Post-2015 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals: sessions 1 and 2 on Indicators for Goals and Targets

The Monday sessions and the Tuesday morning session focused on member states delivering their concerns about the list of indicators presented by the Statistical Committee for measuring the implementation of the targets for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the Post-2015 agenda. The general notions among member states suggested  that this first draft for the indicators shows there is...

Day 1 of the Post-2015 SDG Intergovernmental Negotiations

by Jenna Farineau Yesterday marked the beginning of the five day "Post-2015 Sustainable Development Intergovernmental Negotiations" at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The purpose of this conference is for member states to define the post-2015 development agenda that will be launched at a summit this September in recognition that the millennium development goals will reach...

You Could Have It All – Day 5 and Report of OWG12

by khristian méndez // The 12th session of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals has come to an end. At 5pm on friday, co-chair Kamau wrapped up the informal session of negotiations of the OWG, and opened the formal consultations, to be wrapped up 30 minutes later. During all of Friday, we heard the positions from 20+ member states on the final proposed SDG: Means of...

Heat in the Room – Day 4 OWG12

by khristian méndez // Temperature has risen in New York City, both on all of the concrete and glass surfaces of this giant man-made complex, as well as in the negotiation rooms. Everybody can agree that we need to eradicate poverty, have access to food, education and health, but as we descend down the list of goals, the views become more and more heated. Divergence on Biodiversity This morning...

Can we score goals in the right place? – Day 2+3 OWG12

by khristian méndez // Inside the Headquarters of the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals are being negotiated. Negotiations are taking place not only between governments at the formal and informal negotiations at the ECOSOC Chamber, but also outside of it in bilaterals, between Major Groups and other stakeholders. Chairs are asking to trim down numbers of targets and goals,...