Post 2015 - stocktaking session. 19 January 2015.
Statement by Norway - on synopsis
In September this year, Heads of State and Government will set the global sustainable development agenda for the next 15 years. This agenda must build on the success of the MDGs in mobilizing global action to reduce poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy. The new SDGs must combine action to finish the unfinished business of the MDGs with an ambitious and forward-looking agenda that integrates poverty eradication and sustainable development with action to combat climate change, promote good governance and fulfil human rights. It must involve multiple stakeholders and draw upon the knowledge and resources of all relevant actors.
On this background, Norway foresee a Summit outcome that includes the following elements:
• First: A visionary political declaration based on fundamental rights and principles for human dignity and sustainable development. The declaration should serve to frame a truly transformative agenda that is people-centered, planet-sensitive and rights-based and leaves no one behind. The Millennium Declaration should serve as one source of inspiration;
• Second: An ambitious, but realistic set of sustainable development goals and targets that are communicable and implementable, concrete and measurable and suitable to mobilize commitment and public support, financial resources and multi-stakeholder partnerships;
• Third: A renewed global partnership and a range of means of implementation that draws on all relevant types of financial and non-financial resources. A successful Addis Abeba conference on Financing for Sustainable development is a prerequisite for a successful Summit in September, and coordination and coherence between the two processes will be crucial.
• Fourth: Robust and well-designed mechanisms for follow-up, accountability and review at the national and international level.
Norway welcomes the proposal from the the Open Working Group as a good basis for our deliberations during this final phase of the process. The OWG took us a long way towards the set of universal, transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets we need to eradicate poverty and achieve gender equality and sustainable development. We now need to go the extra mile to make sure these goals and targets – and the other elements of the agenda – become at least as successful in mobilizing resources, partnerships and results as the MDGs have been.
We furthermore welcome the synthesis report of the SG as a constructive contribution that can inspire and guide us as we go this extra mile.
(On process:)
In order to get to the outcome we want, we need to keep in mind that what we will be discussing the coming months is not yet another UN resolution, but an agenda that should mobilize global action – from all member states and from a wide range of actors. We therefore need to build upon – and carry on in the spirit of - the broad, inclusive and unique process that has brought us to this final lap on the road that will conclude in September.
We look forward to listen to and benefit from a wide range of views from member states. And to continue the dialogue with civil society, academia and the business community, and draw on their inputs. As governments, we must take the lead, but we cannot get to the future we want without a broad partnership of multiple stakeholders.
Thank you
