Proposal on Sustainable Development Goals

The UNCSD Major Group of Children and Youth (MGCY) promoted an exercise among its constituency to provide guidance to Member States on the process to develop the post-2015 framework. These goals are based on existing international agreements and obligations. It is necessary to note, that these are not allencompassing and that other goals might be incorporated to the framework.

Key Messages
MGCY supports SDGs with sufficient ambition to meet environmental, economic and social challenges. The SDGs framework should tackle the underlying drivers of social injustice and environmental degradation, considering links between poverty, gender inequality, climate change, biological diversity, and human rights protection. The SDGs framework must promote synergy with the MDGs. In 2015, when the MDGs expire the SDGs and post-MDG framework must be incorporated together. We cannot have two sets of goals. The agreement on SDGs should be universal. The SDGs must be deliberated through an open, transparent, and accountable process in the form of a global consultation of all stakeholders, including young people. The SDGs must build from the Rio Principles, Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation so as to be an overarching set of goals.

Recommendations on the process to develop a post-2015 framework

1. Process Rio+20 should promote an inclusive process. SDGs must be deliberated through an open, transparent, and accountable process. Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development identifies that access to information and decision-making is the foundation of good environmental governance. A series of national stakeholders consultations should be run through 2013 and the results must be carefully considered in the formation of the SDGs. The final deliberation of the goals must be completed by 2015, making the SDGs an operational framework starting on 2015 until 2030. This framework must promote compatibility with the MDGs. The MDGs remain a valid set of objectives in their own right. The UN General Assembly office, under the guidance of the UN Secretary General, is considering the post-MDG framework. The Secretary General has stated that the adoption of the SDGs must be streamlined with the follow-up of the MDGs. The process should provide opportunities to harness synergies between the experienced negotiators in environmental sustainability and those who are active in development. 2. Content Documents such as Agenda 21, the Forest Principles, the Rio Conventions, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, and the draft decision on Sustainable Production and Consumption, offer valuable language on how to operationalise the interlinked nature of SDGs and to capitalize on synergies across sectors. The specific trade-offs between environmental sustainability and economic development must be addressed by negotiators at Rio+20. Consequently, it is important to provide additional guidance on international cooperation on specific sectors such as: energy, climate, oceans, food, and water. We must

guarantee that all dimensions of sustainable development are considered and both Green Economy and Institutional Framework elements are covered. Moreover, we must include references to human rights, gender equality, and social justice. 3. Structure The agreement on SDGs should be universal. SDGs should be accompanied by guidance and direction for all countries. Consequently, it is a process that should be led by co-chaired by developed and developing nations. The common but differentiated responsibilities will be considered a guiding principle. Nevertheless, SDGs provide with an opportunity to focus action by considering the respective capabilities of states in delivering progress on the goals. Given that equity should run like a common theme through the SDGs, the framework must target inequality between and within countries, and effectively respond to the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized peoples. A strong accountability framework and related institutional arrangements should be developed to guarantee the periodic and timely review of the implementation and compliance of the sustainable development proposals that will stem out of Rio+20.

Overarching Thematic Goals

1. Promote human development and security of all people A. Promote Gender Equality and Participation (follow-up for MDGs) Recalling Rio Principle 20, and the MDG on Gender Equality which call for the full participation of women and girls in achieving sustainable development; it is imperative that these commitments be expanded and strengthened in the Rio outcome document. The promotion of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and the elimination of gender-based discrimination in education, employment and access to social services are all a fundamental pretext to the achievement of a sustainable society. Examples of targets could include: a. Halve gender inequalities in income by promoting equal remuneration, including benefits, and equal treatment in respect of work of equal value in all sectors of employment. b. Ensure equal access to education at all levels and increased ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education approaching 1.1. c. Increase the proportion of seats held by women in national parliament or similar bodies. B. Promote the decent work agenda and poverty eradication. Work is central to young peoples wellbeing. We call for the consideration of the decent work agenda within the green economy. Decent work is the productive work that generates an adequate income, in which workers' rights are protected, and where there is adequate social protection and equal access to job opportunities. Examples of targets could include: a. Promote social protection floors. b. Suppress all forms of human trafficking and the exploitation of women and children worldwide. c. Eradication of all forms of child labor in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Conventions Nos. 138 and 182. d. Eradicate the amount of people that live in absolute poverty, or on less that US$1.25 (PPP) per day. C. Scale up access to primary health care Member States and International Organizations must scale up actions aimed to accelerate progress on universal access to reproductive health and primary health care. Children are the most vulnerable members of society and access to primary health care for mothers and children would significantly decrease the child mortality rate among developing countries. Access and delivery to Immunization and

