UN SG’s report on implementation of key processes for 2030 Agenda
Monday, August 29, 2016 at 5:17AM The UN Secretary-General’s report for the 71st session of the General Assembly on the implementation of key processes related to sustainable development is now available. (A/71/212) It will be discussed by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) as part of its substantive work in October and November 2016.
Entitled 'Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development' (A/71/212), the report provides "an update on the implementation of processes derived from" these conferences, and addresses the meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held in July 2016, under the auspices of ECOSOC, on the theme 'Ensuring that no one is left behind'. It also includes updates on: the implementation of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM); strengthening the science-policy interface and the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR); the regional dimension of sustainable development; and sustainable consumption and production.
I Introduction
The report reiterates that the HLPF was mandated, under the General Assembly and ECOSOC, with overseeing follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) at the global level. (para 4) It also refers to the mainstreaming of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development into the work of the UN system. (para 6)
II Follow-up and review
A Meeting of the 2016 high-level political forum on sustainable development under auspices of ECOSOC
In preparation for the 2016 HLPF meeting the functional commissions of ECOSOC and other intergovernmental bodies and forums considered the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets from the perspective of “ensuring that no one is left behind”. A total of 47 submissions were received, together with 14 from Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS), and an additional 100 on multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments. (para 10)
Twenty-two countries presented voluntary national reviews at the HLPF, supported by the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), under the leadership of the ECOSOC President, with funding from the Germany and UAE. (paras 11-12) A number of interactive sessions were held during the HLPF addressing various topics of the theme “Ensuring that no one is left behind”, including one of “creating peaceful and more inclusive societies and empowering women and girls”. (para 13) Also discussed was the report of the Secretary-General on “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals”. (E/2016/75) It presents an overview, based on the set of global indicators developed by the IAEG-SDGs and agreed upon, “as a practical starting point,” by the Statistical Commission. (para 14) See also (See: High-level political forum – Report of the Secretary-General)
The discussions in the HLPF recognized the need for ownership at the national level, together with national mechanisms for monitoring progress. (para 15) Events organized included 109 side-events and at the end a ministerial declaration was adopted. (paras 17-18) Among the messages emanating from the HLPF was the importance of inclusive, participatory and multi-stakeholder decision-making processes at all levels; the need for the active involvement of vulnerable and underrepresented groups; the inclusion of civil society in implementation; and the political leadership of Heads of State and Government. A human-rights based approach including a gender perspective should be used in lifting people out of poverty and the active involvement of scientists and experts, civil society and private citizens was stressed, together with the need for disaggregated data and capacity-building in statistics. The current refugee and migrant crisis was cited as one of the new and pressing challenges. (para 20)
The following were highlighted in the context of means of implementation: the importance of a revitalized and enhanced global partnership; the harnessing of international private business and finance and development cooperation and trade, focusing particularly on those left furthest behind; concern that certain existing agreements may hinder the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; the recognition that international development cooperation must respond to the transformative nature of the 2030 Agenda; that the UN should continue to be a “crucial platform’ for advocacy and operational capacity to mobilize partnerships; and the importance of mobilizing science, technology and innovation and the role of the newly established Technical Facilitation Mechanism. (para 22)
The ministerial segment included an oral report on the inaugural session of the annual ECSOC forum on financing for development follow-up. (See also: Inaugural session of Financing for Development Forum) (para 23)
B Follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda: going forward
In January 2016 the Secretary-General made available his report for the HLPF meeting “outlining critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level. It included his analysis and proposals based on a questionnaire to which Member States and major groups and other stakeholders responded. (See also: Report of the Secretary-General on critical milestones towards coherent, efficient and inclusive follow-up and review at the global level) It formed the basis for the negotiations on the resolution on themes and the framework for reviewing the goals, including Goal 17 annually up to 2019. (See also: Resolution on 2030 follow-up and review – consensus reached on draft ) (paras 25-27)
C Technology Facilitation Mechanism
The report outlines the implementation of the Technical Facilitation Mechanism, which was established following the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. It has three components namely (a) the UN inter-agency task team on science, technology and innovation (STI) for the SDGs, in connection with which the Secretary-General appointed a group of 10 eminent representatives from civil society, the scientific community and private sector to work with them; (b) the collaborative annual multi-stakeholder forum on STI for the SDGs and (c) an online platform to serve as a gateway for information of existing STI initiatives, mechanisms and programmes within and beyond the UN system. The report notes that a session of the forum was devoted to the role of young people in STI and how they are using new approaches to innovate and develop solutions to meet the SDGs. (paras 28-37) See also: Report on Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, 6-7 June 2016 by Ambassador Macharia Kamau)
D Strengthening the science-policy interface and Global Sustainable Development Report
The outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development “The future we want” (resolution 66/288) determined that the HLPF would “strengthen the science-policy interface through review of documentation bringing together dispersed information and assessments.” Two sessions were therefore dedicated to the science-policy interface.
