Stockholm+50 commemorates the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment and celebrates 50 years of global environmental action. To prepare for the international meeting, five regional multi-stakeholder consultations have been organized by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and the Initiative Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs). Participants represented a diversity of stakeholders, including youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, the private sector, governments, and UN Agencies, among others, who came together to reflect on and review how to accelerate action to achieve sustainable development and to prepare regional key messages to take forward to the Stockholm+50 Meeting. A conversation with Adriana Zacarias Farah, the head of GO4SDGs.
Most of the well-balanced groups trust their country to take bold steps
Adriana: "We had a good representation of stakeholders, the gender balance was good, more slightly more women in all regions, only in Africa we had slightly more men. Also, the age groups were well represented, especially between 25-30 and 40-60, which allowed a good intergenerational dialogue. And what really surprised me is that around 70% of participants believe that their country or region can take bold decisions to achieve a better planet. I was so happy to see this optimism!"
Almost 2,000 different voices and perspectives during 5 Regional Consultations
"We brought new voices and narratives to the table. We do not hear the voices of Indigenous Peoples or faith-based organizations very often, which was very inspiring. For instance, in the regions' Asia and the Pacific' and 'Latin America and the Caribbean', I noticed a lot of interest in the knowledge and perspective of Indigenous women and women leaders. During the plenaries, the chat exploded, talking about respecting indigenous rights for land and bringing the knowledge of Indigenous people as solutions to the triple planetary crisis. A related message is the need to criminalize ecocide and protect the environmental defenders, mentioned at four consultations. For me, those topics represent the importance of the 'social agenda' and the need to bring it together with the environment. I also found it remarkable that even after two years of virtual working -because of COVID-19- we still had around 2,000 participants in total. All interested to learn more about Stockholm+50 and willing to participate in making their voices heard."
Inspiring: new GDP metrics, green jobs for youth, financing circularity
"Stockholm+50 is about reflecting on how we achieve a sustainable world. It was inspiring to hear in at least four regions about the need to change the metrics of GDP, to include the well-being of people and the planet in the indicators of progress. Another global topic was a call to rebuild trust among governments and stakeholders. Truly relevant as scaling up environmental actions requires international and multi-stakeholder cooperation. All consultations reflected the importance of engaging youth, women, and indigenous people in decision making and implementation. The need for reskilling and creating new green jobs for youth is another key message. I was also glad to hear that changing consumption and production patterns and scaling up finance for circularity are relevant topics. And an inclusive digital transformation is also a key topic for the regions. Our Regional Consultations also had this gap in connectivity with the rural areas.
Unique regional topics involved the impact of war and scarcity
"The terrible situation of the war in Ukraine was, of course, a relevant topic in the 'European and North America' consultation. It was highlighted that war has an immediate impact on human well-being, food, different value chains, and how governments look at environmental challenges. The West Asia region also referred that the continuing wars and conflicts affect the environment. In Asia and the Pacific, messages were shared to cut down the military expenditure and focus on the environment. Another unique topic was the issue of water scarcity in West Asia, where conflicts also play a role."
Identification of best practices, initiatives and some pledges for action, but more is needed
Adriana:" Stockholm+50 is all about the need to accelerate implementation and receive pledges for action. The consultations were developed with this expectation in mind. Adriana: "Thanks to the consultations, we have a better understanding of the regional priorities, challenges, and best practices. We did not get as many pledges of action as we were expecting. However, this dialogue can continue beyond S+50. I would love to have the opportunity to continue these consultations, maybe now with a specific sectoral or thematic focus, with strategic partners to identify synergies, connect the dots and develop partnerships to scale up action. This is in fact, the main objective of GO4SDGs."
Following-up the key messages of the regional consultations, GO4SDGs is bringing 5 new partnerships and initiatives to S+50
1. Green Jobs for Youth Pact (alliance with ILO, UNICEF, UNEP)
The Pact wants to scale up initiatives to equip our youth with the needed tools to develop the skills to achieve sustainable transformation. The Pact develops partnerships with governments, the private sector, academia, and youth, to identify the gaps in the skills of youth.
2. Sustainable lifestyles within 1.5 degrees (collaboration with Hot or Cool Institute)
Sustainable lifestyles are about changing our consumption and production patterns, looking at circularity, and enabling citizens to be more sustainable. We would like to explore the pathways and necessary infrastructures to achieve a positive, sustainable future. Pact wants to scale up initiatives to equip our youth with the needed tools to develop the skills to achieve sustainable transformation. The Pact develops partnerships with governments, the private sector, academia, and youth, to identify the gaps in the skills of youth.
3. Financing Circularity (collaboration with UNEP FI)
With UNEP FI we analyze the existing financial mechanisms for circularity in Latin America and are about the start in Africa. The results will be shared with developing banks to put this into practice, with the aim to upscale circular practices.
4. Sustainable Consumption and Production (collaboration with One Planet Network)
Science partners will work on sustainable consumption and production themes in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa. The regions will also receive training on the use of SCP HAT to identify the hot spots of emission in high-impact sectors.
5. SMEs: Gamechangers for Local Actions towards Sustainability (SEED, GO4SDGs, UNEP)
Global awareness of the triple planetary crisis resulting from unsustainable consumption and production patterns is growing, as well as the private sector's potential to address them. The event will demonstrate the potential and necessity to engage with and enable SMEs to deliver sustainability, including the opportunity to start their journey to net-zero.
Concluding: Social Inclusion is getting more relevant
Adriana: "GO4SDGs is addressing four key topics of the regional consultations, and we might need to identify partners for the remaining ones. The consultations were a wonderful opportunity to connect and listen to different stakeholders. They have made clear that social Inclusion is key, as well as the need to create new narratives and new metrics beyond GDP, measuring people's well-being and a healthy planet. Social Inclusion also refers to learning from Indigenous Peoples and women and equipping our youth with green and innovative skills to achieve the sustainable transformation we are dreaming for."