25 September 2012: The 67th UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Debate opened with speakers recognizing linkages between peace and security and sustainable development. They highlighted the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and noted the role of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) in mobilizing action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and forming a post-2015 development agenda.

Several speakers, including Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor Leste, and Sprent Dabwido, President of Nauru, indicated that their countries were not on track to meet the MDGs. Tomislav Nikolić, President of Serbia, stressed that cooperation, understanding and solidarity are needed to achieve the MDGs, and welcomed the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia, called for a global partnership for poverty eradication and achievement of the MDGs to address inequality, peace and security. Boni Yayi, President of Benin, expressed the hope that ensuring peace and security and improving global governance would contribute to sustainable development. Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, expressed concern that Sub-Saharan Africa is unlikely to meet the MDGs and called for a focus on Africa in efforts to accelerate implementation of the MDGs. Christopher Loeak, President of the Marshall Islands, indicated his country’s commitment to stronger progress on the MDGs, particularly on environmental sustainability and access to education. Mariano Rajoy, Prime Minister of Spain, highlighted the Spain-UN Development Programme (UNDP) Fund for the MDGs. Ivan Gašparovič, President of Slovakia, called for removing causes of conflicts through, inter alia, poverty reduction and sustainable development. Danilo Medina Sánchez, President of the Dominican Republic, called for developing better indicators to measure and understand development, poverty and well-being.

Speakers recognized Rio+20 as charting a path towards sustainable development. Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, said Rio+20 set “the starting point for a sustainable development agenda for the 21st century.” Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria, called on the UNGA to focus on the Rio+20 outcome document to advance economic growth, environmental sustainability and social development. François Hollande, President of France, said the Rio outcome document points towards a more sustainable, equitable future. Dabwido noted that the UNCSD outcome captures the Pacific small island developing State (SIDS) vision of a “Blue Economy.” Both Loeak and Dabwido highlighted the Third Global Conference on Sustainable Development of SIDS in 2014.

Rousseff and Plevneliev drew attention to the UNGA’s mandate on defining the SDGs. Plevneliev recommended coordination of the SDGs within the post-2015 development agenda, in cooperation with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Rajoy indicated that Spain would participate in developing the SDGs and new institutional structures. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, President of Switzerland, supported universal goals to ensure the well-being of future generations. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of Nigeria, supported the development of specific, action-oriented SDGs.

On the post-2015 development agenda, Yayi called for the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda to focus on sustainable human development with an emphasis on equity. Noting persistent poverty and hunger, Demetris Christofias, President of Cyprus, called for the post-2015 agenda to achieve environmental sustainability, inclusive economic and social development, poverty eradication, and peace and security for all. Stressing the need for an inclusive, multilateral system, Gašparovič recommended against creating new parallel or duplicate structures while expressing commitment to economic, environmental and social sustainable development. Gusmão stressed the need to incorporate lessons learned from the MDG process and address structural factors that had hindered tangible results. [UNGA 67 High-level Debate Website]