Three-day preparatory conference in Berlin for the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
The Second UN DESA Global Workshop for the 2025 VNR countries took place from 7 to 9 April in Berlin. The workshop served to prepare for the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2025 in New York. In July, 37 countries, including Germany, will present their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) on the implementation status of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). By holding the UN DESA Workshop in Germany, the German government underlined its commitment to the 2030 Agenda and multilateralism.
Dr Jan-Niclas Gesenhues, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), opened the event with a welcome address. In front of representatives of the VNR countries and numerous stakeholders from Germany, Dr Gesenhues, Parliamentary State Secretary Dr Bärbel Kofler (Federal Economic Affairs Ministry), Dr Kai Niebert, a member of the Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) and Joop Theunissen of the UN Secretariat (UN DESA) discussed options for strengthening the interfaces between science and politics. Dr Gesenhues emphasised that "policies based on evidence and geared towards learning are the key to a healthy planet and equal opportunities for all".
Table discussion (left to right) Joop Theunissen (UN DESA), Dr Kai Niebert (RNE), Parliamentary State Secretary Dr Bärbel Kofler (BMZ), Parliamentary State Secretary Dr Jan-Niclas Gesenhues (BMUV), Moderator: Dr Hannah Janetschek (GIZ)
On the first day of the workshop, government representatives were given the opportunity to talk and network with German stakeholders from civil society, the scientific community, young people and municipalities. Examples of implementation and expectations of the upcoming HLPF were discussed. Suriname presented its experience and lessons learned from previous VNR processes. It indicated that constructive participation of stakeholders requires a foundation of trust, a whole‑of‑society approach and comprehensive communication. "Do not assume that you know your stakeholders! Be aware of your blind spots. The government needs to earn stakeholders’ trust and stakeholders need to continuously be encouraged to voice their opinion in dialogue events."
On the second day, participants focussed on the collection and use of data for honest and transparent reporting. In addition, they discussed the role of VNRs as a platform for partnerships and transnational learning. Deputy Director-General Ilka Hirt (BMUV) concluded the event by highlighting that "participation in drawing up VNRs, integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and a self-critical approach to reporting are three core principles that will help us advance the achievement of our joint sustainable development goals."