In the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference, in 2012, entitled “The future we want”, and again in “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in 2015, United Nations Member States decided that the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development would be informed by the Global Sustainable Development Report. In the Ministerial Declaration of the 2016 Forum, Member States decided that the report would be produced quadrennially by an independent group of scientists appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General and comprising 15 experts representing a variety of backgrounds, scientific disciplines and institutions, with geographical and gender balance. This report, The Future is Now: Science for Achieving Sustainable Development, is the first quadrennial Global Sustainable Development Report prepared by an independent group of scientists. Download the report here .

During the 1st meeting of the Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network held in Kingston Jamaica, July 5th-8th, representatives from 34 Commonwealth universities identified a two year work plan and agreed on a governance structure for enabling sustained collaboration and effective support for the delivery of the work plan. Read more about the Commonwealth Climate Resilience Network here , and download the meeting report below.

At the symposium on Research and Innovation 4 Climate Action held on July 12th 2019 during the UN's High Level Political Forum (HLPF), 4 presentations were delivered by member institutions of the Global University Consortium on SDG 13. The presentations aimed to highlight the critical role that universities play in taking action against climate change. 1. Innovation 4 Climate Action by Justin Heavey of the State University of New York 2. Science & Education 4 Climate Mitigation by Prof. Helga Kleiven of the University of Bergen 3. Science Applications 4 Grassroots Resilience Building by Dr. Leena Srivastava of the TERI School of Advanced Studies 4. Research 4 Climate Adaptation by Dr. David Smith of The University of the West Indies View and download the presentations here .