7 May 2015: The Co-Facilitators of the intergovernmental negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda have issued a revised proposal on targets for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The revised proposal, which addresses 21 targets, under 11 SDGs, is expected to be discussed at the fifth intergovernmental negotiation session, convening on 18-22 May 2015.

Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, and David Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland, circulated the proposal via UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa on 7 May 2015. In their covering letter, the Co-Facilitators note that the targets document has been revised following discussions during the third intergovernmental negotiation session, in March 2015, and subsequent consultations within the UN system.

The revision deletes all references to “x%” values that had been included in the report of the Open Working Group (OWG) on the SDGs, replacing such values with either numerical targets or general qualifiers, such as “substantially increase” or “fully protected.” It also suggests new references to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Istanbul Programme of Action, and “complex humanitarian emergencies.” The revised document includes an explanatory rationale for each proposed change.

The proposed changes are to targets under the following SDGs: Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all; Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation; Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss; and Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

According to the draft programme circulated by the Co-Facilitators along with the letter and revised targets document, Thursday morning, 21 May, will be devoted to discussion of goals, targets and indicators for the new agenda. [Letter from Co-Facilitators with Revised Targets Document] [UN Webpage on Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations]