Intergovernmental Negotiations on Post-2015 – Day 4: Sustainable development goals targets (continued)

(based on report by Lara Cousins, Youth Leadership Working Group (YLWG) & Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights)

Following further statements on the goals and targets, Co-facilitator, Ambassador David Donoghue, summed up the discussions by saying that he and his Co-facilitator, Ambassador Kamau, would revisit the proposed 19 targets document and would share the next version with the membership at the earliest opportunity. He sensed that there was some degree of consensus on filling in of ‘x’s. The Co-facilitators will carefully review the proposals made by Member States and provide a fuller rationale for draft documents in the future. Ultimately, the membership decides on proposals that are put forward.

Discussion on the six themes for interactive dialogues during the Post-2015 United Nations Summit

The Co-facilitators presented a paper on the six themes for interactive dialogues during the Post-2015 United Nations Summit in September, namely:

1.  Eradicating poverty in all its dimensions and addressing inequality 
2.  Tackling climate change and achieving more sustainable lifestyles
3.  Building strong, inclusive and resilient economies
4.  Promoting peaceful societies and strong institutions
5.  A renewed global partnership and adequate means of implementation
6.  Reviewing progress on SDG commitments; universality and differentiations 

In the ensuing discussion, South Africa noted that the time for preparation of views was rather short. For the Group of 77 and China, poverty remains the greatest global challenge and must be the main overriding theme of post-2015. It should be underpinned by the Rio principles and integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development, and include global partnerships. The means of implementation (MOI) should be made available to developing countries, as well as access to financial assistance, and they should be able to move with the necessary speed.

The international community should ensure that gender equality, women’s empowerment, indigenous people, and persons in vulnerable situations (young people, the elderly, persons living with disabilities) and climate change, should all receive adequate attention in the post-2015 development agenda.

The Maldives, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, stressed that the themes should capture the level of ambition of the SDGs, as well as sharing experiences and best practices, while bringing out the clear commitments.  They fully supported having a dialogue on climate change and said there should also be a dialogue on countries in special situations, such as the least developed and African countries. They reiterated that importance of the MOI, without which the SDGs will remain a wish list. One of the roundtables should therefore focus on this. 

For Belize, on behalf of CARICOM, issues should include: how lessons from MDGs can inform future efforts; how to accommodate for national circumstances, e.g. countries in special situations, while maintaining the universality of the agenda; and how to ensure the people-centered nature of agenda. It was critical, however, to include a range of perspectives on each theme. 

The European Union stressed the importance of ensuring that the themes of six dialogues reflect ambition and breadth of agenda. They must be interactive and facilitate broad participation.

Chile wished to include the crosscutting importance and sustainable exploitation of the oceans.  The United Arab Emirates supported the following themes: the transition from MDGs to SDGs; women; oceans; water and food security children and youth; energy and climate change; and partnerships, with MOI and finance being discussed under each of them. The inclusion of oceans was further supported by a number of other Member States. Ghana, however, wished to address issues such as desertification, land degradation, drought, biodiversity, in addition to climate change, as it was too limited.

Switzerland proposed that the final panel could address the theme of dignity and equality, especially gender equality. Australia also suggested that one theme should be focused on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Japan, however, preferred an independent theme related to social development (health, education, gender equality, empowerment of women and children).