Brunei while reporting substantial progress and achievements in several sustainable development goals (SDGs) also acknowledged that there are data gaps and one regression during the presentation of the nation’s Voluntary National Review 2023 (VNR 2023) Report at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) of the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah delivered the report.
Following a video presentation, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew opened the VNR 2023 Report with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s titah during the adoption of SDGs in 2015.
In the titah, the monarch emphasised the importance of countries, including Brunei, to accelerate SDG progress, particularly given that this is the midpoint of implementing them.
His Majesty also upheld the importance of multilateralism to further strengthen the realisation of the SDGs for sustainable progress and prosperity.
The minister added that His Majesty’s firm belief has been instrumental in steering more sustainable efforts that resonate with Brunei Vision 2035 with educated and highly skilled people, high quality of life and a dynamic and sustainable economy.
The VNR 2023 Report shares the country’s efforts in strengthening the ecosystem to support the implementation of the SDGs, which include aligning the SDGs with Brunei Vision 2035, increasing data availability for monitoring, SDGs awareness and local as well as international partnerships.
The VNR 2023 Report also provides comprehensive detail on the progress and achievement of Brunei Darussalam for each of the 17 SDGs Goals, based on data evaluation of SDGs indicators through the National SDGs Tracker. The nation recorded good progress in Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being); Goal 4 (Quality Education); Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation); Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); Goal 14 (Life Under Water); and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
For the remaining Goals, Brunei reported challenges, especially in terms of data availability for a full progress’s assessment while a regression was reported for Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Youth participation in the Sultanate was also reported, especially the SDGs Youth Statement, outlining the perspective and integrated actions of youth in contributing to the SDGs. As a way forward, particularly post-VNR actions, the report underlined actions such as more robust SDG data, strategic partnerships, and promoting more nationwide actions.
The presentation garnered interests from UN member states and civil societies, seeking more information on the Sultanate’s efforts and actions to overcome specific SDGs gaps, and to make overall SDGs ecosystem to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During the VNR 2023 Reportpresentation, the minister expressed the country’s continued commitment to realising Agenda 2030, in line with Brunei Vision 2035.
Brunei’s VNR 2023 Report is the second report following the first submission presented at the HLPF in 2020.
HLPF was established in 2012 under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is the main UN platform for reporting progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by UN member countries through the presentation of VNR reports. – James Kon
