Discussion Paper

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addressing Climate Change

Independent Commission on Multilateralism

February 2016

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Introduction

2015wasawatershedyearfortheUnitedNations.The2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentand the Paris Agreement on Climate Change were adopted with an unprecedented sense ofownership by member states, and both are universally applicable. The Third InternationalConference on Financing for Development and the Third World Conference on Disaster RiskReductionalsoformpartofthenewpolicyframework.

In2016,theUNhastheopportunityandthechallengetooperateunderthemostcomprehensivesustainabledevelopmentagenda in itshistory.Theopenand inclusivenatureoftheprocessthatledtotheadoptionofthe2030AgendaandtheParisAgreementonClimateChangehasrenewedtheinternationalcommunity’sfaithinmultilateralism.However,toimplementtheseoutcomes,theUNneedstochangeitsworkingmethodsandupdateitsstructuresfrom1945.

I. The2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment

OnSeptember25, 2015,at theUNSustainableDevelopment Summit,193governments took thehistoric step of adoptingthe 2030 Agenda and theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thepreambleofthe2030Agendaclearlydefinesitspurpose:“aplanofactionforpeople,planetandprosperity”thatalso“seekstostrengthenuniversalpeaceinlargerfreedom.”

The 2030 Agenda breaks manifold paradigms. First, the three fundamental pillars ofdevelopment—economic, social, and environmental—are integrated. Second, it is universallyapplicable;allcountries,fromnorthandsouth,signeduptoimplementit.Third,itincludesissuesthathadremainedoutsidethescopeofdevelopment,particularlypeaceandclimatechange.

The SDGs build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, theirdesignisentirelydifferent.AsopposedtotheMDGs,theSDGswerepainstakinglynegotiatedinaperiodofover twoyearsduringwhich193member statesparticipatedandmore than8millionpeoplefromallcornersoftheworldengaged.1Theamountofinputreceivedconfirmsthatthenewagendasharestheaspirationsof“wethepeoplesoftheUnitedNations.”AstheDeclarationofthe2030Agendaconveys,itis“acharterforpeopleandplanetinthetwenty-firstcentury.”2

The international community also recognized that current data systems lack the capacity tomeasure progress in real time. Outdated data systems make “invisible” those who are mostvulnerable.3The2030Agendacallsto“increasesignificantlytheavailabilityofhigh-quality,timely

1JimenaLeivaRoesch,“HowCanYouHaveDevelopmentWithoutPeace?InterviewwithNikhilSeth,”TheGlobalObservatory,September23,2015,availableathttp://theglobalobservatory.org/2015/09/how-can-you-have-development-without-peace-interview-with-nikhil-seth/.2UNGeneralAssemblyResolution70/1(October21,2015),UNDoc.A/RES/70/1.3IndependentExpertAdvisoryGrouponaDataRevolutionforSustainableDevelopment,“AWorldthatCounts,”November2014,availableatwww.undatarevolution.org/report/.

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and reliable data.”4However, experts convey that funding this “data revolution” is costly andrequiresinvestments,as,simplyput,“gooddata,usedwellisnotcheap.”5Theprocesstoagreeonasetofglobalindicatorsisunderwayandshouldconcludeinthespring.

AnIntegratedAgenda:MovingBeyondtheSilosApproach

The three central pillars of the United Nations—peace and security, human rights, anddevelopment—are givennewoperationalmeaning in the 2030Agenda. Thepreamblehighlightsfive essential elements that frame and reinforce the universal, integrated, and transformativenatureofasustainabledevelopmentagenda:People,Planet,Prosperity,Peace,andPartnership.

Theseventeengoalsand169correspondingtargetsintegrateeconomic,social,andenvironmentaldimensions of sustainable development. They recognize interrelationships between pressingconcernssuchasrisinginequality(SDG10),violentdeaths(SDG16),andlackofaffordablehousingand basic services (SDG 11). The following graph highlights the integrated nature of the 2030Agenda. If, for example, a member states implements SDG 5 on “gender equality andempower[ment]ofwomenandgirls,”itwouldalsoaddresstargetsrelatedtopovertyeradication,health,inequality,education,andpeacefulandinclusivesocieties.Thus,thenewSDGframeworkisanetworkinwhichallgoalsareinterconnected.

Figure1.ExplicitlinksamongSDGareasmadebytargets6

4UNGeneralAssemblyResolution70/1.5ClaireMelamedandGrantCameron,“FundingtheDataRevolution,”January20,2015,DataRevolutionGroup,availableatwww.undatarevolution.org/2015/01/20/funding-data-revolution/.6DavidLeBlanc,“TowardsIntegrationatLast?TheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsasaNetworkofTargets,”DepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairs,WorkingPaperNo.141,March2015,availableatwww.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2015/wp141_2015.pdf.

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The 2030 Agenda highlights that “eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, includingextremepoverty is thegreatest global challenge.”Progresshasbeenmade in recentdecades toreduceextremepoverty.However,“thenumberofpeoplelivinginpovertyremainsunacceptablyhigh.”7In 1990, 1.95 billion people lived on less than $1.90 per day and in 2012, 896 millioncontinuelivingbelowthepovertyline.Progresswasalsouneven,andpovertydidnotdeclineinallregionsorallcountries.WithoutsignificantchangesinpolicydirectionatmultiplelevelstoreducehumanpressureontheEarth’secosystems,aquestto“endpovertyinallitsforms”isdestinedtoget more difficult to achieve. Hunger and poverty are both causes and effects of globalenvironmental degradation and resource scarcity. Land degradation, freshwater availability, andpopulationdensityare important factors thatmanyscholarsargue influence the riskof conflict.8TheintegratedapproachcreatedbytheSDGsismorelikelytoreducepoverty.

The adverse social impact of economic downturns and shocks and extreme inequality has beenamplydemonstrated,mostrecentlybytheworldeconomiccrisis,thefoodandenergycrisis,andtheassociatedsocialandpoliticalcrisesthaterupted inmanypartsoftheworld.Food insecurityloomsparticularly largeas an international concern—one that is likely tobeexacerbatedby thecombinationof continued strongpopulation growth in some food-deficit regions, changingdietsand the demands they place on food supplies, and climate change with associated changes inprecipitationpatterns,extremeweatherevents,temperatureextremes,andpandemics.TheEbolaepidemic is an example of how a “health issue” had rippling impacts throughout society andconfirmsthevalueofhavinganintegratedframework.

Unsustainable production methods, combined with climate change, are likely to worsen theerosionanddegradationofsoilaswellaswaterscarcity,underminingthecapacityofmanyareastoproducefood.Currently,morethan60percentofecosystemsandtheirservicesaredegraded,overexploited,oralreadylost,whiletheworldpopulationisexpectedtoincreasetoaprojected9.5billionpeopleby2050.9Moreover,the2030Agendaincludesthemaindriversthatcontributetoorcatalyzeconflict.

Financingthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment

TheWorldBankGroupannouncedthatinordertoachievethe2030Agenda,“financingneedstomovefrom‘billions’inofficialdevelopmentassistanceto‘trillions’indevelopmentinvestmentsof

7WorldBank,PovertyOverview,October15,2015,availableat:http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview8ClionadhRaleighandHenrikUrdal,“ClimateChange,EnvironmentalDegradationandArmedConflict,”PoliticalGeography26,no.6(2007).9UnitedNationsTechnicalSupportTeam,CompendiumofIssueBriefsPreparedbytheUnitedNationsInter-AgencyTechnicalSupportTeamfortheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyOpenWorkingGrouponSustainableDevelopmentGoals,2014,availableathttps://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=1554&menu=35.

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allkinds.”10Publicandprivatefinancingisneededtosucceed.Persuadingtheprivatesectortojoinand operate domestically and internationally under the principles of the 2030 Agenda is afundamental task. Already, a growing number of companies have signed up to the UN GlobalCompactandother initiativesthatencourageprinciplesof responsible investmentandalignmentwiththeSDGs.11Nonetheless,theshareofinvestmentssubjecttotheaboveconsiderationsissmallcomparedtoglobalcapitalmarkets.

The stand-alone goal on means of implementation (SDG 17) is different than all the others; itcontainsfivesubsectionsthataddresssystemicissues.Thisgoalalsoincludestargetsthatarenotunderthesolepurviewofnationalgovernmentsbutneedtobeaddressedinamultilateralsetting,such as promoting a “rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral tradingsystem.”

SDG 17 is also the bridge that connects the 2030 Agendawith the Addis Ababa Action Agenda(AAAA).Bothoutcomesaredesignedtocomplementeachother.TheAddisAgendaestablishedtheFinancing for Development Forum, the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, and the GlobalInfrastructure Forum. Thesenewarrangementswill support developing countries in building thecapacitytoimplementthe2030Agenda.

The distribution of resources in theUN budget highlights the lack of balance between its threefounding pillars: peace and security, human rights, and development. Currently, the UN spends$8.3billiononfourteenpeacekeepingoperationseveryyearandapproximately$2.7billiononallthe rest of its activities. This is the total of assessed contributions per year. Clearly, theUNhasprioritized peace and security. At the same time, UN agencies are begging for resources toimplementtheircoremandates.

TheUNdevelopment system, international financial institutions (IFIs), andWorld Bank have thedauntingchallengetomobilizeresourcestosupportcountries inthe implementationofthe2030Agenda.

TheLinkBetweenSustainableDevelopmentandPeace

The link between peace and security and development has long been recognized. In its 1987report,OurCommonFuture,theBrundtlandCommissionhighlightedthatenvironmentalstresscanbeadriverandaresultofpoliticaltensionsandconflict,notingthat it israrelytheonlydriverofconflict.12In1992,headsofstateagreedonPrinciple25ofthetwenty-sevenRioPrinciples,which

10TheWorldBank,“FinancingthePost-2015DevelopmentAgenda,”2015,availableatwww.worldbank.org/mdgs/post2015.html.11TheGlobalCommissiononBusinessandSustainableDevelopmentwaslaunchedinDavos,SwitzerlandinJanuary2016(seewww.unilever.com/news/news-and-features/2016/New-global-commission-puts-business-at-heart-of-sustainable-development.html).12UnitedNations,ReportoftheWorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment, UNDoc.A/42/427,August4,1987.

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states that “peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent andindivisible.”13

Subsequently,intheMillenniumDeclaration,memberstatescommittedtoeliminatingconflictandfosteringpeaceandsecurity.14YetpeaceandsecuritywasnotpartoftheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs).Thiswasasignificantstepbackwards,asviolenceandfragilityareseenasthelargestobstacletoachievingtheMDGs.15Datafrom2013showedthattwentyconflict-affectedstateshadnotmetoneormoretargetsundertheMDGs.16Inthe2005WorldSummit,headsofstatesagainconfirmed the linkbetweenpeaceandsecurity,development,andhumanrights in thesummit’sOutcome Document.17Although this link has been recognized at the highest levels, peace andsecurityremainedoutofthescopeoftheMDGs.Moreover,intheMDG“era,”peaceandsecuritywasconsiderednecessaryonlyinthecontextofcountriesinconflictorpost-conflictsituations.

Theconceptof“peace”inthe2030Agendaisuniversal;itdoesnotcircumscribeaspecificcategoryofcountries.Thepreambleofthe2030Agendahighlightsthisshift:“Wearedeterminedtofosterpeaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be nosustainabledevelopmentwithoutpeaceandnopeacewithoutsustainabledevelopment.”

The2030Agendaalso includesa stand-alonegoalon“peacefuland inclusivesocieties,access tojustice for all and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” (SDG 16),with anumber of corresponding targets.18SDG 16 highlights that development, peace, security, andhuman rights aremutually reinforcing.19It sheds light on the essential conditions for enhancingpeace.Beyondthisdedicatedgoal,thecontentoftheSDGsandtheirfocusonsystemicissueshelptoaddressdriversofviolenceand,ultimately,conflict(seeAnnexI).

SeveraloftheSDGsincludetargetsthathaveadirectimpactonsecurity,suchastacklingincomeinequality,achievinggenderequality,andmakingcitiessafe.Other targetsaimto fosterastableeconomicandecologicalenvironmentwithfairdistributionofresources.

13UnitedNations,ReportoftheUnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment,UNDoc.151/26,August12,1992,Principle25.14UNGeneralAssemblyResolution55/L.2(September8,2000),UNDoc.A/RES/55/L.2.15UNSystemTaskTeamonthePost-2015DevelopmentAgenda,“PeaceandSecurity,”2012,availableatwww.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/untaskteam_undf/thinkpieces/14_peace_and_security.pdf.16WorldBank,“FragileandConflict-AffectedStates:SignsofProgresstotheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,”2013,availableatwww.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/05/02/fragile-and-conflict-affected-states-signs-of-progress-to-the-millennium-development-goals.17UNGeneralAssemblyResolution60/1(October24,2005),UNDoc.A/RES/60/1.18ThefulltitleoftheproposedGoal16is“Promotepeacefulandinclusivesocietiesforsustainabledevelopment,provideaccesstojusticeforallandbuildeffective,accountableandinclusiveinstitutionsatalllevels.”19SeeUNGeneralAssemblyResolution60/1(October24,2005),UNDoc.A/RES/60/1;andUNGeneralAssemblyResolution67/1(November30,2012),UNDoc.A/RES/67/1.

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II. AddressingClimateChange

Evidence abounds that human activity is causing irreparable damage to the planet’s ability tosustainlifeandhumanityasweknowit.Thereismorecarbondioxideintheatmospherenowthaninanyotherperiodofrecordedhistory,20and2015isthehottestyearonrecord.21

Theworld’s largestscientificsocietyunequivocallydeterminedthat“pushingglobaltemperaturespastcertainthresholdscouldtriggerabrupt,unpredictableandpotentiallyirreversiblechangesthathavemassivelydisruptiveandlargescaleimpacts.”22Theclimatethresholdagreedbyscientistsandmember states is an increase in global average temperature of less than 1.5–2°C above pre-industrial levels.23The longer it takes emissions to peak, themoredifficult itwill be to hold thetemperatureincreasebelowthislevel.

