UNEP Major Group of Children & Youth Position Paper

UNEP Major Group of Children & Youth

Position Paper

for the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum

February 2013

About this document

In preparation for the 27th Regular Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF), at least X young people from X countries came together to develop this position paper.

The UNEP Major Group of Children & Youth (UNEP MGCY) is one of the stakeholder groups that has a voice in the UNEP GC/GMEF. In addition to environmental ministers and delegations from the UN member states, young people have a seat in plenary sessions and ministerial roundtables and may speak on the invitation of the chair. This position paper includes messages collected from young people from across the planet, with the help of the UNEP Tunza network and related collaborative platforms. It serves as a guide for UNEP MGCY representatives, who are responsible to represent not only themselves through their statements, but our entire generation.

The drafting of this position paper started online. Young people were invited to join thematic working groups, which communicated via e-mail and audio conferences and used collaborative electronic tools. The working groups reflect the themes of the UNEP long-term strategy on the engagement and involvement of young people in environmental issues (the Tunza Strategy), which are the same themes as the UNEP subprogrammes.

Throughout the entire process, social media was used to inspire and invite as many young people as possible to join an inclusive drafting process. In February 2013, some of us continued to improve the document when we met in Nairobi in the UNEP Tunza International Youth Conference 10-14 February, and in the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum 16-17 February. We will present our positions to UNEP, Governments and other Major Groups.

PART A:
Children & Youth responses to the themes of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum


Theme 1)
Implementing Rio+20: A strengthened environmental pillar of sustainable development

The UNEP MGCY emphasizes that a healthy environment is the foundation for sustainable development. This is important on local, national, regional and international levels. In terms of international environmental governance, we welcome the spirit and decisions from Rio+20 aiming to strengthen and upgrade UNEP.

Following up after Rio+20, Children & Youth believe that the following needs to be done to strengthen the environment in the context of sustainable development:

• Development of Action Plans according to the Rio+20 outcome document at global, regional and national levels.
• Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation should be carried out to follow up the Action Plans.
• Youth mobilization is vital for healthy environment as we know that the world is rich in its youth population. Youth are the vibes of change and need to be actively involved in all levels to implement Rio+20 outcomes.
• The strenghtened and upgraded UNEP needs to become a greater organization than UNEP has ever been so far. UNEP needs to fully take on the challenge to deliver superior performance and make a distinctive impact with lasting endurance. UNEP’s performance must be measured relative to its mission and ambitious mandate, with focus on outputs and meeting the ultimate goal of global environmental sustainability. As long as the environment is declining, UNEP must work even harder and track its trajectory with rigor. We call on UNEP to establish a baseline for great performance and be disciplined to constantly improve. Every department and office inside UNEP must strive to become an arena of greatness with self-motivated people on board.
• Establish an ombudsperson for future generations with a UNEP specific mandate within UNEP, and similar in other UN agencies, to advise the institution on a long-term perspective for its policy-guidelines, actions and programmes.
• Rio+20 agreed that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be adopted. Children & Youth fully support this and pledge to engage actively in the entire process from identification to implementation as far as we are given the opportunity. Governments should invite young people in SDG processes locally and nationally. UNEP should play an active role in the SDG process, collaborate closely with other UN agencies and not hesitate to take on leading responsibilities.
• UNEP should support the water-food-energy-security nexus.
• UNEP should recognize that Children & Youth have a lot to contribute to the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production.
• UNEP should recognize important linkages between Human Rights and the Environment, and conflict and environment to promote peace.
• A World Environment Court was a proposal in the Rio+20 process that was unfortunately not included in the outcome document. We still believe that states who are party to international environmental agreements need to be held accountable for their commitments. Compliance mechanisms must be strengthened.
• Stronger governance of the global commons is needed. Children and Youth called for this throughout Rio+20 process but it was not mentioned in the text. UNEP should keep working for the establishment of a transparent and participatory trusteeship for the transitional governance of the global commons until they are adequately governed by legally binding rules, based on a sense of shared responsibility and the principles of subsidiary and intergenerational equity.
• Rio+20 agreed to establish a High-Level Forum (HLF) on Sustainable Development. UNEP must play an active role in this HLF and ensure that the environmental pillar of sustainable development is addressed with great understanding by all negotiators. As the environmental anchor organization in the UN system, UNEP has a great responsibility to ensure this and cannot expect others to take the lead. Always fully promote collaboration and avoid competition between different parts of the UN system.

