WGS 2017: SDG Closing Ceremony Announces Three Innovative Solutions to Support Implementation of UN SDGs

• Three of the best ideas were selected from an intensive two-day period of workshops, addressing the UN’s 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
• Ideas pitched for SDG 3, SDG 10 and SDG 5 will be showcased in New York in May 2017 
• Dubai to support the implementation of new ideas

Dubai-UAE: 15 February, 2017:   At the SDG closing ceremony on the last day of the World Government Summit (WGS 2017), the winners of a two-day series of SDG workshops were announced. Ideas produced by SDG 3, SDG 10 and SDG 5 will harness the latest solutions using science, innovation and technology (STIs) to accelerate the implementation of some of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The workshops under the title, ‘SDGs in Action in Collaboration with the United Nations’, saw world experts, scientists, government officials and other key stakeholders form 14 discussion groups corresponding to the SDGs in order to identify STI-driven solutions to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that could be applied to local and global purposes.

At the ceremony in the run up to the announcement, the chair of each working group pitched their ideas for UN’s SDG 1 through to SDG 14 and 15, each having one-and-a-half minutes to communicate with the audience in order for them to cast a vote for the winners.

Present at the closing ceremony were Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, UAE. His Excellency Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations and Co-chair of STI Forum, presented a trophy of appreciation to each winner.
The SDG3 team came in the first place for laying out a strategy for good health and wellbeing.  SDG 10 team won the second place for suggesting viable solutions to reduce inequalities. SDG 5 team came in the third place for their recommendations in tackling gender inequality.  The facilitators belonging to the CIO government also received an award.

As part of its support in the implementation of the winning ideas, the Government of Dubai will put together a comprehensive implementation roadmap that will be showcased in New York in May 2017.

The 17 SDGs are: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life below Water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals. The series of workshops held over the past two days on the sidelines of WGS 2017 dedicated one common group to SDG 14 and 15 – Life below Water and Life on Land.  

The World Government Summit (WGS) 2017 has drawn the participation of more than 4,000 personalities from 139 countries around the world, reflecting the leading stature of the summit on regional and international levels and the high interest from governments, global organizations, private and public sector entities, decision makers, entrepreneurs, academics and university students as well as scientists and innovators. WGS 2017 features 150 speakers across 114 sessions that highlight the world’s most pressing challenges and showcase best practices and cutting-edge solutions to deal with them.