Already, the climate haswarmed 1.02°C since the Industrial Revolution.24If global temperaturesrises2or3degreesaboveaveragetemperature,thenwewouldbelivingina“climatecasino.”Wewouldnotknowwhattoexpect,becauseitwouldbeoutsidetherangeofobservationsmadeoverthe past 100,000 years.25Paradoxically, the countries that have contributed the least to climatechangewill bemost affected, among them the small island and low-lying developing states andmanydevelopingcountriesacrossallregions.

TheParisAgreement

The twenty-first Climate Change Conference (COP21), under the aegis of the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was held in Paris from November 30 toDecember 11, 2015. The Conference took place two weeks after the terrorist attacks in Paris.Despite security concerns, world leaders were undeterred and did not postpone COP21. TheClimateChangeConferencegainedevenmoremomentum,asitwasheldundertheaegisofpeace.FrenchPresidentFrançoisHollandestatedthat“cequiestencause,c’estlapaix”(“what’satstakehereispeace”).26

20NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA),“NASAScientistsReactto400ppmCarbonMilestone,”n.d.,availableathttp://climate.nasa.gov/400ppmquotes/.21WorldMeteorologicalOrganization,“2015LikelytoBeWarmestonRecord,2011–2015WarmestFiveYearPeriod,”November25,2015,availableatwww.wmo.int/media/content/wmo-2015-likely-be-warmest-record-2011-2015-warmest-five-year-period.22MarioMolinaet.al.,“WhatWeKnow:TheReality,Risks,andResponsetoClimateChange,”AAASClimateSciencePanel,AmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience,2014,pp.15–16.23NegotiationsonclimatechangetakeplaceundertheaegisoftheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC).SeeDecisionFCCC/CP/2010/7/add.1,March15,2011.24UKMeteorologyOffice,“GlobalTemperaturesSettoReach1°CMarkerforFirstTime,”November9,2015,availableatwww.metoffice.gov.uk/news/release/archive/2015/one-degree.25WilliamD.Nordhaus,“EconomicGrowthandClimate:TheCarbonDioxideProblem,”TheAmericanEconomicReview67,no.1(February1977),availableatwww.econ.yale.edu/~nordhaus/homepage/carbondixoideproblem.pdf.26ElisabethGilmore,“’What’satStakeHereIsPeace’:ClimateandConflictatParisTalks,”TheGlobalObservatory,December11,2015,availableathttp://theglobalobservatory.org/2015/12/cop21-climate-paris-syria-ipcc/.

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TheParisAgreementistheresultofyearsofworkundertheUNFCCC.ItbuildsontheexperienceoftheKyotoProtocol,althoughitsdesignisvastlydifferent: it isbasedona“bottom-up”approach.Each country sets its own emission reduction target through “Intended Nationally DeterminedContributions” (INDC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020. By the end of theconference,186countrieshadpresentedtheirpledge.27Also, theParisAgreement is“universallyapplicable,”akeydifferencefromtheKyotoProtocol.

The Paris Agreement contains a number of key achievements and shortcomings. Differentiatingbetweendevelopedanddevelopingcountriesinauniversalagreementwasaherculeanchallenge.Theagreement containsdifferentiation caveatsacross theentireoutcomeandoffersdevelopingcountries needed space, flexibility, and time to meet other urgent development priorities. Toachieve the overall purpose of the Agreement, the responsibility to cut emissions falls on theshouldersofallcountries.

AnotherdifficulttaskwastokeepambitionhighintheParisAgreement.Currently,theaggregatesum of greenhouse emissions from the 186 national pledges would result in an average globalincreaseof2.7°Cbytheendofthiscentury.28Thisnumbercontradictstheagreedlong-termgoalofholdingglobalaveragetemperaturebelow2°C(Article2)andisevenfartherawayfromtherequestby vulnerable countries to keep the increase to 1.5°C. To address this gap, the ParisAgreementstatesthatnationalclimateplansneedto“representaprogressionovertime”(Article3)andwillbe reviewedevery fiveyears.All countrieswill submitahigher reduction targetevery time theyupdatetheirclimateplans. Itwasalsoagreedthatemissionsneedtopeak“assoonaspossible,”andcountriesneedtoreachcarbonneutralityinthesecondhalfofthecentury(Article4).

Moreover,theParisAgreementestablishedan“enhancedtransparencyframeworkforactionandsupport”withthepurposeoftrackingprogressofeachINDC.Italsoprovidedfora“mechanismtofacilitate implementation and promote compliance.” Even with these mechanisms in place,enforcement will likely be weak, and countries can still backslide or, worse, “jump ship.” Peerpressureandayearningtoleadbyexampleremainthekeydriversforambitiousimplementation.

TheAchilles’heeloftheParisAgreementisfinance.Thequantifiedgoalofmobilizing“$100billionper year by 2020” appears only in the decision and is not an agreed obligation.Moreover, theincreaseofthequantifiedgoal ispostponeduntil2025.Onthepositiveside,Article9statesthatdeveloped countries “shall” provide financial resources. They are also required to communicatetheirlevelofsupportbiennially,includingpublicfinancialresources.

27UnitedNationsConferenceonClimateChange,“189CountriesHaveCommittedtoReducingTheirGreenhouseGasEmissions,”n.d.,availableatwww.cop21.gouv.fr/en/185-countries-have-committed-to-reducing-their-greenhouse-gas-emissions/.28ClimateActionTracker,“INDCsLowerProjectedWarmingto2.7°C:SignificantProgressbutStillabove2°C,”October1,2015,availableathttp://climateactiontracker.org/news/224/indcs-lower-projected-warming-to-2.7c-significant-progress-but-still-above-2c-.html.

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Moreover, Article 2 requests that developed countries “make financial flows consistent with apathwaytowardslowgreenhousegasemissionsandclimateresilientdevelopment.”Eventhoughitis a general statement, if taken seriously, it would need to address contradictory policies oninvestmentsindevelopmentthatarenotinthedirectionofstabilizingtheworld’sclimate.

An importantmilestoneforvulnerablecountries is theestablished long-termgoalonadaptation,makingitaglobalpriorityonparwithmitigation.Moreover,theParisAgreementalsorecognizeslossanddamageasanimportantcomponentofthenewclimatearchitecture.

Despite all the pros and cons of the Paris Agreement, delegations left Paris with a sense ofoptimism. The “spirit of Paris” counteracted the lack of trust that had become the norm in thenegotiationssince2009.Thesecretary-general’sremarksafterCOP21emphasizedthat“theParisAgreement is a victory for people, for the common good, and formultilateralism. It is a healthinsurance policy for the planet. It is the most significant action in years to uphold our Chartermandateto'savesucceedinggenerations.’”29

MemberstatesarealsoawarethattheParisAgreementisnottheonlysolutiontoclimatechange.There is growing awareness that climate change needs to be tackled by all sectors of society.Investment in new technologies and renewable energy is an essential component of reaching acarbon-neutral economy.30Technology transfer to developing countries will also accelerate therequiredglobalshifts.

