This session features the key findings of the forthcoming UNEP report entitled “Strengthening the Environmental Dimension of the Voluntary National Reviews in Asia-Pacific: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward”. The report is a result of a partnership project between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), with funding from the Norwegian Government, on 50 Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) produced by 36 Asia-Pacific countries in the period 2016-2021, and submitted to UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The report extracts existing practices on VNR production in general, showing how some countries aim for a broad and inclusive consultative process to prepare the VNR. It also shows how countries that have prepared several VNRs link the reviews to enhance coherence over time. Specifically, on the environmental dimension of the SDGs, the report extracts good practices and challenges both across the SDGs but also on data and indicators. The report also makes recommendations as to how the VNR process and action on the environment-related SDG goals and targets can be further strengthened between now and 2030.