basic public health are key aspects to child survival rates, and ultimately more productive members of society. Example of targets could include: a. Decrease child mortality rates. b. Increase the amount of young people with access to integrated sexual and reproductive health information and services. c. Increase access to universal primary health care systems. D. End armed conflict, promote peace and ensure sustainable post-conflict development Conflicts have posed a significant obstacle to achievement of the MDGs in many countries, while also constituting a severe threat to human security. Indeed, in Resilient People, Resilient Planet (2012), the Global Sustainability Panel insists that particular attention needs to be paid to the development challenges faced by low-income countries experiencing or emerging from conflict (para 238). Consequently, there is an urgent need for SDG targets and indicators on peace and conflict, including addressing conflict prevention, as well as post-conflict environmental cleanup, sustainable development and peacemaking. Examples of targets could include: a. Ensure that destruction of the environment is not used as a weapon of war by guaranteeing accountability for environmental degradation caused by armed conflict, including ensuring comprehensive post-conflict environmental cleanup and ecological rehabilitation. b. Reduce by at least three-quarters the number of nuclear weapons in States arsenals by 2020; achieve by 2020 universal anti-personnel landmine and cluster munitions clearance and, by 2020, have destroyed all stockpiles and ended all production of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. E. Improve Disaster Risk Preparedness with a particular focus on youth Disaster risk reduction is critical to Sustainable Development. A disaster could exacerbate existing SD challenges, while implementing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programs could simultaneously address other SD challenges (i.e. increasing food security). Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRM) plans is prerequisite for ensuring sustainability. In addition, youth can play a major role in ensuring DRR. It is also important to make use of existing technologies to enhance disaster risk preparedness efforts. Examples of targets could include: a. Increase by 20% the number of volunteer youth from disaster prone areas trained in DRR techniques including emergency drills. b. 20% increase in the number of trained youth volunteers registered under Disaster Response Task Forces. c. Introduction of CBDRM programmes for youth starting from primary education. d. Incorporate relevant technologies in national response plans including social media and other networking techniques. 2. Strengthen international environmental governance A. Eco-partnerships for technology development, innovation, and sustainability (follow-up for MDGs) Partnerships play an important role in the promotion of sustainable development and promoting economic growth in developing countries. They are necessary for the promotion of capacity building and for sharing best practices. Partnerships can include a wide range of collaborative activities in the public and private sector, as well as at the sub-national level to promote energy security and environmental sustainability between: universities, local authorities, and businesses. The needs of developing countries must be addressed by increasing financial aid, to facilitate the implementation of these programs and technologies.

Examples of targets could include: a. In cooperation with the private sector, make available benefits of new technologies, especially ICTs. b. Increase levels of donor aid to the United Nations target of 0.7% of gross national income. C. Increase the adoption of clean technologies in developing countries. B. The implementation on a global convention on principle 10: Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens. We call on governments to seize the opportunity offered by the Rio+20 process in order to reengineer participation within sustainable development and environmental governance. There is a need for countries to agree to a convention on principle 10, and to establish roadmaps for the implementation of the convention at regional and national levels. Example of targets could include: a. establishing guidelines for the incorporation of multi-level participatory consultation mechanisms at the national level. b. Recognition and incorporation of the right to access to environmental information into national legislations. C. Recognizing the role of young people in the sustainable development governance Strengthening principle 21 by further recognizing the creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world and make sure that youth aremobilized to forge a global partnership at national and international contexts. This should involve recognizing the role youth play in civil society organization as well as their communities in securing their future. Example of targets could include: a. Establish young people within all national delegations and a role within international negotiations. b. Support the establishment of Ombudspersons for Future Generations at the national level that can feed into an agreed High Commissioner for Future Generations. c. Develop a global strategy for youth participation in sustainable development, including the establishment and recognition of national youth councils (as in GA resolution A/RES/62/126 para.21), to improve the cooperation between young people, local authorities, and other decision-makers. d. Develop multi-level mechanism for increasing access to environmental justice through present legal systems. 3. Address cross-sectoral development areas A. Promote energy access and efficiency To build upon the Secretary Generals Sustainable Energy for All initiative, we would like to reiterate the goals established, by Agenda 21 and the framework of implementation laid out by JPOI; with special attention to the WEHAB cross-sectoral priority areas. Targets can be achieved by promoting the development and use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency technologies. Adequate financial resources to developing countries and the efficient use of energy sources must be taken into account to achieve energy access and efficiency. Examples of targets could include: a. Achieving universal access to affordable and efficient energy services in all countries. b. Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy and resource efficiency from 1.2% to 2.4% per annum. c. Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global mix from 15% to 30%. d. Establishing and distributing expert energy planning tools/framework to coordinate development cooperation efforts and measure improvement, to be universally practiced.