TheLinkbetweenthe2030AgendaandClimateChange

Eradicatingextremepovertyandachievingsustainabledevelopmentare theoverarchinggoalsofthe2030Agenda.However,alackofambitiousmitigationandadaptationmeasurescoulddrawupto720millionpeoplebackintoextremepoverty.31ClimatechangecutsacrossallseventeenSDGs,andithasadisproportionateimpactonthepoorest.32

DuringtheUNSustainableDevelopmentSummit,memberstateswelcomedthenew“developmentfocus” on climate change provided by the 2030 Agenda, which includes a stand-alone SDG onclimatechange(SDG13).33Thisisthefirsttimeclimatechangehasbeenfullyincorporatedinthedevelopmentpolicyframework.Withtheexceptionoftheannualresolutiononclimatechangein

29UNSecretary-General,remarkstothepressfollowingreturnfromCOP21,NewYork,December14,2015,availableatwww.un.org/sg/offthecuff/index.asp?nid=4304.30Africa’sRenewableEnergyInitiativeandtheInternationalSolarAlliancearetwoimportantstrategieslaunchedinParis.Seewww.project-syndicate.org/commentary/grassroots-climate-change-agreement-by-kofi-a-annan-2015-12.31OverseasDevelopmentInstitute,“ZeroPoverty,ZeroEmissions:EradicatingExtremePovertyintheClimateCrisis,”London,September2015,availableatwww.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9844.pdf.32Themost recent Intergovernmental Panel onClimateChange (IPCC) executive summary for policymakers conveys that climatechangerisksareunevenlydistributedandaregreaterfordisadvantagedpeopleandcommunities.33SDG13istitled“Takingurgentactiontocombatclimatechangeanditsimpacts.”

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the Second Committee, there has been little overlap between policy making on sustainabledevelopmentandtheUNFCCC.

OncetheParisAgreementstartstobeimplemented,itremainstobeseenhowthe2030AgendaandtheINDCswilloverlap.Forexample,intheimplementationofSDG2to“endhunger,achievefoodsecurityandimprovenutritionandpromotesustainableagriculture,”developmentplanswillhave to take into account that industrial agriculture is currently the largest contributor ofgreenhouse gas emissions. 34 With world population on the rise, many countries face theexponential challenge to feeda growingpopulationwithhealthy foodwhile limitinggreenhousegasemissions.Effortstoeliminateagriculturalexportsubsidies(Target2.b)willalsohaveanimpactonachievingbothoutcomes.

TheLinksbetweenClimateChangeandPeaceandSecurity

Climate change can increase resource scarcity, undermine livelihoods, increase pressures formigration and forced displacement, and weaken the ability of states to provide the conditionsnecessary for human security. Itmakesdeliveringon the sustainabledevelopment agendamoredifficult and can reverse positive trends, introduce new uncertainties, and increase the costs ofbuildingresilience.35Climatechangehasthepotentialtoaffecteverypartoftheglobe.Butitsimpactcanbeparticularlysevere for vulnerable people and thosewho experience low levels of human development. Thisaddstosocialandpoliticaltensionsandcanincreasethepossibilityofarmedconflicts.36Forsmallislanddevelopingstates(SIDS),climatechangeisanexistentialthreatthatdirectlythreatenstheirterritorialintegrity.

III. ImplicationsforUNInstitutions

There is ageneralunderstanding that theUN“system” isnot fitnordesigned to implement theintegratednatureofthe2030Agenda.

An interconnected approach to peace, security, and sustainable development requires deepchanges.Whatisneededisnottocreatenewmultilateralbodiesbut,instead,tochangethewaygovernments engage in these bodies and structure their work. Instead of encroachment of theSecurityCouncilonissuesthathavebeentraditionallythepurviewoftheGeneralAssembly,there

34GolanRadha,“TheWinterofOurDisconnectandtheNeglectofSoil,”TheWire,January13,2016,http://thewire.in/2016/01/13/the-winter-of-our-disconnect-and-the-neglect-of-soil-19179/#disqus_thread.35W.NealAdgeretal.,“HumanSecurity,”inClimateChange2014:Impacts,Adaptation,andVulnerability,PartA:GlobalandSectoralAspects,ContributionofWorkingGroupIItotheFifthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(NewYork,NY:CambridgeUniversityPress,2014).36Ibid.

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isaneedforgreatercoherenceandalignmentbetweentheGeneralAssembly,EconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC),andSecurityCouncil.

Currently,thereisasomewhatarbitrarydivisionamonginstitutionsandbodiesworkingonpeaceandsecurity,sustainabledevelopment,andclimatechange.ThereisafurtherdivideinUNworkonsustainabledevelopment—conducted in theGeneralAssembly,ECOSOC,and thenewHigh-LevelPoliticalForumonSustainableDevelopment.TherehasbeenlittlesubstantiveinteractionamongtheworkoftheGeneralAssembly,theSecurityCouncil, ECOSOC, the Peacebuilding Commission, and governing bodies of UN systemorganizations. This has hindered the international community’s ability to address the linkagesbetween sustainable development and peace and security. At the same time, aspects of theselinkageshavestartedtoappearontheagendaofsomeofthosebodies.The General Assembly addresses a range of issues from peace and security to sustainabledevelopmentanditsvariousdimensions.Butthereisalmosta“firewall”betweenwhatitdoesinthe area of peace and security andwhat it does on sustainable development, each of which isaddressed by separatemain committees. TheGeneral Assembly, however,may convene specialsessionsoreventsonissuesrelatedtopeace,security,andsustainabledevelopment.Thepresidentof the sixty-eighth session conveneda special eventon “ensuring stableandpeaceful societies,”whichcontributedtotheagreedoutcome.TheSecurityCouncil,on itspart,hasappeared increasinglyawareof the impactofdevelopmentissues on security. In 2014, it called for a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention andsustainablepeace,whichcomprises,amongotherfactors,“promotingsustainedeconomicgrowth,povertyeradication,socialdevelopmentandsustainabledevelopment.”Italsoaskedthesecretary-generaltoanalyzethepotentialconflictsituationsarisingfromfactorssuchaspovertyandlackofdevelopment.37Thelatestopendebateon“security,developmentandtherootcausesofconflict”washeldonNovember16,2015.TheSecurityCouncilhasalsoaddresseddevelopment issueswithsecurity implicationsonseveraloccasions. It held its first-everdebateon the impactof climate changeonpeaceand security inApril 2007. In 2014, it recognized its responsibility for sustainable development issues, includingclimate change. It expressed concern about the potential long-term impact climate change canhave on existing threats to international peace and security, as well as about the securityimplicationsof lossof territorybysomestates (inparticular islandstates).38TheSecurityCouncil

37UNSecurityCouncilResolution2171(August21,2014),UNDoc.S/RES/2171.38UnitedNations,StatementbythePresidentoftheSecurityCouncil,UNDoc.S/PRST/2011/15,July20,2011.

