyond.

This session was moderated by David O’Connor, a Fellow of Stakeholder Forum and the Permanent Observer at the United Nations of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN, in dialogue with a host of SDG and sustainability experts: Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Senior Adviser, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, Prof. Raymond Saner, University of Basel and Centre for Socio-Economic Development (CSEND), Dr. Minoru Takada, Sustainable Energy Team Leader & Head, UN-Energy Secretariat, UNDESA, Dr. Francesco Fuso-Nerini, Assoc. Prof., Division of Energy Systems & Director of KTH Climate Action Centre at the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (by pre-recorded message), Mr. Kari Tapiola, Former Deputy-Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Mr. Ivan Idrovo, CEO, SDCASIA; External Consultant at International Labour Organization (ILO).

The session was hosted by Charles Nouhan, Chairman of Stakeholder Forum.

The full video recording can be found here, or you can listen to the audio podcast now, right here:

You can also download a written version of the statement delivered by Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, presentations by Raymond Saner and Francesco Fuso-Nerini, the concept note, and the text from the webinar chat.

In addition, there are two articles by Professor Raymond Sanner that might be of interest to you:

POST KATOWICE COP 24 – NEED TO GO BEYOND “BUSINESS AS USUAL” TO ACCELERATE ZERO-CARBON ELECTRICITY GENERATION – Raymond Saner, 2019
https://blogs.idos-research.de/2019/04/03/post-katowice-cop-24-need-to-go-beyond-business-as-usual/

GREENING THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION – Raymond Saner, 2016
https://feem-media.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/20163231141134FinalPublished.pdf


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series Webinar 3: SDGs 5 and 6 – Gender Equality and Clean Water & Sanitation

26 January 2023

This 90-minute webinar was the third in Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of 8 webinars in the run-up to the September 2023 SDG Summit. A review of two SDGs each month, commencing November 2022, the series explores where we are in their implementation, identifies transformative actions for change, and assesses what kind of disruptions they might create together with the benefits for those goals under review and for other goals with which there are interlinkages.

The series brings together a wide range of experts, policymakers, and practitioners with knowledge of the SDGs’ interlinkages, including their insights on integrated approaches that can help to develop recommendations on transformative actions for the SDGs. Its intention is also to establish a community of practice that will continue to work on this initiative in the lead-up to the 2023 SDG Summit and beyond. This session was moderated by Dr. David Horan, Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, and Advisor on SDG Partnerships & Governance for the SDGs for Stakeholder Forum, in dialogue with a host of SDG and sustainability experts: Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Senior Adviser, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, Maria Mercedes Kuri, United Nations International Federation of Youth for Water and Climate (UN1FY), Dr. Nina Lansbury, Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Ms. Carmen Capriles, Founding Member of Reacción Climática and Global Facilitator Women’s Major Group UNEA/UNEP, Mr. Innocent Menyo, Team Lead & Co-Founder, M-SCAN, Dr. Grace Oluwasanya, Senior Researcher: Water, Climate and Gender at the United Nations Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Dr. Ali Karnib, Senior Water and Sustainable Development Expert, Ms. Marisha Wojciechowska-Shibuya, Lead Writer of United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water & Sanitation’s final report on water and sanitation, and author & publisher of My Globetrotter Book, and Ms. Tove Lexén, Programme Officer, International Policy, Swedish Water House.

The session closed with remarks by Irena Zubcevic, Director, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future.

The full video recording can be found here, and the audio podcast here. You can also download a written version of the statement delivered by Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, and the text from the webinar chat.


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series Webinar 2: SDGs 3 & 4 – Ensuring Healthy Lives and Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education

14 December 2022

This 90-minute webinar is the second of Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of webinars.

Introduced by Stakeholder Forum Executive Director Irena Zubcevic and moderated by Dr. David Horan, Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, and Advisor on SDG Partnerships & Governance for the SDGs for Stakeholder Forum, it included an introduction to the subject matter by Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Board Member and Senior Adviser on Governance, Stakeholder Forum.

Dr. Horan then moderated a roundtable discussion on SDGs 3 and 4 with Dr. Wanda Markotter, Co-Chair, One Health High-Level Expert Panel, and Director of Centre for Viral Zoonoses, University of Pretoria, Mr. Landry Egbende, public health specialist at Kinshasa School of Public Health, Dr. Katey Pelican, Director, Co-Lead, PI and Developer, One Health Systems Mapping and Analysis Toolkit at University of Minnesota, Ms. Elizabeth Moses-Mullard, Principal Advocate at AlphaZULU Advocates; Former Member of the Independent Education Appeals Panel, London Borough of Hillingdon, Prof. Victoria Thoresen, Former UNESCO Chair for Education for Sustainable Lifestyles, Collaborative Learning Centre for Sustainable Development, Inland Norway University, Prof. Lichia Saner-Yiu, Organisation Development & Institutional Learning, President, Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND), Mr. Angus Mackay, Director of the Division for Planet at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Head of the UN CC:Learn Secretariat, Dr Karen Brown, Director, Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change, University of Minnesota, and Mr. Brad Olsen, Senior Fellow, Center for Universal Education in the Global Economy and Development program, Brookings Institution.

Final reflections were offered by Mr. Gervais Nzoa, Development Specialist, Coordinator, Caald, and Former Member, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The full video recording can be found here, and the audio podcast here.


Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023 Webinar Series Webinar 1: SDGs 1 & 2 – No Poverty and No Hunger

29 November 2022

This 90-minute webinar launched Stakeholder Forum’s ‘Countdown to the UN SDG Summit 2023’ series of webinars.

Moderated by Dr. David Horan, Assistant Professor at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, and Advisor on SDG Partnerships & Governance for the SDGs for Stakeholder Forum, it included introductions to the subject matter by Dr. Friedrich Soltau, Chief, Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, UN-DESA, Jamil Ahmad, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, the United Nations Environment Programme, New York, and Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, Board Member and Senior Adviser on Governance, Stakeholder Forum.

Dr. Horan then moderated a roundtable discussion on SDGs 1 and 2 with Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh, Chantal Line Carpentier, Chief at UNCTAD New York, Office of the Secretary-General, Eunice Ajambo, Economist, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Namibia, Dr. Daniele Malerba, Senior Researcher, German Institute for Development and Sustainability, and Hanaa El Hilaly, Chairman at Aspire Capital Holding Company, and Executive Director at Al Kheir Microfinance Company.

The full video recording can be found here, and the audio podcast here. You can also download a written version of the statement delivered by Jan-Gustav Strandenaes, and the text from the webinar chat.