After the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with massive funding commitments coming out of the Paris climate change discussions, the international community now faces the real work of translating vision and commitment into action. Some countries think the SDGs will make little difference to their development effort; others are anticipating major changes. So are the SDGs more than a PR device? Will they make a difference?

What will public, private and non-governmental actors need to do better, more, or differently to achieve the SDGs? Strategy alignment, integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions into decision making and the respect of the core principles of inclusion will be key factors for success. In a universal framework, policy coherence for sustainable development, both domestic and international, is equally essential. What can we learn from the early adopters on the policy shifts needed to accelerate progress?

Kitty van der Heijden is the Director of the World Resources Institute’s Europe Office (WRI). She has a distinguished diplomatic background with notable accomplishments in sustainable development and humanitarian aid. Kitty leads WRI’s engagement in the post-2015 Development Agenda, and also works on the international climate regime, the role of the private sector in development, global indicators on resource productivity and efficiency, and inequality.

This public lecture was part of the 2016 Australasian Aid Conference, February 10-11, 2016. For more information, go to: devpolicy.crawford.anu.edu.au/annual-australasian-aid-conference/2016

This event is presented by the Asia Foundation and the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.

This event was livestreamed. You can access the livestream on the link below:

Livestream link - Day 1