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hasalsoaddressedtheroleofnaturalresourcesinarmedconflictsandpost-conflictsituations.39ItadoptedaresolutiononHIV/AIDSin2011andoneonEbolainSeptember2014.Italsoadoptedaresolutiononyouth,peaceandsecurityin2015.At the same time, somemember states object to the Security Council addressing developmentissues. In 2013, an attempt to recognize climate change as an international security threatwasopposedbyalargenumberofcountries.Thisreflects,inpart,concernsabouttheSecurityCouncil’slimited membership and a desire to avoid encroaching on the responsibilities of the GeneralAssemblyandECOSOC.Within the Economic and Social Council, there has been a disconnect between discussions onhumanitarianissuesandthoseondevelopment,whichareaddressedintwodifferentsegmentsofthe council. Thereareotherpositiveexperiences, suchas ECOSOC’s consultative grouponHaiti.ThegrouphasfocusedonpromotingthesustainabilityofdevelopmentassistancetoHaitiandonensuring aid effectiveness, while also advocating for long-term action on development in thecontext of peace and security. ECOSOC has also held joint meetings with the PeacebuildingCommissioninthepast.Forexample,thetwobodieshelda jointeventonyouthemployment inJune2012.Butthediscussionsatthesemeetingsremainedatafairlygeneral levelandwerenotveryconclusive.Theoutcomesweresummariesratherthanagreedandactionableoutcomes.ThePeacebuildingCommission(PBC), initscountryconfigurations, integratescountries’strategicframeworks for peacebuilding with aspects related to peace and security, development, andhumanrights.Ithasheldimportantmeetings,forexample,toaddressconditionalitiesincountriesemergingfromconflict.ThereportofthePBChasbeendiscussedintheGeneralAssemblyandintheSecurityCouncil.ThereportoftheAdvisoryGroupofExperts(AGE)onthe2015ReviewoftheUN Peacebuilding Architecture recommends that the relevant goals and targets adopted in the2030 Agenda be “the basis against which to assess global-level and country progress towardssustainingpeace.”As the synthesis report of the secretary-general notes, the High-Level Political Forum onSustainable Development (HLPF) is an “important institutional innovation that emerged fromRio+20.”40The HLPF has been tasked with steering, promoting, and reviewing progress in theimplementationofsustainabledevelopmentcommitmentsandtheirmeansof implementation. Itis to provide high-level policy guidance; promote policies that integrate economic, social, andenvironmentaldimensionsofsustainabledevelopment;andaddressnewissues.Asof2016,itwillbetheoverarchingplatformforthefollow-upandreviewoftheSDGs.

39UnitedNations,StatementbythePresidentoftheSecurityCouncil,UNDoc.S/PRST/2007/22,June25,2007.40UnitedNations,“TheRoadtoDignityby2030,”December4,2014,para.150.

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IV. ConclusionandRecommendations

Overall, all intergovernmental bodies should constantly bear in mind the peace and securityimplicationsof sustainabledevelopment, andviceversa.Theirwork shouldbegrounded in solidanalytical work and evidence from the country level. In turn, they should provide impetus forintegrating sustainable development concerns in special political missions and in peacekeepingoperations, for example, and imbuing development work with an awareness of conflict-relateddynamics.Risksassociatedwiththechangingclimateshouldalsobetakenintoaccount.

Stronger linkages should also be built between UN bodies in the sustainable development andpeace and security areas. This will make it possible to bring urgent situations requiring holisticapproachestotheattentionofrelevantbodies.Atthesametime,politicalsensitivitiesshouldbetaken into account, and appropriate linkages shouldbemadebetween theworkof the SecurityCouncil,GeneralAssembly,ECOSOC,andHigh-LevelPoliticalForum.

The2030Agendarequiresbreakingaway fromsiloapproachesandopening thedoor forholisticand integrated solutions at all levels. To address the complex interlinkages between peace,sustainabledevelopment,andclimatechange,itisnecessarytostrengthennational,regional,andglobal institutions. These institutions need to adoptmore holistic approaches, reflecting on thediversedriversofsustainabledevelopment.

Countries need to work together to strengthen international cooperation on these issues andfosterastrongermultilateralsystem.Suchasystemshouldbesupportedbyinstitutionsthatworkinunisonandareequippedtoassistcountriesinrespondingtosustainabledevelopment,climatechange,andpeaceandsecuritychallenges.

Inhissynthesisreport,thesecretary-generalremindstheinternationalcommunitythatitisfacinguniversalchallengesthat“demandnewheightsofmultilateralactionbasedonevidenceandbuilton shared values, principles, and priorities for a common destiny.” 41 Building effective andinterconnectedinstitutionsattheUnitedNations,suchastheHigh-LevelPoliticalForum(HLPF),isanessentialcomponenttoensureprogressontheimplementationofthe2030Agenda.

There are a number of events in 2016 that can support coherent implementation of the 2030Agenda and Paris Agreement. The president of the General Assembly’s High-Level Event on the2030Agenda(April21st)andsubsequentsecretary-general’seventontheParisAgreement (April22nd)provideuniqueopportunitiestolookatbothoutcomesasthenewcomprehensivevisionofsustainabledevelopment.

TheICMputsforwardthefollowingpreliminaryrecommendations:

41UnitedNations,“TheRoadtoDignityby2030,”para.14.

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1. Build a common vision: The 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement are two universalagreementsthatconstituteanewworldvision.Theycanbeonepowerfulagendaforglobaltransformation. However, these two outcomes require integrated planning at all levels.Nationalplansandstrategiescanbecomemoreholisticandmoreeffectiveinthelongtermiftheytakebothoutcomesintoaccount(theSDGsandnationalclimateplans).

2. Keep the momentum going: Although the Paris Agreement and the SDGs have alreadygainedtheattentionofworldleadersandtopmediaoutlets,awarenessoftheseoutcomesneedstobemorewidespread.Thesenormative frameworksneedtobe locallyowned. Indeveloped countries, a shift toward implementing internationally agreed global goalsdomestically is a new challenge. Champions of the SDGs, from political to business toacademic leaders,shouldbeenlistedtosupport implementation.Therecentappointmentof “eminent advocates” to increaseawareness and implementationof the SDGs is a stepforward,andthesekindsofchampionsshouldalsobe identifiedat theregional,national,andlocallevels.

3. Promote long-term political leadership: Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and ParisAgreement is possible only with sustained political leadership beyond terms of office.Constant attention to the delivery of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement is needed.Citizens, civil society, youth can keep the pressure on and hold leaders accountable fortimely implementation. This new vision requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Several member states are putting in place inter-ministerialarrangementsinordertoencourageintegratedimplementationofthe2030Agendaatthegovernment level. Involvement of the Ministry of Finance is key to unlock domesticresources.BreakingthesilosisnotonlyachallengefortheUNbutalsoatthenationallevel.Asmember states start toprepare to implement theParisAgreement, the SDGsand theINDCsshouldbecomecoreprioritiesofnationalplans.

