30 March 2015
Third Session of Post-2015 Negotiations Takes up Target Revision, Indicator Development
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The third session of intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda discussed: the timeline and process for creating an indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); country experiences in implementing sustainable development; the targets for the proposed SDGs, and possible revisions to the targets agreed by the Open Working Group (OWG); and arrangements for a joint meeting with the preparatory process for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3) in April 2015.

post2015_negotations27 March 2015: The third session of intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda discussed: the timeline and process for creating an indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); country experiences in implementing sustainable development; the targets for the proposed SDGs and possible revisions to the targets agreed by the Open Working Group (OWG); and arrangements for a joint meeting with the preparatory process for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3) in April 2015.

The third session convened on 23-27 March 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, and was led by Co-Facilitators David Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland, and Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya.

Discussing the document circulated by the Co-Facilitators with possible revisions to 19 targets, many governments questioned the process by which the paper had been developed, and warned against tampering with the proposal of the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs. Others favored consideration of possible improvements. Delegations differed over whether reopening the package of goals and targets could weaken its contents, or make the agenda more ambitious.

On the indicator framework for the goals and targets, a presentation from the UN Statistical Commission stressed that its efforts to elaborate indicators are only preliminary, and likely will stretch for another year, for agreement in March 2016.

The session also included an interactive dialogue with Major Groups and other stakeholders, discussed the possibility of establishing a technology facilitation mechanism, as called for in the Rio+20 Outcome, and revised the schedule for the fourth session of intergovernmental negotiations to run from 21-24 April, allowing for participation in the 20 April dialogue between the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Bretton Woods Institutions. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage] [ENB Summary and Analysis]


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