What to Expect at HLPF 2025

​Amid an urgent push for UN reform and “real threats to the very fabric, values, principles, and sustainability of multilateralism" in the words of the UN Secretary-General, diplomats will gather in New York to discuss tangible steps to meet the development goals the agreed to in 2015. With five years left to the deadline for reaching the SDGs, representatives will meet under the theme of “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.”

Webinar summary on the SDG Knowledge Hub

37 countries have expressed interest in delivering voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the 2025 HLPF, presenting their lessons learned to peers and civil society leaders while also fielding questions on their actions. ​In additional to national SDG progress reports, the 2025 HLPF will conduct in-depth global reviews of progress on: 

• SDG 3 on good health and well-being
• SDG 5 on gender equality
• SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth
• SDG 14 on life below water
• and SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals. 

This Q&A webinar organized by IISD and Cepei provides an overview of the main themes and issues of this year's HLPF to help interested stakeholders unpack the key messages and exchange expectations and questions with other attendees. As one of the most well-attended annual webinars IISD co-hosts, this session is a chance not only to hear from insiders but to build a wider network of allies who believe in transparent, meaningful sustainable development.

Panel

• Lotta Tähtinen, Director of Office for Intergovernmental Support and Coordination, UN DESA
• Annalisa Prizzon, Principal Research Fellow at ODI, Member of the Committee for Development Policy
• Emmanuel Ikenna Ohiri, UN Youth Representative and Global Development Professional
• Lynn Wagner, Senior Director, IISD
• Philipp Schönrock, Director, CEPEI (moderator)

Commentary, Resources and Events

We have endeavored to share a number of helpful links on the right-hand side of this page. These additional resources, events, and commentary were recommended during the webinar. IISD is not responsible for external content.

• Rebuilding trust in multilateralism: An urgent call to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean (Cepei)
• What the Compromiso de Sevilla means for multilateral development banks (ODI)
• The Compromiso de Sevilla and the Challenge of Financing Development: A reality check (IISD)
• UN80 Initiative: What it is – and why it matters to the world (UN)
• Secretary-General: UN80 Initiative to “Move as Quickly as Possible” (IISD)
• UN80: Some Clues (Cepei)
• The Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sevilla Commitment: Changes and Continuities (Global Radar)
• 2025 Voluntary Local and Subnational Reviews (VLRs and VSRs) Days
• Local and Regional Governments Forum
• Local 2030 Coalitions Special Event
• Local and Regional Governments engagement in VNR/VLR processes