• UNEP should become a model organization within the UN system in terms of civil society participation. Children and youth should be involved throughout the entire organization. On the policy level, Major Groups and Stakeholders should have seats in the Committee of Permanent Representatives. On the programmatic level, all UNEP divisions and all subprogrammes should collaborate systematically with civil society, including children and youth.

Theme 2)
Implementing a green economy as an important tool for achieving sustainable development

The Rio+20 outcome document makes clear that the green economy will be important for achieving sustainable development.

The UNEP MGCY believes that the following aspects will be important when implementing a green economy:

• Economic: will implementation of green economy enhance financial status?
• Social: can the techniques easily be demonstrated or introduced at local level? individually or community based?
• Mental: have we prepared the targeted people mentally for implementation of green economy?
• Geographical: we know that our world will soon be in crisis of food and water, it is very important to address the geography and topography of the certain areas of implementation.
• Education for sustainable development, both formal and non-formal, will be an important tool for implementation of the green economy. UNEP and Governments should support the engagement of young people in the green economy this way.
• Reducing youth unemployment through the creation of green jobs was one of our lobby points at Rio+20 and remains highly relevant. Youth unemployment shall be reduced through the creation of green jobs with a living wage and stronger consideration of the impact of employment policy on youth and the environment. Governments can employ youth to implement decisions from the UNEP Governing Council on the national and local levels.
• An integrated approach is required to the conservation of ecosystems and species, particularly threatened ones. This was another MGCY lobby point at Rio+20 which is not sufficiently covered in the outcome document. UNEP plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with international conventions and agreed international standards to ensure that the consumption of natural resources is below regeneration rates. Natural resource impact labeling should be mandatory for every industrial product.
• Green, fair and people-centered agriculture is crucial for sustainable food systems as a part of the Green Economy.
• The “Blue Economy” is an important term that many countries used throughout the Rio+20 process but that didn’t make it into the text. UNEP MGCY supports that strong legislative and executive actions are required of governments to protect our oceans through the promotion of a blue economy. The depletion of finite water resources must be stopped, and long-term food security should be ensured for fisheries-dependent communities. UNEP should support the establishment of a global network of marine protected areas and “no-take-zones”.

 






PART B:
Children & Youth responses to the proposed UNEP Medium Term Strategy and Programme of Work


UNEP Subprogramme 1) Climate Change

Recommendations to Governments
Children & Youth call on Governments to:

• Make an action plan in accord to the climate change policies.
• Introduce and reinforce climate laws.
• Generation of “LAPAs” (Local Adaptation Plans of Action) to develop a system of adaptation planning at local level.
• Identify and claim the vulnerable groups including the flora and fauna.

Recommendations to UNEP

The UNEP long-term strategy for the engagement and involvement of young people in environmental issues (Tunza strategy), adopted at the UNEP Governing Council in 2009 and valid for 2009-2014, mentions that UNEP will do the following to engage young people in combating climate change:

a.    Promote a United Nations-wide campaign “UNite to combat climate change.”

b.     Use the Tunza conferences and workshops to promote actions to tackle climate change

c.     Participate in the “Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign”

d.     Organize an international children’s painting competition

e.     Conduct surveys on young people and climate change

f.      Develop a Tunza recognition programme

g.     Finance environmental projects

h.     Use UNEP publication and websites to promote youth awareness on climate change.

Children & Youth call on UNEP to continue to implement the Tunza strategy in the coming years.

Children & Youth Plan of Action
In the next two years, young people will contribute to combat climate change in the following ways:

• …
• …
• ...

