APFSD11: Side Events

Organizers: Government of Tonga, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and United Nations ESCAP Subregional Office for the Pacific, Government of Fiji (tbc)

Description: This side event aims to provide a forum for Economic planners, practitioners, policymakers, statisticians and other stakeholders to share best practices and lessons learned in their efforts to localise the SDGs and other global and regional frameworks.   There are various national models and approaches being used when countries engage in the preparation of their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). By reviewing these models and approaches, Governments can identify the suitability with respect to their national context and situation based on the availability of resources, expertise, and the robustness of their processes, institutions and systems.   With the endorsement of the implementation plan of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Governments are considering the level of readiness to apply the same principles and practises to this new Pacific vision based on previous experience with mainstreaming and localization. The question is, can it work? Changing nature of climate change and geopolitical uncertainties, the economic planners and practitioners are considering various realistic options and seeking peer-learning opportunities.  So, this side event can create space for experts to guide and advise economic planners, practitioners and stakeholders on how to accelerate, particularly those SDGs indicators that are still lagging in terms of implementation.   This side event can also enhance the scope for practitioners and statisticians to interact with the common goal of working on national and regional case studies. The links between different levels of indicators and targets to advance national planning, strategic coordination and effective partnership for the people and planet are taking centre stage in the aftermath of the 2023 SDG Summit.  

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Organizers: United Nations ESCAP, Hackathon Thailand, Youth Empowerment in Climate  Action Platform, and Global Climate Action Partnership and Asia LEDS

Description: This climate action ideathon (i.e. “climathon”) will engage youth from the Asia-Pacific region to develop practical yet innovative solutions on various topics (see below) that can accelerate climate action. Participants will choose to develop a solution under any of the subcategories below:  

• Electric mobility.  
• Climate smart agriculture and food systems.
• Climate resilient/adaptive cities.
• Natural ecosystem preservation (terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems).
• Just transition. 

Organizers: UN DESA, UN ESCAP

Description: Join UN DESA and UN ESCAP for a hybrid stock-take and discussion of the current economic outlook for Asia and the Pacific, using new data from the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report launched in January 2024. In-person experts from both organizations and other stakeholders from the region will consider the challenges that the current outlook presents to the delivery of the SDGs, in particular related to SDG 1, No Poverty, and offer suggestions for sound policies to ensure the well-being of people in Asia and the Pacific.  A focus will be on highlighting solutions that will help developing countries in the region limit their risk to emerging vulnerabilities, including ways to address shortages in SDG funding and strengthen capacities to improve sustainable development now that will pay off in later years.  The information provided in the WESP report serves as a valuable guide to countries in their sustainable development planning. Growth decelerations and uncertainty can be costly at a time when countries need all their economic strength deployed to succeed in transitions to eliminate deprivations, reduce inequalities and turn back climate change. This event will provide countries with data and ideas to better prepare for the future.

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Organizers: Ministry of Environment Japan Japanese Embassy in Thailand TBD, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Description: The world faces a triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution threaten to undermine the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Synergistic approaches could potentially help address these three crises in an integrated manner. Synergistic approaches work across the different dimensions of sustainable development, making them possibly more efficient than isolated solutions. Moving from siloes to synergies also offers the potential to maximize the benefits and limit trade-offs in ways that can accelerate sustainability transitions. In recent years, the international community has the need for robust planning and reporting frameworks that can help effectively implement synergies. Against this backdrop, Japan is proposing a resolution “Promoting synergistic approaches to address the triple crisis on climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and support sustainable development” for UNEA-6. This side event will enable policymakers and other stakeholders an opportunity to offer inputs into the effective implementation of the resolution and bring synergies to life in the Asia Pacific region.

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Organizers: Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE), Azad Foundation, ESCAP Sub-regional Office for South and South-West Asia 

Description: As women are excluded from skill-building opportunities, it becomes vital to ask: Who are the ones left behind and why? Under this context ASPBAE, through its members, has expanded and sharpened its knowledge base on education, skills and work with a gendered lens. In this side event, we aim to share best practices in the area of women’s skill education, livelihoods and gender-responsive climate action and formulate recommendations for scaling-up these initiatives.

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Organizers: ESCAP EDD, UNEP, Government of Fiji, WHO/WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region (TBC)

Description: This side event aims to advance understand of the health impacts of climate change and identify priority action as well as best practices on integrated climate-health action in supporting the achievement of SDGs. Operationalizing an integrated climate-health nexus will build on cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration. As the nexus is critically considered in food systems, in poverty, conflicts and migration, its discussion will be important for the SDGs under review at APFSD 11, including SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16, and 17. 

