UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2022 convened under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from July 5-7 and 11-15, 2022, at UN Headquarters in New York City.
The 2022 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) adopted a Ministerial Declaration that strongly reaffirms commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, “recognizing it as the blueprint for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, leaving no one behind”.
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The 2022 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) adopted a Ministerial Declaration that strongly reaffirms commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, “recognizing it as the blueprint for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, leaving no one behind”.
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UN DESA: SDG Report 2022
On July 7, 2022, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) released its annual Sustainable Development Goals Report.
Some of the report’s findings include:
Some of the report’s findings include:
- SDG 2: About one in ten people are suffering from hunger worldwide, with 161 million additional people having slid into chronic hunger in 2020 alone.
- SDG 6: Meeting drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene targets by 2030 requires a fourfold increase in the pace of progress.
- SDG 12: 13.3% of the world’s food is lost after harvesting and before reaching retail markets, and 17% of total food is wasted at consumer level.
- SDG 13: Energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased by 6% in 2021, reaching their highest level ever.
- SDG 15: Ten million hectares of forest are destroyed every year, with almost 90% of global deforestation due to agricultural expansion.
UN DESA: World Population Prospects Report 2022
On the occasion of World Population Day on July 11, 2022, DESA’s Population Division released the latest global population estimates and projections.
Key messages include:
Key messages include:
- The world’s population continues to grow, but the pace of growth is slowing down.
- Policies aimed at reducing fertility would have little immediate impact on the pace of global growth.
- While life expectancy continues to increase globally, large disparities remain.
- A rising share of working-age population can help boost economic growth per capita.
- The population of older persons is increasing both in numbers and as a share of the total.
- More countries have begun to experience population decline.
UNECA: Africa SDGs Progress Dashboard
The African Centre for Statistics of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has launched the Africa SDGs Progress Dashboard –an online tool, developed to assist evidence-based policymaking in Africa on the SDGs and Agenda 2063, ‘The Africa We Want’.
The dashboard provides regional, subregional, and country-level data on progress made on each of the Goals, targets, and indicators, along with estimates of how likely those are to be achieved by 2030, based on current rate of progress.
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The dashboard provides regional, subregional, and country-level data on progress made on each of the Goals, targets, and indicators, along with estimates of how likely those are to be achieved by 2030, based on current rate of progress.
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UNEP: Sustainable Consumption and Production Report
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a report on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (SCP), updating Member States and stakeholders on progress on the implementation of the 10-Year Framework. The report takes stock of the past ten years of action and lessons learned, and provides recommendations to guide policy actions directed at implementation of the Framework’s extended mandate.
The report examines linkages between the SCP and sustainability agendas by highlighting:
The report examines linkages between the SCP and sustainability agendas by highlighting:
- Sustainable consumption and production, implemented through circular economic models, as a driver of poverty alleviation and economic development.
- Sustainable consumption and production as a pathway to achieving the Paris Agreement on climate change.
- How sustainable consumption and production supports biodiversity protection and restoration.
- Sustainable consumption and production as key for a pollution-free planet and health.
GRI 13: Agriculture Aquaculture and Fishing Sectors 2022
On June 28, 2022, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) published its Sector Standard for organizations in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors.
GRI 13 addresses:
GRI 13 addresses:
- The topics likely to be material for any agriculture, aquaculture or fishing organization, based on the impacts of these sectors.
- New disclosures on food security, land and resource rights, living wage and income, natural ecosystem conversion, animal welfare, soil health, and pesticides use.
- The multiplying effect of the sectors when it comes to the Sustainable Development Goals –supporting companies to make the connections between their impacts and all 17 Global Goals.
- Policy implications for responsible business, based on international frameworks –as set by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and others.
Sector activities and business relationships include crop production of fruits and nuts.
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SDSN Report 2022, From Crisis to Sustainable Development
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) published the seventh edition of its annual Sustainable Development Report, which includes the 2022 SDG Index, the 2022 International Spillover Index, and Dashboards.
