Countries in the Global South are oftentimes severely impeded in their abilities to reach the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by negative policy spillovers. International SDG-spillovers are pervasive. They relate to environmental, socio-economic, finance and governance policies. Negative spillovers (re)produce social and economic injustices. They are prone to increase poverty and hunger in poor and vulnerable groups as well as for women and children.
Although the effects of negative spillovers have been widely discussed and solutions to overcome their disruptive impacts are known, governments are still reluctant to adjust policies accordingly. This year’s High-level Political Forum (HLPF) of the United Nations (UN) and the UN “SDG-Summit” provide an excellent opportunity to remind heads of states and governments to finally steer international policies to produce positive rather than negative spillovers for the well-being of current and future generations.
In three round tables we discuss measures on how to end negative spillovers impeding on social security, SDG financing as well as climate and energy security with civil society representatives from the Global South.