SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS DEAL CREATES NEW MOMENTUM TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD

Intense negotiations between 193 countries have produced an agreement which will open a new era in the fight against poverty, inequality and environmental destruction, Christian Aid said today.

Sp

Future Sustainability Young Scientists Networking Conference

Future Sustainability Young Scientists Networking Conference

Image by International Council for Science

eaking after negotiators in New York last night reached agreement on new Sustainable Development Goals, Christian Aid's Helen Dennis said the deal would put fresh momentum behind work to build a better world.

"These negotiations overran dramatically, because the questions at stake have been so controversial and important: from the rights of women, girls and minorities to addressing climate change, conflict and much more," she said. 

"Inevitably, there are some disappointments in the final text but we now have in our hands a powerful vision of a better world, which will underpin and create momentum for the achievement of these new global goals.

"Once Heads of State sign up to the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations General Assembly next month, communities around the world will be able to hold their governments accountable and demand they are doing all they can to achieve all goals and targets by 2030.

"Far from the new agreement marking the end of the process, the real work starts now."

Negotiators worked all weekend at the United Nations in New York to reach agreement. Their latest round of talks started on 20th July and was due to end on Friday 31st July. 

Governments will start to implement the new goals from 1st January 2016, when the existing Millennium Development Goals come to an end. The new goals and targets will last until 2030.

Ms Dennis added that the new goals will apply across every country, from the richest to the poorest. "The goals are relevant to everyone, whether in the UK, Brazil or Kenya,” she said. “They mark a new era in thinking about international development - one which binds people together to address pressing global challenges such as gender injustice, increasing economic inequality and climate change.

"This was illustrated by Friday’s intervention from the US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power. She emphasised President Obama’s view that the new goals and targets will apply within the US, citing America's efforts to combat inequality and reduce its carbon emissions. We hope to see a similar commitment from the UK."

This weekend's talks covered two issues of particular concern to Christian Aid - the idea that no goal or target can be met unless it is met across all groups in society ('Leave No One Behind') and the need to tackle climate change in order to end poverty, for current and future generations.

Ms Dennis added: "The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promise to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and leave no one behind, yet some countries have resisted the idea that this must apply to ‘all social and economic groups'. Christian Aid fought strongly for this language and it is disappointed that it has not made it into the final agreement."

 She continued: "Climate change was another sticking point. Some negotiators argued that this historic deal could pre-empt the pivotal climate talks in Paris at the end of the year. Christian Aid believes the goals and targets themselves must be low-carbon and climate-resilient and we are pleased that the final text recognised the need “for the widest possible international cooperation” to keep the global average temperature rise well below 2 degrees.

"While the process proposed for following up on commitments is weaker than we would have hoped, we are encouraged and excited by the energy of citizens and organisations around the world which are determined to hold their governments accountable and ensure these goals are delivered by 2030.”

Ends

Notes :

1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in around 40 countries at any one time. We act where there is great need, regardless of religion, helping people to live a full life, free from poverty. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance in tackling the root causes of poverty as well as its effects.

2. Christian Aid’s core belief is that the world can and must be changed so that poverty is ended: this is what we stand for. Everything we do is about ending poverty and injustice: swiftly, effectively, sustainably. Our strategy document Partnership for Change www.christianaid.org.uk/images/partnership-for-change-summary.pdf explains how we set about this task.

3. Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development. Further details at http://actalliance.org

4. Follow Christian Aid's newswire on Twitter: http://twitter.com/caid_newswire


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UN readies historic plan for the well-being of people and the planet

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Posted on 02 August 2015    
NEW YORK – Negotiators from 193 countries have agreed on a draft blueprint for sustainable development that will last through 2030. The agreement will redefine how the global community works together to tackle poverty and improve living standards while protecting the environment.

The plan, known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calls on countries and their citizens to respect and safeguard the planet, and recognizes that sound management of natural resources is the foundation of economic and social development.