UNEP Subprogramme 2) Disasters and Conflicts

Introduction

MGCY feels that coupling conflict with disasters is inappropriate. Disasters and Conflicts are very much different and there is critical danger in this title. It can mistakenly assume that conflict only occurs due to "natural disaster," thus putting blame on climate change disasters (i.e. Hurricane Sandy) for poverty and leaving governments/economy out of the question/analysis. Although all of these groups overlap, disasters and conflicts are very different issues which call for very different solutions. Conflicts are not exclusive to disasters, but also occur over access to resources and land, and although conflict can be violent, it can also be "silent" (i.e. poverty, env hazard exposures).

Recommendations to Governments
MGCY calls on Governments to:

• Increase capacity building activities at ground level.
• Promote early warning systems.
• Food and Water storage system for emergency use during the disaster induced crisis.

Recommendations to UNEP
First and foremost, UNEP needs to recognize that disasters and conflicts should not be coupled.

The UNEP Tunza strategy 2009-2014 is not very comprehensive when it comes to disaster and conflict:

“a.      Use education and awareness for disaster preparedness

b.      Participate in environmental processes

c.      Support disaster and conflict mitigation project.”

UNEP should prepare a new Tunza strategy for 2015-2020 and make sure to address peace/conflict and natural disasters separately.

Children & Youth Plan of Action

In the next two years, young people will contribute to making subprogramme 2 successful by addressing peace/conflict and natural disasters separately. Peace/'security' was recently recognized as the 4th dimension and we, as youth, need to focus to make it happen.

UNEP Subprogramme 3) Environmental Management

Recommendations to Governments
MGCY calls on Governments to:

• reinforce Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before implementation of any projects.
• Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)
• Rainwater harvesting plant installation during the construction of any buildings or else give no permission for construction.

Recommendations to UNEP
MGCY calls on UNEP to scale up its work on environmental governance and to help Governments do the same.

UNEP should continue to implement the activities related to Environmental Management in the 2009-2014 Tunza strategy:

“a.     Organizing exchange programmes

b.     Implementing the UNEP/Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Programme

c.     Facilitating internships

d.     Training youth leaders

e.     Organizing targeted train-the-trainer workshops

f.      Organizing nature and sport camps

g.     Volvo/UNEP Adventure Programme.”

Children & Youth Plan of Action
In the next two years, young people will contribute positively to environmental management and help UNEP implement subprogramme 3 successful by:



UNEP Subprogramme 4) Environmental Governance

Introduction

Recommendations to Governments
MGCY calls on Governments continue supporting the strengthening and upgrading of UNEP in line with paragraph 88 in the Rio+20 outcome document and beyond.

Recommendations to UNEP
MGCY calls on UNEP to show leadership and to be an environmental anchor organization in the UN system that steers the world on course.

When it comes to children and youth participation in environmental governance, UNEP should implement the actions in its 2009-2014 Tunza strategy:

“a.      Participate in the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum

b.     Organize the Tunza youth gathering

c.      Facilitate youth participation in global and regional environmental negotiations

d.     Support youth inclusion in national delegations

e.      Enhance the role of the Tunza Advisory Council and the Junior Board.”

Children & Youth Plan of Action

In the next two years, young people will contribute to making subprogramme 4 successful. The UNEP Major Group of Children & Youth will continue to keep young people informed throughout the year about opportunities to engage in policy-design at UNEP, and strive to ensure active and effective youth participation in UNEP conferences. Important annual events will be the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) in February, preceded by a Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) and six Regional Consultation Meetings (RCMs).

UNEP Subprogramme 5) Chemicals and Waste

Introduction

Recommendations to Governments
MGCY calls on Governments to:

Recommendations to UNEP
We wish to remind UNEP about its promises made in the Tunza strategy for 2009-2014:

“a.      Implementing the Ozzy Ozone programme

b.   Strengthening the children’s environmental health initiative with UNICEF and the World Health Organization.”

Children & Youth Plan of Action
In the next two years, young people will contribute to making subprogramme 5 successful by:


UNEP Subprogramme 6) Resource Efficiency

Introduction

Recommendations to Governments
MGCY calls on Governments to:

Recommendations to UNEP
MGCY calls on UNEP to:

In line with the Tunza strategy 2009-2014, UNEP should:

“a.      Strengthening the UNEP/UNESCO YouthXchange project on sustainable consumption

b.   Using the Tunza subregional, regional and international conferences, workshops and seminars to promote sustainable consumption

c.      Using publications and the website to promote sustainable consumption

d.     Building the capacity of youth leaders to promote sustainable consumption.”

