A proposed outcome of Rio+20 is for policymakers to adopt a series of universal sustainable development goals (SDGs). The purpose of SDGs is to address the broad challenges of poverty eradication, environmental protection and sustainable consumption and production. The SDGs address the shortcomings and challenges of the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promise to provide the foundation for a global green economy. The exact content of the SDGs will be decided in the Rio+20 process and be integrated into the successive framework for MDGs.
Sustainable Development Goals
Publications
What are Sustainable Development Goals?
This brief, which addresses issues surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by Columbia, Guatemala, and Peru during the Rio+20 processes, aims to remind policymakers and other stakeholders of the importance of reaching a solid outcome at Rio+20, as well as for the future. The following provides a summary of ongoing discussions and informal consultations concerning SDGs, and expounds on IGES’ views for a mandate and process for developing a set of universal SDGs.
Integrating the SDG processes and other initiatives into a single unified process would be highly advantageous as this would set out a clear post-2015 framework.
For the full report click here.
Sustainable Development Goals: Building the foundation for an inclusive process
Stakeholder Forum with the support of Christian Aid, WWF, IIED, Practical Action, Progressio, CAFOD and Friends of the Earth have produced the following paper on Sustainable Development Goals. A potential outcome of Rio+20 is the launch of Sustainable Development Goals, which would guide the international sustainable development agenda, and serve as a vital contribution to the successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals after they expire in 2015. The information of this report is based on a review of relevant literature - especially regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the MDGs framework and the implementation of the UN-led post-MDG process; interviews with representatives of organisations whose Zero Draft submissions made explicit recommendations on or for SDGs and/or involved in the current SDGs process; a global survey responded by 410 individuals representing a diversity of organizations (mainly NGOs) based in different regions, and a stakeholder workshop in London. To read the full report click here.
Sustainable Development Goals and the relationship to a post 2015 global development framework
Beyond 20151 welcomes the attention that is being given to the need for a global over-arching cross-thematic development framework by the international community, and hopes that the thinking around Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be a constructive contribution to this ongoing conversation. To read the full paper click here. Children's Sustainable Development Goals
The following ten Children’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) were developed by participating secondary school students from the Seychelles, Malta, Nigeria, Canada and the UK at the International Schools Debate held at The Living Rainforest, Berkshire, UK on 17 May 2012. The goals, which appear in descending order in terms of number of votes received, are offered as a preliminary input from schoolchildren around the world into future discussions on Sustainable Development Goals held at Rio+20 and beyond.
Previous Meetings
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONALS FREE WEBINAR
Date: Thursday, May 24
Time: 7pm GMT
Where: Online
Focus: One hour panel discussion on the Rio+20 themes, including Sustainable Development Goals lead by UNEP and Stakeholder Forum
SDG Retreat: Tarrytown
Date: 23 Jan 2012 - 24 Jan 2012
Location: Tarrytown, New York, USA
Focus: A proposal from the government of Columbia, Guatemala and Peru for a definition of a suite of Sustainable Development Goals at the Rio+20 Conference.
UNEP Governing Council
Date: 18-19 February 2012
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Focus: highlighted five elements that the final outcome document at Rio+20 should feature, which included an agreement on indicators to measure the implementation of sustainable development goals.