MGCY Rio+20 Objectives Team @Youth Blast

Sunday, 10th June

2:30 4:00 pm Introduction to OTF Lobby Points Presented by Olimar Maisonet and Wen Hoe Food-Water-Energy-Security Nexus Presented by Olimar Maisonet

4:45 6:15 pm

Monday, 11th June

11:30 1:00 pm Sustainable Consumption and Production Presented by Sam Bird and Sagar Chawla Peace and Conflict Presented by Hudson Mcfann and Melanie Sluyter Human Rights TBD Core session on the OTF, critical issues and SDGs Presented by Olimar Maisonet, Wen Hoe, Mika Tan and Saba Loftus

2:30 4:00 pm

4:30 6:00 pm

4:45 6.15 pm

Monday, 11th June

11:30 1:00 pm Sustainable Development Goals Presented by Melanie Sluyter and Mika Tan Objectives Task Forces Strategy Presented by Wen Hoe

2:30 4:00 pm

Topic 1: What is the Objectives Taskforce?

The MGCY objective for Rio+20 is commitment to the implementation of sustainable development, guided by a number of goals. The MGCY are creating a vision of these goals that integrate existing arrangements, include the seven critical issues, and have an action-oriented approach. The MGCY also advocates for improved monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Here's a summary of what the MGCY Objectives Task Force has been lobbying for. The adoption of a 10 Year Framework of Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production by 2013 and ensuring its integration into policies and law by 2015. Institutions that work on economic, social and human rights issues must integrate the environment perspective into their work, though interagency networks to facilitate communication and coordination among all UN actors. The water-food-energy security nexus must be incorporated in the Rio+20 discussions, particularly when developing strategies for the green economy. This will promote an efficient use of resources to avoid worsening crises that impact youth and children. The promotion of peace and conflict resolution as an essential part of sustainable development. Member states must establish evaluation and monitoring mechanisms to determine the effectiveness of policies from agreements made at the Sustainable Development summits. Developing an integrated regional reporting system with clear Sustainable Development indicators to build accountability and ownership of policy solutions. Join the Objectives Task Force: http://bit.ly/Rio-Youth-Objectives_Taskforce

Topic 2: What is the Water-Energy-Food-Security Nexus?

The Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus proposes an integrated understanding to solve the challenges facing the world for present and future generations: supply of adequate food, water, and energy. The nexus debate is primarily a debate about natural resource scarcity and the understanding of natural resources trade-offs from economic activities.

The Importance of the Nexus-approach

Population growth, an expanding middle class with changing lifestyles and diets, and the urgent need to improve water, energy and food security for vulnerable populations increases pressure on natural resources. Unless there are significant changes to the ways that we produce and consume, agricultural production will have to increase by about 70% by 2050, and about 50% more primary energy has to be made available by 2035. Such increases would have farreaching implications for water and land resources. Climate change will aggravate pressure on resources and so add to the vulnerability of people and ecosystems, particularly in water scarce regions. A nexus approach is needed to help climate mitigation measures to be more water smart, adaptation measure to be less energy intensive, and to avoid damaging consequences for food production. Productivity and the availability of water, energy, and land vary between regions and production systems. There is a large potential to increase overall resource use efficiency and benefits in production and consumption, e.g. by addressing intensive agriculture (which often has higher water productivity but lower energy productivity than other forms of agriculture) or water- and energy-intensive meat products.

Addressing Externalities
The nexus approach can boost this potential by addressing externalities across sectors. For example, nexus thinking would address the energy intensity of desalination, or water demands in renewable energy production (e.g. biofuels and some hydropower schemes) or water demands of afforestation for carbon storage. Also, action to avoid or land degradation saves water and energy, for example by increasing soil water storage and groundwater recharge, as well as reducing the use of energy intensive fertilizers.

Policy Recommendations
1. Increase resource productivity as one of the goals of the Framework for Action 2. Cross-sectoral management of waste and by-products 3. Enabling conditions for horizontal and vertical policy coherence that includes capacity building and stakeholders participation 4. Define the water-basin as the unit for land-energy-water governance

Topic 3: 10 Year Framework on Programmes on Sustainable Development and Production

Transitioning to more sustainable patterns of consumption and production is at the heart of sustainable development, and international co-operation is essential to effect that transition. -United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)

History
Governments at the Johannesburg Summit in 2002 called for the development of a 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) in support of regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns that will promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems (UN DESA). As a result, the 10YFP on SCP was negotiated at the 18th and 19th sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) from 2010-2011. Although consensus was reached on the section of the negotiating text dedicated to the 10YFP on SCP, the text as a whole was not adopted at the conclusion of CSD-19.

The Future We Want

At present, paragraph 97 of the zero draft of the Rio+20 outcome document states: We agree to establish a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) as part of a global pact on sustainable consumption and production, based on the text elaborated in the negotiations in the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development at its nineteenth session. Additionally, paragraph 107 states: We propose that the Sustainable Development Goals should include sustainable consumption and production patterns...

The reality we face

Ten years after the Johannesburg Summit, the promise of a 10YFP on SCP has not been realized. Although CSD-19 was a missed opportunity to adopt this policy, the consensus reached on the 10YFP on SCP last year indicates the world is ready to take action at Rio+20. To aid our transition to more sustainable consumption and production patterns, the Major Group for Children and Youth calls for the adoption of a 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production by 2013 and ensuring its integration into policies and law by 2013.

