Transforming Our World: An Overview of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the SDGs Ira Feldman greentrack strategies/GHGMI ISO TC 207 New Delhi, September 6, 2015

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “An agenda of unprecedented scope and significance.” “Never before have world leaders pledged common action and endeavour across such a broad and universal policy agenda.”

Impact of the SDGs “We commit to making fundamental changes in the way that our societies produce and consume goods and services.” – Governments, international organizations, the business sector, other non-state actors and individuals

Implementing the SDGs “The framework we are announcing today goes far beyond the MDGs [Millennium Development Goals] …” – Universally applicable goals and targets – Integrated, indivisible, and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development – Taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development – Respecting national policies and priorities

SDG timeline Colombia proposal Rio+20 in 2012 High Level Political Forum Open Working Group process (throughout 2014) Secretary-General’s synthesis report (issued December 2014) Intergovernmental process (monthly sessions in NYC in 2015)* August 2015 agreed text and September 2015 adoption * unprecedented civil society engagement

Other complementary processes for the post-2015 development agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Financing for Development (FfD) in Addis Ababa in July 2015 UN Statistical Commission indicators process through March 2016 Hyogo process, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015

Sustainable development The most familiar basic framings for sustainable development: People, planet, prosperity (the 3 P’s) Environmental protection, economic development, social equity (the 3 E’s)

Sustainability Framework Economic Growth Environmental Protection Social Progress Eco-Efficiency Social Responsibility Quality of Life Sustainability

In the business context… …we are familiar with phrases such as: Triple bottom line Sustainable business practices Corporate social responsibility Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) Corporate citizenship

SDGs Priorities identified in the SDGs: Eradicating poverty Combating inequality Preserving the planet Created sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth Fostering social inclusion

SDGs The new 5 P’s: People Planet Prosperity Peace Partnership

SDGs 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 169 targets (?) indicators – to be determined SDGs will supplant existing MDGs (the last 15 years) SDGs come into effect on January 1, 2016 (the next 15 years) Full implementation by 2030

SDGs A quick tour of the 17 Goals…

Goal 1: End Poverty

Goal 2: End Hunger

Goal 3: Ensure Healthy Lives

Goal 4: Ensure Education

Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality

Goal 6: Ensure Water & Sanitation

Goal 7: Ensure Energy for All

Goal 8: Promote Economic Growth

Goal 9: Build Infrastructure; Foster Innovation

Goal 10: Reduce Inequality

Goal 11: Make Cities Sustainable

Goal 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption & Production

Goal 13: Combat Climate Change

Goal 14: Conserve Oceans

Goal 15: Protect Ecosystems

Goal 16: Promote Justice

Goal 17: Strengthen Means of Implementation

SDGs UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Earth Negotiations Bulletin:

SDGs The UN Global Compact, Global Reporting Initiative and World Business Council for Sustainable Development are also developing the “SDG Compass Project” -- a platform for understanding how to implement the SDGs and how GRI and other corporate reporting intersects with the SDGs.

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SDGs Photo credits: US Council for International Business (USCIB) org/sdgs/ org/sdgs/