The United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda will be held from 25 to 27 September 2015, in New York and convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly.  Pope Francis will address the General Assembly on the morning of the 25th of September.  What will he say?  

Have you been following the development and evolution of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals over the past 3 years?  What are the 17 Goals?

The link to ‘Transforming Our World:the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ is HERE  The document is in all 6 languages of the United Nations.  It is a 35 page document providing the framework for the next 15 years.   A chart with the list of the goals can be found on page 14. Under each goal there are a number of targets – 169 in all.  (See pages 14 to 28).  What else is contained in the document?

Page 2 to top of page 3:  A preamble – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership.

“The interlinkages and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial importance in ensuring that the purpose of the new Agenda is realized. If we realize our ambitions across the full extent of the Agenda, the lives of all will be profoundly improved and our world will be transformed for the better.”

• Page 3 Declaration:  Paragraphs 1 – 6  Introduction;
• Page 4 Paragraphs 7 – 9  Vision; Paragraphs 10-13 Our shared principles and commitments;
• Page 5 Paragraphs 14 – 17 Our world today;
• Page 6 Paragraphs 18 – 38 The new Agenda;
• Page 10 Paragraphs 39 – 46 Means of Implementation;
• Page 12 Paragraphs 47 and 48 Follow up and Review; Paragraphs 49 – 53 A Call for action to change our world;
• Page 13 Paragraphs 54 – 59 Sustainable Development goals and targets;
• Page 28 Paragraph 60 – 71 Means of implementation of the Global Partnership;
• Page 32 Paragraphs 72 – 91 Follow up and review.

What can you do?  I have copied paragraphs 78 and 79 because they make specific reference to the National Level. The bold print is mine.

78. We encourage all Member States to develop as soon as practicable ambitious national responses to the overall implementation of this Agenda. These can support the transition to the Sustainable Development Goals and build on existing planning instruments, such as national development and sustainable development strategies, as appropriate.

79. We also encourage Member States to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels which are country-led and countrydriven. Such reviews should draw on contributions from indigenous peoples, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders, in line with national circumstances, policies and priorities. National parliaments as well as other institutions can also support these processes.

Over the next few weeks follow the local news on the adoption this new global agenda.  Is your Head of State attending the UN Sustainable Development Summit?  Tune in to the UN Web TV and hear the commitment made by your Head of State.  How will this commitment translate at your national and local level?

Are you reading Laudato Si – Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology? How does it compare with the Sustainable Development Goals?