Major Group: NGOs
Intervention at OWG 9 (Monday 3 March 2014)
(OP NGOs MG Leida Rijnhout)
Thanks Mr. Co chairs:
The paper is a good summary on what is discussed in the last couple of months, but nevertheless the NGOs are disappointed on the following issues
• The OWG paper does not seem to subscribe to the principle that the post-2015 Sustainable Development framework be a universal framework.
o Many issues of concern in higher income countries are missing, such as obesity in the section on nutrition.
o It is highly unfortunate that industrialised countries are mentioned specifically – and only – in the context of SCP since this reconfirms an impression that other areas concern them less. On the contrary, there is much that all countries can do in all focus areas.
o The work of the OWG going forward should clearly state that the post-2015 Sustainable Development framework should be universal.
• The paper fails to take a human and planetary well-being approach – planetary boundaries re not really and seriously recognised, in the overall paper.
• The human rights principles of participation and empowerment are only addressed in a light-touch manner, with few concrete proposals for how respect of these principles would be improved, while governmental and corporate accountability is entirely missing. Rigorous, independent and effective accountability mechanisms will be crucial to ensuring that governments and other actors respect their commitments. A variety of mechanisms will likely be needed given the scope of a post-2015 framework, both at national and international levels.
• The section on economic growth, read in combination with the section on industrialisation and infrastructure, betrays a complete failure to recognise that current models of growth and industrialisation negate basic notions of sustainability. If we all continue to aspire more and more growth in industrial and BRIC countries, ambitions to address climate change, protect the environment and restore biodiversity will remain empty rhetoric.
Thank you.
(OP NGOs MG Leida Rijnhout)
Thanks Mr. Co chairs:
The paper is a good summary on what is discussed in the last couple of months, but nevertheless the NGOs are disappointed on the following issues
• The OWG paper does not seem to subscribe to the principle that the post-2015 Sustainable Development framework be a universal framework.
o Many issues of concern in higher income countries are missing, such as obesity in the section on nutrition.
o It is highly unfortunate that industrialised countries are mentioned specifically – and only – in the context of SCP since this reconfirms an impression that other areas concern them less. On the contrary, there is much that all countries can do in all focus areas.
o The work of the OWG going forward should clearly state that the post-2015 Sustainable Development framework should be universal.
• The paper fails to take a human and planetary well-being approach – planetary boundaries re not really and seriously recognised, in the overall paper.
• The human rights principles of participation and empowerment are only addressed in a light-touch manner, with few concrete proposals for how respect of these principles would be improved, while governmental and corporate accountability is entirely missing. Rigorous, independent and effective accountability mechanisms will be crucial to ensuring that governments and other actors respect their commitments. A variety of mechanisms will likely be needed given the scope of a post-2015 framework, both at national and international levels.
• The section on economic growth, read in combination with the section on industrialisation and infrastructure, betrays a complete failure to recognise that current models of growth and industrialisation negate basic notions of sustainability. If we all continue to aspire more and more growth in industrial and BRIC countries, ambitions to address climate change, protect the environment and restore biodiversity will remain empty rhetoric.
Thank you.