30 June 2014: The co-chairs of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have prepared a “carefully refined version” of the zero draft of the 17 proposed SDGs and accompanying targets.

In a letter of 30 June, the co-chairs – Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, and Csaba Kőrösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary – write that they adjusted the zero draft to reflect expressed priorities and areas of agreement, and to simplify and harmonize phrasing, while also “substantially consolidating the number of targets.”

The updated draft includes the narrative chapeau to the SDGs, and the goals are proposed as follows: 1. End poverty everywhere; 2. End hunger, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; 3. Attain healthy lives for all; 4. Provide quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all; 5. Attain gender equality, empower women and girls everywhere; 6. Ensure availability and sustainable use of water and sanitation for all; 7. Ensure sustainable energy for all; 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; 9. Promote sustainable infrastructure and industrialization and foster innovation; 10. Reduce inequality within and between countries; 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable; 12. Promote sustainable consumption and production patterns; 13. Tackle climate change and its impacts; 14. Conserve and promote sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources; 15. Protect and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, halt desertification, land degradation and biodiversity loss; 16. Achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice for all, and effective and capable institutions; and 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and the global partnership for sustainable development.

The draft proposes 3-8 targets for each of the 16 substantive goals. The targets for Goal 17 are clustered into five sections: Trade, Finance, Technology, Capacity building, Policy and institutional coherence, Multi-stakeholder partnerships; and Data, monitoring and accountability.

The co-chairs note that the Group has eight working days left to complete its work (9-11 July and 14-18 July), as discussed at the close of OWG 12. [Revised Zero Draft, Letter from Co-Chairs] [IISD RS Coverage of OWG 12][Summary of first Zero Draft]