The 2030 Agenda determined that the GDSR would inform follow-up and review at the HLPF. DESA published a “third prototype edition’, focusing on “enduring that no one is left behind” that was launched at the HLPF. It was decided that the GSDR will be prepared “once every four years for the meetings of the political forum under the auspices of the General Assembly.” It was indicated that the 2019 GDSR should be more than a “snapshot’ type of reporting on the levels of achievement of the SDGs and targets. (paras 38-44)
E Regional dimension of sustainable development
Since the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, regional forums have been established for sustainable Development including the 3rd sessions of Asia-Pacific Regional Forum and the Arab Regional Forum, the 2ndsession of the African Regional Forum and the 1st European and Latin America and Caribbean Forums. During the HLPF session on “Regional experiences” the importance of regional organization and initiatives was stressed in addressing regional priorities and challenges and in ensuring coherence and integration of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs with regional agendas and visions. Regional organizations can and are contributing to building capacity with data, particularly data disaggregation. (paras 45-48)
F Sustainable consumption and production and the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production
With sustainable consumption and production being of key importance to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda , it was addressed as a cross-cutting issue in several thematic sessions and in the voluntary national reviews. Among the issues referred to were strategic cooperation on sustainability with the private sector; initiatives on increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy; sustainable tourism; revision of fuel policies and investments in mass transportation; and transparency and information for consumers. Sustainable consumption and production was considered a central requirement in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda during the general debate. (paras 49-52)
III Efforts by the United Nations system to ensure that no country is left behind
Among those that have been supported by the UN system entities to ensure that no country is left behind are least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). They have also addressed the challenges of middle-income countries, in particular in terms of inequalities within their borders. Among the messages emanating from the HLPF are: that the SDGs cannot be achieved unless significant progress is made in the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS; national priorities should be a starting point, while ensuring a balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development, given limited resources; need for access to strengthened global partnership, including capacity-building, technology transfer, technical and financial support, trade facilitation and international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows; and strengthened capacity of national statistical offices. (paras 53-58)
IV Mainstreaming of the three dimensions of sustainable development by the United Nations system
The report emphasizes the importance of mainstreaming to integrate activities and policies around the SDGs and targets. The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) is developing “tools, guidelines and methodologies and mobilizing resources to ensure coherent support at the national level, aligned with the requirements of the 2030 Agenda, across the development, humanitarian, human rights and peacebuilding agendas of the United Nations. (paras 59-66)
V Conclusions and recommendations
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda there is evidence of “firm commitment at all levels and of engagement form multiple stakeholders for its implementation.” The report suggests for example that the General Assembly may consider invited Member States and others to continue engaging in support of the work of the HLPF; ensuring that national and regional preparatory processes are fully included in its work; to continue ensuring “multi-stakeholder participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and in preparatory processes for the [HLPF] and voluntary national reviews”; calling on the UN Secretariat to prepare an analysis of the 22 reviews presented in 2016 and for the UN system to continue to support Member States in their preparation; to request the Secretariat “to prepare a short list of emerging issues relevant to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda” for consideration by the HLPF; and to invite all UN organizations to consider the theme for the 2017 HLPF in their work, within their respective mandates. (para 67)