Sustainable Development and Financing for Development – ECOSOC
ABOUT: The co-facilitators of the preparatory process for the Summit of the Future (SOTF), Germany and Namibia, convened closed informal consultations on the Chapeau and Chapter 1 of the Pact for the Future on 1 December 2023. The objective of this meeting is for the “co-facilitators to hear directly from Member States on the substantive issues that they would like to see reflected in the zero draft of the Pact for the Future on a chapter-by-chapter basis”.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The co-facilitators proposed to use revision 3 of the draft decision, which was the result of extensive consultations conducted from April to Auguust 2023, as the starting point for negotiations on the Pact for the Future in the 78th session of the General Assembly. This approach got broad support among Member States (MS) with some pointing out the need to expand beyond revision 3. For Chapter 1 on Sustainable Development and Financing for Development (FfD), MS inclined towards building on and using the outcomes of the consensually agreed Political Declaration of the SDG Summit held in September 2023. The other key elements or issues raised were: eradicating extreme poverty, education, insufficient language on climate action and responsibilities, climate finance, rule of law and right to development, among others. The need for reform of the International Financial Architecture (IFA) and debt restructuring featured in statements across the North-South divide (EU, Egypt, Kenya) with some MS having differing views on whether it should be included in Chapter 1 or in Chapter 5 on Transforming Global Governance. The UN Charter, the three pillars of the United Nations, human rights, gender equality and respect for international law, among others, were the key elements proposed for the Chapeau.
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DISCLAIMER: This bulletin is intended to provide an overview of the latest developments and is not a comprehensive summary or record of the SOTF processes. It was prepared independently and the content does not reflect the specific views of any of the partner organizations. Contact Fergus Watt (ferguswatt6@gmail.com) for more information. Material is not copyrighted and can be distributed freely.
KEY REMARKS:
| Namibia (as co-facilitator) | The co-facilitators prefer to use the revised version 3 of the draft decision as the basis for moving into the negotiations on the Pact for the Future.In chapter 1, we would like to build on and use the outcomes of the SDG Political Declaration, Financing for Development (FfD) conference and COP28 outcomes. |
| G77 and China | “Regarding the Chapeau and Chapter 1, we understand the delicate balances that the co-facilitators have attempted to find on several issues in the Rev.3 of the draft decision on the scope that was not adopted. That version contained numbers of valid elements that could be incorporated in the Chapeau and Chapter 1 of the Pact of the Future. However, as we have indicated in the letter we sent to the co-facilitators on 17 August, we were and are concerned that many of our priorities were not reflected in the text or were included in a way that represents a setback in regards to major international consensus agreements”.“The Chapeau should be concise and as part of the elements highlighted in the Rev3, the reaffirmation of the intergovernmental character of the United Nations needs to be incorporated, while reaffirming that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions should be one of the goals of the Summit of the Future and its deliberations”.“The Summit of the Future should provide a platform for the acceleration of the multilateral system reform”.“The Summit of the Future is meant to turbo-charge the SDGs, therefore, it must address comprehensively the issue of Means of Implementation for the 2030 Agenda, which includes, but is not limited to, financing, technology transfer and capacity building”.“The omission of a reference to the CBDR (common but differentiated responsibilities) principle is unacceptable to the G77 and China as it represents a regression from longstanding international consensus and multilateral agreements, as well as, hard-won gains of developing countries”.“A clear reference to the urgent need to significantly increase the provision and mobilization of climate finance by developed countries, particularly for adaptation and resilience as well as loss and damage, for a progression beyond previous efforts, is crucial”.“It is also important in this Chapter to make a follow up and support to the UN Secretary-General´s proposal for an SDG Stimulus for developing countries, which aims at massively scaling up affordable long-term financing for development and aligning financing flows with the SDGs”. |
| European Union | “The Chapeau should frame the Pact for the Future and guide us “back to the basics”, to the reaffirmation of our commitment to the core principles of the UN Charter such as the peaceful settlement of disputes, the rules based international order and to multilateralism”.“We also need to pay special attention to climate and biodiversity aspects across all chapters, and ensure that the Pact is fully aligned with our agreed objectives for a liveable planet, including the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty (BBNJ)”.“The UN should use its convening power in countries to help increase alignment and effectiveness of development initiatives and make a difference for people. The Resident Coordinator, and tools such as the UN Development Cooperation Frameworks, the Integrated National Financing Frameworks, pooled funds, in particular the Joint SDG Fund, have a central role to play”.“The EU supports the development of measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond gross domestic product in order to have a more inclusive approach to international cooperation. This includes impact on |