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Organizers: Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development, Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology, Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management, Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization, Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific 

Description: The proposed side event will look into the strategic integration of policymaking and planning, capacity building, technology, effective use of data and statistics, and regional cooperation in combating and adapting to climate change. It will feature experts and practitioners who will discuss on efforts to address climate change in Asia and the Pacific must prioritize the leveraging of technology, statistics, and capacity building. This entails fostering the transfer and development of sustainable technologies, improving data governance, collection and analysis capabilities, investing in statistical infrastructure for tracking progress, and promoting capacity building initiatives. By embracing these comprehensive strategies, countries in the region can enhance their resilience, make informed decisions, monitor climate impacts, and effectively contribute to global efforts in mitigating and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. The side-event will look into the strategic integration of policymaking and planning, capacity building, technology, effective use of data and statistics, and regional cooperation in combating and adapting to climate change. It will feature experts and practitioners who will discuss on: Potential of cross-border technology cooperation and exchange of technical capacities and expertise in responding to climate change. By facilitating the transfer of cutting-edge and innovative climate technologies and solutions, countries can collaboratively mitigate the adverse effects of climate change more effectively. Harnessing the power of data and statistics to transform vast amounts of climate data into actionable insights, including for food security and climate resilience. The need to strengthen human and institutional capacities in countries to understand and combat climate risks and challenges. This entails equipping them with the knowledge and skills to collect and analyze relevant data that can serve as an input to the formulation of effective climate responses while harnessing cutting-edge and innovative technologies. The event is aligned with the APFSD theme on Climate Action (SDG13) and relevant SDG targets, namely: Target 13.1 on the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, a goal that is significantly advanced through technology transfer; Target 13.3 on improving education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation; and Target 13.2 on integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning. It will also address SDG2, in particular Target 2.4: on and implementing resilient agricultural practices that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters.

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Organizers: Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), Coalition for UN We Need, Asia Civil Society partnership for Sustainable Development

Description: Considered a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to address inequities in global governance and reset international cooperation, the Summit of the Future (SoTF) will be a cornerstone among a series of high-level UN meetings in 2024. The Summit will be held on 22-23 September 2024 where the members have agreed towards the adoption of ‘A Pact for the Future’. which will focus on five areas: 1. SDGs and financing for development, 2. International peace and security, 3. Science technology innovation and digital cooperation and 4. Youth and future governance and 5. Transforming global governance  The objective of the side event is to discuss the importance of the SoTF for the Agenda 2030 and to critically evaluate its agenda through the lens of Asian civil society and come up with policy recommendations and action plans based on the analysis of the various policy briefs. The deliberations will mainly focus on Asia CSO position and its engagement on the SDGs and Financing for Development robust. Particular attention will be given to the outcomes of the SDGs Summit held in New York in 2023.  The recommendations will also be built on the declarations emerging out of the Global and Asia People’s Assemblies held in September 2023. 

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Organizers: The Coordinating Body of the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA, administered by the United
Nations Environment Programme), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), Government of the Republic of Korea (TBC), Government of Indonesia (TBC)

Description: Asia-Pacific is home to vast coral reefs and rich biodiversity, but population growth, unsustainable development, pollution, ocean warming, and overfishing have led to widespread degradation of habitats and their ability to support economies and livelihoods. A healthy ocean and intact ecosystems play a crucial role in regulating the climate, storing carbon, and protecting coastlines from storm surges and sea-level rise. Nature-based Solutions enhance the resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their ability to mitigate climate change and its impacts.   The event explores how a healthy ocean can accelerate climate action and provide inclusive and sustainable blue economy opportunities for the 2030 Agenda and UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, in the face of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Speakers will share key challenges and solutions from the region, discuss the role of coastal communities and indigenous knowledge, innovative finance mechanisms, and opportunities to build partnerships and leverage regional initiatives such as the ESCAP Regional Decade Programme and COBSEA mechanism to coordinate action. Speakers include governments, community leaders, civil society, finance and business partners.

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Organizers: Asia Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Asia Pacific Research Network, ALGA, Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society, International Trade Union Confederation - Asia Pacific

Description: Today’s world with beset with number of problems that are global and systemic and need politically ambitious solutions. Multilateralism in the past decades has seen very little success in containing conflicts and war, eradicating poverty and the environmental and climate crisis has deepened. The multilateral processes have created institutions that favour few (and rich) and increase global inequality and marginalization. To contain climate crisis and achieve sustainable development the fractured multilateralism needs to evolve into one which protects the global commons, creates genuine international cooperation and prioritizes the interests and wellbeing of the people and the most marginalized.

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Organizers: UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Description: The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment in 2023 offered a unique opportunity to leverage sustainable, inclusive, nutritious, and resilient food systems for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report highlights food systems as a pivotal driver for sustainability in the Asia-Pacific Region. The region faces challenges in achieving SDG 13 (climate action), with climate change impacts and contributions to global emissions. Climate change poses significant challenges to environmental stability, economic growth, and human development, particularly in vulnerable nations. In April 2023, the Food Systems Coordination Hub and ESCAP organized a regional preparatory meeting that identified key regional challenges, including climate risks, declining agricultural sector contributions to GDP, and urbanization. Through the Strategic Partnership with the UAE COP28 Presidency, the Hub and 4SD introduced the Convergence Initiative, aiming to support countries in harnessing the synergies between food systems transformation and climate action. The initiative aligns with COP 30 and UNFSS+4, promoting climate-smart, people-centered, and nature-positive food systems at local, national, and regional levels, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative encourages national convergence processes, orientation sessions, resource support, and cross-sectoral collaboration, enabling integrated approaches to align food systems transformation and climate action.The Food Systems Coordination Hub collaborates closely with the broader UN system and stakeholders to ensure food systems transformation addresses climate action challenges at both national and regional levels.

