UN/GA and Post-Rio+20

During the first weeks of the 67th session of the General Assembly, many speakers emphasized the need to first look to implementng the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 before focussing on what is to take their place. At the same time, there is a necessity to quickly create, immediatly embrace and begin implementation of the new goals.
 
During a briefing for civil society with members of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, representatives were encouraged to engage in three parallel processes for setting the post-2015 development agenda: the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons; country-level consultation and thematic consultations; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
 
The country-level consultations and thematic consultations are to be facilitated by the UN Development Group with each of the eleven thematic consultations to be co-convened by two or more UN agencies. The themes to be addressed in the global consultations are:
- governance;
- growth and employment;
- health;
- inequality;
- education;
- environmental sustainability;
-  food security and nutrition;
- conflict and fragility;
- population dynamics;
- water; and
- energy.

On October 16, a Special Event of the UN/GA's Second Committee will provide the first opportunity since Rio+20 for Member States and other participants to engage in discussions on how to develop the SDGs.
 
The Secretary-General has also developed a follow-up framework to Rio+20 by the UN System identifying follow-up actions called for in outcome document, along with the UN entity tasked with the responsibility to lead and the timeframe for delivering the outcome.

Objectives of 67th UN/GA President

Vuk Jeremic recently detailed his priorities, with the post-2015 development agenda as first on his list. He noted the mandate from Rio+20, to be in charge of follow-up, including the formation of the Open Working Group (OWG) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jeremic said he will take responsibility for determining the members of the 30-member group, in a joint effort alongside Brazil’s Permanent Representative. In that capacity, he will seek to ensure that the process is fully complementary and combined with the process around the post-2015 development agenda, especially the work of the OWG and the High-Level Panel (HLP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The HLP is expected to put its list of goals forward next May. 
 
UN Press Release
Summary of Press Conference

UN/GA: Wildlife comes to the plenary

Poaching and the illicit trafficking of wildlife products were raised for the first time at the General Assembly during discussions on strengthening national and international governance.

In a written statement, the United States highlighted “the harm caused by wildlife poaching and trafficking to conservation efforts, rule of law, governance and economic development.”

“Such organized crime is increasingly affecting the environment and biodiversity through poaching and illegal fishing,” Gabon’s President Ali Bongo said during the High-level Meeting on the Rule of Law. “Gabon intends to strengthen its criminal justice system to combat this phenomenon. But such efforts will require a greater international legal cooperation.” President Bongo took the occasion to reaffirm his country’s commitment to “combating violations of the Convention on International Trade [in] Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as well as other conventions to protect the environment and biodiversity.”

France also emphasized the severity and negative impacts of wildlife crime. “There are still entire sectors of activity without any legal safety,” French Minister Delegate for Development Pascal Canfin said. “International law is lacking when it comes to the plundering of natural resources, for example, or the trafficking of fauna.”

Post-2015 and SDGs

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the members of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development. The Panel is co-chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Prime Minister David Cameron of the UK, with 23 additional members representing governments, the private sector, academia, civil society and youth, while serving in their personal capacity.

Terms of Reference (TOR) are now available noting that the Panel and the intergovernmental Working Group on the SDGs should keep each other informed and be mutually reinforcing, and that the Panel should advise the Secretary-General on how the SDGs relate to the broader post-2015 development agenda.

The Panel will be supported by an independent secretariat and headed by a senior official who also will serve as lead author of the Panel’s final report to comprise:
- recommendations on the “vision and shape” of a Post-2015 development agenda, building on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and with a view to ending poverty;
- key principles for reshaping the global partnership for development and strengthened accountability mechanisms; and
- recommendations on creating political consensus on the post-2015 agenda, around the three dimensions of economic growth, social equality and environmental sustainability.

According to the TOR, the report will be presented to the Secretary-General in the second quarter of 2013as a "key input" to the subsequent report, on the occasion of a special event to be organized by the President of the 68th session of the UN/GA in September 2013.

Dialogue on "Harmony with Nature"

Further to the UN/GA's adoption of Resolution 65/164 "Harmony with Nature" on 20 December 2010, an interactive dialogue took place on 18 April at UN HQ to discuss "Scientific findings on the impacts of human activities on the functioning of the Earth System".