| biodiversity, water and climate, and social factors such as inequality, health and education”. “Poverty eradication and the fight against hunger and malnutrition should remain overarching priorities. The reduction of inequalities, transformative education and health policies and initiatives, are paramount. The EU also supports the recommendation of a Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. Ultimately, the Pact should set the ground for the World Social Summit in 2025”.“The central importance of the environment, including biodiversity, water and climate to all aspects of our lives and collective well-being must be accompanied by their elevation within our global governance system, including its international finance component”.“The Pact should welcome the efforts of the World Bank to further increase private sector mobilization as well as initiatives to capitalize on synergies through MDBs working as a system. It is important not to duplicate or undermine progress in these fora. The Paris Pact for People and Planet is an important reference for our discussions”. | |
| Norway (on behalf of Nordic countries) | Must acknowledge the 3 pillars of the UN and a rules-based international order.Reform of IFIs should be high on the agenda, including by taking in suggestions from the HLAB and SDG Stimulus proposals.Domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing and combatting illicit financial flows especially in developing countries must be supported. |
| Philippines (on behalf of ASEAN) | Partnerships should address global concerns and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. |
| Costa Rica (on behalf of 71 MS advocating for Human Rights*) | Human rights must be referenced in the chapeau and all chapters of the Pact.Implementation of the 2030 Agenda must be in line with international and human rights law. |
| Egypt (on behalf of Arab Group) | Need to address the double standards; uphold state sovereignty, non-interference and international humanitarian law.We are not addressing IFA and IFIs today as these will be addressed in chapter 5 on Transforming Global Governance.Climate finance should not be double-counted as ODA. |
| Kenya (on behalf of Group of Friends on Education) | Education must be upheld as a basic human right and as a accelerator to the 2030 Agenda.Increasing education financing, including through innovative financing instruments, must be prioritized to achieve SDG4. |
| Singapore (on behalf of 51 Small States*) | Adherence to international law should be highlighted in the chapeau.Chapter 1 should lay out additional actions that can be taken immediately to address challenges to the implementation of the SDGs and deliver better on existing pledges. |
| Poland (on behalf of Baltic countries) | Strong institutions driven by local leadership are critical to sustainable development.Resilience-building and disaster risk reduction should be strengthened to address global shocks and natural disasters. |
| Australia (on behalf of CANZ) | Political weight must be given to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.Overlapping topics such as reform of the IFA should have close coordination. |
| Argentina | Chapter 1 should highlight the responsibility of developed countries in supporting implementation of the SDGs. |
| Austria | There is huge potential in space as a driver of sustainable development. |
| Belarus | Chapter 1 should address challenges to the implementation of SDGs such as capacity building and technology transfer.Right to Development should be recognized especially for developing countries. |
| Brazil | We must build upon the common understanding in agreed frameworks, attempts to renegotiate will erode trust.The Pact must not provide new frameworks, but rather support implementation of existing frameworks. |
| Cameroon | The Pact must boost implementation of existing agendas and ensure that no one is left behind, especially in Africa. |
| Chile | We need clarity on the relationship between FfD and other processes and outcome documents. |
| China | A people-centered approach to development that benefits all should be a top priority in the international agenda.We need macroeconomic development cooperation and global partnership for development.Urge developed countries to meet their commitments on ODA. |
| Colombia | We agree with the cross-cutting nature of human rights and gender equality.Support the participation of a wide range of stakeholders. |
| Holy See | We should not renegotiate the 2030 Agenda and should have a frank conversation on reform of the IFA.Recommit to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. |
| India | Restoring trust and solidarity will not be possible without the voice of global south in all global governance.Chapter 1 must mention the energy transition, just access to development and transfer of technology and finance. |
| Indonesia | We want to maintain the intergovernmental character of the process while still having engagement with stakeholders. |
