Sustainable Development Update – 3 February 2014 – Sustainable Development Policy & Practice

UN Scientific Advisory Board Holds Inaugural Meeting

31_January 2014: The first meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set out a calendar for its work, and discussed means to tighten the linkage between the science and policy, as well as to define priority scientific issues for sustainable development. continued…

Statistical Notes Address Data and Monitoring Challenges for OWG 8

January_2014: The UN has released statistical notes advising on data and monitoring challenges in relation to topics under discussion at the eighth session of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG) on sustainable development goals (SDGs), which include: promoting equality, including social equity, gender equality and women’s empowerment; and conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding and the promotion of durable peace, rule of law and governance. continued…

UNDESA Assesses Energy Investments Required to Achieve Sustainable Development

January_2014: A policy brief published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) points to the emerging consensus that sustainable development requires a radical transformation of the world’s energy system, including the way energy is produced and used, and that such a transformation requires strong leadership, carefully-designed policies, behavior changes, and large investments, both in developed and developing countries. continued…

UNISDR Releases Proposed Elements of Post-2015 DRR Framework

17_December 2013: The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has published a document outlining ‘Proposed Elements for Consideration in the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction,’ which draws from stakeholder consultations that have taken place since 2012.continued…

GFFA Addresses Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security

28_January 2014: Bringing together global leaders in agricultural policy and practice, the fourth Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2014 (GFFA) examined the consequences of climate change, loss of soil fertility and loss of biodiversity on agricultural potential.continued…

Report Assesses Options for Designing Post-2015 Goals

January_2014: A report released by the German Development Institute (DIE) details potential options for member states in designing the goals of a post-2015 development agenda. ‘Post 2015: How to Design Goals for (Inter)National Action’ evaluates how different approaches to identifying goals, targets and indicators can encourage national and international action, foster coherence between these different levels, and encourage accountability across governments. continued…

World Economic Forum Focuses on Climate Change, Post-2015

25_January 2014: The 44th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) focused on ‘The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business.’ Many speeches, events and presentations throughout the meeting centered on the impacts of climate change and global poverty, while participants looked forward to an ambitious post-2015 development agenda to address many of these challenges. continued…