About the High-level Political Forum
Held from Monday 10 July to Wednesday 19 July 2023 under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The theme for the HLPF 2023 will be “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.
The HLPF 2023, without prejudice to the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the SDGs, will also review in-depth Goals 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals.
Against this backdrop, the ISC sees its main role in providing evidence-based, politically independent, and actionable scientific guidance to decision-makers by drawing on its large and diverse global membership and the embodied expertise of natural and social scientists to tackle challenges to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs at all levels.
About the International Science Council
The Council convenes the scientific expertise and resources needed to lead on catalysing, incubating and coordinating impactful international action on issues of major scientific and public importance. The Council’s Action Plan forms a practical framework for the ISC’s work until the end of 2024, and to work towards our vision of science as a global public good.
The ISC works at the intersection of science and policy, particularly at the UN level, to ensure that science is integrated into international policy development and that relevant policies take into account both scientific knowledge and the needs of science.
Science Day – Evidence-based strategies for SDG acceleration
Held on 15 July 2023, Science Day aims to address lagging progress in achieving the SDGs, providing an informal platform within the High-Level Political Forum for decision-makers, scientists, and other stakeholders to exchange views and strategies.
Scientific findings, methodologies, and tools supporting evidence-based decision-making for the SDGs will be showcased during the event, the insights of which will aim to inform the 2023 SDG Summit and the 2024 Summit of the Future. This Special Event focuses on effective SDG acceleration pathways and portfolios for the short and medium term, with the expected outcome of a call to action for HLPF and the upcoming SDG Summit.
Read our blog:
As we increasingly recognize we are falling behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must ask ourselves: how will we define success for the 2030 Agenda? Recognizing this pressing need for accelerated progress, Science Day is set to take place within the framework of the 2023 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Saturday 15 July.
Side Event: Harnessing the Power of Science for the 2030 Agenda
On 17 July 2023, the Council will launch the report of its Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability, a call for doing science differently to deliver on the SDGs, at the UN New York Headquarters as a side-event of the 2023 HLPF. This launch will introduce the ISC’s model to unlock science’s potential for long-term sustainability in front of high-level representatives attending the Forum.
📺 Follow the launch live on UN Web TV starting at 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. UTC and 14:00 CEST) on Monday 17 July.
Read our Press Release:
From the climate emergency and global health to the energy transition and water security, the new ISC report argues that global science and science funding efforts must be fundamentally redesigned and scaled up to meet the complex needs of humanity and the planet.
Rescuing and integrating the Global Agenda: Harnessing Science and Technology more effectively
The HLPF 2023 also sees the launch of the position paper for the Forum prepared by the ISC Fellows, advocating for an urgent shift towards integration and embracing the interconnectedness of the SDGs and global policy frameworks. Together, the Fellows of the International Science Council call for a move beyond rhetoric and towards concrete actions to leave no one behind, leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation in supporting evidence-informed decision-making at all levels.
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ISC Fellows call for urgent action to bring Agenda 2030 back on track
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2023 will review progress on the SDGs, mid-way through the 2030 Agenda. In a powerful statement “Rescuing and integrating the Global Agenda: Harnessing Science and Technology more effectively”, the Fellows of the International Science Council (ISC) call for urgent, transformational and integrative action, and an end to political rhetoric and reticence.
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The ISC addresses the UN High Level Political Forum and meets with the UN Secretary General
An ISC delegation met with Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, on Tuesday 18 July during the High-Level Political Forum. The delegation discussed the Group of Friends on Science for Action at the UN, the Secretary General’s science advisory mechanism and topics such as the ISC’s response to the COVID pandemic and the need for robust science advisory mechanisms at the Member State level.
Science and Climate feature at the High Level Political Forum
The ISC and partners attended the inaugural Science Day at the High Level Political Forum, as well as the Fourth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference, with “transformations” and “mission science” being the key themes for both events.
Science Driving Transformation: the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report
On 17 July 2023, the Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 (GSDR) was presented to Member States at the opening of the high-level segment of the High Level Political Forum 2023 with a Fireside Chat featuring GSDR scientists chaired by ISC Chief Executive Officer Salvatore Aricò.
The ISC at the HLPF 2023
Times are in EDT
| Monday 10 July |
| 13:15 – 14:30: UNESCO side-event: Game Changer, Science Based Global Water Assessment 📍 Conference Room 2, United Nations Headquarters 🔹 This side event will allow to continue the discussions from the UN 2023 Water Conference, and support the development of key recommendations to improve the game-changer idea and bring it closer to Member States specific needs. 👉 Find out more 16:30 – 18:00: Official Session: Science, technology and innovation: Triggering transformation and sustaining a science driven recovery 📍 Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters 🔹 Join lead discussants Peter Gluckman, ISC President, and Pamela Matson, ISC Governing Board Member, in this discussion on key messages from the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report, learning from STI Forum, promoting partnerships on STI for transformation for the SDGs. 👉 Find out more 🔴 Watch the recording here. |
| Wednesday 12 July |
| 08:00 – 09:30: United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library and UNESCO Virtual side-event: Policy makes Practice – Open Science and Public Funding for the Public Good 📍 Online, register here 🔹 Join Dr. Laura Rovelli from ISC Member FOLEC-CLACSO and ISC Consultant Moumita Koley for a panel discussion that will build on the recent discussions at the UN Open Science Conference. 👉 Find out more |
| Saturday 15 July |
| 09:00 – 14:00: Special Event: Science Day 📍 Delegates Dining Room, United Nations Headquarters 🔹 An informal space during the HLPF for decision-makers, scientists, and other stakeholders to discuss science-based SDG achievement. 👉 Find out more 🔴 Watch the recording here. |
| Sunday 16 July |
| 09:00 – 14:00: Special Event: Fourth Global Conference on Climate and SDG Synergies 📍 Conference Room 4, United Nations Headquarters 🔹 This event will take stock of progress on synergistic action at all levels and to plan ahead on prioritizing areas with most need, with ISC Fellow Nebojsa Nakicenovic. 👉 Find out more 🔴 Watch the recording here. |
| Monday 17 July |
| 08:00 – 09:30: Side-event: Harnessing the Power of Science for the 2030 Agenda 📍 Conference Room 11, United Nations Headquarters 🔹 Join us for the launch of the report from the ISC Global Commission on Science Missions for Sustainability 👉 Find out more 🔴 Watch the recording here. 10:15 –10:45: Fireside Chat featuring GSDR Scientists 📍 General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters 🔹 Discover key messages of the Global Sustainable Development Report and the importance of science for sustainable development, moderated by ISC CEO Salvatore Aricò. 👉 Find out more 🔴 Watch the recording here. |
The ISC Delegation at the HLPF 2023
⚫ ISC Governing Board and Fellowship Members
⚫ ISC Staff