Transboundary Aquifers

The UN/GA recently adopted Resolution 66/104 “Law of Transboundary Aquifers,” calling on the UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme (IHP) to support countries in the sustainable and equitable management of their transboundary aquifers. Furthermore, the resolution encourages UNESCO-IHP to continue its scientific and technical work on the assessment of the transboundary aquifers of the world, noting that this action is key to the peaceful sharing of groundwater resources, the strengthening of regional cooperation and the prevention of conflicts. The UN/GA also recommends that the set of 19 draft articles already annexed to the first Resolution on the topic (R. 63/124 approved in 2008) be considered by member States when negotiating future agreements or arrangements for the management of their transboundary aquifers, where appropriate.

Rio+20 Participation

The president of the 66th UN General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, emphasized the importance of small States' participation at UNCSD (Rio+20) in a statement to the Forum of Small States (FOSS).

Rio+20: Rescheduled?

According to reports from the UNCSD Bureau, the President of Brazil has proposed new dates for UNCSD (Rio+20). They have already been discussed with the UN/S-G and he has expressed his support. Discussion on the new dates for the PrepCom (13-15 June) and for the Conference (20-22 June) now shifts to the UN/GA's 2nd Committee where Member States are already negotiating the precise 'modalities' of the Conference. It is presumed that the proposal will be accepted, as it comes at the request of the Host Country.

Rationale given for the change of dates is to "ensure opportunity for participation at the highest possible level" coinciding with the next G20 Summit in Mexico from 18-19 June, 2012 and to avoid overlap with commitments of Commonwealth Members to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

More information

UN/GA: 2nd Committee on Sustainable Development

The 2nd Committee concluded its general discussion on sustainable development (Agenda item 19), which covered sub-items including:- Implementation of Agenda 21 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD);
- follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation (MSI) of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS;
- International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;
- protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind;
- implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD);
- the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);
- the report of the Governing Council of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on its 11th special session;
- Harmony with Nature;
- sustainable mountain development; and
- promotion of new and renewable sources of energy (sub-items (a)-(j)).

The Committee will meet on 10 November 2011 to begin consideration of draft texts on these issues.

UN Press Release on Introductory Session, 31 October
UN Summary, 31 October
UN Summary, 1 November
UN Summary, 3 November
Draft Texts under Consideration

UN/GA Second Committee: General Discussions

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the UN General Assembly (UN/GA) has concluded its general discussion on sustainable development (Agenda item 19) covering ten sub-items, including on small island developing States (SIDS), climate change, disaster reduction, desertification, biodiversity, renewable energy, and implementation of Agenda 21. The Committee will meet on 10 November 2011 to begin consideration of draft texts on these issues.

Statement of UNGA President
Statement of Sha Zukang, Introducing UN Secretary-General's Reports
UN Summary, 31 October
UN Summary, 1 November
UN Summary, 3 November
Draft Texts under Consideration

UN/GA General Debate: Expectations for Rio+20

During general debate of the 66th UN/GA, a number of speakers outlined their expectations ahead of UNCSD (Rio+20), and some addressed the sustainable development challenges facing SIDS.
Plenary Summary from 26 September
Pleanar Summary from 27 September
President's Closing Remarks

UN/GA: High-level Event on Desertification

Prior to the opening of its 66th session, the UN/GA convened a High-level Meeting on addressing desertification, land degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Following deliberations, the Office of the President of the General Assembly presented a summary of the discussions, and said it would be referred to UNCCD/COP-10 and Rio+20.

See the following links for more information:
UN Summary of Event
Statement of GA President
Statement of UN Secretary-General
Webcast of Opening Plenary
Webcast of Panel 1
Webcast of Panel 2
Webcast of Closing Plenary
UNCCD Website for UNGA High Level Event
GA President's Summary of Discussions]

Yasuni-ITT Initiative Gains Traction

At a High-Level Meeting held during the 66th session of the UN/GA, the UN/S-G praised the Yasuni-ITT Initiative* for showing that "sustainable development is possible, it only takes leadership, creativity and commitment." The UN/GA President encouraged countries to share the lessons learned and best practices from the Initiative, and to bring them to bear at the at UNFCCC/COP-17, as well as Rio+20.During the meeting, the Trust Fund received pledges totaling US$53.3 million from the Governments of Colombia, Italy and Peru, and from regional governments in Belgium and France.

