Open Working Group Arrives at Transitional Moment | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

The Open Working Group on sustainable development goals has arrived at an important moment of transition. “Almost one productive year has passed in which we have done some deep reflection together, and now we begin crafting a proposal on sustainable development goals”, said Csaba Kőrösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary and Co-Chair of the Group, at the conclusion of its eighth session. Ambassador Kőrösi presented the Co-Chairs’ draft summary, in which he and the second Co-Chair of the Group, Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, outline some of the main arguments made during the deliberations that lasted from 3 to 7 February.

Healthy oceans and forests are vital life-support systems

The first cluster of issues discussed at the session – oceans and seas, forests and biodiversity – was universally acknowledged as important for the sustainable development agenda. “Picking up on the metaphor of the Earth’s lungs, if oceans are one lung, forests are the other”, said Ambassador Kőrösi. Forests and oceans were described as by far the richest habitats of biodiversity, on which humans depend for food supplies, medicines, livelihoods, ecosystem stability, and other vital services, and which also carry important cultural value. “We need to recognize the living value of species beyond their commodity values”, said the Ambassador, referring to a statement a delegate had made earlier.

The Open Working Group discussed a number of drivers of biodiversity loss that the sustainable development goals should help slow and reverse, among them deforestation, overfishing, pollution and habitat alteration from ocean acidification. Positive efforts by governments and stakeholders that could help reverse the tide were also highlighted, such as the creation of biosphere reserves, protected areas and no-catch zones. Indigenous peoples and local communities would have to enjoy benefits from such ecosystem management for it to succeed.

For more information, please click here.

SOURCE: UN-DESA