4. Transcend“siloed”structures:TheUN’ssiloedsystemhasreachedacrisispoint.Structurescreatedin1945arenotfunctioningin2016.The2030AgendarecognizedthattheUNcanno longer work in separate compartments with little cooperation, or even interaction,between them (GeneralAssembly, ECOSOC,HumanRightsCouncil, and SecurityCouncil).Themain intergovernmental structuresneedanewmodusoperandi.Therevitalizationofthe General Assembly is a priority. The work of the six committees of the GeneralAssembly—particularly the work of the Second and Third Committees—needs to beevaluated to reduce duplication, augment impact on the ground, and support theimplementation of the new outcomes. The sheer number of resolutions adopted in theSecond and Third Committees (forty-three resolutions and fifty-seven resolutions,

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respectively) highlights the need to reflect on and discuss the adoption of coherent andstrategicworkprograms.

5. UN top leadership must show the way: The Chief Executives Board (CEB),42the specialadviser on the 2030Agenda, and the assistant secretary-general on climate change haveuniquecapacitiestoalignthesystemtowardeffectiveimplementation.Thenewsecretary-generalshouldmakeimplementationofthe2030AgendaandtheParisAgreementherorhistoppriority.

6. Create a dynamic and inclusive follow-up of the 2030 Agenda: The High-Level PoliticalForum(HLPF)hastheuniversalparticipationofallmemberstates. Itsmeetingsshouldbedynamicandshouldcarryonthespiritinwhichthe2030Agendawasnegotiated.Itshouldinclude participation of “movers and shakers” of civil society and the private sector. TheHLPFalsoneedstobethebridgebetweencommunitiesofpolicymakersandpractitionersthatarenotusedtoworkingtogether,suchasbydiscussingthelinksbetweentheSDGsandINDCs.TheHLPFalsoneedstoremaintruetotheintegratednatureofthe2030Agenda.Asthe discussion on the follow-up and review moves forward, it will be tempting topragmatically repackage the SDGs into discrete categories. This would go against theintegrated design of the SDGs. The overarching theme of the HLPF should be onimplementationatalllevels.

7. Review funding strategies (assessed and voluntary contributions): The work of the UN

developmentsystemlargelyfollowsthenatureofthefundingitreceives.Thelackofcoreand flexible funding in the UN development system has increased fragmentation andcompetition.43Assessed contributions frommember states should reflect greater balancebetweenthethreemainpillarsoftheUN:peaceandsecurity,humanrights,andsustainabledevelopment.

8. Matchtheambitiousgoals inthe2030Agendawithsubstantialresources:Domesticandinternationalresourceswillneedtobeleveragedtoimplementthe2030Agenda.In2016,developedcountriesneedtoscaleupofficialdevelopmentassistance(ODA)tosupportthepoorest and most vulnerable populations, particularly in countries that do not attractforeign direct investment. International resource flows to developing countries areestimated to amount to $2 trillion annually, coming from a variety of sources.44Theseresourceflowsshouldsupport,orattheveryleastnotcontradict,prioritiessetinthe2030

42TheCEBhaditsfirstmeetingontheimplementationofthe2030Agenda.43Secretary-general’sreportontheQCPR(advanceduneditedversion,28December2015).44DevelopmentInitiatives,“InvestmentstoEndPoverty,”2015,http://devinit.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Investments-to-End-Poverty-highlights.pdf.

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AgendaandParisAgreement.Innovativesourcesoffinancing,suchasaddingaminimalfeetoairlinetickets,canincreasetheamountofresourcesforsustainabledevelopment.

9. Increase the role of the private sector: Currently, there are 8,400 corporations in 150countries participating in the Global Compact.45Increased participation by the privatesector in the implementationof the2030AgendaandParisAgreement iskey to leveragethe needed additional resources. The UN, led by its member states, should strengthencooperationwiththeprivatesectorbasedontheagreedprinciplesofthe2030Agendaandthe Paris Agreement. The president of the General Assembly could launch anintergovernmentalprocesstofurtherstrengthenthisrelationship.

10. Increase investmentforevidence-basedmonitoringandreview:Acriticaleffortneedstobemade to build capacities to gather, process, and use data to strengthen the decisionmakingofmultilateralinstitutions,aswellasnationalgovernments.46TheSDGs’targetsandglobalindicatorswillprovidetheoverallframeworkfortheseefforts—nationally,regionally,and globally. However, there is a risk that the reporting infrastructure becomes tooprescriptiveandonerousfordevelopingcountrieswithlimitedresources.Anextraeffortisneeded tosupportcollectionofdisaggregateddataascalled for in the2030Agenda.Thesecretary-general’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution makesfurtherkeyrecommendations.

11. Strengthen the link between peace and sustainable development: Successfulimplementationofthe2030Agendadependsonstrategicandcomprehensivefollow-upofalltargetsandglobalindicatorsrelatedtopeace.Therearerisks,however,ofconcentratingexclusively on SDG 16, thereby contributing to the UN siloed structure and limiting thebenefitsofimplementingacomprehensiveagendathatlooksatallthedriversthatleadtopeaceandsustainabledevelopment.

12. UpdateSDG13:AftertheParisConferenceonClimateChange,thetargets inSDG13andsubsequentglobalindicatorsneedtofall inlinewiththeoutcomesachievedintheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC).

45GeorgKell,interviewwithUNNewsCentre,June23,2015,availableatwww.un.org/apps/news/newsmakers.asp?NewsID=122.46GlobalPartnershipforSustainableDevelopmentData,availableatwww.data4sdgs.org/#intro.

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AnnexI

Table1.SDGtargetsfocusingonpeace47

Target Goal4.7 By2030,ensurethatalllearnersacquireknowledgeand

skillsneededtopromotesustainabledevelopment,includingamongothers,througheducationforsustainabledevelopmentandsustainablelifestyles,humanrights,genderequality,promotionofacultureofpeaceandnon-violence,globalcitizenship,andappreciationofculturaldiversityandofculture’scontributiontosustainabledevelopment

Ensureinclusiveandequitablequalityeducationandpromotelife-longlearningopportunitiesforall

5.1 Endallformsofdiscriminationagainstallwomenandgirlseverywhere

Achievegenderequalityandempowerallwomenandgirls

5.2 Eliminateallformsofviolenceagainstallwomenandgirlsinpublicandprivatespheres,includingtraffickingandsexualandothertypesofexploitation

5.3 Eliminateallharmfulpractices,suchaschild,early,andforcedmarriageandfemalegenitalmutilation

5.5 Ensurewomen’sfullandeffectiveparticipationandequalopportunitiesforleadershipatalllevelsofdecisionmakinginpolitical,economic,andpubliclife

5.c Adoptandstrengthensoundpoliciesandenforceablelegislationforthepromotionofgenderequalityandtheempowermentofallwomenandgirlsatalllevels

6.2 By2030,achieveaccesstoadequateandequitablesanitationandhygieneforall,andendopendefecation,payingspecialattentiontotheneedsofwomenandgirlsandthoseinvulnerablesituations

Ensureavailabilityandsustainablemanagementofwaterandsanitationforall

8.7 Takeimmediateandeffectivemeasurestosecuretheprohibitionandeliminationoftheworstformsofchildlabour,eradicateforcedlabour,andby2025endchildlabourinallitsformsincludingrecruitmentanduseofchildsoldiers

Promotesustained,inclusive,andsustainableeconomicgrowth,fullandproductiveemployment,anddecentworkforall

47UnitedNations,ReportoftheOpenWorkingGroupoftheGeneralAssemblyonSustainableDevelopmentGoals,UNDoc.A/68/970,August12,2014.