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Organizers: Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 
(UNESCAP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) for Asia-Pacific 

Description: This side event will convene and give space to various stakeholders, especially youth, involved in meaningfully engaging youth in climate governance (decision-making, policymaking and review processes), aligned to SDGs 13 and 16. The approach reinforces the nexus between environmental resilience and the fostering of just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, crucial to the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," especially in these times of compounded global crises. This session aims to highlight the factors enabling the successful youth and government engagement while pin-pointing the complexities of youth participation in policy planning and implementation and identify the best approach to increase government-to-youth partnerships. The panel discussion will focus on best practices and practical examples to create an enabling environment that nurtures youth-led initiatives, offering them the resources they require to translate their unique insights into climate strategies, policies and initiatives.

Organizers: Asia Dalit Rights Forum, Nagorik Udyog, Feminist Dalit Organisation, Pakistan Solidarity Network, Human Development Organisation, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Global Call to Action against Poverty

Description: The side event will look at the goal 13, impact of Climate change on the most vulnerable population in South Asia. Dalits are distinguished by their occupations of the lowest status; segregated living spaces; and severely restricted access to social, economic and political resources and opportunities. They continue to be subjected to traditional or/and modern forms of ‘untouchability’ practices, or the imposition of social disabilities by reason of their birth into certain ‘low’ castes. Intersectionality of descent and religion in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, and a general absence of disaggregated data have further denied the descent /caste discriminated communities the recognition and development benefits. The pre-existing caste or descent and work-induced vulnerabilities have exacerbated the risks and effects of climate change on the Dalit or CDWD communities in the South Asia region. The impacts of climate change have fallen disproportionately on the poorest communities lacking the awareness and representation in climate change adaptation planning. These communities predominantly subsist on biodiversity/farm-based livelihoods and fare poorly on human development indices, high on malnutrition and worst impacted by natural disasters. A UN expert warned of a possible "climate apartheid", where the rich pay to escape from hunger, "while the rest of the world is left to suffer" (2019).

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Organizers: All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals, PROHAM

Description: This side event seeks to delve into the critical aspect of localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a specific focus on eradicating poverty and addressing the challenges posed by multiple crises in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, we aim to explore and share innovative solutions that reinforce the 2030 Agenda while directly addressing SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through localizing initiatives.

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Organizers: Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), OHCHR Regional Office, International Land Coalition (ILC) Asia, Indigenous Knowledge and Peoples of Asia (IKPA), Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders (IPHRD), Network of Indigenous Women in Asia (NIWA), Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AYIP)

Description: The secured rights to land, territories and resources (LTR) can contribute to achieve the targets of the goal 1 (no poverty), goal 2 (no hunger), goal 13 (climate action) and goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). The rights to self-determination and development can be only exercised if there is legally secured fundamental human rights to the LTR. Indigenous Peoples are the guardians and safeguards of the LTR who have been protecting and preserving the LTR through their indigenous knowledge and practices. The food security, wealthy and healthy human health and environment, mitigation measures of the environmental crisis including climate change, social peace and security, and just society are possible only with secured rights to LTR. Along with LTR, the legal recognition of the Indigenous Knowledge and practices are equally important to govern the LTR. Indigenous Peoples have the customary institutions to manage, protect and promote the LTR in sustainable ways that can contribute to address the poverty, hunger, climate change, and peace, justice and security. 

Organizers: Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe)

Co-organizers: Hiroshima Prefecture, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Reverse the Trend: Save Our People, Save Our Planet

Description: This session aims to bridge the severed discourse of "security" and "development" for a sustainable future through the issues surrounding peace and security. Despite of its interconnectedness with various SDG aspirations, the profound peril that conflicts pose toward sustainable development has gone unmentioned too long. In order to realize a truly sustainable future and to secure peace and prosperity for all, this session seeks for collaboration and proposes tangible strategies toward 2045, including the Summit of the Future to be held in September 2024.

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Organizers: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and ESCAP Subregional Office for the Pacific, Government of Tuvalu

Description: The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent sets out the long-term vision and goals for the Pacific region to raise the voices and support the aspirations of the Pacific people. In 2023, the annual Forum Economic Ministers have requested the PIFS to develop a Pacific Roadmap for Economic Development (PRED) to drive the economic development aspirations of the 2050 Strategy. By aligning the 2050 Strategy and the PRED with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there are important implications to improve complementarity framework for the policymakers and stakeholders to integrate to their own national sustainable development strategies.    A draft PRED is being developed for the consideration of the Forum Economic Ministers by the second half of 2024.  In the lead up to the Pacific FEEM, PIFS are conducting several stakeholders consultations in Pacific and beyond. This 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development is an important platform to share the latest updates of the draft PRED and its implications to the socio-economic prosperity and partnerships in the Pacific.   Furthermore, the side event aims to provide development partners and stakeholders the opportunity to better understand various dimensions of the draft PRED and to receive constructive feedback to ensure that PRED is linked around SDGs, especially around climate action, governance and partnerships.   