Ban Ki-moon's Remarks
UN/GA President's Remarks



* In 2006, the Government of Ecuador proposed to indefinitely refrain from exploiting the 860 million barrel Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) oil reserve in the Yasuni National Park if the international community could provide it with at least half of the estimated US$7.2 billion value of the reserves. In August 2010, Ecuador and UNDP agreed to set up a trust fund with an initial goal of reaching $100 million by end-2011. The trust fund was first open only to governments and corporations willing to donate US$100,000 or more, but on 12 September 2011 UNDP announced it would also start accepting donations from individuals and others for as little as US$25. Trust fund monies are to be earmarked for social development, renewable energy, reforestation and conservation, as well as for research, science, technology and innovation.

Call for ICJ To Examine GHG Damage

During the UN/GA general debate, Palau's President Johnson Toribiong announced that his Government, as well as that of the Marshall Islands has called upon the UN/GA to seek, on an urgent basis, an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the responsibilities of States under international law to ensure that activities carried out under their jurisdiction of control that emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) do not damage other States.
Toribiong's Statement
UN Press Release

Opening of 66th UN/GA

The 66th UN/GA opened with calls from its President, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser (Qatar) and the UN/S-G to address sustainable development as a top priority.
Statement of President
Statement of UN/S-G

Bottom Fishing and Deep Sea Fish Stocks

Further to a request from the UN/GA, the UN S-G organized a workshop from 15-16 September to discuss implementation of paragraphs 80 and 83-87 of resolution 61/105 and paragraphs 117 and 119-127 of resolution 64/72 on sustainable fisheries, addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep sea fish stock.
Workshop Agenda

CBD: Call for Nagoya Implementation

During the annual high-level meeting of CBD COP Presidents, representatives of past and future Presidencies agreed to and signed a call for "urgent action on the implementation of the successful Nagoya Outcomes." The Call will be forwarded to the 66th session of the UN/GA and to the high-level meeting of the Assembly on desertification, land degradation, and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, to be held on 20 September.

UN/S-G: Linking Sustainable Development to Security and Renewables

During his visit to New Zealand to attend the 42nd meeting of the Pacific Island Forum, Ban Ki-moon addressed Auckland University saying, “there is no sustainable security, no true guarantor of peace, without sustainable development.” Furthermore, he noted that during his report to the UN/GA this month, he would call on the international community to make sustainable development a top priority.

Statement by Secretary-General

UNCCD: Call for Action

Representatives of past Presidents of UNCCD COPs, along with the forthcoming COP-10 host, the Republic of Korea, convened in Geneva on 3 September to discuss upcoming meetings of the UN/GA on the theme “Addressing desertification, land degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication,” and UNCCD/COP-10. Discussions resulted in the "UNCCD Geneva Call for Urgent Action on the Implementation of the Convention", which emphasizes the need to strengthen UNCCD to become a global authority on scientific and technical knowledge on the issues of desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) and to align national actions with the 10-year strategy for 2008-2018, as well as confirming support to take the necessary measures at the UNCSD (Rio+20) towards mainstreaming DLDD as a major component of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

UN-SG: Report on the Work of the Organization

The UN/GA has circulated the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/66/1). Coverage includes:
-  responses to disasters and the fact that the UN has begun to place a higher premium on disaster risk reduction and to forge new types of partnerships with the business community and civil society;
- responses to development needs underlining the outcome of LDC-IV, by which States committed to address the structural challenges faced by LDCs;
- a call for UNCSD (Rio+20) to agree on “an ambitious and actionable framework that complements the Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs), to follow the 2015 target date for meeting the eight MDGs;
- the needs of Africa and the worsening problems (extreme poverty, unemployment, armed conflicts, sexual and gender-based violence) masked by the region’s overall economic growth. In response, the UN is working to advance implementation of the Declaration on Enhancing UN-African Union (AU) Cooperation: Framework for the 10-Year Capacity-Building Programme for the AU, and partnering with governments to boost financing in sustainable forest management and other areas;
- climate change and its importance to global peace and prosperity; calling for “sustained global cooperation coupled with accelerated national actions to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience.” It praises the results of the Cancun Climate Change Conference as having provided an important set of tools that now must be put into practice;
- the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP), which aims to provide a practical road map for sustainable, climate-resilient development that addresses poverty eradication, energy, food, water and other key issues, the recommendations of which are expected to provide input to UNCSD (Rio+20);
- participation of the business community and the successful integration through the “private sector track” at LDC-IV providing a model for closer engagement around UNCSD (Rio+20) and other high-level events.

Lastly, the report notes that “achieving sustainable development is imperative" and in the view of the UN-SG, a crucial part of this agenda will be forging a sustainable global energy strategy.