H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and Vice President of ECOSOC
HLPF 2016
Messages of the Rapporteur from the HLPF Senior Officials Meeting
Parts 1-5:
H.E. Ambassador Jürg Lauber, VP of ECOSOC
Mr President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to provide you herewith with the main messages of the discussions on where do we stand at year one, on the theme ensuring that no one is left behind, on the means of implementation and on the science policy interface of last week’s HLPF Senior Officials Meeting.
Let me start with a few general messages:
Last week’s discussions demonstrated that to ‘ensure that no one is left behind’ implies a strategic shift. Political leadership by Heads of States and Heads of Government drives the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It is critical to sustain this leadership over time.
All stakeholders, governments, businesses, and civil society have a role. It is an agenda for all and therefore all should contribute.
The experience gained from this year’s HLPF will be invaluable in the development of subsequent sessions and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. As such, it is time to strengthen our political commitment and to empower the HLPF in fulfilling its mandates.
On where do we stand at year one:
The Forum considered the mandated annual progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals. Based on the proposed global indicator framework, the annual progress report provides the first account of the current global situation relative to the 17 SDGs.
The report demonstrates that the broader environment is not conducive for the SDGs: current economic growth rates are low; inequality is increasing; developing countries are at end of the commodity cycle; new technologies may lead to unemployment; the risk of infectious diseases is elevated, and safety and security are in decline in many regions.
In such a context, there is an urgent need for disaggregated data to address all vulnerable groups. A global effort, coordinated by the UN Statistical Commission, is required to improve data availability and quality in order to make informed decisions.
There is a need for more capacity building in statistics at all levels in order to sustain a comprehensive monitoring covering all aspects of the new agenda. In this regard, national statistical institutes and offices need to be strengthened.
On ensuring that no one is left behind:
Inclusion remains a challenge for both developed and developing countries. Inclusive, participatory and multi-stakeholder decision-making processes at all levels are key to safeguard the commitments of all and to ensure that no one is left behind.
Challenges to lifting people out of poverty and meeting basic needs are all interconnected. They should be tackled through structural changes, ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels. We have to strive to reach the hardest to reach first, and put the most marginalized at the top of the agenda.
This will require investments in education and capacity, health, food security and nutrition, livelihoods, access to renewable energy and in resilience to slow onset changes and shocks, all with a gender perspective. Access to services and implementation requires a human rights-based approach.
Decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation lies at the basis of sustainable development. Respecting planetary boundaries through increasing global resource efficiency is crucial towards the goal of decent work and economic growth. Inclusion of the private sector in the process is key to achieving a sustainable economy.
Sustainable practices in agriculture, adequate climate policies and healthy oceans and terrestrial ecosystems are fundamental to support the most vulnerable in achieving and securing food security.
Local governments and stakeholders including smallholders, indigenous communities, rural communities, groups with special needs and companies need to be involved.
Women’s economic empowerment, access to health and reproductive rights, recognition of unpaid work, equal participation at all levels of political, economic and public life, elimination of discrimination, violence and unlawful and harmful practices are critical.
In this regard, there is need for mainstreaming gender aspects into the implementation strategies and plans of the 2030 Agenda and for a gender data revolution.
On means of implementation
Achieving our ambitious Agenda requires a revitalized global partnership. An international economic environment that sustainably harnesses international private business and finance, development cooperation, and trade with special attention to the needs of the furthest left behind will help overcome challenges in mobilizing means of implementation.
Pursuing equitable tax systems, tackling illicit financial flows and harmful corporate profit shifts is fundamental in order not to undermine the mobilization of financial means of implementation.
The newly established Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), its annual Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and online platform hold important potential to support national and local implementation of the SDGs.
Apart from North-South transfers, South-South cooperation is of fundamental importance to maximize benefits from science, technology and innovation.
On science-policy interface:
The identification of new and emerging issues is a critical function of the science-policy interface and thus an important function of the HLPF.
The annual science-policy interface at the HLPF should reflect on the outcomes of an inclusive process involving a broad variety of scientists and knowledge producers, including on traditional knowledge. It should bring scientists and policy makers together.
The Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 should go beyond an indicator snapshot. It should address emerging issues as well as key bottlenecks for implementation from a scientific perspective and help inform policy makers in that matter. It should be relevant for policy makers.
