In September 2015 the new Sustainable Development Goals will be finalized. These goals, that will follow up the current Millennium Development Goals, will be more universal, will include environmental challenges and has been more inclusive through involving many stakeholders in their definition. The post 2015 intergovernmental negotiation sessions take place every month since January 2015 and will contribute to the preparations of the Summit. Three further negotiation sessions are envisaged to take place in June and July.
The Post 2015 summit will have as overarching theme “Transforming the world: realizing the post-2015 development agenda”. The summit will be organized in interactive dialogues around the following themes
1. Ending poverty and hunger
2. Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind
3. Fostering sustainable economic growth, transformation and promoting sustainable consumption and production
4. Protecting our planet and combatting climate change
5. Building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions to achieve sustainable development
6. Delivering on a revitalised Global Partnership
The urban goal (11) is included under item 4, that includes a focus on supporting sustainable cities and human settlements. Even though there seems to be little change that this goal is excluded from the list, UCLG still calls on members to sign the #UrbanSDG campaign.
UCLG is also continuing to advocate for localization more broadly (beyond the urban approach) with the Global Taskforce and through the Local Authorities Major Group in the Intergovernmental Sessions and in related processes. The interagency and expert group on SDG indicators will present an initial framework document in July and will need to be finalized in December. It will be important to promote national and regional debates on the lcoalization of indicators.
The Summit takes place from 25 to 27 September, on the 24th The Global Taskforce will convene in New York. UCLG members are invited to join the Global Taskforce delegation.