Conclusions
1. The
Millennium Development Goals gave insufficient attention to environmental
protection and sustainable development. The prioritisation of
aid resources on vital areas of human development such as health
and education, was at the expense of an integrated sustainable
development agenda. The Open Working Group's proposals provide
a broader framework which better captures the complexity and inter-dependency
of the relationship between people and planet. The mix of standalone
goals and integrated indicators has the potential to be just as
action-orientated as the MDGs, but have the advantage of being
more comprehensive. It includes innovative tools such as Natural
Capital Accounting which help Governments measure what really
matters to support decision making and guide policy. (Paragraph
18)
2. The similar timing
of the SDG and climate change negotiations presents an important
opportunity to embed climate change thinking throughout the SDGs—to
avoid development that exacerbates climate change while also building
decarbonisation and adaptation into development. However, at the
same time as stating a commitment to ambitious action on climate
change, the Government is pursuing contradictory policies by effectively
giving subsidies for fossil fuels. (Paragraph 27)
3. International trade
has played an important role in reducing extreme poverty. But
such gains often come at the expense of the environment. It is
equally important that the poorest and most vulnerable groups
are not further impoverished by changing trade rules and agreements.
(Paragraph 29)
4. As we stated in
our recent report on Action on Air Quality, air pollution is an
"invisible killer" in the UK. However, poor air quality
is also a major issue and cause of premature death in cities in
many developing countries. (Paragraph 31)
5. The UK should support
the vital goal of sustainable and resource efficient consumption
and production in the Sustainable Development Goals. Rising population
growth means 'business as usual' economic models of disposable
products are not an option in the 21st Century. Resource efficiency
is something that makes both environmental and economic sense.
It is therefore disappointing that the UK is taking only small
steps when a larger shift towards a more resource efficient economy
is needed. Whilst the Government supports ambitious goals for
other countries for poverty reduction, it is reluctant to commit
the UK to such ambitious goals in the EU. There is also a role
for businesses, which can be supported by more detailed corporate
sustainability reporting. (Paragraph 38)
6. Inequality prevents
sustainable development, not only because it can undermine social
cohesion and a sense of shared well-being, but because some sections
of societies may be excluded from the benefits of development
and prosperity. (Paragraph 45)
7. The current wide
consensus on the components of sustainable development, as set
out in the 17 Goals listed in the Open Working Group's report,
is historic and powerful. The UN Secretary General has indicated
that the 17 Goals should be taken forward in the final SDGs, but
has put forward a set of six 'essential elements' to facilitate
engagement and communication of the sustainability message. To
reduce the number of goals, as the UK has proposed, would inevitably
be to omit key aspects of the sustainable development framework
after 2015, potentially including those relating to environmental
sustainability. That would be a mistake. Environmental limits
are a key challenge that we face in the 21st Century, and a reductionist
approach risks removing the growing international focus on these
key areas. Communicating the goals is important, but ultimately
what counts is global action across a range of areas that is
truly sustainable. (Paragraph 52)
8. The Government
has committed significant time and energy to the process of developing
new Sustainable Development Goals, including officials and Ministers
from different Government departments. The focus has primarily
been international, however, with much less thought having been
given to the domestic implications of the Goals. The Government
seems readier to consider goals for other countries than for
itself. (Paragraph 57)
9. The UK has committed
significant amounts of funding to the International Climate Fund
and now also the Green Climate Fund. Whilst we are pleased that
the Government is prioritising these, it is vital that the funds
are spent effectively and have as large an impact as possible.
Currently, there is poor public transparency of how these are
being used. We welcome the Independent Commission for Aid Impact's
report on the ICF, but note this was originally due in 2013.
(Paragraph 65)
10. The UK is not
sufficiently prioritising funding for the establishment of marine
protected areas in the UK Overseas Territories. It is vital that
these unique ecosystems are protected before it is too late. There
is a lack of timely and transparent information to explain how
biodiversity-related funds are spent overseas. (Paragraph 68)
11. Agreeing the right
indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals is a vital step
in ensuring that they have traction. The universal nature of the
goals means that there will need to be a combination of international
and national goals, and the UK has an important role in agreeing
these. It is important that the UK is accountable for its progress
in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. It has not yet
done sufficient work to consider the implications for UK policy.
We will continue to monitor and review the Government's progress
in agreeing the goals, and there is a clear role for our successor
Committee to audit implementation and performance against the
goals in future. (Paragraph 75)
12. Education for sustainable development
is crucial to help people understand the impact their actions
have on the planet. The Government has shown few signs of promoting
this, as illustrated by the lack of ministerial priority given
to global conference on education for sustainable development.
This is despite a strong appetite from business and voluntary
organisations for engaging with such universal themes at both
a global and local level. The Government has invested in young
people through the International Citizens Service, although that
programme has been more successful in engaging young people from
London and the South-East than other parts of the UK. It is important
that the Government empowers citizens to embrace this in order
to achieve sustainable economic growth which values people and
the planet. (Paragraph 82)
| 