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Organizers: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Transport Division (TD) and Energy Division (ED); Permanent Mission of China to ESCAP; Ministry of Transport and Highways, Sri Lanka; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Description: The transport sector poses a significant challenge for achieving low-carbon sustainability due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels. In 2021, it was responsible for 50% of oil consumption and 13% of CO2 emissions in Asia and the Pacific. To limit global warming to 1.5°C and reach net-zero carbon by 2050, transport must reduce CO2 emissions by at least 3% annually. However, from 1990 to 2021, these emissions increased by nearly 2% annually, outpacing other sectors. Even if all decarbonization commitments are met, global transport emissions will rise by 16% by 2050 compared to 2015 levels, threatening the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 7, 11, and 13. Transitioning to an electric vehicle (EV)-based transport system is an effective way to reduce emissions. The Paris Declaration on Electro-Mobility and Climate Change calls for 20% of all road transport vehicles to be electric by 2030. The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Asia-Pacific countries emphasize the importance of electric mobility and renewable energy sources for effective climate action. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) supports Asia-Pacific countries in developing policies and strategies for electric public transport. A regional guidebook with case studies is available to aid policymakers. The recent Policy Dialogue and capacity-building efforts set the stage for this side event, aiming to help member States implement sustainable and resilient national electric mobility ecosystems, including pilot EV systems.

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Organizers: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office in Bangkok, Save the Children, Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Plan International, World Vision, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat

Description: Strong education systems are essential to power the shift to safer, greener, more equitable and just societies.  Learning about climate and environmental protection, in addition to developing 21st century skills, can strengthen an individual’s resilience, including the ability to think critically and other socio-emotional competencies that are central for environmental and climate action. Building a more secure, sustainable world where every boy and girl can fully achieve their potential requires prioritizing and financing education. The world’s interconnected crises, from climate change to economic and food security, affect the well-being of children, denying them their basic rights. Estimates show that 244 million children will not set foot in a classroom this year, while 1 billion are at extremely high risk of suffering from the climate crisis, impacting their health and ability to learn. The economic downturn and debt challenges force the poorest families to decide whether and which children can go to school. Girls are often more at risk of dropping out of school and being forced into domestic labor and early marriage. This event will highlight new research on the multiple impacts of the climate crisis, country progress, young people’s perspectives, and examples of multisectoral partnerships that innovatively address climate impacts on children through education. 

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Organizers: ESCAP, Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) and Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) as well as other participating Urban-Act partners.

Description: This side event presents a regional assessment framework methodology, “Standardized Approach for Analysis of Enabling Framework Conditions Related to Cities’ Ability to Access Climate Finance” for supporting cities’ access to climate finance in the countries of the Asia Pacific region. This methodology is formulated by CCFLA and ESCAP as part of the Urban-Act project. The ambition is for countries throughout Asia and beyond to leverage the tools and frameworks to support a more conducive environment for cities to finance low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

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Organizers: PEACEMOMO, Korean SDG Network, Mongolian CSOs Network

Description: In this dedicated session, we aim to delve into avenues for enhancing SDG16 peace element. We will particularly focus on prevention strategies, regional collaboration, early warning systems, efficient resource allocation, and measures to mitigate the impact of global or regional conflicts and increasing militarization, understanding the immediate and long-term effects on resources and policy commitments. Emphasizing the significance of comprehensive regional peacebuilding measures, we seek to provide a holistic exploration of how SDG16 can be strengthened across various dimensions. This session will actively engage civil society and academia representatives, providing them with a platform to present their valuable ideas and solutions. Their insights will be shared with member states, focusing on strategies to maintain peace in the region and fostering a sustainable development trajectory for the long term. By incorporating diverse perspectives, we aim to cultivate a collaborative and inclusive approach to address the complex challenges related to peace in the region.

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Organizers: Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), "1. Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA, India 2. NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), Nepal 3. Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), the Philippines 4. Asia Dalit Rights Forum (ADRF) 5. Global Forum on DWD (GFoD) 6. Noakhali Rural Development Society (NRDS), Bangladesh 7. Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO), Sri Lanka 8. Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA), Pakistan 9. Coordination Committee of Cambodia (CCC), Cambodia 10. Sanayee Development Organisation (SDO), Afghanistan 11. ONE Singapore, Singapore 12. Africa Japan Forum (AJF), Japan "

Description: This side event will discuss the scope of Universal Social Protection Floors to address poverty, hunger, inequality and adapt to climate change.

