Global Ecovillage Network and the Commons Cluster
Rob Wheeler Global Ecovillage Network and the Commons Cluster rob.wheeler@ecovillage.org
I have been participating in the HLPF, OWG, CSD, WSSD, Rio+20 and other UN sustainable development processes for more than 20 years. I thus have a number of suggestions that I think could be helpful in conducting a focused and systematic thematic reviews of progress on the SDGs. I want to begin by mentioning and supporting a number of recommendations from the Secretary-General’s report, which are in blue text below.
29. The HLPF must look at the impact of today’s trends and policy choices on the SDGs – 10, 15 or 30 years from now. Yes, this is essential; and we must also look at the extent to which humanity continues to undercut its ability to live sustainably on the earth - for example we continue to exceed planetary boundaries and the carrying capacity of the earth and have disrupted both small and large water cycles. Only by taking a holistic integrated approach towards reviewing progress on such challenges will we be able to adopt fully sustainable practices.
34.The HLPF Ministerial Declaration should capture the essence of the vision and policy recommendations of the multiple platforms etc. and translate them into political guidance on further action. This is essential and must be as substantive and forward thinking as possible. Paragraph 37 addresses the need for the UNGA main committees to translate the HLPF outcomes into more detailed high-level guidance particularly as relates to the major UN international conferences and summits the UNGA follows. This is also essential and must be integrated with recommended policies and legislative action that need to be taken by governments at the national and local level. P 54. Suggests that a simple template be used for collecting input. I suggest adding a 7th category - that of addressing the remaining gaps on the means and mechanisms for funding and implementation. (i) an assessment of areas of progress and setback at the global level; (ii) the identification of areas requiring urgent attention; (iii) valuable lessons learned; (iv) emerging issues; (v) areas where political guidance by the HLPF is required; and (vi) policy recommendations and tools to accelerate progress. 67. refers to Multistakeholder dialogues. These were once one of the most productive sessions from both the OWG on the SDGs and from CSD and should be reinstated as a part of every HLPF process. 68.Non-Governmental Organizations, business and other major groups and other stakeholders could also be encouraged to announce their commitments for achieving the SDGs, with measurable milestones and deliverables. YES
81. Yes, Comprehensive reviews should be synthesized ahead of the HLPF session, along with being presented in a more concise way during the HLPF. In addition to the components the SG’s report mentioned:
National reports should also describe the extent of progress in putting means of implementation in place and in achieving the targets and indicators identify who is still not participating in local, regional and national processes what will need to be done to substantially increase the level of implementation extent to which the national strategy is participatory, inclusive, open, drives policy, is legislative in orientation, etc. The Chart on Paragraph 99 for clustering goals is very good, but the theme for 2017 needs to be broadened to include protection and restoration of the natural environment. It could thus read: ensuring food security, creating resiliency and restoring the natural environment. And the theme for 2018 should focus not only on cities but instead be titled and focus on all human settlements thus also villages, towns and urban communities of all sizes.
So, again we agree that the we should group the goals into clusters of closely related SDGs using a nexus approach; and then focus on the interlinkages that exist between each cluster and all of the rest of the targets and goals as well.
Education for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Consumption and Production, and Goal 17 should also all be included in all sessions of the HLPF as cross cutting themes upon which the implementation of the different Goals and Targets must be based; and should be included as cross-cutting themes in the review of and in the National Reports as well. Each year the individual goals should be reviewed by themselves as stand alone goals, along with being considered as a part of an integrated cluster.
Guidelines should be established for implementing the SDGs at the national and local level and this should include the need to integrate all of the relevant MEAs and international sustainable development conventions and agreements in the process as well. We need to ensure that all countries are following up on the major commitments in a cross-sectoral integrated manner at the local, regional and national levels - including NSSDs, ESD, SCP, Aichi Accords on Biodiversity, the PRSPs, etc. National Reports and the global review process should look at how the interlinkages apply at a community based level as well. We need to recognize that the need to restore the natural environment and protect planetary ecosystems underlies everything else that we do and our ability to achieve the SDGs as a whole. We need to recognize that most of those facing extreme poverty live in rural areas and communities and in impoverished urban communities and informal settlements - The HLPF needs to include a specific focus on them.
One of if not the most important function and purposes of the HLPF should be to raise global awareness about what is and needs to be done on each cluster or issue/goal area. As such the HLPF should include Theme Implementation Days that focus specifically on the best that is being done, any and every where in the world, in regards to that theme or cluster area on that day.
