Circular
17/2023
Barcelona, 25 May 2023
 
To the members of the World Council
To the Secretaries General
To the Vice-Presidents of United Cities and Local Governments
To the Chairs of UCLG Committees, Working Groups, Communities of Practice and Fora

For information: To the Presidency


United Nations High-Level Political Forum
10-19 July 2023, New York

 

Dear members,

We are writing to you to provide you with up-dates on the 2023 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
 
As you know, 2023 is a key year for the constituency of local and regional governments as it will host the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, the review of SDG 11 at the UN High-level Political Forum, and the SDG Summit which will be the mid-term review of the SDGs in light of the approaching year of 2030. With this in mind, the constituency will ensure that all advocacy milestones taking place in 2023 contribute towards the SDG Summit to make clear that local and regional governments are committed to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and are indispensable political actors to leave no one and no place behind towards the UN Summit of the Future in 2024 and the UN Social Summit in 2025.
 
The 2023 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) will be held from Monday, 10 July, to Wednesday, 19 July 2023 under the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.
 
Five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be in review this year: 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals.
 
As in previous years, UCLG, on behalf of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), is coordinating the participation of our constituency within the HLPF as well as the reporting on the role of local and regional governments in the localization of the SDGs, which will be presented in July 2023.
 
During the HLPF, the Global Taskforce’s annual report "Towards the Localization of the SDGs" will be presented. This year’s report includes evidence grounded in the experiences shared through over 200 responses received to the survey this year from local and regional governments and their associations from all world regions. A thorough analysis of the existing 210+ VLRs and 34 VSRs has also been conducted as the basis for this report, as well as of the up-dated Country Profiles for SDG localization and the 39 VNRs expected for 2023. The yearly report will be accompanied by 5 thematic papers that analyze different dimensions of the localization of SDG 11 and provide bold recommendations at different levels.
 
Moreover, as was the case in previous years, the Local Authorities Major Group (LAMG), will be submitting a sectoral position paper for the 2023 High-Level Political Forum. The paper is based on the constituency’s previous joint statements and contributions to the HLPF and reflects the SDGs in review in 2023. You can read here the executive summary of the paper.
 
You will also find an overview of the events of the delegation of local and regional governments at the 2023 HLPF.

• The Local and Regional Governments Forum will be organized on 12 July. You can read the concept note for reference.
• The Local and Regional Governments Day will be organized on 13 July.

 
 
FOR ACTION: Please inform the World Secretariat if you plan on traveling to New York and participating within the 2023 UN High-Level Political Forum.
 
Please note that, as is the case every year, registration to the HLPF remains limited and that accreditation through your national government is recommended.
 
 
We will follow up with more information including concept notes and agendas once available. We remain at your disposal for any questions you might have. Do not hesitate writing to us at policy@uclg.org.

Sincerely,

The UCLG World Secretariat