Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 20-31 July, No 27: Building the consensus for adopting the Agenda and explanations of votes – Part 1 Group positions

Ambassador Kamau, Co-facilitator, having pointed out all the changes that had been made to the Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, finalised text for adoption (1 August) expressed the confidence of the Co-facilitators and their teams that they have a document that meets with almost, if not complete, universal support and they seek their concurrence for adoption. He would take some statements to get a sense of the room as to whether there was consensus.

South Africa, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said that they had sought to be constructive in their engagement in the process. The group’s resolve has affirmed the core principles that they hold dear. The agenda is truly transformative and they welcome the language recognizing that eradicating poverty in all its forms is the greatest challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. They have worked together to enhance collectively the development agenda of the South. No one should be left behind. They had worked in good faith with their partners and they expressed their gratitude to Co-Facilitators Donoghue and Kamau, who have been like magicians waving a magic wand and making things to appear whenever they wanted and to reappear when they wish to. The document could be improved as it does every single one of their concerns, as is the nature of negotiations. It represents a delicate political balance. They welcome the inclusion of LLDCs in target 7.b and continue to note the accidental omission of SIDS in target 13.b as they are uniquely vulnerable to climate change and ask that this technicality be corrected. Now the focus will move from negotiations to delivering on sustainable development. The amount of work completed is amazing and to quote Nelson Mandela “It is always impossible until it is done.” The Group of 77 and China is ready to adopt.

(The room applauded after his statement, and continued to do so after every statement made in support of the agenda)

European Union thanked the Co-facilitators and their teams, as well as all Member States for their dedication and constructive engagements and Stakeholders for their important inputs. While the Agenda speaks to everyone, it was important to allow everyone in the room to speak to their work. Have made great strides in reaching consensus on an ambitious and transformational agenda to chart a new era of sustainable development and to end poverty by 2030. There are a number of issues, which they have consistently highlighted over the past days. Now they should look at the bigger picture and in a spirit of compromise are ready to join consensus on the text. They hope that they can already move from discussing what should be in the 2030 Agenda, to how to turn it into reality. Implementation will be crucial and the EU are determined to fully implement the agenda in its policies and urge others to do so as well. 

Tanzania, speaking on behalf of the African Group, welcomed the references to the concerns of the Group including the African Union Agenda 2063 and its continental  programmes embedded in the new partnership for development for the continent, including infrastructure, energy, ICT and water. They noted the link between peace and security and development and stressed the importance of national leadership and ownership. There are still come language issues in the text but they cannot get a perfect document. They joined the consensus and called for joint efforts in its implementation.

Paraguay, speaking on behalf of the LLDCs, expressed their thanks to the Co-facilitators and the experts who have advised on technical matters, and said that in bringing all to sustainable development, the international community has an obligation and opportunity not to leave LLDCs behind in addressing specific needs in this new agenda, and recalled Member States’ collective responsibility and commitment expressed in the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA). They welcome paragraphs 42 and 56 on implementation of the VPoA, and appreciate the inclusion of reference to LLDCs regarding energy, infrastructure and technology. The 32 LLDCs look forward to engaging in the implementation of the agenda. 

Benin, speaking on behalf of the LDCs, said the LDCs had written to the UN Secretary-General saying that the LDCs did not get its deserved recognition in the High-level Panel report and they are pleased that the Co-Facilitators had resisted attempts to shift the focus of the agenda from the LDCs to less important purposes. The LDCs took the process very seriously. The LDCs thanked the Group of Friends of LDCs and the Office of the High Representative of LDCs and SIDS, as well as the Major Groups and other Stakeholders for their support, as well as the UN Foundation. He stressed the importance of the LDCs for the agenda, having earlier called this group a ‘battlefield’ for post-2015 development. “Nothing that has not been proposed has not been agreed”, and the group will not indulge in any further tweaking of those documents. He also referred to the the omission of SIDS from target 13.b on climate change-related planning and management. 

Maldives, speaking on behalf of AOSIS, said the process had been led with mastery in an inclusive and transparent manner. His group's adoption was on the understanding that target 13.b will be corrected, as orally amended earlier in the weekend.

Sudan, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, said they welcome the current version of the text as it now stands, while recognizing it could still be improved, and looked forward to the full implementation of the agenda. 

Belize, speaking on behalf of CARICOM, said chapter 3, while being distinct, clarifies how the Addis Ababa Action Agenda will contribute to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, which importantly for CARICOM includes climate change. It recognizes how the goal and targets will be integrated into national plans aligned to national priorities and allied to the improvement of iterative nature of implementation and improving targets as they enhance data capacity and analysis. The outcome document sets a good framework for follow-up and review at the global level and there is a firm commitment that some of the challenges of SIDS will be addressed.

Tonga, speaking on behalf of the P-SIDS, highlighted the universal and transformative nature of the agenda, welcoming the inclusion of important challenges such as climate change and oceans. 

Statements by individual countries will be included in Part 2