I have been participating in the HLPF, OWG, CSD, WSSD, Rio+20 and other UN sustainable development processes for more than 20 years. I thus have a number of suggestions that I think could be helpful in conducting a focused and systematic thematic reviews of progress on the SDGs. I want to begin by mentioning and supporting a number of recommendations from the Secretary-General’s report, which are in blue text below.
29. The HLPF must look at the impact of today’s trends and policy choices on the SDGs – 10, 15 or 30 years from now. Yes, this is essential; and we must also look at the extent to which humanity continues to undercut its ability to live sustainably on the earth - for example we continue to exceed planetary boundaries and the carrying capacity of the earth and have disrupted both small and large water cycles. Only by taking a holistic integrated approach towards reviewing progress on such challenges will we be able to adopt fully sustainable practices.
34.The HLPF Ministerial Declaration should capture the essence of the vision and policy recommendations of the multiple platforms etc. and translate them into political guidance on further action. This is essential and must be as substantive and forward thinking as possible. Paragraph 37 addresses the need for the UNGA main committees to translate the HLPF outcomes into more detailed high-level guidance particularly as relates to the major UN international conferences and summits the UNGA follows. This is also essential and must be integrated with recommended policies and legislative action that need to be taken by governments at the national and local level. P 54. Suggests that a simple template be used for collecting input. I suggest adding a 7th category - that of addressing the remaining gaps on the means and mechanisms for funding and implementation. (i) an assessment of areas of progress and setback at the global level; (ii) the identification of areas requiring urgent attention; (iii) valuable lessons learned; (iv) emerging issues; (v) areas where political guidance by the HLPF is required; and (vi) policy recommendations and tools to accelerate progress. 67. refers to Multistakeholder dialogues. These were once one of the most productive sessions from both the OWG on the SDGs and from CSD and should be reinstated as a part of every HLPF process. 68.Non-Governmental Organizations, business and other major groups and other stakeholders could also be encouraged to announce their commitments for achieving the SDGs, with measurable milestones and deliverables. YES
81. Yes, Comprehensive reviews should be synthesized ahead of the HLPF session, along with being presented in a more concise way during the HLPF. In addition to the components the SG’s report mentioned:
National reports should also describe the extent of progress in putting means of implementation in place and in achieving the targets and indicators identify who is still not participating in local, regional and national processes what will need to be done to substantially increase the level of implementation extent to which the national strategy is participatory, inclusive, open, drives policy, is legislative in orientation, etc. The Chart on Paragraph 99 for clustering goals is very good, but the theme for 2017 needs to be broadened to include protection and restoration of the natural environment. It could thus read: ensuring food security, creating resiliency and restoring the natural environment. And the theme for 2018 should focus not only on cities but instead be titled and focus on all human settlements thus also villages, towns and urban communities of all sizes.
So, again we agree that the we should group the goals into clusters of closely related SDGs using a nexus approach; and then focus on the interlinkages that exist between each cluster and all of the rest of the targets and goals as well.
Education for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Consumption and Production, and Goal 17 should also all be included in all sessions of the HLPF as cross cutting themes upon which the implementation of the different Goals and Targets must be based; and should be included as cross-cutting themes in the review of and in the National Reports as well. Each year the individual goals should be reviewed by themselves as stand alone goals, along with being considered as a part of an integrated cluster.
Guidelines should be established for implementing the SDGs at the national and local level and this should include the need to integrate all of the relevant MEAs and international sustainable development conventions and agreements in the process as well. We need to ensure that all countries are following up on the major commitments in a cross-sectoral integrated manner at the local, regional and national levels - including NSSDs, ESD, SCP, Aichi Accords on Biodiversity, the PRSPs, etc. National Reports and the global review process should look at how the interlinkages apply at a community based level as well. We need to recognize that the need to restore the natural environment and protect planetary ecosystems underlies everything else that we do and our ability to achieve the SDGs as a whole. We need to recognize that most of those facing extreme poverty live in rural areas and communities and in impoverished urban communities and informal settlements - The HLPF needs to include a specific focus on them.
One of if not the most important function and purposes of the HLPF should be to raise global awareness about what is and needs to be done on each cluster or issue/goal area. As such the HLPF should include Theme Implementation Days that focus specifically on the best that is being done, any and every where in the world, in regards to that theme or cluster area on that day.
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