16 September 2015: The World Resources Institute (WRI) hosted a press call on the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with experts and officials who were closely involved in formulating the Goals. The speakers reviewed how the Goals were created, emphasized novel characteristics of the SDGs, particularly universality, highlighted key steps in SDG implementation, and noted the Goals’ resonance with civil society. The SDGs are part of the post-2015 development agenda, also called the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The SDGs took 18 months to formulate, and resulted in a set of Goals and targets that exceeded expectations, said Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya and Co-Chair of the Open Working Group (OWG) that negotiated the SDGs. Kamau – who also co-facilitated the intergovernmental negotiation process on the overall post-2015 development agenda – emphasized the SDGs’ acceptance by all governments, not just developing countries, and said the SDGs have the potential to be a transformative agenda that will change the world.

Kitty van der Heijden, WRI, said the SDGs go beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in several key ways, including: the “zero goal” on poverty; the focus on environment, with both dedicated Goals and integration of environmental issues throughout the Goal set; increased attention to systemic challenges and approaches; attention to new topics, such as sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and peace and security; and inclusion of the North and South in a “truly global action agenda.” Manish Bapna, WRI, underscored the profound shift achieved by agreeing on universal SDGs that apply to all countries and people.

Paula Caballero, World Bank, highlighted recognition of the importance of transformative goals and targets as critical in the SDGs’ formulation. She described a process in Colombia to look at targets in an integrated way to ensure buy-in and ownership on the SDGs.

The adoption of the SDGs will allow for a “creative period,” said Elizabeth Cousens, UN Foundation. She also described the “very active” consultation process on the SDGs in the US.

During a question-and-answer session with participants, speakers addressed why businesses and investors should care about the goals. Kamau explained the participation of business and the private sector in the SDGs’ development, including groups like the International Chamber of Commerce and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Kamau and Cousens both described the Goals and targets as investment opportunities for the private sector. Caballero added that, in line with the approach of “leaving no one behind,” the private sector includes smallholders, and she highlighted potential for win-win opportunities through reforestation.

On what would have happened if the MDGs expired without the SDGs, Kamau said the potential for a “quantum leap” would have been unlikely without the focus and intensity of the SDG formulation process. He said countries cannot pick one Goal and achieve the SDGs, but rather must work toward all the Goals to achieve transformation. Caballero said, under a business-as-usual scenario, “development” would still be thought of as “development assistance,” while under the SDGs development is not just a pro-poor agenda, but a wider perspective that involves different degrees of all countries.

In response to criticism that the SDGs are too expansive and vast, Kamau said the Goals and targets reflect the world’s complexity, stressing it is not a question about the number of Goals and targets, but a recognition that the world must comprehensively address all of the issues.

On next steps, Kamau highlighted the release of the UN Statistical Commission’s (UNSC) indicator set; the next meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF); and national implementation. Cousens indicated that there will be a transition period, stressing that every country will approach the SDGs differently.

Speakers also addressed questions on the relationship between the SDGs and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), financing and national obligations. [WRI Call Information and Recording] [IISD RS Sources]