17 September 2013
Closing UNGA 67, President Stresses Urgency of Sustainability Agenda
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The 67th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially closed on 16 September 2013, in New York, US.

Vuk Jeremic, President of UNGA 67, described the task of developing a post-2015 development agenda as “the most challenging endeavor in the history of multilateral diplomacy.”

United Nations16 September 2013: The 67th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially closed on 16 September 2013, in New York, US. Vuk Jeremic, President of UNGA 67, described the task of developing a post-2015 development agenda as “the most challenging endeavor in the history of multilateral diplomacy.”

He urged Member States to continue to formulate the post-2015 agenda, stressing that if States fail “to establish the parameters of a universal transition to sustainability, we will not move forward,” suggesting that economies will slump, social tensions will rise and adverse climate change will “gallop ahead with abandon.” Jeremic stressed that now is “the very last moment to chart a course towards a more secure, prosperous and sustainable future,” and “there will be no second chance.”

Jeremic also reviewed UNGA 67’s work in establishing the groundwork for this ambition: establishing an Open Working Group (OWG) to formulate and adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); agreeing on terms of work for the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts to propose financing options for the SDGs; and achieving consensus on a framework for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

In its its final actions, the 67th Assembly adopted five resolutions and two decisions including on: ‘Modalities for the sixth high-level dialogue on Financing for Development’ (A/67/L.82); and ‘Board of the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns (SCP)’ (A/67/L.81).

The Assembly deferred other texts, including ‘Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major UN conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit’ (A/67/L.83).

UNGA 68 opens on 17 September under the leadership of John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda. [UN Press Release] [Statement of UNGA President] [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [UNGA Meeting Summary]


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