Draft Statement on the Post-2015 process. 22-25 June 2015.
Zero Draft Outcome Document
On Behalf of the Local Authorities Major Group (LAMG)
Session with Major Groups and other Stakeholders, June 24th
Delivered by Mr. Alessandro Attolico, Executive Director of the Territorial Planning and Civil Protection Office at the Province of Potenza, Italy
Thank you very much co-chairs for this opportunity to share our views:
The zero draft outcome document offers a clear picture of the universality and ambition of the agenda. Nevertheless, it could further emphasize the role and contributions of stakeholders in the implementation, follow-up and review, based on a people-centered approach.
Bearing in mind the lessons learnt from the MDGs experience, addressing inequalities within countries and ensuring no-one will be left behind are fundamental aspects that can be translated into the identification of gaps and specific needs of communities and territories within each country. The zero draft should recognize the diverse array of local circumstances.
In the same direction, the challenges and possibilities found at the urban scenario should be further strengthened in the text, especially in paragraph 26 of the declaration, in line with the agreed topics of the SDG 11. It should reflect the relevance of cities and territories to deal with crucial elements of this agenda, as combating poverty and hunger, improving health, education, resilience and other interconnected themes of Sustainable Development. All of that should ensure inclusive cities integrated in their territories.
In this context, local communities and civil society should explore all possible mechanisms to convey its voice and needs, and local and subnational governments can be a channel to ensure political will and commitment to those.
Considering this, we would like to ask member-States to consider the inclusion of the subnational level as a fourth sphere in the Follow-Up and Review section, in addition to the national, regional and global levels already included. This would improve the framework, and ensure coherence with the Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDGs Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).
In the sake of territorial cohesion and improved participation, existing mechanisms at the subnational level can complement the efforts of national governments. The Charter could recognize existing mechanisms at all levels, for example local and subnational councils on Sustainable Development, or the experience of the Province of Potenza (Italy), recently acknowledged by the UN-ISDR as a world Role Model for its inclusive action on Territorial Resilience, developed in coordination with its 100 cities and also communities. National platforms should also facilitate the involvement of civil society, ensuring inclusiveness, accountability and ownership of the agenda.
For all the above reasons, the Local Authorities Major Group welcome references to local and subnational authorities in the zero draft and call for their recognition as direct partners with shared responsibilities and to further engage all stakeholders in the process.
