It adopts negotiated declarations, reviews commitment and the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs or Global Goals).
The Forum replaced the Commission on Sustainable Development on the 24 September 2013 [1] Meetings of the Forum are open to all Member States of the United Nations.
While under the auspices of the General Assembly: Once every four years at the level of Heads of State and Government for a period of two days.
While under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council: Yearly, for a period of eight days, including a three-day ministerial segment.
The HLPF was created with the aim to strengthen sustainable development governance at the United Nations. It works to achieve this through its mandate, which states the following in respect to sustainable development:
As well as the relevant outcomes of other United Nations summits and conferences.
Meeting themes
Every year since 2013, the HLPF has held a session. The meetings are held in July. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum took place virtually in 2020 for the first time.[4]
Year
Auspices
Dates
Theme
Ref
2021
ECOSOC
6-15 July 2021
"Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development"
"Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development" (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum took place virtually in 2020 for the first time).
At the 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, it was decided that the Commission would be replaced by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This new Forum would meet under the auspices of both the Economic and Social Council, as well as the General Assembly. The Forum was formally created by Resolution 67/290 on 9 July 2013.[3]