Organizers: ESCAP MPFD, Agence Française de Développement

Description: The proposed event will critically examine emerging policies and mechanisms for financing biodiversity. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of financial mechanisms and instruments aimed at addressing biodiversity loss. This event seeks to illuminate the interplay of these financial instruments and mechanisms designed to address biodiversity loss and the drivers and barriers to biodiversity finance. The ultimate goal is to accelerate investment in biodiversity to benefit communities in the Asia Pacific region.    The event recognises the importance of unprecedented collaboration between government, regulators, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to mobilise the funding needed for biodiversity conservation. Underscored by global commitments to protect biodiversity, including SDG 14 and 15 and exploring how financial policies and instruments can attract additional public and private sources of finance to bridge the funding gap. The event highlights the challenge of directing the growing demand for finance toward high-integrity biodiversity investments that are well-designed and effectively implemented.

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Organizers: UN Regional Network on Migration for Asia and the Pacific, Films 4 Peace Foundation, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) and International Migrants Alliances (IMA)

Description: The side-event co-organized by the UN system together with migrant stakeholders will invite government officials, grassroots migrant representatives and UN agencies to review the GCM implementation at various levels in the Asia Pacific region, discuss some of the most pressing challenges faced by migrants, such as climate change, risks of falling victim to human trafficking, and share best practices and lessons learned in international cooperation on migration governance, linking the discussion with sustainable development, especially SDG 13, 16 and 17. 

Organizers: ASEAN Disability Forum, ESCAP SDD

Description: The study of climate change connecting with persons with disabilities is still minor globally, even in the region of Southeast Asia, the situation is less attention than in other areas in the world. Organizations of People with Disabilities(OPDs) in the Southeast Asia region are lagging behind in terms of climate change information compared to other regions. Notably, the OPDs pay no attention to climate change issues which have a significant impact on persons with disabilities. On the other hand, most governments in Southeast Asia do not involve persons with disabilities in terms of policymaking. Therefore, the climate change policies in Southeast Asia regions cause persons with disabilities in left behind, the effort toward the social inclusion within Climate change should be encouraged by the states ; among other Increasing knowledge and understanding of climate change and social inclusion of persons with disabilities and its organization representation and building understanding of the stakeholders on the vulnerability of persons with disabilities should taking account in all mitigation adaptation.

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Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (TBC) 

Description: The side event will focus on showcasing examples of successful initiatives in the region in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with strong focus on their contribution towards achieving SDGs in an integrated manner.

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Organizers: World Vision International – South Asia and Pacific (WVI-SAP), International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

Description: This side event will unpack learnings from extensive research on localisation approaches, realities, and complexities. This research project was initiated by World Vision International across the South Asia Pacific region. It will showcase promising practices, innovations and challenges in progressing the localisation agenda in diverse contexts –large developing nations and small island developing states. The side event will encourage healthy debate and collective action from participants through an emphasis on being ‘as local as possible and as international as necessary’. The main elements of this side event will be voices from local actors from the Pacific Island countries as well as from major government donors. The voices and recommendations of Children and Youth will also be central to this important conversation.

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Organizers: Asia Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development/SDGs (APSD) in partnership with the Action for Sustainable Development (A4SD) and PEOPLES 20 plus.

Description: The proposed side-event aims to provide a space for cross-sectoral dialogue, breaking down silos and creating synergies among CSOs engaged in various bodies and meetings to mainstream and accelerate the implementation of all SDGs, in particular, SDG 13, 16 and 17 in an integrated manner among the 5 SDGs 2024 (Goal 1,2,13, 16 and 17.)

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Organizers: Nusantara National Capital Authority, Indonesia, ESCAP, ADB, UN Resident Coordinators Office Indonesia, UN-Habitat, UCLG ASPAC, and UNDESA

Description: The Asia-Pacific region's rapid urbanization significantly affects Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Presently, half of Southeast Asia's population is urban, with 70 million more expected by 2025, driving 80% of the region's GDP. Governments prioritize sustainable urban development to address challenges, support economic growth, and achieve SDGs. Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) are crucial for local-level SDG achievement, guiding long-term planning. VLRs are essential for new cities in the Asia-Pacific, fostering sustainable practices from the start. This event explores sustainable development in emerging cities, addressing climate change, investment limitations, and inclusive policies. It encourages international cooperation, sharing experiences, integrating urban development into national policies, and involving citizens in planning for SDG localization by 2030.

Organizers: CityNet, Bangkok City Planning Department | Safetipin | Think City Institute

Description: This workshop session will challenge urban stakeholders to survey the safety conditions of representative Asia Pacific cities. Urban safety planning experts and trained facilitators will lead the discussion to unlock effective policy measures to make Asia Pacific cities more inclusive, resilient, and safer than before. Further, smartphone applications will be introduced as effective tools to crowdsource urban safety solutions with citizen participation. The session will focus on SDGs under review at APFSD. Under SDG 1 (1.3,1.5,1.7). Under SDG 13 (13.1). Under SDG 16 (16.1,16.2). Under SDG 17 (17.6,17.9,17.G,17.H,17.I).

