14 March
Statement by Mr. Nikhil Seth
Director, Division for Sustainable Development, DESA
Introduction of the Secretary-General's Initial Input to the Open Working Group
Distinguished Co-chairs, Excellencies, distinguished participants,
I want to start by congratulating the co-chairs on their election and I am pleased to introduce the
Secretary-Generals initial input to the OWG, which has been prepared in consultation with Member
States and contains suggestions on some key principles and criteria for developing a proposal for
SDGs, in line with para. 249 of the Rio+20 outcome document.
I would like to also note the June 2012 report of the United Nations System Task Team on the Post-
2015 United Nations Development Agenda, “Realizing the Future We Want for All which, together
with the initial input from member states and the ongoing broader consultations on the post-2015
agenda, can help inform and guide the work ahead.
SDG priority areas
In the responses received from member States, the priorities highlighted in the MDG agenda (poverty
eradication, food security, water and sanitation, education, and health) continue to feature
prominently. At the same time, new priority areas are identified and underscored, such as energy, and
the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development such as employment, means
of implementation, sustainable consumption and production, climate change and management of
natural resources Gender equality and empowerment features prominently as well.
Balancing the economic, social and environmental dimensions
Comments have suggested a number of ways in which the SDGs might strive to balance the
economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development
Some support the notion that all three dimensions should be reflected within each of the goals, for
example, via targets that cover the three dimensions. The targets under the Secretary-General's
Sustainable Energy for All have been cited as an example of how this could be done: with a social
target ("universal access"), an economic one ("doubling efficiency of energy use") and an
environmental one ("doubling share of renewable energy").
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Others have noted the importance of overall balance, not necessarily In each and every goal. One
way this could be achieved is to build upon the MDGs, expanding them to include stronger
economic and environmental goals and targets Some have noted that both elaborating the MDGs
and balancing the three dimensions within each goal would be preferable, since these two options
are mutually reinforcing.
Overall, it will be important to strike the right balance between comprehensiveness and specificity,
in order to avoid overloading or over-broadening the post-2015 development agenda and thereby
undermining the specificity that has been a useful and important aspect of the MDGs.
SDGs at country level
The SDGs could have a very important influence on the process of defining national policies,
contributing to increased coherence, and influencing the national budget allocations crmcal for
successful implementation It has been observed that just as the MDGs have guided development
cooperation, the SDGs could guide international cooperation on sustainable development.
Defining national targets for global, universally applicable goals
In considering how SDGs can be made practically relevant for each country, many agree that the
particular national circumstances, capacities, priorities and level of development of each country
must be carefully taken Into account, with particular reference made to least developed countries,
landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.
Differentiation of universally applicable goals could be achieved at the target and indicator level,
with each country defining its own relevant target and associated indicator values, possibly based on
a menu.
Incorporating existing goals and targets
Many stated that the process of defining the SDGs should not be an occasion to re-negotiate agreed
goals and targets, but it should address the gaps in existing goals and targets that have hindered the
implementation of sustainable development to date
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Many noted that that much has changed over the past 15 years. An array of crises--from finance to
food to the increase in natural disasters--as well as opportunities stemming from increased access to
technology and information, signal the need to formulate a new suite of goals and targets that build
upon past efforts but are relevant for today's world.
Ensuring coherence with the post-2015 development agenda
Many respondents argued that the development of SDGs should be linked with the evolution of the
post-2015 development agenda, to ensure that the two processes inform each other Most agreed that,
at the end of the day, the processes to define the SDGs and the post-2015 development agenda
should converge on a coherent, unified post-2015 agenda with poverty eradication and sustainable
development at its core
Assessing progress
Careful thought needs to be given to how to measure progress on the SDGs -to identify and select
indicators that are fair in the way they treat different countries, easy to measure and easy to
understand and explain Disaggregated data will be needed to capture inequalities in progress across
different groups or regions This will require building up statistical capacines In countries to enable
them to generate such data.
There will be need for a structured process of follow-up, to assess progress, redouble efforts if
necessary, and work towards keeping on track In this initial input, Member States have already
proposed various ways in which the High-level Political Forum could ensure that SDG progress IS
monitored and assessed at regular frequencies.
Engaging all stakeholders
Paragraph 248 of the Rio+20 Outcome Document outlines an inclusive and participatory process for
elaborating the SDGs through the OWG that is open to all stakeholders. There is broad agreement
among Member States that civil society, academia and other relevant stakeholders should be fully
engaged in consultations at national, sub-regional, regional and international levels as part of the
process of defining the SDGs.
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SDG principles
Underpinning the development of the SDGs, Member States recalled the fundamental place of the
Rio Principles--including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities--and the
principles contained In the Millennium Declaration, Agenda 21 and the JPOI.
New Global Partnership for Development
It was recognized that implementation of the SDGs will be more complex than that of the MDGs.
The SDGs will encompass structural and systemic changes, articulate linkages, and involve difficult
decisions around trade-offs. The SDGs are truly about a global partnership that involves actors that
to date have operated largely in isolation within their respective sustainable development spheres.
Effective integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development will be the hallmark of a
successful future partnership.
The new cooperation framework should be effectively linked with the evolving institutional
arrangements and outcomes of processes agreed at Rio+20, including a new financing strategy for
sustainable development, consideration of options for a technology facilitation mechanism, a
strengthened UNEP, and an effective monitoring and review process under the high-level political
forum on sustainable development. It should guide and support the implementation of the SDGs,
facilitating resource mobilization, partnerships and other forms of effective cooperation in pursuit of
all agreed goals.
The Secretariat has created a website to manage information on the SDGs and the Open Working
Group. The site can be accessed from the following web address sustainabledevelopment.un.org [on
this site delegations can also access a password-protected site designed for sharing documentation
related to the OWG]
With these ideas, generated by many of you for this initial input to the Open Working Group, I wish
you all an inspired and fruitful discussion as we begin this very important process
