The Ecosystem of Sustainability

The SDGs do not work in isolation; they are reinforced by several "sister" agreements:

1. The Paris Agreement (COP21): While SDG 13 deals with Climate Action, the Paris Agreement provides the legal framework. Its central aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

2. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: A 15-year voluntary agreement that recognizes the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders. This is crucial for protecting the progress made in other SDGs from being wiped out by natural disasters.

3. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda: This framework addresses the "How": How will we pay for the SDGs? It focuses on mobilizing domestic resources (taxes), international public finance (aid), and private investment.

4. The UN Global Compact (UNGC): This is the bridge to the private sector. By joining, companies commit to Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. It is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with over 15,000 signatory companies.

Monitoring: The VNR Process

Countries report their progress through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) at the UN High-Level Political Forum. These reviews are intended to share successes, challenges, and lessons learned, with a view to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.