As we find ourselves at the midpoint on the journey to meet the 2030 Agenda deadline, the aspirational commitment to deliver social justice, promote human rights for all, ensure equitable distribution within and between countries, and cultivate an ecologically conscious world for all feels more distant and elusive than ever before. Despite the best efforts of civil society and activists across the ECE region the very foundations of our political, financial, economic, and social systems are being eroded by austerity, xenophobia, and conflict, leaving us questioning the possibility of realizing the visionary promises made in 2015.

The 2023 SDG Summit takes place on 18-19 September in New York. This convening should serve as the inaugural step into a renewed phase of rapid advancement toward the Sustainable Development Goals, galvanized by a surge of high-level political direction. The intention of Member States has been declared to orchestrate actionable transformative changes and expedite specific promises to propel us forward as we approach the pivotal year of 2030.

At the same time, People’s Assemblies in all regions are being organized across the globe to bring the voices and calls for action of civil society to remind governments about the progress they agree to achieve by 2030.