26 November 2012: The UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) has issued a report of its consultations for the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel (HLP) on the post-2015 development agenda. The report provides civil society recommendations, which urge the UN to create the conditions to end poverty and protect the rights of all, while also ensuring environmental protection and fair and equitable access to resources.

Ten themes emerged from the consultation, which was conducted online from 19 October-7 November 2012. The themes are: addressing inequality and mainstreaming equity; education and capacity building; enabling job creation and investing in poor and marginalized people; health, peace and security; human rights-based approach; implementation; inclusive, participatory processes and decision-making; increasing political will; and protection of earth’s ecosystems and equitable distribution of resources.

Respondents call for ambitious, holistic and universal goals that integrate frameworks on environment, development, gender and population. Several contributions propose guidelines for ensuring equitable access to resources within planetary boundaries. Contributors also recognized that the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) Outcome Document calls for tackling environmental degradation and scarcity to address household poverty.

A majority of participants recommended steps for ensuring an enabling environment for sustainable development. Proposals included: rethinking global governance; including qualitative measures to support accountability and move beyond gross domestic product (GDP); maximizing stakeholder contributions, including through global partnerships; and innovative financial mechanisms such as a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT).

The report reflects 320 written contributions from 135 organizations and individuals. NGLS previously presented an initial consultation report to the HLP in advance of its first substantive meeting in London, the UK, on 31 October-2 November 2012. This report included perspectives on human development and jobs and livelihoods in response to four questions, as well as reflections from an outreach day held in London on 2 November. [UN-NGLS Press Release] [Publication: Consultation Report] [IISD RS Story on Initial Consultation Report]