European Union

On Wednesday morning, Conference participants attending “Jump-starting the SDGs in Germany: Natural Resources and Sustainable Consumption and Production” reviewed lessons from the previous day’s dialogue forums, and discussed implications of the Conference’s outcomes for SDG implementation at the international level and in Germany. On key messages taken from the dialogue sessions, speakers stressed: the role of information in ensuring accountability and promoting policy coherence; and that partnering activities require building trust, flexibility and resilience. Speakers also urged policy makers to consider solutions beyond the market economy, and citizens to be more critical towards markets and policies that do not reflect people’s concerns. Chair Alexander Müller, TEEB for Agriculture and Food and RNE, presented the Conference main messages, including that it is time for governments to act and that industrialized countries need to change for developing countries to start changing. On implications of SDG implementation, speakers noted that: the 2030 Agenda is a new social contract which recognizes interdependence, planetary limitations, and shared prosperity; and consumers, voters and citizens are the main drivers of change. Representatives of four German federal ministries commented on implications for SDG implementation in Germany, noting, among other issues, the need for: a more comprehensive discussion of necessary changes in German lifestyles; recognition that German development cooperation includes domestic actions to address impacts of domestic consumption and production patterns in other countries; a platform to involve academia and scientists in implementation; and feeding a growing world population, at low prices, while managing natural resources sustainably. Another speaker urged using the SDGs to influence policies that may have adverse effects, such as the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Müller closed the meeting at 2:08 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary report from the Conference: Jump-starting the SDGs in Germany. Our report is available in HTML or PDF format. Lewis Akenji, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Christiane Grefe, Die Zeit, Germany Heiner Benking, Institute for Sustainability in Education, Employment and Culture (INBAK), Germany Florence Egal, Food Security and Nutrition expert, Italy Hans Herren, Millennium Institute Christiane Grefe, Die Zeit, Germany, and Klaus Töpfer, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) Douglas Williamson, Collective Leadership Institute Lynn Wagner, IISD Klaus Töpfer, IASS Adolf Kloke-Lesch, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Ulf Jaeckel, Chair of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP), Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany Klaus Milke, Germanwatch Christiane Grefe, Die Zeit, and Miriam Block, Netzwerk N, Germany Ivonne Lobos Alva, with Jes Weigelt, IASS Alexander Müller, TEEB for Agriculture and Food, and RNE Rômulo Paes de Sousa, World Centre for Sustainable Development (RIO+ Centre) Teresa Ribera, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) Stephan Contius, Head of the Division United Nations, Post-2015 Agenda and Cooperation with Developing and Newly Industrialised Countries, BMUB, Germany Javier Surasky, Centro de Pensamiento Estratégico Internacional (CEPEI), Colombia Christian Fronczak, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Germany Juan Mayr, Ambassador of Colombia to Germany Volkmar Dietz, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany Martin Wittau, Germany Pavlos Georgiadis, We Deliver Taste The IISD Reporting Services team holding their favorite SDGs. From L-R: Lynn Wagner, Stefan Jungcurt, Elsa Tsioumani, Eugenia Recio, Mike Muzurakis, and Olivia Freeman. Discussion Illustrations Around the Venue

On Thursday, 28 April 2016, Anne Larigauderie, IPBES Executive Secretary, presented on the thematic, methodological, regional and global assessments conducted or discussed under IPBES, and their contribution to the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-5) and the Strategic Plan. SBSTTA plenary addressed GBO-5, national reporting, guidelines for the sixth national reports, and indicators for assessing progress towards the Aichi targets, focusing on scientific and technical aspects. Plenary also considered draft recommendations on: scientific assessment of progress towards selected Aichi targets; progress towards the achievement of Aichi targets 11 (protected areas) and 12 (threatened species); invasive alien species; and pollinators. The contact group on synthetic biology reconvened at lunchtime, in the evening and at night. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates from the 20th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the 1st Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has produced a summary and analysis of both meetings which is available in HTML and PDF format. SBSTTA 20 Chair Andrew Bignell, New Zealand Joji Cariño, IIFB A view of SBSTTA 20 plenary The contact group on synthetic biology co-chaired by Gemedo dalle Tussie (Ethiopia) and Anne Teller (European Union).

