Hendricks: Historic decision!
The international community has for the first time set a comprehensive agenda for sustainable development. The agenda was adopted yesterday by acclamation by all UN member states following a twelve-day negotiation phase. The successful outcome of the negotiations is the basis for the UN sustainability summit of all heads of state and government this September, when the agenda will be conclusively adopted. The decision also provides a good starting point for the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December.
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks: "The decision on the UN sustainability agenda is historic. For the first time the international community has systematically linked tackling poverty with the preservation of our planet. The successful completion of negotiations on the 2030 agenda provides welcome momentum for global environmental protection and can bring about better social standards and much greener economies worldwide. The sustainability goals contained in the outcome of the negotiations represent a strong step forward for the urgently needed transformative change to sustainable, climate-friendly and environmentally sound development."
The agenda entitled "Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" is the first globally applicable implementation plan. All members of the United Nations agreed on its 17 concrete goals for sustainable development, poverty reduction, social issues and environmental protection. The agenda was drafted over the past three years by several UN bodies, especially the open working groups on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which make up the agenda’s core elements. They replace the previous Millennium Development Goals and are to be implemented by 2030.
In the negotiations Germany was a proactive participant particularly in establishing the catalogue of goals, the review mechanism and the preamble. Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, who took part in the negotiations, made the following statement: "The international community has given a clear signal in support of the new sustainability agenda. Now it must be implemented and brought to life."