The report warns that “for the second year in a row, the world is no longer making progress on the SDGs.” It shows that the “multiple and simultaneous” crises spanning the areas of health, climate, biodiversity, and geopolitics have hit poor and vulnerable countries hardest, and presents a global plan to finance sustainable development.
The 2022 SDG Index ranks Finland, Denmark, and Sweden first, second, and third, and all top ten performers are European countries. None of them, however, are on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, given major challenges on several Goals. The 2022 International Spillover Index also reveals that rich countries generate negative socioeconomic and environmental spillovers through unsustainable trade, consumption, and supply chains.
The region that made the most progress on the SDGs since their adoption is East and South Asia, with Bangladesh and Cambodia topping the ranks in terms of progress achieved. Venezuela has declined the most since the SDGs’ adoption in 2015.
The report also notes that, halfway to 2030, countries vary greatly in terms of SDG integration in budgets, policies, and programs. Among the Group of 20 (G20), the United States, Brazil, and the Russian Federation show the least support for the Goals. Nordic countries, on the other hand, as well as Argentina, Germany, Japan, and Mexico exhibit relatively high levels of support for the 2030 Agenda.
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The report warns that “for the second year in a row, the world is no longer making progress on the SDGs.” It shows that the “multiple and simultaneous” crises spanning the areas of health, climate, biodiversity, and geopolitics have hit poor and vulnerable countries hardest, and presents a global plan to finance sustainable development.
The 2022 SDG Index ranks Finland, Denmark, and Sweden first, second, and third, and all top ten performers are European countries. None of them, however, are on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, given major challenges on several Goals. The 2022 International Spillover Index also reveals that rich countries generate negative socioeconomic and environmental spillovers through unsustainable trade, consumption, and supply chains.
The region that made the most progress on the SDGs since their adoption is East and South Asia, with Bangladesh and Cambodia topping the ranks in terms of progress achieved. Venezuela has declined the most since the SDGs’ adoption in 2015.
The report also notes that, halfway to 2030, countries vary greatly in terms of SDG integration in budgets, policies, and programs. Among the Group of 20 (G20), the United States, Brazil, and the Russian Federation show the least support for the Goals. Nordic countries, on the other hand, as well as Argentina, Germany, Japan, and Mexico exhibit relatively high levels of support for the 2030 Agenda.
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ELO: Implications of the European Green Deal for Agri-Food Trade with Developing Countries
The European Landowners’ Association (ELO) recently published the study “Implications of the European Green Deal for agri-food trade with developing countries”, by prof. Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy, University of Dublin Trinity College, Ireland.
The paper examines how European measures to implement greater coherence between agriculture, trade and Green Deal policies might impact on developing countries. While looking also at other multilateral, bilateral or unilateral trade policy measures, this study focuses mainly on mirror clauses. The objective of the study was to suggest ways to avoid any negative impacts for these countries that might undermine or limit their ability to progress towards the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
To ensure policy coherence for development, changes to import standards —whether introduced as a mirror clause or not— should meet four criteria:
The paper examines how European measures to implement greater coherence between agriculture, trade and Green Deal policies might impact on developing countries. While looking also at other multilateral, bilateral or unilateral trade policy measures, this study focuses mainly on mirror clauses. The objective of the study was to suggest ways to avoid any negative impacts for these countries that might undermine or limit their ability to progress towards the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
To ensure policy coherence for development, changes to import standards —whether introduced as a mirror clause or not— should meet four criteria:
- A sufficient transition period to allow alternatives to be developed, applying the principle of special and differential treatment where health and safety of EU consumers is not the issue.
- The commitment of significant EU resources to help farmers in vulnerable developing countries to adapt their production practices where justified.
- Those affected by change should be consulted and have a say in managing that change.
- EU decision-making must include mechanisms where the interests and needs of developing countries are explicitly considered. This should include a full impact assessment to which these countries should have the opportunity to contribute.
EU: Public Consultation on Bees and Pesticides
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on a draft guidance document on the risk assessment of plant protection products and bees, covering honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees.
