Major Group: Business & Industry
Twelfth Session of the General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Meeting with Major Groups and other Stakeholders
UN Headquarters, CR-1 CB
16 June 2014
Remarks by Dr. Louise Kantrow, Permanent Representative of the International Chamber of Commerce to the UN on behalf of the Global Business Alliance (GBA) for Post-2015 for the Business and Industry Major Group
Thank you Mr. Co-Chair.
My name is Louise Kantrow, I am the Permanent Representative to the UN for the International Chamber of Commerce and I am here today on behalf of the Global Business Alliance for Post-2015, speaking for the Business and Industry Major Group.
We appreciate revised version of the “zero draft” of goals and targets. During previous OWG sessions, Business and Industry has commented that the SDGs are an opportunity to bring “sustainability” and “development” together in a mutually reinforcing and measurable way, animate global cooperation and draw on and mobilize the resources of all stakeholders. It is in this spirit that we provide further suggestions to the current text, which from the perspective of business and industry, makes the goals and targets more attainable and at the same time aspirational.
Attached to this statement, which will be posted online, is the Business and Industry proposed revisions to the current iteration of the OWG “zero draft” and a few hard copies are available in the room as well.
Mr. Co-Chair,
We appreciate the importance of the different goals that have already been identified. We would caution, however, that with 17 goals followed by nearly 20 pages of sub-goals, we run the risk of giving the impression that priorities may be misplaced unless there is a clearer organization that would make the SDGs resonate with the broader global community. To further streamline the document, business suggests that the goals be grouped into clusters based on the three pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development, and environmental protection.
In detail, we find the wording, levels of ambition and potential measurability of some of the targets requires further refinement and the development of attendant indicators. The distinctions between some of the main goals and targets are not clear. Efforts should be made to merge some goals and eliminate redundancies such as some specific sub-goals occurring in several places. We advise cutting any repetitions and instead develop a simple method to cross-reference sub-goals where appropriate. The business community has already suggested improvements and is ready to help with this refinement as and when appropriate
Some of our specific comments include:
Integrate Goal 10 into Goal 8 and eliminate repetitions. Goal 8 includes focus on “inclusive” growth, and Goal 10 repeats or includes several aspects relevant to Goal 8 (e.g. sub-goals 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5). As
such, we recommend merging these goals. Alternatively, we would recommend to at least eliminate repetitions and include cross-references to other goals which have a bearing on equality (e.g. Goal 4 on education, recognising that education is a key factor in reducing inequality).
Goal 16 “Achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law, effective and capable institutions” should be among the top two or three goals. Countries can only develop and grow in a sustainable fashion if there is a solid foundation of peace, rule of law, and good governance. This is a crucial enabler of many of the other goals listed in this document, and thus moving it towards the top of the list reflect its critical importance.
On goal 12.9, after “integrated reporting”, we would recommend inserting “with x being set at a level appropriate to national circumstances”. Many large companies, notably in OECD countries, already report extensively on their CSR activities, while the potential to increase reporting in several emerging and developing countries may be higher. It may therefore be more appropriate to allow countries to set their own national targets in this area, rather than taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
We also recommend reviewing the sub-goals under Goal 17 and determine which should be maintained and which might be better suited for inclusion under their respective goals (or reworded to better suit Goal 17). Currently it appears that many of the sub-goals under Goal 17 repeat or build upon much of what has been detailed already in the other goals.
Lastly, we would recommend making explicit reference to the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. Having established itself as an important forum for high-level dialogue and co-operation among all stakeholders engaged in development, the Global Partnership provides an important complement in the discussion and implementation of the SDGs.
Mr. Co-Chair,
Business stands ready to continue to respectfully engage and act as a resource for member states throughout this process.
Thank you.
Meeting with Major Groups and other Stakeholders
UN Headquarters, CR-1 CB
16 June 2014
Remarks by Dr. Louise Kantrow, Permanent Representative of the International Chamber of Commerce to the UN on behalf of the Global Business Alliance (GBA) for Post-2015 for the Business and Industry Major Group
Thank you Mr. Co-Chair.
My name is Louise Kantrow, I am the Permanent Representative to the UN for the International Chamber of Commerce and I am here today on behalf of the Global Business Alliance for Post-2015, speaking for the Business and Industry Major Group.
We appreciate revised version of the “zero draft” of goals and targets. During previous OWG sessions, Business and Industry has commented that the SDGs are an opportunity to bring “sustainability” and “development” together in a mutually reinforcing and measurable way, animate global cooperation and draw on and mobilize the resources of all stakeholders. It is in this spirit that we provide further suggestions to the current text, which from the perspective of business and industry, makes the goals and targets more attainable and at the same time aspirational.
Attached to this statement, which will be posted online, is the Business and Industry proposed revisions to the current iteration of the OWG “zero draft” and a few hard copies are available in the room as well.
Mr. Co-Chair,
We appreciate the importance of the different goals that have already been identified. We would caution, however, that with 17 goals followed by nearly 20 pages of sub-goals, we run the risk of giving the impression that priorities may be misplaced unless there is a clearer organization that would make the SDGs resonate with the broader global community. To further streamline the document, business suggests that the goals be grouped into clusters based on the three pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development, and environmental protection.
In detail, we find the wording, levels of ambition and potential measurability of some of the targets requires further refinement and the development of attendant indicators. The distinctions between some of the main goals and targets are not clear. Efforts should be made to merge some goals and eliminate redundancies such as some specific sub-goals occurring in several places. We advise cutting any repetitions and instead develop a simple method to cross-reference sub-goals where appropriate. The business community has already suggested improvements and is ready to help with this refinement as and when appropriate
Some of our specific comments include:
Integrate Goal 10 into Goal 8 and eliminate repetitions. Goal 8 includes focus on “inclusive” growth, and Goal 10 repeats or includes several aspects relevant to Goal 8 (e.g. sub-goals 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5). As
such, we recommend merging these goals. Alternatively, we would recommend to at least eliminate repetitions and include cross-references to other goals which have a bearing on equality (e.g. Goal 4 on education, recognising that education is a key factor in reducing inequality).
Goal 16 “Achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law, effective and capable institutions” should be among the top two or three goals. Countries can only develop and grow in a sustainable fashion if there is a solid foundation of peace, rule of law, and good governance. This is a crucial enabler of many of the other goals listed in this document, and thus moving it towards the top of the list reflect its critical importance.
On goal 12.9, after “integrated reporting”, we would recommend inserting “with x being set at a level appropriate to national circumstances”. Many large companies, notably in OECD countries, already report extensively on their CSR activities, while the potential to increase reporting in several emerging and developing countries may be higher. It may therefore be more appropriate to allow countries to set their own national targets in this area, rather than taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
We also recommend reviewing the sub-goals under Goal 17 and determine which should be maintained and which might be better suited for inclusion under their respective goals (or reworded to better suit Goal 17). Currently it appears that many of the sub-goals under Goal 17 repeat or build upon much of what has been detailed already in the other goals.
Lastly, we would recommend making explicit reference to the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. Having established itself as an important forum for high-level dialogue and co-operation among all stakeholders engaged in development, the Global Partnership provides an important complement in the discussion and implementation of the SDGs.
Mr. Co-Chair,
Business stands ready to continue to respectfully engage and act as a resource for member states throughout this process.
Thank you.