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10.2 By2030,empowerandpromotethesocial,economic,andpoliticalinclusionofall,irrespectiveofage,sex,disability,race,ethnicity,origin,religion,oreconomicorotherstatus

Reduceinequalitywithinandamongcountries

10.3 Ensureequalopportunityandreduceinequalitiesofoutcome,includingthrougheliminatingdiscriminatorylaws,policies,andpracticesandpromotingappropriatelegislation,policies,andactionsinthisregard

10.7 Facilitateorderly,safe,regular,andresponsiblemigrationandmobilityofpeople,includingthroughimplementationofplannedandwell-managedmigrationpolicies

16.1 Significantlyreduceallformsofviolenceandrelateddeathrateseverywhere

Promotepeacefulandinclusivesocietiesforsustainabledevelopment,provideaccesstojusticeforallandbuildeffective,accountable,andinclusiveinstitutionsatalllevels

16.2 Endabuse,exploitation,trafficking,andallformsofviolenceandtortureagainstchildren

16.3 Promotetheruleoflawatthenationalandinternationallevelsandensureequalaccesstojusticeforall

16.4 By2030,significantlyreduceillicitfinancialandarmsflows,strengthenrecoveryandreturnofstolenassets,andcombatallformsoforganizedcrime

16.5 Substantiallyreducecorruptionandbriberyinallitsforms16.6 Developeffective,accountableandtransparent

institutionsatalllevels16.7 Ensureresponsive,inclusive,participatory,and

representativedecisionmakingatalllevels16.8 Broadenandstrengthentheparticipationofdeveloping

countriesintheinstitutionsofglobalgovernance16.9 By2030,providelegalidentityforallincludingbirth

registration16.10 Ensurepublicaccesstoinformationandprotect

fundamentalfreedomsinaccordancewithnationallegislationandinternationalagreements

16.a Strengthenrelevantnationalinstitutions,includingthroughinternationalcooperation,forbuildingcapacitiesatalllevels,inparticularindevelopingcountries,forpreventingviolenceandcombatingterrorismandcrime

16.b Promoteandenforcenon-discriminatorylawsandpoliciesforsustainabledevelopment

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AnnexIITimelineofKeyMultilateralEventsandDecisions

EffortstoaddressclimatechangebeganattheRioEarthSummitin1992,wheretheRioConventionincluded the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Theconventionistheprincipalmultilateralframeworkonclimatechange,anditsultimateobjectiveisto stabilize the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in order to avoid“dangerousanthropogenicinterferencewiththeclimatesystem.”TheUNFCCCenteredintoforceonMarch21,1994,andhasnear-universalmembership,with195parties.

The main objective of the annual Conference of Parties (COP) is to review the convention’simplementation.ThefirstCOPtookplaceinBerlinin1995,andsignificantmeetingssincethenhaveincludedCOP3,where theKyotoProtocolwasadopted;COP11,where theMontrealActionPlanwas produced; COP15 in Copenhagen, where an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol wasunfortunatelynotrealized;COP17inDurban,wheretheGreenClimateFundwasestablished;andfinally,COP21,wheretheParisAgreement,auniversalandbindingoutcomewasadopted.

ClimateChange

1979—ThefirstWorldClimateConference(WCC)tookplaceinGeneva.1988—TheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)wasestablished.1990—ThefirstIPCCassessmentreportwasissued.TheIPCCandthesecondWorldClimateConferencecalledforaglobaltreatyonclimatechange.TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblynegotiationsonanewglobalframeworkbegan.

1992—AttheEarthSummitinRiodeJaneiro,theUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)wasopenedforsignaturealongwithotherRioConventions:theUnitedNationsConventiononBiodiversity(UNCBD)andUnitedNationsConventiononCombatingDesertification(UNCCD).

1994—UNFCCCenteredintoforce.1997—TheKyotoProtocolwasformallyadoptedatthethirdConferenceoftheParties(COP3)undertheaegisoftheUNFCCC.TheKyotoProtocolestablishedemissionreductioncommitmentsfordevelopedcountries.TheUnitedStatesneverratifiedtheKyotoProtocol.2005—TheKyotoProtocolenteredintoforce.ThefirstMeetingofthePartiestotheKyotoProtocol(MOP1)tookplaceinMontreal.

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2007—TheIPCC'sFourthAssessmentReportwasissued.Itsfindingscausedalarmandignitedgreaterawarenessoftheadverseimpactsofclimatechange.AtCOP13,thepartiesagreedontheBaliRoadMap,whichchartedthewaytowardapost–KyotoProtocoloutcome.2009—TheCopenhagenAccordwasnegotiatedbyafewcountriesatCOP15inCopenhagen.Thisoutcomewasnotadoptedbyconsensus;itwasonly“takennoteof”bytheCOP.Memberstateslatersubmittedvoluntaryemissionsreductionpledgesormitigationactionpledges.

2010—TheCancunAgreementswereadoptedatCOP16.Thiswasanimportantmeeting,giventhefailedoutcomeof2009,andtheCancunAgreementsincorporatedmanyoftheelementsoftheCopenhagenAccord.2011—ThepartiestotheUNFCCCestablishedtheDurbanPlatformforEnhancedAction,withthemandatetodeliverauniversalagreementby2015thatwouldenterintoforceby2020,andtheGreenClimateFundwasoperationalized.2012—TheDohaAmendmenttotheKyotoProtocolwasadopted.2013—Keydecisionswereadopted,includingontheGreenClimateFundandlong-termfinance,theWarsawFrameworkforREDDPlus,andtheWarsawInternationalMechanismforLossandDamage.Theconcept“IntendedNationallyDeterminedContributions”wasagreedonbymemberstates,whichpavedthewayforthenewclimatearchitecture.2014— TheLimaCallforClimateActionwasadoptedatCOP20inLima,Peru.Thisoutcomeclarifiedconceptsandideasthatpavedthewayfortheresultsin2015.2015—TheParisAgreementonClimateChangewasadoptedatCOP21inParis,France.Thiscomprehensiveagreementcontainsasetofdecisionsandalegallybindingtreatythatshouldsupportambitiousclimateactiontoensureasustainablefutureforthenextgenerations.

SustainableDevelopment

1969—JacksonReport48

• SirRobertJackson49putforwardapackageofrecommendationstostreamlinetheactivitiesoftheUNdevelopmentsystem,includingUNDP,ECOSOC,andinter-agencycoordination.

• Asaresult,UNDPestablishedanewsystemofcountryprogramming,itsheadquarterswerereorganized,andtheTechnicalAssistanceandSpecialFundprogramsweremerged.

48TheGoverningCouncilofUNDPrequestedanassessmentoftheneedsofdevelopingcountriesrelatedtothecapacityoftheUNsystem.49SirRobertJackson(Australia)wasaformerunder-secretary-generalfortheUnitedNations.

