UN Head Quarters

You Could Have It All – Day 5 and Report of OWG12

khristian July 1, 2014 0 Comments

by khristian méndez // The 12th session of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals has come to an end. At 5pm on friday, co-chair Kamau wrapped up the informal session of negotiations of the OWG, and opened the formal consultations, to be wrapped up 30 minutes later. During all of Friday, we heard the positions from 20+ member states on the final proposed SDG: Means of...

Heat in the Room – Day 4 OWG12

khristian June 19, 2014 0 Comments

by khristian méndez // Temperature has risen in New York City, both on all of the concrete and glass surfaces of this giant man-made complex, as well as in the negotiation rooms. Everybody can agree that we need to eradicate poverty, have access to food, education and health, but as we descend down the list of goals, the views become more and more heated. Divergence on Biodiversity This morning...

Can we score goals in the right place? – Day 2+3 OWG12

khristian June 18, 2014 0 Comments

by khristian méndez // Inside the Headquarters of the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals are being negotiated. Negotiations are taking place not only between governments at the formal and informal negotiations at the ECOSOC Chamber, but also outside of it in bilaterals, between Major Groups and other stakeholders. Chairs are asking to trim down numbers of targets and goals,...

What exactly is the way forward? – Day 1 OWG12

khristian June 16, 2014 0 Comments

by khristian méndez // A little after 9am this morning, the doors of the Economic and Social Council Chamber were opened to dozens of members of Civil Society who were awaiting the morning briefing. Right before they opened, Roman and I had a lovely exchange with a lady who spent 30 years working in this building, so she’s become… quite skeptical of these processes. She is now an elder...