On Monday, 25 April 2016, the Habitat III Open-Ended Informal Consultative Meeting commenced at UN Headquarters in New York. The opening session included remarks by the Habitat III Secretary-General Joan Clos, who stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder input into the zero draft of Habitat III. This was followed by a synopsis of the key recommendations and information on the development of the zero draft and a general exchange of views. Panelists outlined expert input from the thematic and regional processes, stressing that these need to be translated into an actionable New Urban Agenda. During discussions, parties and observer organizations addressed: the relationship between the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); and the role of governance in addressing challenges, such as responding to climate change and achieving sustainable urban environments. In the afternoon, the meeting considered regional presentations on recommendations, expectations and potentials from the Habitat III regional meetings. Reports were heard from the regional preparatory meetings, including: Asia-Pacific, in October 2015, in Jakarta, Indonesia; Africa, in February 2016, in Abuja, Nigeria; Europe, in March 2016, in Prague, Czech Republic; and Latin America and the Caribbean, in April 2016, in Toluca, Mexico. Discussions addressed, inter alia: the roles of local authorities in urban sustainability; the need for a strong follow-up and review mechanism for the New Urban Agenda; that all regions emphasized the need for an action-oriented agenda; the need for integrated, participatory and people-oriented approaches; and including issues of the informal sector and the challenges posed by mass migration. During the day, many welcomed the open and participatory nature of the regional processes. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, is providing web coverage from the Habitat III Open-Ended Informal Consultative Meetings. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary report from the meetings, which is availabe in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Plenary L-R: Kumaresh Misra, UN HABITAT; Joan Clos, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN HABITAT; Deputy Permanent Representative Helena Yáñez, Ecuador; Habitat III Co-Chair Maryse Gautier, France; Sonia Elliot, Secretary to Habitat III Joan Clos, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN HABITAT Habitat III Co-Chair Maryse Gautier, France Deputy Permanent Representative Helena Yáñez, Ecuador View of the plenary Abdel Walendom, Secretary General, Ministry of Land Management, Urbanism and Habitat, Chad Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director-General for Culture, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Nelson Junior Sale, Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Brazil Rüdiger Ahrend, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Le-Yin Zhang, University College London, UK Thanavon Pamaranon, Thailand, on behalf of G-77/China Mandiaye Ndiaye, Senegal Lucianara Andrade Fonseca, Brazil Chandana Das, Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action, on behalf of Children and Youth Masaaki Nakagawa, Japan Nancy Stetson, US Marit Viktoria Pettersen, Norway Tobias Ogweno, Kenya Danielle Larrabee, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) L-R: Habitat III Co-Chair Maryse Gautier, France, consulting with Sonia Elliot, Secretary to Habitat III Karla Šlechtová, Minister of Regional Development, Czech Republic Anthony Bosah, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN Lana Winayanti, Senior Expert to the Minister, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Indonesia Eruviel Ávila Villegas, Governor, State of Mexico, Mexico Shipra Narang Suri, ISOCARP, on behalf of the General Assembly of Partners (GAP) Relinda Melania Sosa Pérez, Huairou Commission, on behalf of Women and Gender Martha Mutizhe Kangwa, Zambia Hirotaka Koike, UN Major Group for Children and Youth Isabel Cavelier Adarve, Colombia Li Zhe, China Abdullah Abu Shawesh, State of Palestine Isabelle Delattre, EU William Jiyana, South Africa Eruviel Ávila Villegas, Governor, State of Mexico, Mexico, delivering his closing remarks L-R: Deputy Permanent Representative Helena Yáñez, Ecuador; Joan Clos, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN HABITAT; and Eruviel Ávila Villegas, Governor, State of Mexico, Mexico