Press releasePublished on 13 July 2026

2030 Agenda: Switzerland advocates results-based implementation of SDGs in New York

Bern, 13.07.2026 — At this year’s High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), taking place from 7 to 16 July 2026 at the UN headquarters in New York, Switzerland will present its fourth voluntary national review (VNR) on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Local authorities can provide good examples of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being pursued with a focus on impact. For this reason, the cities of Basel, Bern and Geneva will also be represented at a high level in the Swiss HLPF delegation.

At the HLPF, UN member states assess progress made in implementing the 2030 Agenda since 2016. Switzerland is one of 36 countries presenting their VNRs this year.

In today’s presentation, Switzerland highlighted the areas in which it has made progress. Positive developments worth mentioning include growth in renewables, a reduction in the material footprint and improvements in gender equality. Better data – for example, on cross-border ('spillover') effects – is another noteworthy development. In its VNR Switzerland also painted a realistic picture, however, and made it clear that it continues to face challenges across all the priority areas of its 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy. Progress towards achieving the SDGs in areas such as climate change, poverty and adequate housing is stalling. The Federal Council adopted the VNR on 13 May 2026, emphasising its importance as a pragmatic reference framework, with a focus on priorities, impact and the realistic achievement of objectives.

Delegation highlights the importance of subnational and non-state actors

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Switzerland is based on the country’s federal structure and close cooperation between federal government, cantons, cities and communes. This cooperation enables the goals to be embedded effectively in local contexts. Cities such as Geneva, Bern and Basel have stepped up their communication on local progress and have also recently published reports for the UN. These voluntary local reviews take stock of the implementation of the SDGs, thereby highlighting the progress made at the local level. Accordingly, these subnational achievements are being represented at a high level at the HLPF for the first time.

According to Christina Kitsos, mayor of Geneva, exchange between cities is of vital importance: “The city of Geneva plays a crucial role in bridging the local and global levels, particularly through the UN Forum of Mayors. Thanks to its people-centred policies, it is translating the principles of the 2030 Agenda into concrete action.”

The 2030 Agenda is largely supported by stakeholders from civil society, the business and financial sectors and the academic community. Their significance and contribution to sustainable development are highlighted in this year’s report in a section dedicated to each of these stakeholder groups. Representatives from the ‘Platform Agenda 2030’ coalition, Swisscleantech, the University of Bern and young people's groups are contributing their expertise to Switzerland’s HLPF delegation. They serve as examples of the successful cooperation between the state and NGOs, which continues even after the VNRs have been submitted.

Focus on effectiveness and urban settlement areas

At the Swiss side event on SDG 11, politicians and practitioners discussed ways of creating more affordable and sustainable housing. The focus was on political, legal and financial obstacles, inclusive approaches to urban development, and innovative and climate-friendly housing models. Conradin Cramer, the president of the Cantonal Council of Basel-Stadt, emphasised the need for real-life action such as the Basel baut Zukunft (‘Basel builds the future’) project. “Initiatives like these, designed in collaboration with investors and the local population, can secure affordable housing in the long term,” he said. Lavito Bacarissa, executive secretary of the Brazilian national commission for the SDCs (CNODS) and secretary general to the presidency of Brazil, believes it important to adapt solutions to the local circumstances.

The event highlighted examples of how specific measures can be implemented effectively at the local level. Linking local implementation with cooperation and exchange between states is something Switzerland is strongly committed to, particularly in times of geopolitical complexity. During the general debate, Markus Reubi, the Federal Council’s delegate for the 2030 Agenda and head of the Swiss delegation, emphasised that Switzerland remains committed to effective and efficient multilateralism. “This also applies with regard to the future of sustainable development, in order to address trends such as demographic change, new technologies, and the damage caused by climate change and biodiversity loss,” he said.

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