Goal of the Month – Goal 1: No Poverty

SDG 1 IN NUMBERS

• Despite the expansion of social protection during the COVID-19 crisis, over 4 billion people remain entirely unprotected. Many of the world’s vulnerable population groups, including the young and the elderly, remain uncovered by statutory social protection programmes. 
• The share of government spending on essential services, such as education, health and social protection, is significantly higher in advanced economies than in emerging and developing economies. 
• A surge in action and investment to enhance economic opportunities, improve education and extend social protection to all, particularly the most excluded, is crucial to delivering on the central commitment to end poverty and leave no one behind. 

2024 Highlights

11-24 MARCH | Sixty-Eighth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) 

From 11-24 March, the Commission on the Status of Women will be holding the 68th session focusing on accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions, and financing with a gender perspective. Learn more on preparations and side events here.  
 
 

27-30 MAY | 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) 

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are in the crossfires of multiple crises: climate change, the economic and social repercussions of COVID-19, and a crisis of debt. In May 2024, the international community will gather in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, to review SIDS’ sustainable development progress and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to supercharge their path to resilient prosperity. Register to participate here. 

18-21 JUNE | 3rd United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) 

The third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, and is an opportunity to explore innovative solutions and build meaningful and strategic partnerships to help unlock the full potential of LLDCs. Learn more about the conference here.  

8-18 JULY | High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 

Amid multiple global crises, the annual High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development has become a critical moment to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and assess what needs to be done to accelerate action. HLPF 2024 will be held under the theme “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions”. 

In addition to countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), the following Goals will be under review: Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.  

22-23 SEPTEMBER | Summit of the Future 

The Summit of the Future is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future.  This once-in-a-generation opportunity serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively tackle current challenges as well as those that have emerged in recent years or may yet be over the horizon. Read more here.  

21 OCTOBER-1 NOVEMBER | Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) 

The 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will take place from 21 October 1 to 1 November in Colombia. This will be the first biodiversity COP since the adoption of the  Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022 where governments will update on the implementation of the Framework. Further details on the conference available here.    

11-24 NOVEMBER |Climate Change Conference (COP29) 

The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference will convene in November 2024 in Azerbaijan. After the approval of a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels – a first for a UN Climate Conference – the 29th session will be an opportunity to review potential progress and address further climate change issues. Learn more on the outcomes and key stories from COP28 here.  

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL DAYS 

24 January | International Day of Education 

The sixth International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24 January under the theme “learning for lasting peace”.  The world is seeing a surge of conflicts paralleled by an alarming rise of discrimination, racism, hate speech. An active commitment to peace is more urgent today than ever: education is central to this endeavor. Learn more on advancing peace through education here. 

27 January | International Day of Clean Energy 

The International Day of Clean Energy will be observed for the first time on 26 January, as called for by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. The Day will serve to promote awareness and drive policies and practices supporting a just, equitable and inclusive energy transition, towards achieving both SDG7 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. This year, Clean Energy Day will lead up to the GA-mandated Global Stocktaking on SDG7, to be convened by the GA President on 17 April (tbc), and also promote action towards tripling renewable energy use and transitioning away from fossil fuels, as agreed at COP28.