15 December 2014: The UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published a report of its review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), outlining recommended actions and urging full support for the 17 SDGs proposed in the report of the Open Working Group (OWG) in view of the “historic and powerful” international consensus around the goals.

The report, ‘Connected World: Agreeing Ambitious Sustainable Development Goals in 2015,’ includes verbatim reports from EAC hearings, and concludes with recommendations for UK actions in support of the international sustainable development agenda.

The report urges the UK to support the EU’s negotiating position and respect the status of the 17 proposed SDGs. The authors observe that reducing the number of goals, as the UK had earlier proposed, would inevitably omit key aspects of the framework. On this matter, the report concludes, “Communicating the goals is important, but what ultimately counts is global action across a range of areas that is truly sustainable.”

The report recommends that the UK Government should, inter alia: rapidly phase out subsidies to carbon-intensive energy sources; demand the highest standards of environmental protection in trade deals such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); lead international efforts to improve air quality in cities; protect marine ecosystems in the UK Overseas Territories; and engage young people in the UK with the new goals and support activities that raise awareness about sustainable development.

In relation to UK aid spending, the authors call for promoting resource efficiency, funding of circular economy approaches, safeguarding biodiversity and de-coupling economic growth from natural resource use.

The authors observe that the similar timing of the SDG and climate change negotiations presents an opportunity to “embed climate change thinking throughout the SDGs” and build decarbonization and adaptation into development.

The report expresses concern over transparency of the use of funds committed to the International Climate Fund and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and requests the government to report annually on the impact of the International Climate Fund.

The EAC is appointed by the UK House of Commons to assess the performance of government departments and public bodies in the UK with regard to environmental protection and sustainable development. [Publication: Connected World: Agreeing Ambitious Sustainable Development Goals in 2015] [EAC Website] [IISD RS Story on EAC Hearings]