19 December 2014
IGES Launches Project on Implementing the SDGs
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The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) announced the launch of a project, ‘From Aspiration to Action,' addressing implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project seeks to examine barriers to and enablers for the successful implementation of the goals and targets, and recommend essential means of implementation (MOI) to put them into action "through active engagement with various stakeholders and partners." The project issued a commentary on 12 December on the UN Secretary-General's synthesis report on the post-2015 development agenda, ‘The Road to Dignity by 2030.'

iges-new12 December 2014: The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) has announced the launch of a project, titled ‘From Aspiration to Action,’ addressing implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project seeks to examine barriers to and enablers for the successful implementation of the goals and targets, and to recommend essential means of implementation (MOI) to put them into action “through active engagement with various stakeholders and partners.”

As part of the project, a commentary was published on 12 December regarding the UN Secretary-General’s synthesis report on the post-2015 development agenda, titled ‘The Road to Dignity by 2030.’ The IGES commentary welcomes the synthesis report’s call to tackle climate change not in isolation but as a fully integrated part of the development agenda. The authors note, however, that the report is silent on the existence of systemic barriers to sustainable development, and they call for candid discussion of these barriers. In particular, they recommend that the Secretary-General’s call for “international coordination of macroeconomic policies” be spelled out in more detail. They also urge greater attention to the use of data in monitoring and accountability with regard to SDG implementation. On capacity building, they highlight the importance of government effectiveness and rule of law as critical enablers of development, and they recommend: “co-designing” a global trade regime that will support and promote sustainable development; improving policy coherence; establishing broad partnerships; and enhancing science-policy interfaces.

In addition, an IGES policy brief on ‘Designing and Implementing an Energy Goal: Delivering Multi-Benefits for Sustainable Development’ provides recommendations on energy as a central component of the post-2015 development agenda.

‘From Aspiration to Action’ focuses on MOI for water, energy, forests, cities, sustainable consumption and production (SCP), and education. In addition to discussion papers on these specific goal areas, and cross-cutting contributions on financing for development (FfD), the project will prepare a synthesis paper on MOI.

IGES, which is located in Kanagawa, Japan, seeks to provide policy development and strategic research to advance sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. [Project Website] [Commentary] [Designing and Implementing an Energy Goal] [IGES Website]

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