Children & Youth Plan of Action
In the next two years, young people will contribute to making subprogramme 6 successful by:



UNEP Subprogramme 7) Environment under Review

Introduction
As young people we welcome the addition of a seventh subprogramme in UNEP, since Environment under Review is a very important part of UNEP’s mandate and deserves visibility, priority and coordinated action.

Recommendations to Governments
MGCY calls on Governments to:


Recommendations to UNEP
MGCY calls on UNEP to add subprogramme 7 in the next Tunza strategy for 2015-2020.
MGCY calls on UNEP to involve children and youth and all the other Major Groups in environmental assessments and knowledge production.

Children & Youth Plan of Action
In the next two years, young people will contribute to making subprogramme 7 successful by:



Cross-cutting issues and other areas

Developing a new Tunza strategy for 2015-2020

Together with the Tunza network we want to not only be consulted, but take the lead in drafting the 3rd UNEP long-term strategy for the engagement and involvement of young people in environmental issues, to be adopted in the UNEP Governing Council 2015 for the period 2015-2020. This drafting process should start immediately in order to make sure that it is inclusive.

Improving UNEP’s coordination of children & youth issues

The UNEP Tunza office and the Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch are currently both responsible for youth engagement in UNEP. This leads to overlap and fragmentation. The offices need to collaborate more closely and preferably be merged into one office.

Seed funding from UNEP to environmental projects by children and youth

Young people are creative and have a lot of potential to make a difference in their communities on environmental issues that are relevant and that we are passionate about. Often we need just a little encouragement and a small economic contribution to be able to make something remarkable. UNEP should provide seed funding directly to environmental youth NGOs for their projects.

Conclusion

As young people who will enter adulthood in a time of global transformations in the economy, education, communication, demographics, technologies and the environment, we believe that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has a task more relevant than ever. We are committed to contribute with energy and passion to improving UNEP’s performance overall. We are doing this because we share UNEP’s vision of global environmental sustainability, and together we can steer the world on course.

Day 3 CSO Outreach with HLP members in Monrovia

Wednesday 30 January: CSO Outreach with HLP members in Monrovia

Successful outreach day, the voices of the voiceless were heard and Civil Society will make sure their recommendations are taken into account and effectively inform the HLP report to be presented in April to the UN Secretary General.

The objectives of the HLP outreach consultations with CSOs were to:
• Share evidence from grassroots and CSO consultations with members of the HLP
• Frame, articulate and deliberate on a clear vision for the future that is informed by the needs and aspirations of ordinary people worldwide
• Articulate and agree on key pillars of economic transformation, highlighting national building blocks for sustained wealth for all
• Create a specific platform for excluded and marginalized groups to voice their perspectives, especially youth and children; the disabled and aged; women; and farmers, traders, and workers (informal sector)
• Engage with African CSOs, with a particular view to deliberate on an emerging African Narrative that will inform the African Consensus position
CSO Town Hall meeting, 30th January, 11h00

This meeting was held between all members of the HLP and seventy CSO representatives. This meeting took the format of a "town hall" event, where CSO members together with grassroots representatives shared evidence, perspectives, and recommendations on the topic of National Building Blocks for Sustained Prosperity and it's sub-themes. This served as a framing conversation, also giving critical clarity to the vision and aspirations of ordinary citizens for the future.



This meeting was co-chaired by Mrs. Namhla Mniki-Mangaliso, Head of Africa CSO Secretariat, andMr Charles Abugre, Head of UNMC Africa.
Professor Gita Sen presented the outcomes of the CSO 2-day pre-consultative forum to the HLP (video coming soon).
Ousainou Ngum, ACORD Executive Director, addressed the HLP members talking to the process that led to the creation of the African CSO Secretariat mandated by Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and introducing the African Narrative to be developed before the Bali meeting and aiming at a common African Position to inform the post 2015 framework.

