A
Call
to
Action
on
the
Environment:
Intervention
and
Language
Proposals
for
MGoS
Meeting
with
Co-‐Facilitators
of
the
Post-‐2015
Intergovernmental
Negotiations,
28
July
2015
Compiled
by:
UN
Major
Group
for
Children
&
Youth,
Science
&
Technology
Major
Group.
Women’s
Major
Group,
Business
&
Industry
Major
Group
(point
#3),
WWF,
ICSU,
UCD,
SDSN,
Pace
Center
for
Environmental
Legal
Studies
Thank
you
for
a
very
good
revised
draft.
We
offer
three
follow
up
points
on
the
revised
draft:
1. The
Scientific
and
Technological
Community
and
Academia:
The
text
is
inconsistent
in
referring
to
the
scientific,
technological
and
academic
communities.
We
propose
using
the
consistent
formulation
of:
“the
scientific
and
technological
community,
academia…”,
to
be
inserted
into
Paragraphs
38,
39,
47,
54,
62,
64,
65,
75,
80
and
81.
Science,
technology
and
research
are
keys
to
the
implementation
of
this
Agenda,
particularly
with
the
introduction
of
the
Technology
Facilitation
Mechanism.
2.
Planetary
Boundaries:
We
are
pleased
with,
and
strongly
support,
the
inclusion
of
the
language
of
"biological
support
systems
of
the
planet"
in
Paragraph
15.
However,
we
are
disappointed
that
our
language
recommendations
on
“planetary
boundaries/thresholds/limits/tipping
points”
were
not
included
in
Paragraphs
such
as
42,
50,
or
79
(see
annex).
This
language
comes
from
the
Secretary-‐General’s
Scientific
Advisory
Board,
specifically
in
the
context
of
the
Science-‐Policy
Interface,
and
the
outcome
of
the
Regional
Implementation
Meeting
of
the
Rio+20
Outcomes
in
UN
ESCAP.
In
addition,
we
support
strongly
the
language
suggestions
made
by
the
EU
and
other
countries
yesterday
on
the
inclusion
of
“Planetary
Boundaries”
and
“Carrying
Capacity”.
We
also
recommend
the
inclusion
of
“Natural
Resource
Governance
and
Accountability”
as
new
subparagraph
(j)
in
Paragraph
70.
3.
A
balanced
message:
We
believe
that
references
to
“eradicating
poverty
as
the
greatest
global
challenge
and
overarching
priority”
of
the
Agenda
should
be
complemented
each
time
with
language
recognizing
that
poverty
cannot
be
eradicated
without
sustainable
development
(Preamble,
§3
and
§8).
We
propose
the
following
language:
“As
sustainable
development
is
indispensable
to
eradicate
poverty,
we
are
committed
to
achieving
sustainable
development
in
its
three
dimensions”.
In
addition,
we
recommend
including
references
to
“planet-‐sensitive”
in
the
Preamble
in
“Partnerships”
and
in
Paragraphs
2,
28
and
70,
to
consistently
complement
the
references
to
a
people-‐centered
agenda.
“In
the
course
of
history,
there
comes
a
time
when
humanity
is
called
to
shift
to
a
new
level
of
consciousness,
to
reach
a
higher
moral
ground.
A
time
when
we
have
to
shed
our
fear
and
give
hope
to
each
other.
That
time
is
now.”
-‐-‐
Wangari
Maathai
Annex
Paragraph
10:
We
envisage
a
world
in
which
every
country
enjoys
robust,
sustained,
inclusive
and
sustainable
economic
growth
in
order
to
generate
resources
for
the
eradication
of
poverty
in
all
its
forms
and
dimensions
and
the
achievement
of
sustainable
development.
A
world
in
which
consumption
and
production
patterns
and
use
of
all
natural
resources
–
from
air
to
land
to
oceans
and
seas
–
are
sustainable.
One
in
which
development
and
the
application
of
technology
are
climate-‐sensitive,
respect
biodiversity
[ADD-‐
and
planetary
boundaries/limits],
and
are
resilient.
One
in
which
humanity
lives
in
harmony
with
nature
and
in
which
wildlife
and
other
living
species
are
protected.
Paragraph
42:
We
recognize
the
crucial
role
that
science,
technology
and
innovation
play
in
the
promotion
of
sustainable
development
in
all
countries.
We
recognize
the
power
of
communications
technologies,
technical
cooperation
and
capacity-‐building
for
sustainable
development.
We
welcome
the
establishment
of
a
Technology
Facilitation
Mechanism
in
order
to
support
the
implementation
of
the
Agenda.
We
commit
to
strengthen
the
role
of
the
science-‐policy
interface
in
sustainable
development.
[ADD-‐
such
as
the
preparation
of
regular
assessments
and
digests
of
the
science
around
such
concepts
as
“planetary
boundaries”,
“tipping
points”
and
“environmental
thresholds”
in
the
context
of
sustainable
development.]-‐
Directly
from
the
SG’s
Scientific
Advisory
Board
Paragraph
50:
Indicators
are
being
developed
to
assist
this
work.
Quality,
accessible,
timely
and
reliable
disaggregated
data
will
be
needed
to
help
with
the
measurement
of
progress
and
to
ensure
that
[ADD-‐
that
we
respect
planetary
boundaries/thresholds/limits]
no
one
is
left
behind.
Such
data
is
key
to
decision-‐making.
Data
and
information
from
existing
reporting
mechanisms
should
be
used
where
possible.
We
agree
to
intensify
our
efforts
to
strengthen
statistical
capacities
in
developing
countries,
particularly
African
countries,
least
developed
countries,
landlocked
developing
countries,
small
island
developing
states
and
middle-‐income
countries.
Paragraph
79:
Follow-‐up
and
review
at
the
HLPF
will
be
informed
by
an
annual
SDG
Progress
Report
to
be
prepared
by
the
Secretary
General
in
cooperation
with
the
UN
System,
based
on
the
global
indicator
framework
and
data
produced
by
national
statistical
systems
and
regional
reviews.
Global
indicators,
recognizing
national
policy
space,
will
provide
guidance
to
national
statistical
authorities
in
their
development
of
national
indicators.
The
HLPF
will
also
be
informed
by
the
Global
Sustainable
Development
Report,
which
shall
strengthen
the
science-‐policy
interface
[ADD-‐
such
as
the
preparation
of
regular
assessments
and
digests
of
the
science
around
such
concepts
as
“planetary
boundaries”,
“tipping
points”
and
“environmental
thresholds”
in
the
context
of
sustainable
development.]
and
could
provide
a
strong
evidence-‐based
instrument
to
support
policymakers
in
promoting
poverty
eradication
and
sustainable
development.
