Child and Environment Related SDG Indicators: adoption, gaps and sources

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Committee on Statistics Side Event organized by UNEP, UNICEF, and UN ESCAP

Hybrid Event, 23 August 2022 (12:00-13:00 hrs GMT+7/Bangkok)

Background

Statistical systems around Asia and the Pacific region play a key role in providing evidence for the effective implementation of the 2030 agenda. In particular, in preparation of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and national monitoring of the SDGs. Increasing demand for SDG data has challenged statistical systems to fill in data gaps and has strained already shrinking resources for statistical development. This side event aims to provide the latest findings of three studies conducted by the UN Environment Programme, UNICEF, and ESCAP (on the entire SDG indicator framework) looking into the extent to which child and environment-related indicators have been used in VNRs presented by Asia-Pacific countries and main sources of data on SDG indicators.

It is expected that the side event will support countries in harnessing the knowledge and experiences from the VNRs as a vehicle to strengthen the implementation, monitoring, and reporting progress of SDGs and related targets, in particular for the environment and child-related topics.

Scope 

The side event is open to all statistical systems, national SDG implementing focal points, and development partners.  

Key questions to be discussed:   

1. What are effective institutional structures to ensure that the environment and child-related indicators are sufficiently discussed in the VNRs?
2. How to improve environmental reporting in VNRs, in view of only 29% of environment-related targets using data and indicators in VNRs by Asia-Pacific in 2016-2021?
3. To what extent child-related indicators have been used in VNRs by Asia-Pacific? 
4. Are the data gaps and major sources of environment and child-related SDG indicators, and top priorities for investment and capacity building for statistical development in the Asia-Pacific region?