Unpacking the theme

This report is an independent scientific review of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, as submitted to the UN General Assembly by the UN Open Working Group (OWG). It is a unique tool designed primarily for negotiators, technical support teams and other actors engaged in defining a universal, integrated and transformational set of global goals and targets for sustainable development and the political declaration on the post-2015 development Agenda.

In its latest Policy Brief, UNCTAD presents suggestions on elements, data and considerations that — once the post-2015 “package” enters into force — may prove useful to assess whether sustainable development goals 1, 2, 5 and 17 are being implemented in a gender sensitive way.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have provided over the last decade an overarching framework for development. As we near the end date for the achievement of the MDGs, it is clear that although a few targets have been met, a lot more remains to be done to fulfil the vision underlying the MDGs.

London:  An international group of experts have released a new independent assessment of the risks of climate change, designed to support political leaders in their decisions on how much priority to give to the issue. The report, which was commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, applies the principles of risk assessment used in finance and national security to better understand and communicate the risks of climate change.

This year is pivotal for global action on development, with the global community set to agree on the objectives and policies for promoting development that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable for the next fifteen years. The first stage in completing the debate on these issues will be during the upcoming Third UN Conference on FfD, which will be held in Addis Ababa. The conference aims to reach an international consensus on the actions needed to ensure that sufficient financing is available for developing countries in pursuing sustainable development.

Unblocking the climate finance negotiations will unlock a new global agreement on climate change in Paris later this year. Developing countries need to see tangible commitment to providing the finance needed to combat the negative effects of climate change. As global emissions continue to increase, so does the cost of managing the impact. Africa’s Group of Negotiators (AGN) is positioned to take the lead, consistently presenting common positions for 54 countries. A breakthrough necessitates focus on a key issue that will yield win–win outcomes.

The success of the post-2015 development agenda depends on adopting global goals for sustainable development and on designing a robust accountability system. All stakeholders should be involved in the accountability framework. While sustainable development goals (SDGs) are universal in character, they need to be adapted to national contexts, according to specific sets of constraints and opportunities. Countries need also to specify their global commitments to create an enabling environment for sustainable development worldwide.

This issues brief explains how the DAC has been engaging with providers of development co-operation beyond its membership - especially in the field of statistics - and gives an overview of their development co-operation flows. It also proposes greater collaboration among all bilateral providers to complete the picture of international development co-operation.

2015 is the final year for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – goals set by governments in 2000 to guide global efforts to end poverty. This year’s "World Health Statistics" – published by the WHO – assesses progress towards the health-related goals in each of the 194 countries for which data are available. The results are mixed.

We, African ministers of the environment,

Having met in Cairo from 4 to 6 March 2015 at the fifteenth session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment,