12 August 2015: The President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Sam Kutesa, circulated the outcome document of the UN Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, agreed by consensus at the conclusion of the intergovernmental negotiation process on 2 August 2015. Kutesa informed Member States that he will convene a plenary meeting of the Assembly in early September to take action on a draft resolution that will transmit the outcome document to the UNGA’s 70th session for consideration and adoption during the Summit.

The outcome document, ‘Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ has been amended and edited per announcements made during the final plenary of the negotiation process.

These amendments include: the moving of a paragraph on the positive contribution of migrants (previous paragraph 35) up several paragraphs (it is now paragraph 29); the insertion of “which was established by the AAAA” [Addis Ababa Action Agenda] after “Technology Facilitation Mechanism” in paragraph 70; the replacement of “ensure” with “promote” in targets 15.6 (fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources) and 2.5 (maintain genetic diversity), and the insertion of “as internationally agreed” at the end of target 15.6; a revision to the last sentence of paragraph 35 (previously paragraph 34), so it now calls for “further effective measures and actions to be taken, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation;” the addition of a sentence, in paragraph 62 (link with the AAAA) stating that “the AAAA supports, complements and helps contextualize the 2030 Agenda’s means of implementation targets;” and the inclusion of “small island developing States” in target 13.b (capacity for climate change planning and management).

David Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland, and Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, the Co-Facilitators of the intergovernmental negotiation process, provided the amended draft to the UNGA President on 11 August. [UNGA President’s Letter, Amended Draft Outcome Document] [IISD RS Story on Contents of Agenda 2030] [IISD RS Story on Adoption of Draft Outcome] [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]