Three other speakers, a Liberian woman farmer, an 11-year old girl and a spokesperson for the youth, also addressed the HLP, telling their stories and their vision for the future, urging for concrete and immediate actions that would transform their lives now and post 2015.
CSO Roundtable Discussions, 30th January, 12h00

The CSO Roundtable Discussions were held between all members of the HLP and seventy CSO representatives for one hour, thirty minutes. There were five roundtables with twenty participants each (15 CSO representatives and 3-5 HLP members). The five roundtables took place with specific marginalized groups, i.e. children, youth; women and gender; the disabled and aged; and small businesses, farmers, traders, and trade unions.

The lead agency for each roundtable were as follows:
• Children - Child Protection Network, Liberia
• Youth - Organisation for African Youth working with Restless Development
• Women and Gender - FEMNET working with the Liberian Women's Coalition. Download report and recommendations to HLP by womens and girls round table.
• Aged and Disability - HelpAge working with Africa Decade of Persons with Disabilities
Farmers, Trader, Informal Sector - ACORD and ITUC. Download report and recommendations HLP by farmers, workers, traders, informal sector.

Reports (narrative, photos, videos) coming soon.

Read Civil Society Organisations final Communiqué submitted to the High Level Panel members on 30 January 2013.

Post 2015 Development Agenda Meeting Minutes - 27/01/2012

This is a document which summarizes the discussions and decisions made from the first meeting held on 30^th September till today. This document hopes to set the foundation for all discussions and decisions to be made in the near future.

The current team

·         Sikander Sabeer

·         Mohamed Husni

·         Kusala Fernandp

·         Jayathma Wickremanayake

·         Tamara de Silva

·         R. P. Niranjan

·         Sahan Hattotuwa

Main objectives

1.       To have a National Youth Report (Sri Lanka Youth Declaration) constituting the Youth Perspective on the post 2015 Development Agenda of Sri Lanka which will be presented to

§  Presented at WYC 2014

§  Fed into the National Planning Process

2.       To Formulate a Sri Lankan Youth Action Plan which would be incorporated  to the NYSC’s  Agenda

3.       To create Common Platform for multi stakeholder interaction under the subject of “ Youth Perspective on the post 2015 Development Agenda of Sri Lanka”

Duties and responsibilities

                          Sikander – Overall Campaign Head and Project Head “Creating A Stakeholder Forum”

                          Husni- Project Head for “Creating A Stakeholder Forum”

                          Kusala and Jayathma – Project Head of Youth Consultations and TOT program

                          Tamaara – Project Head for “Youth Action Plan” and manager of the campaign

                          Sahan, Niranjan, - Managing the Campaign and handling all logistics

The TOT Program and the Consultation Program

   The TOT program -

A TOT will be held for a group of 15 youth leaders are members of the youth parliament.

§  The TOT will be a 2 day program

§  This group will be trained as Facilitators for the Consultation Program.

§  Facilitators may not selected on geographical basis

§  Facilitators will be chosen by Jayathma and Kusala

§  This team will handle all the Consultations during the campaign. Food an Transport allowance will be paid to these Faciliators

§  Another group would be trained as Rappatuers will be trained to take noted during these consultations. Approx. 15 and it will be a 1 day program,

§  Some of these Rappatuers will be absorbed into the Drafting Committee

§  The responsibility of organizing these consultations will be hand over to the District Youth Council which are under the NYSC

§  All Rappatuers and facilitators will receive letter of appreciation which are

Signed by high level people

Consultation Program -

The mix of consultations would be 9 provincial workshop and 5 specific workshops, adding to a total of 14 consultations. The decision on the 5 specific workshops is yet to be decided.

·         9 provisional consultations -       

§  One day program from 10am – 4 pm

§  20 participants

§  To pay around Rs. 300 to Rs 400 as travel allowance

§  It would be responsibility of the respective district council to organize all consultations

§  If there is a need to provide accommodation for the participants, it would be handle by the district councils

·         The following is the draft lists of contents of the consultation program –

§  About MDGs

§  Importance of MDGs

§  MDGs and Sri Lanka

§  Post 2015

§  Thematic Discussion

§  Leadership Activities

§  Presentation from NYSC

Youth Action Plan

The following are the discussions about the Youth Action Plan

§  This plan will be incorporated to the NYSC’s development agenda

§  Each Youth District will planning a project with the help from Youth district federation

§  This will be present to NYSC Board

§  The Finances for  these Projects will be provided by NYSC’s budget

§  Other project from stakeholder will also be accepted.

