An Extraordinary September
In "Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" the member nations of the UN state:
"We are announcing today 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets which are integrated and indivisible. Never before have world leaders pledged common action and endeavor across such a broad and universal policy agenda... This is an agenda of unprecedented scope and significance. It is accepted by all countries and is applicable to all ... The future of humanity and of our planet lies in our hands... We have mapped the road to sustainable development; it will be for all of us to ensure that the journey is successful and its gains irreversible."
by Sister Suzanne Goals, CSJP
October 2015
Many people have asked me whether I was at the UN the day in September that Pope Francis addressed the General Assembly. No, like most others, I watched the activities on a TV screen.
Very few NGOs were in the General Assembly. We were told, when we asked for tickets, that there was very little room because "all the ambassadors are bringing their whole family."
However, at our Oct. RUN (Religious at the UN) meeting, when we shared our experiences during those days when Pope Francis was in the US, one of the very few NGOs who were in the building was a Mercy Sister who is also on the UNICEF staff. Deirdre Mullan was in the UN corridor, crowded with staffers, when the Pope passed by. Once he disappeared down the hall, Deirdre asked the man next to her, knowing that he was a Muslim, "What did you think?" He spoke his answer softly, "I'm a practicing Muslim, but today is a holy day for me. The shadow of a holy man passed over me."
Pope Francis's visit and address to the General Assembly began several days of significant moments at the UN. Many were moments of similar reactions to the Pope. They were followed by decisions which have the potential to significantly reduce poverty, while adding strong safeguards to protect the planet and its systems.
The heads of state, in a General Assembly vote, approved "Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," a plan that Pope Francis referred to as "an important sign of hope for humanity." This plan, which has also been called the "Post 2015 Agenda" builds on some progress that has been made through the Millennium Development Goals, but the "2030 Agenda" is unique in several ways.
Goals for Sustainable Development
At the heart of the "2030 Plan" are 17 goals for sustainable development. These goals will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet. Key issues include poverty and hunger, degradation of the planet, sustainable management of natural resources and sustainable consumption and production. What is unique in the process are the targets that are attached to each goal. There are 169 targets which provide concrete ways in which progress on each goal is or is not being achieved.
Also unique in the development of these goals is the democratic process in which they were developed. This process was the result of the deep conviction that identifying and developing the goals had to include the voice of the people. The process was to be a bottom- up rather than a top-down approach. For over two years the UN has been engaged in an unprecedented process of consulting a wide range of people for their thinking on this plan.
An online survey, "My Word", has had more than seven million responses. There have been thematic, regional and country discussions all over the world. Academics and scientists have analyzed every goal and target. Various groups have studied the cost effectiveness of achieving the goals. Businesses with assets of trillions of dollars have been consulted; 193 governments represented at the UN have studied this input and have had their say. There has never been such a comprehensive process at the UN.
Various educational programs are being developed to help people understand the goals of the plan. A RUN committee is designing such a program. The goals will be explained more fully in future "Notes from the UN."