Alignment with 2030 Agenda and the exchange of views with civil society discussions in UN General Assembly Second Committee

As reported by IISD, the UN General Assembly Second Committee (Economic and Financial) has been discussing aligning its work with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Andrej Logar (Slovenia), Second Committee Chair, in opening the session stressed the need for complementarity and for ensuring that the Committee's work is fully aligned with the "integrated vision of" the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). He also posed questions as to whether the current structure of the Committee's agenda supports the three pillars of sustainable development; whether it covers the main aspects of the 2030 Agenda; whether sustainable development could become the framework for the agenda; and how the Committee should conduct its work in relation with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

There was general agreement that the work of the Committee should be built on the priorities set by the 2030 Agenda, the AAAA, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, and the programmes of actions of countries in vulnerable situations. The work of the Committee should not be amended now, but it should engage in an in-depth discussion; and to discuss how other Committees and the HLPF will complement the Second Committee's work on implementing the 2030 Agenda.

There appeared to be differences between the groups as to the desired timeline for amending the Second Committee's agenda. Developing countries – including the Group of 77/China (G-77/China) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) asked for “sufficient time, extensive consultations, and meticulous planning,” while the EU and others preferred to expedite discussions and implement an amended agenda at the Committee's next session.

There were also differences in relation to the substantive aspects of the agenda, with the G-77/China, AOSIS and others cautioning against “sacrificing richness for efficiency,” while developed countries, including Australia, Canada, the EU and New Zealand, expressed preference for efficiency and for avoiding fragmentation and proliferation of repetitive resolutions.

Different views were also expressed about the discussion with civil society organizations (CSOs) scheduled for 22 October 2015. Japan noted that the work of the Committee should be conducted in a transparent manner and welcoming discussion with the CSOs; Brazil underlined it as “a step in the right direction;” and Mexico expressed the hope that it will become “the customary practice.” Cuba, on the other hand, stressed that he is not in favor of replacing the Committee's debates with interactive debates with stakeholders. This, he said, would hinder Member States' ability to express themselves openly.

Delegations are invited to submit further, written proposals on the Committee's work and the revitalization of its agenda by 23 October 2015.

For more information see: http://sd.iisd.org/news/second-committee-discusses-alignment-with-2030-agenda/