“Today, the world took a big step forward on the path to living in harmony with nature,” said Deon Nel, WWF International Acting Executive Director for Conservation. “We congratulate negotiators on their bold action. This is an essential move toward realizing our dream of shaping a world where people, planet and prosperity come together.”

The draft document outlines 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranging on issues from poverty, gender equality and economic development to climate change and ocean resource protection.

The SDGs are universal goals that will commit all countries to take action both within their own borders and in support of wider international efforts. Individual national commitments must add up to a worldwide result that helps all people and ensures a healthy environment.

The new development plan represents significant improvement from the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as it recognizes the interlinkages between sustainability of ecosystem services, poverty eradication, economic development and human well-being.

“We are on the verge of changing the way we think about how our societies must develop. Finally we can join strategies to ensure that no one is left behind and that we protect the natural resource base that underpins our well-being,” said Elaine Geyer-Allély, WWF’s Head of Delegation at the negotiations.

Nearly 90 per cent of the economic output of people living in extreme poverty is derived from nature. The majority of the world’s poor communities are engaged in agriculture, fisheries and livestock herding that rely on nature to produce food and income.

“Nature and the services it provides, such as fertile soil and clean water, are vitally important for our continued existence. The vision of this plan is based on the reality that social and economic development can only happen if we protect critical natural resources,” said Nel.

Government leaders will meet in New York in September to formally agree the plan.

“It is critical that governments come to the Summit ready to commit fully to these global goals. When they do, WWF is eager to partner on this people-centered and planet-sensitive agenda. Only through committed action from all countries and their citizens can we safeguard wildlife, the ocean, freshwater and forests, while also addressing climate change and our ability to feed the planet,” said Geyer-Allély. - See more at: http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?250250#sthash.3SBmKres.dpuf

UN readies historic plan for the well-being of people and the planet

  3  0  3

Posted on 02 August 2015    
NEW YORK – Negotiators from 193 countries have agreed on a draft blueprint for sustainable development that will last through 2030. The agreement will redefine how the global community works together to tackle poverty and improve living standards while protecting the environment.

The plan, known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calls on countries and their citizens to respect and safeguard the planet, and recognizes that sound management of natural resources is the foundation of economic and social development.

“Today, the world took a big step forward on the path to living in harmony with nature,” said Deon Nel, WWF International Acting Executive Director for Conservation. “We congratulate negotiators on their bold action. This is an essential move toward realizing our dream of shaping a world where people, planet and prosperity come together.”

The draft document outlines 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranging on issues from poverty, gender equality and economic development to climate change and ocean resource protection.

The SDGs are universal goals that will commit all countries to take action both within their own borders and in support of wider international efforts. Individual national commitments must add up to a worldwide result that helps all people and ensures a healthy environment.

The new development plan represents significant improvement from the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as it recognizes the interlinkages between sustainability of ecosystem services, poverty eradication, economic development and human well-being.

“We are on the verge of changing the way we think about how our societies must develop. Finally we can join strategies to ensure that no one is left behind and that we protect the natural resource base that underpins our well-being,” said Elaine Geyer-Allély, WWF’s Head of Delegation at the negotiations.

Nearly 90 per cent of the economic output of people living in extreme poverty is derived from nature. The majority of the world’s poor communities are engaged in agriculture, fisheries and livestock herding that rely on nature to produce food and income.

“Nature and the services it provides, such as fertile soil and clean water, are vitally important for our continued existence. The vision of this plan is based on the reality that social and economic development can only happen if we protect critical natural resources,” said Nel.

Government leaders will meet in New York in September to formally agree the plan.

“It is critical that governments come to the Summit ready to commit fully to these global goals. When they do, WWF is eager to partner on this people-centered and planet-sensitive agenda. Only through committed action from all countries and their citizens can we safeguard wildlife, the ocean, freshwater and forests, while also addressing climate change and our ability to feed the planet,” said Geyer-Allély. - See more at: http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?250250#sthash.3SBmKres.dpuf

 

UN readies historic plan for the well-being of people and the planet

 

Posted on 02 August 2015    
NEW YORK – Negotiators from 193 countries have agreed on a draft blueprint for sustainable development that will last through 2030. The agreement will redefine how the global community works together to tackle poverty and improve living standards while protecting the environment.

