EDITORIAL: Towards a sustainable future: Time for bold and courageous political leadership Statement on the European Elections 2019

Citizens of the European Union have voted for a new political leadership, and the turnout was higher than at any time in the past 25 years. This high turnout and the overwhelming support for strongly pro-European and progressive parties shows that the people of Europe value the unity and peace that come with a strong European Parliament and desire European policies with climate change, environmental protection and overcoming inequalities at their heart. The results clearly show that voters wish to shift the focus away from the economy-only approach of the previous Commission to the rapid implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the UN’s 2030 Agenda with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

READ MORE: HERE

Europe’s failure to stamp out inequalities

By Khaled Diab, EEB & Tanja Gohlert, GCAP

Despite the European Union’s commitment to leave no one behind, millions of people in Europe are falling victim to widening inequalities, according to a new major EU-wide report - ‘Falling through the cracks: Exposing inequalities in Europe and beyond’. The report will be launched on 18 June 2019 at the European Development Days (EDDs) in Brussels.

Please join this special EDDs side event on Tuesday 18/06 from 16:00-17:30 in Room L1, which will present the report, highlight the action and inaction at the European level, and feature the perspectives from youth activists, inequalities from a national context, as well as the inequalities experienced by disabled persons.

You will be able to download the report from 18 June at www.sdgwatcheurope.org/SDG10

READ MORE: HERE

The Spring 2019 Climate Alliance South America Tour - Supporting climate justice with indigenous partners

By Climate Alliance

In March and April 2019, a Climate Alliance delegation undertook a tour in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil in support of indigenous partners and partnerships.

We are happy to share the experiences of Climate Alliance President and Mayor of Cologne Andreas Wolter, Climate Alliance Executive Director Thomas Brose and Climate Alliance Austria Executive Director Markus Hafner-Auinger as well as Johannes Kandler of Climate Alliance Austria and Silke Lunnebach of the Climate Alliance Headquarters in Frankfurt below. For more photo highlights, see our Flickr albums !

READ MORE: HERE

Do you want to learn more about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals? A new game tests your knowledge about the SDGs and takes you on a treasure hunt through downtown Brussels

By Khaled Diab, EEB

“With this game we hope to bring clarity about the SDGs to people and to encourage them to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, coherent with the spirit of the SDGs,” said Eva Izquierdo, project officer for global policies and sustainability at the European Environmental Bureau, the lead partner on MESA.

After downloading and installing the ‘Spot the 17!’ game and scanning the relevant QR code, players in Brussels are ready to roll and to stroll. Using your phone’s geolocation abilities, the game leads you on a guided exploration of the wonders of the 17 SDGs and of the delights of the EU and Belgian capital.

READ MORE: HERE

Small Towns facing global challenges of Agenda 2030 & Petition to create European Day of Memory and Welcome (3 October)

By Snapshots From The Borders

Migration is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon and a political issue which needs concrete actions taken by all levels of society. The project promotes a more effective policy coherence through a strengthened network of European border Towns directly facing migration flow. This is central to address mobility and inequalities, build a world which leave no one behind. Critical understanding of European, national and local authorities’ policy/decision makers and of public opinion about factors determining migration flows towards European borders, contributes to sustainable development.

READ MORE: HERE

Latest policy updates

Elmoustkbal SDGs platform. Egyptian platform to implement SDGs.
Launch of the SDG Accountability Handbook by TAP network
SDG Index and Dashboards Report for European Cities by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
Recommendations adopted by 3rd meeting of the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) Towards a Global Pact for the Environment held in Nairobi on the possibility of a Global Pact for the Environment
Weekly Wetland Sustainability Report by NET Africa
Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: a matter of human and fundamental rights by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Fritjof Capra speaks to the Heart of the Matter. A Systems Approach to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Preview. Full 29-minute video.

ANNOUNCEMENT 1:
LLP annual conference

The Lifelong Learning Platform has opened the registrations for their Annual Conference 2019, “Learning democracy, values and participation: the added value of lifelong learning“! Hurry up and reserve your tickets to the European conference on learning democracy, global citizenship education and promoting common values! Register now!