22 June 2015: Starting the sixth session in the intergovernmental negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda, Co-Facilitator Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, introduced the zero draft of the outcome document of the UN Summit to adopt the agenda, and said UN Member States, Major Groups, business and regional meetings had expressed support and given positive feedback on the zero draft.

Kamau outlined that: the synopsis is intended to be easily communicated in a manner that can be managed by the public and the media; the declaration is meant to be short, accessible and highlight issues without turning them into “a laundry list;” the section on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets tries to reflect the request of delegations to replicate the entire set of goals and targets agreed in the Open Working Group (OWG) process; and the means of implementation (MOI) and the global partnership section includes some indicative language and clearly indicates that the section is a placeholder waiting for the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3).

Co-Facilitator David Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland, expressed optimism that the post-2015 negotiations could be completed by 31 July 2015, as planned. He called on participants to respect the overall importance of maintaining a short, concise and readable text.

Throughout the day, delegations delivered statements on the entire zero draft and, more specifically, on the draft declaration. All Member States said the zero draft provides a good basis for the negotiations. There were numerous calls to change the title of the document, with some Member States proposing to “crowd-source” the title.

Other issues raised included: the relationship between the FfD 3 outcome and the MOI chapter of the post-2015 outcome document; the need to strengthen the environmental dimension of sustainable development in the declaration; concern about “picking and choosing” some goals to prioritize in the declaration and the preamble, such as the nine objectives listed in the zero draft’s preamble; whether the preamble should remain in the document or not; whether the entire OWG outcome document (including the preamble and reservations) should be included in the outcome document; and the need to reference a better and “fit for purpose” UN system to help countries respond to development challenges and support the implementation of the agenda.

The sixth negotiation session is taking place in New York, US, on 22-25 June 2015. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]