B. Promote water access and cross sectoral efficiency Ensuring clean and accessible water is essential for lifting people from poverty and for achieving a decent quality of life. Poor infrastructure and lack of integrated management are responsible for the deaths of millions of people around the world. The international community has existing commitments when it comes to water resources. However, most UN reports demonstrate that the world is not on track to meet water targets. There is an urgent need to create water-related goals that show the interlinkages of water resources with other economic sectors. Examples of targets could include: a. Develop an international research program focused on water recycling technology to improve cooperation between scientific actors and urban planners. b. Increase by 50% the current coverage of waste-water treatment to reduce the amount of pollution liberated to rivers and groundwater resulting from industrial and productive activities. c. Incorporate the human right to water into all national water strategies. C. Ensure the health, protection and preservation of oceans, seas and marine ecosystems We need a strong legislative framework to promote the sustainable development of our Blue Economy, avoid depletion of ocean resources, restore marine ecosystems and achieve long-term food security for sheries-dependent communities. Actions should include the establishment of a global network of marine protected areas and no-take zones, including a moratorium on mineral exploration in the Arctic and the development of proper mechanisms for conict resolution over aquatic resources. Examples of targets could include: a. Establish a representative network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 20-30% of the oceans area. b. Enact a moratorium on all fish stocks that are overfished, no longer resilient or in decline. c. Establish and implement an agreement concerning the protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. D. Promote sustainable food-systems Global delivery of the food security and sustainable agriculturerelated commitments has been dis appointing. Main points of these future goals should propose increase in water efficiency, reducing postharvest losses, increased development assistance overseas, especially to smallholders and women farmers. We call Member States to promote better resource efficiency within our food systems. Examples of targets could include: a. Increase by 20% the total food valuechain efficiency by reducing loss and waste in the production process, through implementing efficient storage, transportation, and water use. b. Increase the proportion of overseas development assistance (ODA) focused on sustainable or organic agriculture and rural development to 20%. E. Forests and Biodiversity Forests and biodiversity are essential for human security and economic development. About 20% of the carbon emissions come from deforestation, therefore there could not be sustainable development without taking forest as a critical central issue. Based upon existing Forest Principles and the CBD, there is still work to be done to decrease deforestation and forest degradation, improve sustainable ecosystem services, considering long-term management of forest ecosystems, and conserving and protecting endangered species. Examples of targets could include: a. To maintain and enhance ecosystems and their services by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems. b. To implement forest management plans or equivalent instruments, in line with Sustainable Forest

Management and the Forest principles. F. Promote the development of sustainable cities and human settlements There is a need to promote holistic and long-term sustainable city planning based on master planning that takes into account population growth, natural resource utilization, ecosystem preservation, public space accessibility, building design, efficient transport and waste management. This could be made possible through nancial incentives and mandatory technical standards for new developments. Examples of targets could include: a. Create a Global Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Framework, based on sustainable development principles and the empowerment of local authorities. b. Reduce urban waste production by 50%. c. Reduce the amount of chemical waste. d. Control urban sprawl with the promotion of better land-use policies.