Open Stakeholder

·         Have an open forum

·         Maybe have a conference at the end of the consultations

·         If any stakeholders want provide an input to the campaign they could do so by communicating it through E Mail.

Draft timeline

Week	Things to be done
2nd week Feb 2013	Finalizing the campaign with Mr. Milinda
4th week Feb 2013	Press release of the Campaign
2nd  week march  2013	The TOT program
1st week April 2013 to 4th Week of September	§  Start of the Consultation program §  Inputs to the report §  Drafting the Report
1st week October 2013	§  Output of the 1st Draft Of the report    §  Finalizing the Youth action Plan    §  Maybe to organize a conference for the output of the report
2nd Week October 2013 to 2nd week March 2014	§  Finalizing the Report
2nd Week April 2014	§  The final draft output of the Youth Report
World Youth Conference 2014	Presenting the report on “Youth Perspective on Post 2015 development Agenda”

The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign

The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign



As Sri Lanka emerges out of decades of internal conflict, the urgency of building trust between polarized communities has to assume the centre of discourse. A population previously burdened with conflict and the tsunami now has an unprecedented opportunity to join hands and work together towards a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka. Previously, parallel communities have lived side by side in tolerance with each other. This culture has to change from mere tolerance to respect, understanding and acceptance of the „other‟. This will in turn create an environment for respecting cultures, religions and values together with the aim of developing a society that understands each other. In order to do this love, and not hate, is of utmost importance.

Against this backdrop, the focus on ensuring the harmonious coexistence of Sri Lankan citizens rests at the pinnacle of efforts towards building trust between communities and ultimately contributing towards lasting reconciliation of the society, where the past is used constructively to build for the future. Stressing the value of compassion (where we treat others as we expect to be treated), a commitment to respect, understanding and acceptance leading to coexistence would celebrate love and not hatred.

Born into an atmosphere of prevalent conflict, we the citizens of mother Sri Lanka wholeheartedly espouse the sentiments of this commitment. Convinced that genuine reconciliation can only be achieved through compassion, respect, understanding, acceptance and peaceful coexistence, it is our intention to encourage and garner widespread awareness and support. As youth inherit the task of shaping the future of the country, it is not merely an endeavour, but a responsibility to promote the realization of a united Sri Lanka.

“I pledge to Love not Hate” welcomes the active support and cooperation of everyone in this pledge for coexistence, to Love and not to Hate. It is envisaged that this pledge will represent an appreciation of the importance of reconciliation and a commitment to lasting peace in Sri Lanka.

I pledge to abide by the principle of compassion which calls upon us to always treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves.

I pledge to speak a kind word to a fellow human being, every day.

I pledge to speak good about others in humanity

I pledge to help the one who needs my help and do my utmost to alleviate poverty.

I pledge to stand up for social justice.

I pledge to do my part to develop my country.

I pledge to respect one another.

I pledge to build trust.

I pledge to be a voice for the voiceless.

I pledge to stand for a united Sri Lanka.

I pledge to love, not hate.

We hope to launch this campaign online on the 4th of February 2013, on the 65th Independence Day of Sri Lanka.

How can you help?

