4 June 2013: Informal informal consultations on the format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) continued in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 4 June 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. Delegations finished a first reading of the draft HLPF Compilation Document text, discussing issues of Major Group engagement, the post-2015 development agenda, periodicity of meetings, review mechanisms and budgetary concerns.

On the participation of Major Groups, Member States discussed enhancing the means of Major Group engagement in the forum. Representatives of the Major Groups called for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) Major Group modalities to be outlined in the HLPF text, along with “upgraded participation” in areas of review and implementation. Major Groups also expressed respect for some delegations’ emphasis that the forum should be an intergovernmental, universal body.

Some delegations anticipated that the Forum will become a focal point for the “post-2015 development agenda,” while others cautioned against pre-judging its agenda or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Proposals were made to hold the first “full” meeting of the HLPF during UNGA 70 or 71, around the release of the post-2015 development agenda, with just a short inaugural meeting at UNGA 68 in September 2013. Discussion also addressed creating a HLPF review mechanism and an Inter-Agency Support Group.

According to the consultations’ co-facilitator Cesare Maria Ragalini of Italy, further discussion on core issues of the HLPF will be needed before moving on to a compromise text. [UN Webpage on HLPF] [IISD RS Story on Previous HLPF Consultations] [IISD RS Sources]