Negotiations on the revised outcome document continued on Tuesday as delegates discussed chapter 2 on Goals and Targets and chapter 3 on Means of Implementation (MOI).
Co-Facilitator David Donoghue (Ireland) opened the discussion on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets highlighting the issues at hand: which of the proposed technical “tweaks” to the targets are acceptable, and whether to include the chapeau text from the Open Working Group (OWG) proposal.
The European Union declared it could accept the target revisions as part of an overall package, while the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China) initially sought to maintain the original targets agreed by the OWG, including the X’s. Later in the day, the G-77/China took the floor to note its intention to show flexibility, saying that the tweaks to the targets should not go beyond the technical revisions proposed, but should only replace the X’s.
Several delegates supported the proposal by the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) for LLDCs to be mentioned in various targets, while the US cautioned against reducing the focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
John Pullinger, Chair of the UN Statistical Commission, addressed delegates by video link on the work of the UNSC Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs). He reported that the technical work is on track and, following the IAEG’s first meeting in June, a preliminary list of indicators is being reviewed.
Major Groups and other stakeholders met with the Co-Facilitators at lunchtime to raise various concerns and make textual proposals. After a long lunch break to allow for informal group consultations, delegates reconvened at 4:30 pm to discuss chapter 3 on MOI, proposing various changes.
Developed countries expressed concern that the language in the draft focuses too much on official development assistance (ODA) and not enough on domestic resources, while developing countries said the text welcoming the Addis Ababa Action Agenda is well-balanced.
|