1. Spread the word, through Facebook [www.facebook.com/PledgeLoveNotHate], Twitter [@lovenothatelka #LoveNotHate] etc.

2. Change your cover page to “Image 1” on the 2nd and 3rd of February 2013.

3. Change your cover page to “Image 2” on the 4th of February 2013 onwards.

4. Take the Pledge to 'Love NOT Hate' at www.love-nothate.org starting 4th February 2013



Thanks & Regards,

The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign

www.facebook.com/PledgeLoveNotHate

www.love-nothate.org

www.twitter.com/lovenothatelka

  

SETTING OUR COMMON GOALS

SETTING OUR COMMON GOALS

Major Groups Recommendations for Multi-Stakeholder Engagement with the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

OVERVIEW

As part of the Rio+20 Conference follow up, governments stated that they would establish the 30 member inter-governmental Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by September 2012. Member States will nominate representatives from the five United Nations regional groups, with the aim of achieving fair, equitable, and balanced geographic representation. In addition, paragraph 248 of The Future We Want, instructs the United Nations “to establish an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals that is open to all stakeholders”.

Thus, in order to adhere to the requirements of The Future We Want and maximize its effectiveness, the OWG needs to ensure that it has recognized, effective and ongoing engagement of stakeholders. Therefore, we, the nine Major Groups established in 1992 for the Rio process on sustainable development, offer recommendations on how to ensure that the deliberations of the OWG will draw on broad multi-stakeholder input and expertise thus ensuring that the SDG processes and decisions are “inclusive and transparent”.

This paper builds on the central role the Major Groups played in Rio+20 processes and is being submitted to DESA in the spirit of our continued engagement in this area. This paper will also be sent to the President of the UN General Assembly and to the Permanent Representative of the Brazilian Mission to the UN for information.

As decisions on the modalities and governance of decision-making processes (such as the OWG) will begin in earnest in October 2012, this note offers recommendations on how multi-stakeholder engagement can ensure that the SDG processes and decisions are “inclusive and transparent” as Rio+20 called for.

Finally, we offer these recommendations in recognition that civil society and other stakeholders’ ”Major Groups” will need to be involved in designing, implementing and evaluating sustainability, and therefore have a stake in developing the SDGs. This requires the full and fair facilitation and representation of multi-stakeholder input to the OWG and other relevant processes for the post-2015 development agenda.

RECOMMENDATION 1:

We recommend that a multi-stakeholder advisory group on sustainable development goals (MAG) be established to work with the intergovernmental Open Working Group (OWG) on developing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

OBJECTIVE AND COMPOSTION

The objective of the MAG would be to draw on the best and widest possible advice, experience, expertise and input, to ensure linkages with major groups, including NGOs and the private sector, as well as different other stakeholders at regional, sub-regional and local levels and to ensure a continuing and open exchange of information.

RECOMMENDATION 2:

To achieve the objective, we recommend that the composition of the MAG should be based on the Agenda 21 nine Major Groups, with an understanding that they would also consult with and draw on input provided by other groups as reflected in Paragraph 43 of the Rio+20 Outcome Document. The composition of the MAG should aim at North-South as well as gender balance and should be reviewed regularly. The MAG should take into account lessons learnt from other stakeholder constructs available within the UN family. Such constructs are found within, inter alia, UNOCHA, UNAIDS, SAICM, the ILO, the Arhus Convention as well as FAO’s Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The nine Major Groups structure will be used to develop modalities for a broadly inclusive and representative structure as well as enhanced accountability to go with the enhanced responsibility. 

BASIC FUNCTIONS

Once established, the MAG will develop a full list of modalities and terms of reference. However, at the outset and to institute its working relations with the OWG, the MAG should be established on some basic functions.

RECOMMENDATION 3:

We recommend that the basic functions of the MAG should enable it to:

• Access all documents and drafts under negotiation by the OWG in a timely manner;

• Comment on any draft reports of the OWG, and receive an official response on the comments;

• Comment on the draft agenda of the next meeting of the OWG and suggest further agenda items;

• Have dedicated time periods during OWG meetings when MAG representatives can dialogue with the OWG on key issues;

• Have regular meetings with OWG representatives (e.g. the co-chairs/bureau); and

• Have expert advisory seats on any potential sub-working/thematic groups of the OWG to advise and draw on stakeholder views and

expertise on specific topics, as well as provide technical inputs to any specific requests the OWG may have.

Ultimately, the aim of the MAG is to involve broad stakeholder participation at every level which will result in better informed and more thoroughly deliberated decisions being taken. If fully implemented, stakeholders will take greater ownership of the outcomes and be more active in the delivery of policy on the ground, optimally in partnership with governments, intergovernmental organizations, and other actors..