Organizers: CityNet, Bangkok City Planning Department | Safetipin | Think City Institute

Description: This session will challenge stakeholders to evaluate policies focused on urban regeneration for the provision of safe, resilient, and inclusive cities in the Asia Pacific region. Asia Pacific cities are imperfect, characterized by high rates of urbanization, uneven development, and intersecting challenges while also undertaking sustainable urban regeneration projects. Participants will benefit from the sharing of best practices and the chance to evaluate common problems in Asia Pacific urban built environments through interactive polling. The expected outcome is to identify recommended planning measures to regenerate cities in a way that will make them more resilient to disasters of all kinds, safer, and more inclusive for vulnerable members of society. The session will focus on SDGs under review at APFSD: SDG 1, SDG 13, SDG 16, SDG 17.

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Organizers: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), FAO, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), FairFinance Asia (FFA)

Description: IPCC has confirmed that climate change will lead to increasing pressure on food production and access, particularly in vulnerable regions including Asia-Pacific, thereby undermining food security and nutrition. Climate change-related disasters, such as extreme weather events, have hit countries where the right to food is already being violated and social protection systems are not sufficiently robust to respond to climate-induced hunger. Among those hardest hit are Indigenous Peoples, women, small-scale food producers and low-income households – particularly in developing countries. Unsustainable food systems are also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Today’s industrialized food systems are a major contributor to climate change and environmental degradation, including biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water depletion and pollution. For climate action to effectively contribute to upholding human rights, it must place rights-holders at the center of all action, ensuring their effective contribution to its planning, development, implementation and evaluation.  The side event will provide an opportunity for States, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the adverse impacts of climate change on SDG Goal 1 (No poverty) and Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). It will also provide a space for discussing the climate impacts of food systems and the food systems transformation that is needed to reduce climate impacts and safeguard the right to food through rights-based approaches to climate action. 

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Organizers: Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia, Catalyst 2030 Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Social Enterprise Promotion Office, Thailand Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship Coalition, Philippines SE Thailand Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism - Social and Community Enterprise Constituency

Description: Social enterprise policies play a pivotal role in accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Social enterprise policies encourage the creation of businesses that address pressing societal challenges as well as accounting for environmental impact. Social enterprise policies are also instrumental in poverty reduction, inclusive recovery and building back fairer from the impacts of COVID-19 by stimulating innovative solutions that foster inclusive and equitable economies, promote well-being of marginalized communities, and ensure their participation in sustainable development processes. In Thailand, the Social Enterprise Promotion Office was established in 2019 under the Prime Minister’s Office to develop, support, promote self-reliant social enterprises to contribute to a fair and sustainable country. In Australia, the Victoria State Government launched a new Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-25 which was developed with the social enterprise sector and aims to grow the sector, strengthen its connectivity and unlock the potential to create more jobs and deliver an enhanced economic and social value. Since 2018, the Victorian government leveraged the government’s buying power to increase the value of goods, services and construction by delivering social and sustainable outcomes for its citizens. In the Philippines, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Council lodged under the Department of Trade and Industry passed Resolution No. 3, Series of 2021 Recognizing Social Enterprises as Partners in Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Recovery.

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Organizers: EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC), European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships, the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCC Asia Pacific), and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)- DSDG/UN DESA

Description: The Pacific countries face heightened vulnerability to both current and anticipated impacts of climate change, exacerbating existing unique challenges attributed to the region's remoteness and dependence on external resources. Despite these formidable circumstances, Pacific nations have exhibited commendable leadership in sustainable development, actively contributing to global climate action ambitions. Recognizing the imperative nature of the situation, regional and national strategies underscore the necessity for the Pacific's development trajectory to embrace resilience, resource efficiency, and a low-emission pathway. Aligned with the objectives of the 11th APFSD, this side event aims to delve into viable options for Pacific countries to align their sustainable development trajectories with resilient, resource-efficient, and circular economy pathways. The focus will be on fostering innovation and building capacities through strategic partnerships. The event will explore sustainable consumption and production policy alternatives, with the potential to bolster the implementation of SDG 13 and SDG 17 in these countries.

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Organizers: India Water Foundation, National Institute of Urban Affairs (Ministry of housing and urban affairs, Government of India)

Description: Efforts are needed to develop working links between adaptation goals, ecosystem restoration and the SDGs to tackle climate change challenges in an integrated way. EBA enhances human resilience to climate change and addresses climate adaptive deficits, contributes towards enhancing local economies based on natural resources. The rapid anthropogenic climate change that is intimately entwined with the health and functioning of the ecosystems. Climate change is impacting ecosystems through changes in mean conditions and in climate variability, coupled with other associated changes such as increased ocean acidification and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. It also interacts with other pressures on ecosystems, including degradation, defaunation and fragmentation. There is a need to understand the ecological dynamics of these climate impacts, to identify hotspots of vulnerability and resilience and to identify management interventions that may assist ecosystems resilience to climate change. At the same time, ecosystems can also assist in the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. The mechanisms, potential and limits of such nature-based solutions to climate change need to be explored and quantified. As ecosystems transform under climate change, so does their capacity to support human adaptation.

Organizers: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Bahu Trust, Bhumi Global, Faith for Cities, Thriving Cities Group, Trinity Centres Foundation, World Evangelical Alliance (Invited) ARROW

Description: This side event will bring together representatives from different sectors to share the innovative ways that organisations have worked around the Asia Pacific Region to address hunger, poverty and gender inequality to create the city we need, now, through best practices of economic empowerment, food systems transformation, and safeguarding sexual and reproductive rights. This event will also showcase how women's involvement in grassroots initiatives can lead to economic opportunities and drive resilient social progress.

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Organizers: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 

Description: The availability of data for tracking progress on SDG Target 16.4 remains a persistent challenge. Understanding the extent and trends of illicit flows related to underground markets and financial transactions is particularly challenging. As the co-custodians responsible for indicators 16.4.2, UNODA and UNODC will present tools, frameworks, and programmes that can assist Member States in combating illicit flows and improving data collection in areas linked to organized crime, including firearms, drugs, and other illicit markets. Kick-off presentations will focus on the 'architecture of efforts,' such as the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its protocol, as well as on-going initiatives in the region on Law Enforcement Cooperation, Border Management and illicit trafficking prevention. During this event, UNODC and UNODA will engage in discussions with government officials, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders to explore how these initiatives complement each other and to reflect on progress, ongoing challenges, and measurability. Discussions will also extend to how these efforts connect with other SDGs and their impact on other global agendas, such as Women, Peace, and Security and Youth, Peace, and Security.

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Organizers: Indigenous Peoples International Centre for Policy Research and Advocacy (TEBTEBBA), Indigenous Navigator, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development (IPMG)

Description: Indigenous Peoples have initiated community-based monitoring tools (Indigenous Navigator and CBMIS) that looks at the implementation of the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples. The national and community-based data reinforce Indigenous Peoples' struggles for the recognition and protection of their rights, as well as full and effective participation in decision-making processes related to their development. The lack of data disaggregation by ethnicity is still a big gap in the implementation of SDGs and is impacting how development priorities are being implemented at the country level. This impacts the delivery of appropriate social services and projects to Indigenous communities and development priorities of states are more often not aligned to the self determined priorities of Indigenous Peoples.   The side event will highlight the situation of Indigenous Peoples in relation to Goals 1, 2, 13 and 16 based on the data gathered in the Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Thailand  using the Indigenous Navigator tool. The event will highlight both challenges and initiatives of Indigenous Peoples to advance sustainable development. 

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Organizers: Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Women and International Labour Organization (ILO)

Description: The side event will convene relevant stakeholders from the Asia-Pacific region, including policymakers, universities, the private sector, and youth, with a focus on girls, young women, and other marginalized communities to further the discourse on the challenges, gaps, and opportunities related to engaging youth at scale in the green and just economy transition. Recognizing the potential for creating up to 60 million new jobs in the green economy by 2030, the side event will foster knowledge exchange, showcase concrete examples of existing policies, programs, and success stories, highlight full, equal, and meaningful youth engagement in transition to a green and just economy in the Asia-Pacific region, directly addressing SDG 1, 8, 13 and 17.

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Organizers: ARROW and FP2030 Asia and the Pacific Hub, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Description: In line with Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action under review this
year, the side event will discuss the interlinkages of climate change with other important goals,
i.e. Goal 3 and 5, highlighting gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
including Family Planning in Asia and the Pacific. With the aim to reinforce the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development with a specific focus for sustainable development pathway for climate
action and meaningful engagement of young people in their diversity, the discussion will
highlight young people’s and Civil Society Organizations views and recommendations on
climate action, including strengthening of policies and institutions of government and mobilisations of multistakeholder support and partnerships for climate resilience and adaptation.
Specifically, the session will focus on the SDG Commitments made by overnments of Asia and the Pacific on Climate Change and SRHR and bring together young people’s ideas, views, innovative solutions and recommendations from the APFSD Youth Call to Action 2024 to accelerate progress towards 2030 Agenda. The panel will feature multiple stakeholders
including governments, UN agencies and young people from select countries from the region.

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Organizers: World Vision International, SUN Movement Asia, WFP, UNESCAP

Description: This side event aims to unite stakeholders from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand, including development partners, faith leaders, and child and youth representatives. The event seeks to facilitate the exchange of best practices, innovative solutions, and recommendations to effectively tackle this issue. The anticipated outcome is a Joint Statement on Ending Hunger in Asia and the Pacific, articulated by Children and Youth.

