6 May 2016: Co-facilitators Lois Young, Permanent Representative of Belize, and Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark, issued the zero draft of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level. In an accompanying letter, the co-facilitators note that they aim to have a draft resolution “ready for adoption” by the end of May 2016.
The issuance of the zero draft follows a series of informal consultations with governments and stakeholders on 31 March, 1 April, and 6 April 2016, followed by a discussion on proposed elements for the resolution, on 28 April 2016. The zero draft will be considered during a first reading on 12 May, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.
On Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be discussed during the High-Level Political Forum for sustainable development (HLPF), the zero draft notes that each session of the HLPF held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will discuss a set of Goals that together represent the three dimensions of sustainable development. The process would seek to facilitate an in-depth review on progress of all SDGs over the course of a four-year cycle, with Goal 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development) discussed annually.
On thematic reviews of progress on the SDGs at the HLPF, the zero draft calls for the sequence of themes for each four-year cycle of the Forum to reflect the “integrated, indivisible, interlinked nature” of the SDGs and the three dimensions of sustainable development, and says the theme will serve as a “lens” through which to review all 17 Goals. The text proposes a theme and set of Goals for each session, from 2017-2019 (the remainder of the current cycle of the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC). These themes and Goals are: for 2017, Ensuring food security on a safe planet by 2030 (SDGs 1, 2, 6, 13, 14, 15 and 17); for 2018, Making cities sustainable and building productive capacities (SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 17); and for 2019, Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness (SDGs 3, 4, 5 10, 16 and 17).
On coherence, the zero draft calls for ECOSOC to align its annual themes with the corresponding annual themes of the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC. It also: encourages coherence of the UNGA and its main committees, the ECOSOC functional commissions and other intergovernmental bodies and forums with the work of the HLPF, towards 2030 Agenda follow-up and review; encourages that the UN Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) takes into account the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs; requests the UN Secretary-General to review the organization of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to ensure that the Department as a whole can effectively provide support to the 2030 Agenda and the HLPF in a “cohesive, coordinated and collaborative manner”; decides to convene the biennial Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) prior to the HLPF, and to merge the three-day ministerial segment of the HLPF under the auspices of the ECOSOC with the high-level segment of the Council. The draft also decides that when meeting in the same year, the HLPF under the auspices of the UNGA and the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC shall be closely coordinated, and shall only have one negotiated political declaration for that year.
On voluntary national reviews for the HLPF, the zero draft: requests the ECOSOC President to encourage voluntary national reviews from developed and developing countries, including countries in special situations; encourages Member States to consider carrying out two voluntary national reviews at the HLPF between now and 2030; and requests the UN Secretary-General to update, “as appropriate,” the voluntary common reporting guidelines provided in the annex of his report on ‘Critical milestones towards Coherent, Efficient and Inclusive Follow-up and Review at the Global level’ (A/70/684), and to make them available to Member States as a reference tool in the preparation for voluntary national reviews.
On regional and sub-regional reviews, the draft says Member States should identify the most suitable regional forum in which to engage.
On countries in special situations, it calls for HLPF meetings to: devote adequate time and provide for effective linkages with the follow-up and review arrangements of all relevant UN conferences and processes, including on the least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing States (SIDS) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs); and recognize the challenges faced by African countries, as well as countries in conflict and post-conflict situations.
On participation and inclusion, the text reiterates that the Forum shall be open to Major Groups, other relevant stakeholders and entities having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the UNGA in accordance with the modalities set out in resolution 67/290. It encourages consideration of innovative arrangements for HLPF meetings, including web-based interfaces. It also calls on Major Groups and other stakeholders to report on their contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and encourages the private sector and civil society to inform the UN of their commitments to implement the SDGs.
On documentation, the zero draft resolution states that the HLPF shall be informed by the “quadrennial” Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) and the annual SDG Report prepared by the UN Secretary-General in cooperation with the UN system. It also highlights that the annual ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum) and the Multistakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for SDGs (STI Forum) will feed into the HLPF.
On the outcome of the HLPF, it reaffirms that the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC will result in a negotiated ministerial declaration for inclusion in the report of ECOSOC to the UNGA, “except as otherwise provided.” It also invites the ECOSOC President to prepare a factual summary of the meeting.
By the zero draft, the UNGA would decide to review progress in implementing the resolution and A/67/290 at its 74th session. [Co-facilitators’ Letter and Zero Draft] [HLPF 2016 Website] [IISD RS Story on Informal Consultations on Elements of the UNGA Resolution] [IISD RS Sources]