Topic 4: Peace and Conflict Resolution for Sustainable Development

Peace and armed conflict are issues of fundamental concern for sustainable development. At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Member States noted that [w]arfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development (Rio Principle 24) and insisted that [p]eace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible (Rio Principle 25). In short, without peace, sustainable development on a truly global and just scale is impossible. Without addressing the causes and effects of armed conflict, many of which remain severe threats for generations and may be exacerbated by climate change, sustainable development cannot take root and will proceed unevenlyand inequitably. In 2002, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Member States called armed conflict a severe threat to sustainable development and pledged to give it particular focus and priority attention (Johannesburg Declaration, para 19). Furthermore, in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, peace and security were deemed essential for achieving sustainable development and ensuring that sustainable development benefits all (para 5).

Rio+20
For Rio+20 to be a success, it must build upon past pledges by Member States with bold, action-oriented commitments that address gaps in implementation. So far, in the Rio+20 process, peace and armed conflict have, unfortunately, been largely neglected as issues for sustainable development. Their presence in the current negotiating text is highly limited and lacking in specificity. Indeed, robust commitments on peace and armed conflict are nowhere to be found. While some important progress has been made since the Rio+20 Zero Draft, which contained no references to peace or armed conflict, much more is urgently needed. States must build upon Rio Principles 24 and 25 with commitments to bold action.

Key issues and recommendations

The numerous impacts of armed conflictfrom the persistent threats of landmines and explosive remnants of war, to illicit exploitation of natural resources, and degradation of basic rights and services such as education and healthcareimplicate all aspects of sustainable development. Addressing wars cross-cutting consequences, while promoting peace, nonviolence and participatory governance to prevent their future recurrence, are absolutely essential for sustainable development and must be a top priority for Rio+20. In addition, children and youthas well as women and Indigenous peoplesmust be actively and meaningfully engaged as peacemakers, at all levels, in order to cultivate The Future We Want. Finally, any framework for Sustainable Development Goals should feature explicit targets and indicators on peace and nonviolence, environmental protection in times of armed conflict, and post-conflict sustainable development.

Topic 5: Human Rights

Human rights are those equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family." They are those inborn, universal, minimal basic needs which are necessary for human survival and must be guaranteed. The United Nations has established a wide range of human rights including, inter alia, the rights of children, women, indigenous peoples, and future generations. Their implications may be social, political, environmental and economic, and they touch all aspects of sustainable development. Some basic examples are the right to water, food, education, and decent work. Land rights, the right to development, participation rights for stakeholders, rights [of future generations and] for peoples for self-determination, as well as, sexual and reproductive health rights are also immediately relevant to sustainable development.

Progress so far
Major Groups recognize that there has been progress in terms of the inclusion of language referring to human rights in the text, such as the right to water and basic sanitation. However, there are still no real commitments to establish enabling conditions for the protection, respect and fulfillment of human rights in the context of the current economic and ecological crisis. Countries are still shifting the burden to the private sector at the same time removing language that would subject the private sector to stricter public or social regulation. Developed countries are still opposing any commitment to ensure adequate public financing for sustainable development, especially for developing countries, in line with the Right to Development. There are still no commitments to undertake systemic macro-economic reforms in trade, finance, investments policy which currently prevent countries, particularly developing countries, from generating decent jobs, providing basic health and education, and developing green productive capacity. Also, there are still no clear commitments to rights-based accountability mechanisms.

Recommendations
The MGCY calls upon Member States to protect the existing human rights agreements in the green economy framework or new institutional structures. While equitable and universal access to natural resources and meeting of basic needs are fundamental, the RIo+20 outcome must reaffirm the Human Rights based approach -- as protection of rights brings equity. Equitable sustainable development and poverty eradication are only possible when rights are upheld to set the path for future generations towards sustainable and essentially peaceful livelihoods. However, before the door can open for sincerely sustainable solutions, the UN must effectively fulfill its obligation to protect all rights.

Topic 6: Sustainable Development Goals

MGCY supports SDGs with sufficient ambition to meet environmental, economic and social challenges. The SDGs should tackle the underlying drivers of social injustice and environmental degradation, considering links between poverty, gender inequality, climate change, biological diversity, and protection of human rights. The SDGs framework must promote synergy with the MDGs. In 2015, when the MDGs expire, the SDGs and post-MDG framework must be incorporated together. The agreement on SDGs should be universal. SDGs should be accompanied by guidance and direction for all countries. The SDGs must be deliberated through an open, transparent, and accountable process in the form of a global consultation of all stakeholders, including young people. The SDGs must build from the Rio Principles, Agenda 21, and JPOI to be an overarching set of goals. Process: Rio+20 should promote an inclusive process. SDGs must be deliberated through an open, transparent, and accountable process. Content: Existing documents offer valuable language on how to operationalise the interlinked nature of SDGs and to capitalise on synergies across sectors. It is important to provide additional guidance on international cooperation on sectors such as: energy, climate, oceans, food, and water. We must guarantee that all dimensions of sustainable development are considered and both Green Economy and Institutional Framework elements are covered. Moreover, we must include references to human rights, gender equality, and social justice. Structure: The agreement on SDGs should be universal. SDGs should be accompanied by guidance and direction for all countries, taking into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Overarching Thematic Goals

1. Promote human development and security of all people A. Promote Gender Equality and Participation (follow-up for MDGs) B. Promote the decent work agenda and poverty eradication. C. Scale up access to primary health care D. End armed conflict, promote peace, and ensure sustainable post-conflict development E. Improve Disaster Risk Preparedness with a particular focus on youth 2. Strengthen international environmental governance A. Eco-partnerships for technology development, innovation, and sustainability (follow-up for MDGs) B. The implementation on a global convention on principle 10: Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens. C. Recognizing the role of young people in the sustainable development governance 3. Address cross-sectoral development areas A. Promote energy access and efficiency B. Promote water access and cross-sectoral efficiency C. Ensure the health, protection, and preservation of oceans, seas, and marine ecosystems D. Promote sustainable food systems E. Forests and Biodiversity F. Promote the development of sustainable cities and human settlements