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1974—SixthSpecialSessionoftheGA

• A Declaration and a Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New InternationalEconomic Order were adopted, although these documents were not welcomed by alldevelopedcountries.

• TheDeclarationincludedrecommendationsontherestructuringoftheeconomicandsocialsectorsoftheUNsystem.

1975—GardnerReport50

• The report described a process of institutional restructuring to address the followingweaknesses of the UN development system: (1) fragmentation of effort; (2) decision-making; (3) working methods; (4) decentralization and coordination; and (5) artificialseparationofplanningandoperations.

• Asaresult,anAdHocCommitteeontheRestructuringoftheEconomicandSocialSectorsoftheUNwasestablished.

1978–1979—BrantCommission51

• The commission was tasked to study the major consequences of economic and socialdisparities,anditrecommended:alarge-scaletransferofresourcestodevelopingcountries,an international energy strategy, a global food program, and major reforms in theinternationaleconomicsystem.

• Thecommissionalsorecommendedconveningsummitswithalimitednumberofheadsofgovernment from the North and South (one summit was held, with no major reformbreakthroughsachieved).

1984–1987—BrundtlandCommission52

• The commission presented a comprehensive assessment of the trend in environmentaldegradation and economic development and recommended merging the issue of theenvironmentwithdevelopmentinordertoachieve“sustainabledevelopment.”

• Thecommissionmadeconcreterecommendationstotacklethefollowingareas:populationgrowth,foodsecurity,biodiversityloss,energy,industry,andhumansettlements.53

50Thegroupwasformedbytwenty-fiveexpertsfromthefollowingcountries:Argentina,Brazil,Denmark,Egypt,France,Germany,India,Iran,Jamaica,Japan,Morocco,theNetherlands,Nigeria,Pakistan,Peru,SierraLeone,theSovietUnion,SriLanka,Tanzania,theUnitedKingdom,theUnitedStates,Venezuela,Yugoslavia,andZaire.51Eighteeneminentpersonsparticipatedinthecommission,withWillyBrandt,formerchancelloroftheFederalRepublicofGermany,asitschairman.52Thesecretary-generalappointedGro-HarlemBrundtland(Norway)aschairandMansourKhalid(Sudan)asvice-chair.Twentyhigh-levelexpertsparticipatedintheirindividualcapacity.53Thisreportled,inpart,totheUnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopmentinRiodeJaneiroin1992.

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1991—NordicUnitedNationsProject

• TheNordiccountrieslaunchedastudyonUNreforminthesocialandeconomicfields. ItsfindingsinfluencedthenewgovernancesystemforUNDP,UNFPA,andUNICEFbyreplacingtheirgoverningbodieswithsmallerexecutivebodies.

1992—UnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment

• TheconferenceadoptedtheRioDeclarationonEnvironmentandDevelopment,includingtheRioprinciples,theUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCC),andtheUnitedNationsConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD).

• Severalmechanismswereestablishedincluding:theCommissiononSustainableDevelopment,theInter-AgencyCommitteeonSustainableDevelopment,andtheHigh-LevelAdvisoryBoardonSustainableDevelopment.

1994—AnAgendaforDevelopment

• Secretary-GeneralBoutros-Ghalipresentedthisinitiativetosupplementhisagendaforpeace,highlightingtheneedtointegratepeace,environmentalprotection,socialjustice,anddemocracy.

2000—MillenniumDeclaration

• Secretary-GeneralKofiAnnanreleasedthereport“WethePeoples:TheRoleoftheUNinthe21stCentury.”

• MemberstatesadoptedtheMillenniumDeclaration,whichformedthebasisfortheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.

2002—MonterreyConsensus

• Landmarkframeworkforaglobalpartnershipseekingtoeradicatepovertyandtotackleseveralofthestructuralcausesofpoverty.

2006–2007—System-WideCoherence

• TheHigh-LevelPanelonSystem-WideCoherenceintheareasofdevelopment,humanitarianassistance,andtheenvironmentreleaseditsreport,“DeliveringasOne.”

• Thereportproposedtenareasthatneededreform.• Thereportrecommendedanewoperatingprocedureforcoordinationatthecountrylevel.

2010

• MemberstatesconsolidatedfourbodiesthathadsimilarmandatesongenderequalityandtheempowermentofwomenintoonesingleentityasUNWomen.

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2012—High-LevelPanelonGlobalSustainability54

• LaunchedareportaheadoftheRio+20Conferencetitled“ResilientPeople,ResilientPlanet:AFutureWorthChoosing.”

• Thepanelproposedarangeofconcreterecommendationsfocusedontheintegrationofthethreepillarsofdevelopment.Severaloftherecommendationswhereincorporatedintotheoutcomeoftheconference.

2012—UnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopment

• The conferenceadopted theoutcomedocument “TheFutureWeWant,”which launchedtheprocesstodefinetheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.55

• The conference also established the High-Level Political Forum and replaced theCommissiononSustainableDevelopment.

2013—High-LevelPoliticalForum(HLPF)56

• TheHLPFisthemainUNplatformforSustainableDevelopment.• Itsmandateistofollowuptheimplementationofsustainabledevelopmentcommitments

andtoaddressemergingchallenges.• TheHLPFmeetseveryyearundertheauspicesofECOSOCandeveryfouryearsatthelevel

ofheadsofstateandgovernmentintheGeneralAssembly.

2013–2014—OpenWorkingGroupontheSustainableDevelopmentGoals

• Theopenworkinggroupadoptedareportthatdefined17SustainableDevelopmentGoalsand169targets.57

2015—2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment

• On September 25, 2015, at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, worldleaders adopted resolution A/RES/70/1, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda forSustainableDevelopment.”

• The 2030 Agenda includes the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals andcorrespondingtargets.

• Currently, there is aprocess todevelopglobal indicators,which shouldbeagreedby theStatisticalCommissioninMarch2016.

54Co-chairedbyH.E.PresidentTarjaHalonen(Finland).Twenty-twohigh-levelexpertsparticipatedintheirindividualcapacity.55TheGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheoutcomedocumentinresolutionA/RES/66/288.56TheGeneralAssemblyadoptedthemodalitiesoftheHLPFinresolutionA/RES/67/290.57A/68/970.

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2015—ParisAgreementonClimateChange

• OnDecember12, 2015,parties to theUnitedNations FrameworkConventiononClimateChangeadoptedtheParisAgreement(FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1).

• TheParisAgreementcontainsasetofdecisionsandalegallybindingtreatythatwillenterintoforceafterfifty-fivecountriesrepresentingatleast55percentoftotalgreenhousegasemissionsratifyit.

• The Paris Agreement is an ambitious, universal framework to reduce greenhouse gasemissions

2015-2016—UNFitforPurpose

• TheUNdevelopmentsystemisdiscussinghowitwillimplementthe2030Agenda.• ECOSOCisholdingregularmeetingsonthe“Long-TermPositioningoftheUNDevelopment

System.”

www.icm2016.org