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Organizers: WMO, ITU, IFRC, UNESCAP, UNDP and UNDRR

Description: The main objective of this side event is to showcase how strengthening of Early Warning System could be a key policy instrument in governance for sustainable development through a truly inclusive approach. Announced by the UN Secretary-General in March 2022 on the occasion of the World Meteorological Day and launched at UNFCCC COP 27 in November 2022, the EW4All initiative aims to protect every person on Earth with early warning systems (EWS) by 2027. Until now, the Initiative has made a crucial transition from conceptualization to action, with the Asia Pacific region making strong progress. In this process, six of the initial focus countries of the Initiative in Asia have gone through a multi-stakeholder national consultation and been securing political endorsement towards roadmap development for investing in inclusive and multi-hazard national EWS. In addition to this, the Pacific is also surging ahead on the same path, building on its Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) programme and numerous ongoing EWS-related initiatives. In line with the theme of the 11th APFSD, which focuses on reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty during times of multiple crises, this side event will examine early warning as one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality and economic losses from natural hazards. 

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Organizers: Asia Pacific Forum on women, Law, and Development (APWLD), Center for Women’s Resources, APRCEM Women’s Constituency, Civil Society Financing for Development Mechanism (CSO FfD)

Description: At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, we have seen unprecedented destruction of communities, intensifying hunger, rising violence and intensifying extractivism and militarism, while progress of the goals are impaired, with data showing that most of the goals are achievable not until 2065 (UN ESCAP 2023 SDG Progress Report). Grassroots women mostly bear the brunt of these multiple crises, with increasing multiple burdens amidst the systemic challenges.   Meanwhile, Means of Implementation in achieving the goals are missing in action as well (SDG 17). Many governments still fail to make significant financial commitments and instead turn to the private sector to finance the Agenda. Even the UN through its new “multistakeholderism” approach is also trying to expand partnerships that will include corporate foundations. This takes away the accountability from the member states in delivering their commitments, and instead paving the way for a profit-seeking development approach.   At the grassroots level, communities are facing systemic challenges as part of their daily lives. The past couple of years have intensified and worsened conditions of women, and the marginalised groups from rising violence and bearing the costs of economic injustices (SDG 1, 2). However, despite these challenges, women are organising and forwarding alternatives, and also building communities of care and resistances.   This side-event would like to unpack the current multiple crises and how it impacts women’s human rights, but at the same recognise and celebrate the communities of care that grassroots women are building against these systemic barriers. And demand recognition and support to amplify these practices, especially highlighting the need to channel means of implementation for the achievement of women’s human rights and Development Justice at all levels. 

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Organizer: Young Women in Sustainable Development

Description: In this interactive session, young people from around the world are invited to explore why nutrition labeling is the key to food sovereignty and how young people in Asia Pacific are using this system to drive food system transformation that accelerates climate action at scale. The session will include in-depth discussions around how young people understand food sovereignty and transformation by being mindful of the indigenous communities and the roles they play in food systems. Furthermore, the session will focus on how we can raise awareness of these issues and how we can respond to these challenges in innovative ways through nutrition labelling to in turn address SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

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Organizers: Governments of Nepal and the Philippines, ESCAP Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM)

Description: The event will discuss the improvement of food security through the development and mutual recognition of testing standards for agricultural machinery. This is directly linked to SDG2 targets 2.3 (doubling agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, also through access to productive resources), and 2.A (increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development), and responds to the call of the UN SG for stakeholders “urgently unlocking all possible resources […] to support smallholder and family farmers to increase productivity and self-reliance” in order overcome the “challenging moment for global food security.” Agricultural machinery has improved the farming process across Asia-Pacific countries in recent decades, with positive effects for smallholder farmers through the improvement of working conditions, better livelihoods and increased yields. However, inefficient machinery remains a prominent cause of food loss, injuries of operators and environmental degradation. Ensuring quality of agricultural machinery through testing standards can address these issues. International standards can support developing countries with limited testing capacity and improve regional trade of sustainable machinery through mutual recognition of testing. Apart from fostering regional integration and competitiveness, harmonized testing standards make it easier for governments to optimize subsidy policies and investments for the improvement of the mechanization levels of their agricultural sector.

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Organizers: Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism - NGO Constituency, Reality of Aid-Asia Pacific, Nash Vek Public Foundation, National Campaign for Sustainable Development- Nepal, Council for People’s Development and Governance

Description: The smallest and farthest communities in Asia Pacific experience the brunt of compounded economic crises, development challenges, persisting conflict, and the worsening climate emergency. Recognizing that local contexts are sites of change where various actors can collectively work towards Agenda 2030, the United Nations has noted the importance of the localization approach in accelerating progress towards the SDGs. In this manner, SDG 17 has a role to play in enhancing the multilateral system in order to localize development processes, foster inclusive partnerships, and forward sustainable development at the local level. While there have been various initiatives in forwarding the localization agenda by donor countries, United Nations and international non-governmental organizations, local civil society and communities have highlighted that there remain gaps in the framework and implementation of the approach. With this, the side event aims to assess existing approaches towards localization, highlight gaps and issues, and forward a roadmap that details next steps on how to implement a localization agenda that addresses communities’ needs and priorities. As communities are the main actors and beneficiaries of this approach, their definition of localization must be fully articulated and integrated into development frameworks. In preparation for the Summit of the Future, it will discuss how the localization agenda can facilitate the improvement of development partnerships, towards an effective multilateral system and accelerating progress in Agenda 2030.

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