Messages of the Rapporteur from the HLPF Senior Officials Meeting
Parts 1-5:
H.E. Ambassador Jürg Lauber, VP of ECOSOC
Mr President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to provide you herewith with the main messages of the discussions on where do we stand at year one, on the theme ensuring that no one is left behind, on the means of implementation and on the science policy interface of last week’s HLPF Senior Officials Meeting.
Let me start with a few general messages:
Last week’s discussions demonstrated that to ‘ensure that no one is left behind’ implies a strategic shift. Political leadership by Heads of States and Heads of Government drives the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It is critical to sustain this leadership over time.
All stakeholders, governments, businesses, and civil society have a role. It is an agenda for all and therefore all should contribute.
The experience gained from this year’s HLPF will be invaluable in the development of subsequent sessions and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. As such, it is time to strengthen our political commitment and to empower the HLPF in fulfilling its mandates.
On where do we stand at year one:
The Forum considered the mandated annual progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals. Based on the proposed global indicator framework, the annual progress report provides the first account of the current global situation relative to the 17 SDGs.
The report demonstrates that the broader environment is not conducive for the SDGs: current economic growth rates are low; inequality is increasing; developing countries are at end of the commodity cycle; new technologies may lead to unemployment; the risk of infectious diseases is elevated, and safety and security are in decline in many regions.
In such a context, there is an urgent need for disaggregated data to address all vulnerable groups. A global effort, coordinated by the UN Statistical Commission, is required to improve data availability and quality in order to make informed decisions.
There is a need for more capacity building in statistics at all levels in order to sustain a comprehensive monitoring covering all aspects of the new agenda. In this regard, national statistical institutes and offices need to be strengthened.
On ensuring that no one is left behind:
Inclusion remains a challenge for both developed and developing countries. Inclusive, participatory and multi-stakeholder decision-making processes at all levels are key to safeguard the commitments of all and to ensure that no one is left behind.
Challenges to lifting people out of poverty and meeting basic needs are all interconnected. They should be tackled through structural changes, ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels. We have to strive to reach the hardest to reach first, and put the most marginalized at the top of the agenda.
This will require investments in education and capacity, health, food security and nutrition, livelihoods, access to renewable energy and in resilience to slow onset changes and shocks, all with a gender perspective. Access to services and implementation requires a human rights-based approach.
Decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation lies at the basis of sustainable development. Respecting planetary boundaries through increasing global resource efficiency is crucial towards the goal of decent work and economic growth. Inclusion of the private sector in the process is key to achieving a sustainable economy.
Sustainable practices in agriculture, adequate climate policies and healthy oceans and terrestrial ecosystems are fundamental to support the most vulnerable in achieving and securing food security.
Local governments and stakeholders including smallholders, indigenous communities, rural communities, groups with special needs and companies need to be involved.
Women’s economic empowerment, access to health and reproductive rights, recognition of unpaid work, equal participation at all levels of political, economic and public life, elimination of discrimination, violence and unlawful and harmful practices are critical.
In this regard, there is need for mainstreaming gender aspects into the implementation strategies and plans of the 2030 Agenda and for a gender data revolution.
On means of implementation
Achieving our ambitious Agenda requires a revitalized global partnership. An international economic environment that sustainably harnesses international private business and finance, development cooperation, and trade with special attention to the needs of the furthest left behind will help overcome challenges in mobilizing means of implementation.
Pursuing equitable tax systems, tackling illicit financial flows and harmful corporate profit shifts is fundamental in order not to undermine the mobilization of financial means of implementation.
The newly established Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), its annual Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and online platform hold important potential to support national and local implementation of the SDGs.
Apart from North-South transfers, South-South cooperation is of fundamental importance to maximize benefits from science, technology and innovation.
On science-policy interface:
The identification of new and emerging issues is a critical function of the science-policy interface and thus an important function of the HLPF.
The annual science-policy interface at the HLPF should reflect on the outcomes of an inclusive process involving a broad variety of scientists and knowledge producers, including on traditional knowledge. It should bring scientists and policy makers together.
The Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 should go beyond an indicator snapshot. It should address emerging issues as well as key bottlenecks for implementation from a scientific perspective and help inform policy makers in that matter. It should be relevant for policy makers.
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