Preparing for the 2027 Review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Including the SDGs

In early July, DSF was part of the delegation in a webinar hosted by key stakeholders of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative. The meeting, titled "Preparing for the 2027 Review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Including the SDGs," was held as a side event ahead of the UN's High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York. Speakers included Felix Dodds (Water Institute, University of North Carolina) and Elena Khishchenko (WWF International), with additional remarks from representatives of UNEP, UN-Habitat, the Africa Energy Services Group, the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, and the Baha'i International Community.

Speakers reviewed progress on SDG 11 (cities), SDG 7 (energy), SDG 6 (water), and broader environmental goals ahead of the 2027 SDG Summit, with their remarks converging on a shared conclusion that progress is real but too slow, uneven, and underfunded to meet 2030 targets.

Panelists pointed to three systemic challenges: weak implementation, fragmented governance across sectors, and chronic underinvestment. It was emphasized that the 2027 review should function as a genuine course correction rather than a routine progress check.

Supporting figures included roughly 3 billion people lacking adequate housing, some 600 million still without electricity access, and a global economy that remains only about 8.6% circular.

Looking ahead, speakers emphasized "localization,” activities at the city and subnational levels that can be highly effective levers for SDG delivery. Again, financing and governance were stressed as clear needs for effective implementation. Such "means of implementation" (financing, governance, measurement) may have been lacking in the original 2030 agenda; a key flaw that the post-2030 framework should correct.

The group also pointed to cross-sector coordination (water-energy-food-climate) and replicable partnership models, such as Gavi (a global vaccine alliance) and the Global Methane Pledge, as promising paths forward.