1 September 2015: The 69th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution transmitting the outcome document of the UN Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, titled ‘Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ to the UNGA’s 70th session, for action during the Summit. The resolution (A/69/L.85) also welcomes the “successful conclusion” of the negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda and the outcome document, which was agreed by consensus at an informal meeting of the plenary on 2 August 2015.

Opening the meeting to adopt the draft resolution on 1 September 2015, UNGA President Sam Kutesa said the outcome document is “a triumph of multilateralism.” He thanked Member States and all stakeholders who provided input.

Kutesa orally revised the document, in particular footnote 1 on page 11 of ‘Transforming Our World.’ Footnote 1 relates to the proposal of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and indicates (in the draft version) that the OWG proposal is contained in UNGA Resolution A/68/970, titled ‘Report of the Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals,’ also referring to A/68/970 Add. 1, which contains reservations to the OWG proposal. Kutesa said Footnote 1 would also refer to Addendum 2.

After the UNGA adopted the document as orally revised, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the moment represented the beginning of a new era and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development marks a paradigm shift in development. He expressed his expectation that, during the Summit, world leaders “will not only endorse the new agenda, but strongly commit to its implementation.”

South Africa for the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China), Maldives for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Jamaica for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Paraguay for the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Tonga for the Pacific Small Island Developing States (P-SIDS), the EU, China, Colombia, Hungary, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Norway, Panama, Peru, and the Republic of Korea welcomed the adoption. Brazil, Egypt and India specifically welcomed the creation of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM).

The US underlined that: the understanding of the reference to “each state’s permanent sovereignty on natural resources” needs to be consistent with existing international agreements; the outcome document does not represent a commitment to provide access to new products, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Doha Round remain the appropriate fora for discussing trade issues; the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) is explicitly and solely related to specific environmental aspects; resource efficiency represents the core of sustainable consumption and production (SCP), which requires a universal approach to SCP, with developed countries taking the lead on knowledge sharing of best practices; the transfer of technology refers to voluntary transfer on mutually agreed terms; “broadening and strengthening the voice and participation of developing countries in global economic governance” refers to increasing the effectiveness of their voice but does not imply changes in the governance of international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank; targets 2.5 (genetic diversity of seeds) and 15.6 (genetic resources) are not related to intellectual property rights (IPR); and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3), provides the context for the means of implementation (MOI).

Qatar, for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates), expressed reservation to the use of the term “early marriage,” and stressed that Member States have the sovereign right to implement the agenda in accordance with national circumstances. On inheritance, she said the national legislation of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Member States respects human rights very often and that those rights need to be in line with the national legislation.

Qatar for the GCC, Senegal for the African Group, Chad, Ecuador, Egypt and Iran expressed reservations regarding target 5.6 on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and target 3.7 on access to sexual and reproductive health care services. The GCC, the African Group, Chad, Egypt and Iran further stressed that “family” refers solely to “man, woman and children,” with the GCC, the African Group and Iran noting that they understand references to “gender” only as meaning “sex.”

Iran said there should be a single follow-up mechanism, at the national level, and any reporting template, mechanisms and indicators should be agreed and adopted through intergovernmental negotiations so that they do not contradict national laws and cultural values. The African Group, Chad and Sudan offered Explanations of Positions (EOPs) on the reference to “other status” in paragraph 19 (human rights), saying that in their understanding it does not include LGBT people.

Indonesia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Peru: expressed reservations regarding the amendments made to targets 2.5 (genetic diversity of seeds) and 15.6 (genetic resources); stressed that paragraph 58 of the Agenda notes the respect for the independent mandates of other processes; and underscored that the revised targets should not undermine the level of ambition of other international agreements, such as the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which calls for “ensuring,” not “promoting,” the fair and equitable sharing of benefits, and that traditional knowledge is accessed with the prior consent of indigenous and local communities.

Venezuela expressed reservations to the preamble, noting that it reflects only one vision of sustainable development aligned with the vision of the Western world, and does not cover other models that contribute to sustainable development. She further expressed reservations to targets 7.1 and 7.b on “modern energy;” 12.c (phasing out fossil fuel subsidies), and, supported by Turkey, target 14.c, mentioning that Venezuela is not a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Venezuela further expressed reservations to any references to the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, low carbon economies, and mechanisms for establishing carbon pricing. She stressed that Venezuela cannot accept any monitoring or assessment of its energy measures. Ecuador also expressed reservations on target 12.c.

Mexico underscored the need to respect the rights of migrants regardless of their migratory status.

The UN Summit for the adoption of the post- 2015 development agenda will take place from 25-27 September 2015, in New York, US. [Draft Resolution] [2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development] [IISD RS Sources] [IISD RS Story on Draft Resolution] [Statement of UNSG] [Statement of UNGA President] [UN Press Release] [Webcast of Meeting]