The UN General Assembly's Second Committee adopted resolution A/C.2/67/L.45, which outlines the implementation of several agreements made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), including: the strengthening of ECOSOC; the creation of a High-Level Political Forum; and an Open Working Group to suggest sustainable development goals (SDGs).
30 November 2012: The UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Second Committee (Economic and Financial) has approved draft resolution A/C.2/67/L.45 on “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.”
Agreed on 30 November 2012, the draft reaffirms the “Future We Want” outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and calls for its speedy implementation. It highlights progress on several agreements made in Rio, including on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The document also outlines the negotiation process for the creation of a High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), beginning in January 2013 and concluding in May 2013, with a report from the UN Secretary-General on Member State and Major Group input requested to inform the debate. Additionally, the draft recommends that the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) hold a “short and procedural” final session following the conclusion of negotiations on the High-Level Political Forum.
Regarding the Open Working Group, which is charged with recommending a set of sustainable development goals, the draft “reiterates that the [group] will submit its report to the General Assembly at its 68th session and that reports on [its] progress … will be made regularly to the General Assembly,” taking into account the convening of the first high-level political forum, and the special event in 2013 to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
On the intergovernmental committee on options for sustainable development financing, the draft calls for it to start as soon as possible, preferably in January 2013, and requests an update before the beginning of the 68th session.
The draft also includes decisions on clean technology development and transfer; welcomes a third conference on small island developing States (SIDS), to be held in 2014; and calls for “synergy, coherence, and mutual support” among all processes relevant to the post-2015 development agenda. [Publication: Draft Resolution A/C.2/67/L.45] [Meeting Summary]