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Thursday, 15 April 2021

SDGs Discussion Series

The Institute for Sustainable Development of the European Public Law Organization, as an International Organization with Permanent Observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, proudly announces the launch of the SDGs Discussion Series, a participatory discussion program on the most pressing sustainable development issues of our times. The SDGs Discussion Series comprises two modules: the discussion on the Climate Framework Law in Greece on the way to COP26 and Greece’s implementation of the SDGs following the presentation of the National Report to the UN in 2018. 

The First Module focused on the issue of a Climate Framework Law for Greece, consisting of six discussions with the participation of experts, representatives of the Greek Government, the Greek Parliament and the European Parliament, economic and market actors, international organizations, civil society and environmental organizations. 

The following distinguished experts will participate in the discussion:

  • Spyros Kouvelis, Director, Institute for Sustainable Development
  • Professor Emmanuella Doussis, School of Economics and Political Sciences, University of Athens
  • Nikos Mantzaris, Senior Policy Analyst & Partner at The Green Tank
  • Professor Glykeria Siouti, Law School, University of Athens


The first meeting was effected on Thursday, April 8.

The Second Module concerns the implementation of the SDGs, the progress made since 2018 when the Greek Voluntary National Report was presented, and the structures and procedures that exist or need to be created for this reason. Much has changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Greece's gradual exit from the long-term crisis. The discussion will start from the basis of the existing report, taking into account the new data to draw conclusions about the prospects for achieving the objectives. 

The first meeting for this section is scheduled for Thursday, April 15  at 4pm EEST with the participation of the following distinguished experts:

  • Giorgos Amyras, Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy
  • Dimitris Fatouros, Communication Officer for Greece and Cyprus / United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC)
  • Representative from the General Secretariat of Coordination, Presidency of the Hellenic Government
  • Spyros Kouvelis, Director, Institute for Sustainable Development

This first discussion will take place in Greek and the weblink for registration ishttps://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RvscwomkQ-Cd6JqqW2EBdQ

Three years after the presentation of the Voluntary National Report of Greece at the High-Level Political Forum of the UN, the Discussion Series looks into the progress made in the implementation of the Goals in Greece, and identifying the needs for improvement in the public and private sectors. Within the cataclysmic socio-economic changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new directions of the Greek economy and society through the implementation of the National Plan for the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Just Transition, and other large-scale programmes, the needs for updating the national SDGs planning and eventual preparation of a revised Voluntary National Review will be discussed.

2021 forms an important year for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26 - UNFCCC) taking place in Glasgow in November, as the US returns to the Paris Climate Agreement, while the scientific community warns of the urgent need to accelerate global action to reduce impact. At the same time, 2021 marks three years since Greece presented the country's Voluntary National Report at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) announcing the country's goals and commitments for the implementation of the SDGs.