As the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stepped into the final straight of its mandate, delegates reflected on their progress in achieving their objectives. Speaking on behalf of the G77 and China, Bolivia reminded the delegates the importance of the concept of common but differentiated responsibilities and ensuring that each target must be matched by a means of implementation. Libya, on behalf of the African group, affirmed the importance of following the guidelines in “the Future We Want” document in the absence of consensus within the group.

The European Union alerted the group the wide gaps of views on proposed goal 13 on climate change and on the proposed goal 16 on peaceful society and rule of law. Brazil similarly noted the diverging views on goal 16, and urged delegates not to bring up “unpleasant surprises” for the synthesis report by renegotiating issues already settled in the remaining days of the group or in the SDGs process forward. Brazil also highlighted the need of fine-tuning the language of the current draft, as she believed that the current imprecise language may not align with that of the preexisting international agreements. Argentina stated their determination to finish the task by saying “If need be, for the last week, we have to stay until the hour we need to stay to get a good report”.

The Co-Chairs concluded by stating that the group has come along long way and now has a substantially good set of goals in hand. The remaining task is to adopt an “M&M approach” to simplify the wording of the clauses, so that Ministers and Mothers alike can read the goals. Therefore, they asked members to “resist the urge to engage into any new ideas” and promote group cohesion in the upcoming process.

Meeting Title : 13th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Speakers: H.E. Mr. Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya and Co-Chair of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development; H.E. Csaba Kőrösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary and Co-Chair of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development; Representatives from Bolivia, Libya, European Union, Brazil, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, China and Benin
Date: July 14th, 2014
Location: Conference Room 3, United Nations HQ, New York
Summary Written By WIT Representative: Harrison Chung