The plan, known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calls on countries and their citizens to respect and safeguard the planet, and recognizes that sound management of natural resources is the foundation of economic and social development.

“Today, the world took a big step forward on the path to living in harmony with nature,” said Deon Nel, WWF International Acting Executive Director for Conservation. “We congratulate negotiators on their bold action. This is an essential move toward realizing our dream of shaping a world where people, planet and prosperity come together.”

The draft document outlines 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranging on issues from poverty, gender equality and economic development to climate change and ocean resource protection.

The SDGs are universal goals that will commit all countries to take action both within their own borders and in support of wider international efforts. Individual national commitments must add up to a worldwide result that helps all people and ensures a healthy environment.

The new development plan represents significant improvement from the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as it recognizes the interlinkages between sustainability of ecosystem services, poverty eradication, economic development and human well-being.

“We are on the verge of changing the way we think about how our societies must develop. Finally we can join strategies to ensure that no one is left behind and that we protect the natural resource base that underpins our well-being,” said Elaine Geyer-Allély, WWF’s Head of Delegation at the negotiations.

Nearly 90 per cent of the economic output of people living in extreme poverty is derived from nature. The majority of the world’s poor communities are engaged in agriculture, fisheries and livestock herding that rely on nature to produce food and income.

“Nature and the services it provides, such as fertile soil and clean water, are vitally important for our continued existence. The vision of this plan is based on the reality that social and economic development can only happen if we protect critical natural resources,” said Nel.

Government leaders will meet in New York in September to formally agree the plan.

“It is critical that governments come to the Summit ready to commit fully to these global goals. When they do, WWF is eager to partner on this people-centered and planet-sensitive agenda. Only through committed action from all countries and their citizens can we safeguard wildlife, the ocean, freshwater and forests, while also addressing climate change and our ability to feed the planet,” said Geyer-Allély. - See more at: http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?250250#sthash.3SBmKres.dpuf

Save the Children welcomes draft global goals as 'seismic shift' for combatting poverty

Mon, 2015-08-03 09:25 -- media

Save the Children has today strongly welcomed the agreement by member states of Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Monday, 3 August 2015 - 9:22am

This historic agenda has been three years in the making and the organisation is calling on Heads of State to adopt the full document at a Special UN Summit in September. The organisation is also calling on member states to use that summit to set out their implementation plans.

Helen Morton, Save the Children's lead on the global goals, said: "These global goals, if adopted and then implemented, will represent a seismic shift in how the world tackles poverty. While the Millennium Development Goals were judged on what they achieved for some, the new global goals will be judged on what they achieve for all. That will drive a real focus on the poorest and most marginalised groups."

Save the Children particularly welcomes;

  • The strong focus on children in the final agreement, including a clear commitment to end preventable child mortality by 2030
  • The transformative commitments to provide universal health coverage, quality education for all and tackle all forms of violence against children
  • The commitment to measure progress by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
  • The level of buy in and ownership of the poorest countries to the framework

 

For Save the Children, the commitment to 'leave no-one behind' is the single, most transformative shift of this global agenda. All 193 governments of the world have agreed that they "wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society". This represents a radically new way of viewing and doing development – truly putting the ‘furthest behind first’.

Morton added: “From the beginning of this process, leave no-one behind has been the rallying cry of the agenda. Today’s agreement represents a real promise to the world’s poorest people that will change the lives of millions of children. 

“The success of the agenda will be judged not on what is declared in 2015, but on what is delivered by 2030. Save the Children calls on all Heads of State to attend the SDG Summit in September, adopt the agenda in full and set out a clear plan of action for delivering on this historic agreement”.

ENDS

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