Asia-Europe Environment Forum (ENVforum) Conference
Sustainable Development Goals and Global Challenges

120 participants agreed on the importance of sustainable development

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals have come into effect in 2016. An intensive exchange between different actors is crucial to assure a successful implementation of the goals.

The ENVforum is a platform for inter-regional cooperation between Europe and Asia in the field of sustainable development and environmental issues. This year, on September 6-7 2017, the focus was on financing of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Scientists, civil society and the private sector exchanged their experiences and challenges regarding the implementation of the objectives.

Professor Ursula Männle welcomes the participants of the ENVforum Conference in Hanoi.

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In her welcoming speech Professor Ursula Männle, chairwoman of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, emphasized the urgency of common action to solve some of the greatest global challenges: The loss of biodiversity, rising health risks, energy security and climate change.

Mrs. Männle pointed out that rapid economic development often comes along with the neglect of sustainability targets. According to Mrs. Männle the cooperation between Asia and Europe can help to find solutions to the most urgent problems of our time:

“I truly believe the wide scope of cooperation between Asia and Europe will help find solutions for the most urgent development issues of our time.” 
- Prof. Ursula Männle, Chairwoman Hanns Seidel Foundation

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Vietnam), Mr. Phuong The Nguyen, discusses challenges that developing countries are facing.

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Vietnam's Deputy Planning Minister Phuong The Nguyen pointed out difficulties in implementation. For developing countries such as Vietnam financing the implementation of the SDGs presents a major challenge. At the same time, he emphasized the successful implementation of the previous international goals, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The achievement of these goals was only possible through effective international cooperation.

Karsten Warnecke, Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), highlighted the three SDG dimensions: economical, social and ecological. The 17 SDGs can only be achieved by including all three dimensions.

Karsten Warnecke, Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) opens the ENVforum Conference.

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The ENVforum Conference has provided diverse answers to the question of financing the SDGs. Experts as well as participants, agreed on the fact, that the SDGs can only be met through the inclusion of the private sector. According to the state director of the International Monetary Fund, Jonathan Dunn, the establishment of sustainable public-private partnerships can be one way of financing.