| International Development Law Organization | On Chapter one, much work has already been done in developing the SDG Summit Political Declaration. The Pact should therefore build upon implementation of that Declaration and explore the interlinkages between the SDGs.Chapter 1 should acknowledge SDG16’s accelerating capacity for the other SDGs.Reform of the IFA and IFIs is key, but so too is innovative debt reorganization, such as debt-for-development swaps and bolstering the SDG-Stimulus for a much-needed cash injection. |
| Iran | Eradication of poverty must be the center of our work.We acknowledge the Right to Development and call for sustainable financing for developing countries. |
| Iraq | Ensure that future generations are considered and protected.Need to recognize the role of innovation and technology in addressing global challenges. |
| Ireland | Promotion of human rights and gender equality should be present in all chapters of the Pact.In Chapter 1, we need to acknowledge sustainable development in the context of peacebuilding and humanitarian issues. |
| Israel | Terrorism hinders the achievement of sustainable development. |
| Japan | The pact should reaffirm rule of law as a foundation of protecting future generations.Development finance should be rule based and transparent.The chapter should emphasize on education cooperation, health and disaster risk reduction. |
| Kenya | The Pact must focus on education, healthcare, climate resilience, sustainability, green energy, and sustainable financing mechanisms. |
| Lesotho | The pact must address the financing gap and call for debt solutions.We need better partnerships for climate finance and capacity-building. |
| Malaysia | We need to strengthen international tax cooperation and governance.Support efforts to reform IFIs, including enhanced transparency. |
| Mexico | The chapter must be centered around aspirations of all people and should be based on core documents of the SDGs. |
| Morocco | Chapter 1 of the Pact must address the root causes of inequality, tackle debt crisis, deliver on the SDG stimulus, stress specific challenges of middle-income countries and call for climate financing into Loss & Damage Fund. |
| Netherlands | Meaningful youth participation must be ensured in the preparation and implementation of the Pact for the Future.We must look beyond traditional indicators such as GDP. |
| Pakistan | Chapter 1 should highlight the Right to Development and elaborate on concrete actions for FfD.There is need for international debt solutions and collective debt restructuring and the same must be elaborated in the Pact. |
| Palestine | This year is the 75th anniversary of the genocide convention.The chapeau should support international law despite the violations and crimes against humanity.The Pact must reaffirm the equality of rights for all people, now and in the future and must support the right to self-determination. |
| Philippines | In Chapter 1, there is a need to strengthen response to pandemics, address climate action, bridge development divides including through capacity building.Address challenges of AI and autonomous systems. |
| Portugal | Need to look into reform of the World Trade Organization, human mobility patterns in the context of SDGs and better disaster risk reduction. |
| Republic of Korea | The Pact should emphasize on the implementation of climate commitments and focus on the clean energy transition. |
| Russia | It would be counter-productive to overload the document with gender equality and human rights language.Must address Unilateral Coercive Measures (UCMs). |
| South Africa | Financing to bridge the digital divide and peace are important.The debt mechanisms must be improved and safe havens for illicit financial flows must be eliminated. |
| Spain | Ensure implementation of other agendas such as 2030 Agenda, Montreal Framework on biodiversity and Addis Ababa action agenda.FfD conference should be part of the conversation. |
| Sri Lanka | We should strike a balance between a comprehensive chapeau and operational chapters. |
| Switzerland | We support the full inclusion of all stakeholders.We emphasize the need for debt sustainability and restructuring. |
| Syria | The Pact must reaffirm state sovereignty and non-interference. |
| Thailand | Health security, food security and FfD should be prioritized |
| Türkiye | We need to focus on intolerance and hate speech.We have plenty of targets and need better cooperation to achieve those. |
| Uganda | As incoming chair of the G77 and China group, Uganda is committed to the negotiations. |
| United Kingdom | We need robust language on poverty and climate.The role of AI and technology in the implementation of the SDGs must be acknowledged. |
| United States | The need for accessible and effective international institutions must be referenced.A whole-of-society approach, strong rule of law, good governance and strong institutions are needed to support implementation of the SDGs.Foreign assistance will not be enough to achieve the SDGs, we must look at domestic resources and the private sector.Transfer of technology should be voluntary. |
| Vietnam | Chapter 1 should include ways to revitalize partnerships for development and a rules- based multilateral trade system that allows for economic growth. |
| IUCN | We need a rights-based approach to climate action and a time-bound phase out of fossil fuels. |
| Interpol | Peace & security and respect for fundamental human rights is needed for development.We have established 16 policing goals in support of the 2030 Agenda. |
* New groupings of Member States