Embedding the Environment in Sustainable Development Goals

The Geneva Environment Network organized a panel discusion on “Embding the Enviornment in Sustainable Development Goals” at the International Environment House 2, on Monday 2 September 2013, from 1-2pm.

Background

World leaders at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development which embraces economic progress, social development, and environmental protection for the benefit of all. One of the main outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference was the agreement to establish an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will build upon the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post 2015 development agenda.

While countries recommended that the SDGs take a forward-looking approach, they also suggested that the new goals should be based on experiences from current international goals and targets. An analysis of current environmental goals and targets shows that the successful ones are built on general support from society and a scientific consensus that the problem exists and is urgent. The ones making most progress tend to be embedded in effective governance regimes, and be easier to implement because solutions are readily available. A key to success also seems to be that goals are underpinned by specific and measurable targets.

Building on lessons from existing goals, a framework has been suggested for embedding environmental sustainability into SDGs.

Agenda

12.45
Coffee and Tea, Light Sandwiches

13:00
High-Level Discusion on how can existing global environmental goals and targets contribute to an integrated framework of Sustainable Development Goals in the post‐2015 future with

Achim STEINER, UNEP Executive Director
H.E. Franz PERREZ, Swiss Confederation

Janos PASZTOR, WWF Int (moderator)
Former Executive Secretary of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP)

14:00
End