EFSA is responding to a request from the European Commission to review the guidance document, first published in 2013, considering new scientific knowledge that has emerged in the meantime.
Comments are particularly invited on the novel approaches included in the draft guidance, which regard the risk assessment and the statistical analysis of field studies.
Attractiveness of agricultural crops for bees include almonds, cranberries, currants, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts.
Consultation period ends on October 3, 2022.
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EFSA is responding to a request from the European Commission to review the guidance document, first published in 2013, considering new scientific knowledge that has emerged in the meantime.
Comments are particularly invited on the novel approaches included in the draft guidance, which regard the risk assessment and the statistical analysis of field studies.
Attractiveness of agricultural crops for bees include almonds, cranberries, currants, peanuts, hazelnuts and walnuts.
Consultation period ends on October 3, 2022.
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EU: New Rules on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
The Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD).
This directive amends the 2014 non-financial reporting directive; introduces more detailed reporting requirements, and ensures that large companies are required to report on sustainability issues such as environmental rights, social rights, human rights and governance factors.
The CSRD also introduces a certification requirement for sustainability reporting, as well as improved accessibility of information, by requiring its publication in a dedicated section of company management reports.
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) will be responsible for establishing European standards, following technical advice from a number of European agencies.
Guiding timeline:
This directive amends the 2014 non-financial reporting directive; introduces more detailed reporting requirements, and ensures that large companies are required to report on sustainability issues such as environmental rights, social rights, human rights and governance factors.
The CSRD also introduces a certification requirement for sustainability reporting, as well as improved accessibility of information, by requiring its publication in a dedicated section of company management reports.
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) will be responsible for establishing European standards, following technical advice from a number of European agencies.
Guiding timeline:
| January 1, 2024 January 1, 2025 January 1, 2026 |
1. For companies already subject to the non-financial reporting directive
2. For large companies that are not presently subject to the non-financial reporting directive
3. For listed SMEs, small and non-complex credit institutions and captive insurance undertakings
|
The provisional agreement is subject to approval by the Council and the European Parliament. The directive will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
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EU: Agreement on Emissions Reductions under Fit for 55 Package
On June 29, 2022, the European Council adopted a common position on EU emissions trading system (EU ETS), effort-sharing between Member States in non-ETS sectors (ESR), emissions and removals from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), the creation of a social climate fund (SCF) and new CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans.
The Council agreed to an EU-level greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40% compared to 2005, for the sectors not covered by the ETS, namely domestic maritime transport, agriculture, waste and small industries.
The Council also confirmed an overall objective of 310 Mt CO2 equivalent of net removals in the LULUCF sector in 2030.
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The Council agreed to an EU-level greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40% compared to 2005, for the sectors not covered by the ETS, namely domestic maritime transport, agriculture, waste and small industries.
The Council also confirmed an overall objective of 310 Mt CO2 equivalent of net removals in the LULUCF sector in 2030.
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USA: Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Requirements
On July 18, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to extend the compliance dates for the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions as outlined in the 2021 agricultural water proposed rule.
The proposed rule will require farms to conduct annual systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water.
The supplemental rulemaking proposes the following compliance dates for pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce other than sprouts: 2 years and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for very small businesses; 1 year and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for small businesses; and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses.
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The proposed rule will require farms to conduct annual systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water.
The supplemental rulemaking proposes the following compliance dates for pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce other than sprouts: 2 years and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for very small businesses; 1 year and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for small businesses; and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses.
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USA: Supreme Court Restricts EPA's Authority to Mandate Carbon Emissions Reductions
The ruling by the United States Supreme Court against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strips away the power of the agency to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
By a vote of 6 to 3, the issue at hand was whether the EPA had the right to regulate CO2 emissions on a state-wide, versus an individual company level.
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By a vote of 6 to 3, the issue at hand was whether the EPA had the right to regulate CO2 emissions on a state-wide, versus an individual company level.
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