Technical Suggested Changes to 19 Targets in the proposed SDGs framework

A very interesting paper has been circulated by the co-chairs which looks at the targets to see if they are in line with previous agreements. 19 Targets from the 169 Targets have been identified as having previous agreements which need to be coordinated with or a suggestion of how to replace x with a number.

The easy targets will be where there has been a previous agreement for governments to agree to. The suggestions for the x will I believe need much more discussion.

Are there any other targets that should be looked at? I don't think so at this point this was always a package and should be understood in that way. Here is the list of suggested changes for the 19 targets and what the new language could be and what the rationale is.

Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
3.2 Present target
By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children, measured as neonatal mortality of no more than 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality of no more than 25 per 1,000 live births
Rationale 
SPECIFICITY: Numerical targets proposed to specify what "ending preventable deaths" means by 2030 for these age groups. Such numerical targets have been endorsed through the UNICEF and WHO “A Promise Renewed Initiative” and in the “Every Newborn Action Plan”.
3.6 Present target
By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
Rationale 
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Not consistent with the Decade of Action on Road Safety (2011-2020), which was to reduce by half from the projected increase of deaths and injuries by 2020. The baseline was 2010. Hence the target cannot be met by 2020 (using 2015 baseline). Target year should be changed to 2030.
3.a: Present target
Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all
Suggested amended new target
Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.
Rationale 
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: The 2001 Doha Declaration does not limit the use of available TRIPS Agreement flexibilities to just essential medicines (a defined term under national laws). A revised target should delete the word “essential”.

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all
4.4: Present target
By 2030, increase by [x] per cent the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, ensure all youth and adults have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship
Rationale
SPECIFICITY (Xs): Given the ambitious and aspirational character of the agenda, it is proposed to replace ‘increase by x %’ by ‘all’, even though we are cognizant that this is beyond current projections.
4.6: Present target
By 2030, ensure that all youth and at least [x] per cent of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, ensure that all youth and adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy
Rationale
SPECIFICITY (Xs): Given the ambitious and aspirational character of the agenda, and difficulty in setting benchmarks to be achieved globally, x % of adults should be replaced by ‘all’, even though we are cognizant that this is beyond current projections. The target should be more ambitious than the existing EFA goal 4 which aims at a 50% improvement of adult literacy rates by 2015.
4.b:Present target
By 2020, expand by [x] per cent globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries
Suggested amended new target
 By 2030, double globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrollment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries
Rationale
DATE/SPECIFICITY (Xs): The doubling refers to the period 2015-2030; a doubling over that 15-year period averages out to growth of roughly 4.7% per year.
4.c: Present target
By 2030, increase by [x] per cent the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, all learners are taught by qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States
Rationale
MEASURABILITY (Xs): A specific percentage value (e.g., doubling) is not feasible technically. The aim should be to close the teachers gap; hence the proposed revision.

GOAL 6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all SDGs Proposed Revision Explanatory
6.3: Present target
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and increasing recycling and safe reuse by [x] per cent globally
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and at least doubling recycling and safe reuse globally
Rationale
SPECIFICITY (Xs): The percentage of wastewater recycled and re-used is currently low, estimated at around 5% globally, so an ambitious increase is appropriate.
6.6:Present target
By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
Rationale
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: The timeframe should be "by 2030" in view of the fact that the target encompasses a wide scope of ecosystems

GOAL 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
8.7: Present target
Take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, eradicate forced labour and, by 2025, end child labour in all its forms, including the recruitment and use of child soldiers
Suggested amended new target
Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
Rationale
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: As per article 3(a) of the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182), recruitment and use of child soldiers are considered as worst forms of child labour and should therefore be listed as included under these forms. Important to clarify that the action on eradication of forced labour refers to all ages, not only to children.

GOAL 9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
9.5: Present target
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people by [x] per cent and public and private research and development spending
Suggested amended new target
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending
Rationale
MEASURABILITY (Xs): Global data on R&D workers are very incomplete and, from the data available, the numbers of such workers per million people vary widely across countries, by roughly two orders of magnitude. Thus, specifying a global percentage increase is not feasible technically. The objective is to narrow the gap, increasing numbers of R&D workers notably in countries where they are few, which is reflected in the proposed revision.

GOAL 11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
11.5 Present target
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and decrease by [x] per cent the economic losses relative to gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths, the number of affected people and the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
Rationale
SPECIFICITY (Xs)/CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Propose to change “significantly” to “substantially”, move “affected” before people, also reformulate text on economic losses, adding “global” before GDP, in line with Sendai Framework, para 18, which reads in part: (a) Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower average per 100,000 global mortality between 2020-2030 compared to 2005-2015. (b) Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower the average global figure per 100,000 between 2020-2030 compared to 2005-2015. (c) Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030
11.b Present target
By 2020, increase by [x] per cent the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, develop and implement, in line with the forthcoming Hyogo Framework, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
Suggested amended new target
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, develop and implement, in line with the forthcoming Hyogo Framework, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
Rationale
SPECIFICITY (Xs): Sendai Framework, para 18 (e) reads in part:(e) Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020

GOAL 12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.4 Present target
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
Suggested amended new target
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks and agreements, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
Rationale
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: This Target could be made more consistent with existing commitments by adding “agreements”. The current wording “international frameworks” can be interpreted as voluntary frameworks but not legally-binding instruments such as MEAs (Stockholm, Rotterdam, etc).

GOAL 15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt  biodiversity loss
15.1 Present target
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
Rationale
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: The timeframe should be "by 2030" as target is beyond the focus area of Aichi targets.
15.2  Present target
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and increase afforestation and reforestation by [x] per cent globally
Suggested amended new target
Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore at least 15% of degraded forests by 2020, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally
Rationale
SPECIFICITY (Xs)/CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Aichi Biodiversity Target 7 reads: “By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks have been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combatting desertification”
15.3 Present target
 By 2020, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
Suggested amended new target
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
Rationale
DATE: change to 2030
15.5 Present target
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
Suggested amended new target
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
Rationale
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Add “and fragmentation” after degradation. The amendment would make this more consistent with Aichi Biodiversity Target 5.

GOAL 17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
17.2 Present target
Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including to provide 0.7 per cent of gross national income in official development assistance to developing countries, of which 0.15 to 0.20 per cent should be provided to least developed countries
Suggested amended new target
Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including to provide 0.7 per cent of gross national income in official development assistance to developing countries, of which at least 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of GNI should be provided to least developed countries
Rationale
CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Add in the last phrase words: “of which at least 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of GNI should be provided to least developed countries”. The Istanbul Programme of Action on LDCs [para 116-2(a)(i)] calls for donors which are already providing more than 0.20% of their GNP as ODA to LDCs to continue to do so and maximize their efforts to further increase ODA to LDCs.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Alexander Juras is Stakeholder Forum’s New Chairperson

Key Sustainability Dates for 2024

Possible Candidates for the next Secretary General - Amina Mohammed - Part 1