Given the fact that the SDGs must be global in nature and universal in application, it is essential that wide and diverse opinions and viewpoints are a part of their development.

Summary of Recommendations

1. We recommend that a multi-stakeholder advisory group on sustainable development goals (MAG) be established to work with the intergovernmental Open Working Group (OWG) on developing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. We recommend that the composition of the MAG should be based on the Agenda 21 nine Major Groups with an understanding that they will also consult with and draw on input provided by other groups, as reflected in Paragraph 43 of the Rio+20 Outcome Document. The composition of the MAG should aim at North – South and gender balance and should be reviewed regularly.

3. We recommend that the basic functions of the MAG should enable it to:

• Access all documents and drafts under negotiation by the OWG in a timely manner;

• Comment on any draft reports of the OWG, and receive an official response on the comments;

• Comment on the draft agenda of the next meeting of the OWG and suggest further agenda items;

• Have dedicated time periods during OWG meetings when MAG representatives can dialogue with the OWG on key issues;

• Have regular meetings with OWG representatives (e.g. the cochairs/ bureau); and

• Have expert advisory seats on any potential sub-working/ thematic groups of the OWG to advise and draw on stakeholder views and expertise on specific topics, as well as provide technical inputs to any specific requests the OWG may have

Green Economy Task Force Meeting - Beyond Rio+20- 19/01/13

Dear all,

This is a quick update on the call we had last week. I am sorry, I was busy the last days, so I could not send it earlier.

We had our meeting on the 19th of January; unfortunately not that many people joined, but we had a good and successful meeting. Here is a summary:

Updates on the last facilitation team meeting:

- Low responses to Emails send through the google-mailinglists, this needs to be changed.
- Starting work in the working groups again, which working groups do we want?
- No updates on CSD20 yet, they are still not sure which topics will be discussed.
- At the moment main discussions on international level: Post 2015 and SDGs
è Proposed working groups for the MGCY: Green Economy, IFSD (which can both be used as input for the other WG and to follow up on Rio+20 outcomes), SDGs & Post 2015, Mainstreaming youth engagement, other WG on general MGCY-stuff
è We need to outline key objectives for the next year!
Discussion on our role and way forward in the GE Taskforce:
- Do we still want a GE TF? Does it make sense? What could be the main objectives?
è We decided that we want to keep our group as Green Economy and alternative economies are still very imporant topics discussed a lot on different policy levels, as well as big events and on local level. As we were already involved in the discussion before Rio+20 we should keep track and make sure that young people stay involved in the process and in decision making. There are different discussions and conferences where we can get active, we can also provide input to other discussions of other groups

- What comes next?
è We should keep our eyes and ears open on discussions, events, etc. coming up
è We should see who is attending which of those events and discuss which kind of contribution we can bring, so that those attending can act as good representatives of the MGCY; if possible/ necessary we can also work on presentations, speeches … those people can give.
è We will work on a spreadsheet which will give an overview on the different events, discussions, conferences, etc. coming up and which we could be working on.
è Student reporters who are already present on many conferences and other events could also be representing young people from MGCY if they know how to do
One of those events coming up soon: UNEP TUNZA conference and UNEP Government Council in Nairobi, mid of February. Who of us is attending? Is there any contribution we can bring? We submit a workshop proposal for a workshop on GE during the TUNZA conference, but until now no approval.
Others:
- Ghana Youth Conference on Natural Resources taking place in August: http://www.sustainghanaconference.org

ToDo:
- Lena: create spreadsheet to fill with updates, discussions, events interesting for us
- Everyone: informing each other on things going on, filling in the spreadsheet
- Next meeting: discussion on which topics/ events we want to focus in the upcoming time to get started
- Date of Next meeting is at the moment set on the 10th of February at 1pm GMT.
This is the link to our spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhukcwCEPARcdFUtNWpaaWNlaERkTmZLU3ZBUlF2U0E#gid=0
Please have a look and provide feedback to me until next Sunday, the 3rd of February if you think that we can work with it or what to change. You can also already start filling it.