International dimension: resource efficiency in the Sustainable Development Goals

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Spencer Rich
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1 International dimension: resource efficiency in the Sustainable Development Goals

2 What contribution of sustainable development goals to the resource efficiency & circular economy agenda? Tancrède Voituriez (IDDRI) Green Week 2014, Brussels 04 June :30-18:00 International dimension: resource efficiency in the Sustainable Development Goals

3 OWG Rio+20 Special Event on MDGs A short reminder: The post-2015 negotiation process SDG PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA PROCESS MAJOR GROUPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS Sustainable Development Dialogues The Future We Want NGLS consultation for HLP UNDG consultations Regional consultations Global Compact consultations SDSN consultat ions Thematic Clusters Intersessional Meetings Morning Hearings HLP Report UNDG Report UN Regional Commissions Joint Report Global Compact Report SDSN Report Position papers and individual contributions NGLS consultation on 4 reports Secretary General s Report A Life of Dignity for All OWG Proposal for SDGs to General Assembly 68 in September 2014 Outcome document of the Special Event to follow up efforts made towards achieving MDGs INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDER GA 68

4 What is at stake? Adressing the implementation challenges The outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development ( Rio +20 ) recognize[s] the importance and utility of a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) which should be actionoriented ( ), focused on priority areas for the achievement of sustainable development ( ). Governments should drive implementation with the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders ( ) (UN, 2012, The Future We Want, 247).

5 Where do we stand with the definition of SDGs? Until OWG 10th session (April 2014), the OWG has refined «Focus Areas» without explicit goals. A watershed has been crossed early this week with the publication of a «Draft Zero» and a proposition of 16 SDGs and associated targets

6 What are the resource efficiency challenges? Drawing on UNEP/IRP reports : 1. Great potential of RE gains with existing technology. 2. Social innovation (including demand changes) & technology transfer/distribution needed. 3. The challenge of lifting world resource productivity is enormous 4. The political commitment and financial cost of further developing and distributing better technologies will be very large.

7 Turning Resource efficiency challenges Four RE core needs: into needs 1. Innovation (social and technological), 2. demand & behavioural changes, 3. political commitment & leadership, 4. budget raising & sharing mechanisms. Can SDGs deliver on all this?

8 An assessment on the basis of OWG Zero draft (2 June 2014)

9 1. Could SDGs trigger innovation? 8 associated targets (including «research») 8.8 create enabling conditions for increased growth and productivity of micro-, small-and medium-scale enterprises(smes),including through policies that promote entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and through improved access to markets and financial services 9.8 promote industrial research, development and innovation, including raising the ratio of R&D workers per one million people by x% and the share of R&D spending in GDP by y% 9.10 promote indigenous technology development and the growth of domestic innovation in developing countries 14.2 by 2020, sustainably manage, restore and protect marine ecosystems from destruction, including by strengthening their resilience, and support relevant scientific research

10 1. Could SDGs trigger innovation? 17.9 increase investment in rural infrastructure, agricultural research, technology development, institutions and capacity building in developing countries to enhance agricultural productive capacity, particularly in countries that are net food importers promote regional and international collaboration on and access to science, technology, innovation, research and knowledge sharing, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation build science, technology and innovation capacity in developing countries, including to undertake technology assessment and research, development and adaptation of clean and environmentally sound technologies increase scientific knowledge, and develop research infrastructure and capacities to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular of SIDS and LDCs

11 2. Could SDGs change demand? 11 targets associated with Proposed goal 12. Promote sustainable consumption and production patterns

14 3. Could SDGs bolster political commitment & leadership Drawing on the previous draft Working Document for 5 9 May Session of Open Working Group Target: by 2030 achieve sustainable management and use of natural resources Political support: Australia/Netherlands/UK, Finland, Norway/Ireland/Denmark, France/Germany/Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of CARICOM, Colombia/Guatemala, Ecuador/Bolivia/Argentina; Bulgaria/Croatia; Tanzania/African Group propose to have a stand-alone goal on sustainable management of natural resources with SCP as a target.

15 4. Could SDGs foster financing & implementation mechanisms? 2 associated targets enhance international cooperation with developed countries taking the lead in implementing sustainable consumption and production patterns, including through strengthening developing countries scientific and technological capacities to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production establish and effectively implement a multilateral code of conduct for multinational corporations to secure social and environmental responsibility and accountability

16 To summarise NR efficiency and circular economy are explicit components of SDGs. The trend is good: appearance of circular economy and Time bound implementation of 10FYP. Direct or indirect connection with innovation, demand changes, and political commitment.

17 To summarise Some concerns on institutional and social innovations, political support and to a greater extent, on financing and implementation. On institutional and social innovations: initiatives should keep going. Let s not wait for SDGs. On political support: limited involvement of China and UN major groups. On financing and implementation: loose wording. What is actually needed is not clear.

18 Backcasting exercices at the national level (cf Climate change, global health, sustainable agriculture) could help delineate the funding needed and the design. This where SDGs could really help : to bolster anticipation and prepare effective transformation locally.

United Nations Environment Programme 12 February 2019* Guidance note: Leadership Dialogues at fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly

United Nations Environment Programme 12 February 2019* Guidance note: Leadership Dialogues at fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly A key feature of the high/level segment of the 2019 UN Environment