1. Sustainable Development Goals and Post-2015 Development Agenda
The Seoul Post-2015 Conference:
Implementation and Implications
Seoul, October 7, 2013
Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna
Director, ESCAP East and North-East Asia Office

2. UNSG at the start of 68th Session of UNGA
MDGs have captured the imagination, generated remarkable gains and beat back doubts about development itself.
Yet on some goals, we lag badly. Inequality is growing. Too many people face exploitation – from fields to factory floor.
2015 is the year by which we have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
It is the year in which we will adopt a new development agenda.
A new development agenda must be as inspiring as the MDGs, while going further.
It must be universal, with ending poverty as its top priority, sustainable development at its core, and governance as its glue. It must find expression in a single set of goals.
And there should be no hierarchy among the three dimensions of sustainable development – no deferring the environment or social justice for later, once economic growth is assured. 
Change is inevitable, but progress is not. Leadership makes the difference.

3. Road towards Rio+20 1972: UNCHE-Stockholm declaration
1970s: Polluter Pays Principle, Precautionary Approach
1987: SD - Our Common Future (by WCED)
19080s: Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol, IPCC
1992: UNCED – Rio Declaration and Agenda 21, UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD
1990s: WBCSD, Corporate environment reports
2000: Millennium Declaration and MDGs
2002: WSSD – Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
2000s: CSR, Corporate sustainability report
2012: UNCSD – The Future We Want: green economy, IFSD and SDG

4. Rio+20 Outcome: Key Elements
Renewing political commitment
Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication
Institutional framework for sustainable development
Framework for action and follow-up: Thematic /cross-sectoral issues; Sustainable development goals
Means of implementation: finance, technology, capacity building and trade

5. SG Report: A Life of Dignity for All
Towards a new sustainable development agenda
universal in nature yet responsive to the complexities, needs and capacities of individual countries and regions
combining the economic, social and environmental dimensions while putting the highest priority on ending poverty and reducing inequality
rights-based, with particular emphasis on women, young people and marginalized groups
eager for new and innovative partnerships; and supported by pioneering approaches to data and rigorous accountability mechanisms.
(From - A life of dignity for all: accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and advancing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015: Report of the Secretary-General)

6. Proposed SDGs High Level Panel on Post-2015 Agenda
Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Goal 1: End Poverty
Goal 2: Empower Girls and Women and Achieve Gender Equality
Goal 3: Provide Quality Education and Lifelong Learning
Goal 4: Ensure Healthy Lives
Goal 5: Ensure Food Security and Good Nutrition
Goal 6: Achieve Universal Access to Water and Sanitation
Goal 7: Secure Sustainable Energy
Goal 8: Create Jobs, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Equitable Growth
Goal 9: Manage Natural Resource Assets Sustainably
Goal 10: Ensure Good Governance and Effective Institutions
Goal 11: Ensure Stable and Peaceful Societies
Goal 12: Create a Global Enabling Environment and Catalyze Long-Term Finance
Goal 1: End Extreme Poverty including Hunger
Goal 2: Achieve Development within Planetary Boundaries
Goal 3: Ensure Effective Learning for All Children and Youth for Life and Livelihood
Goal 4: Achieve Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Human Rights for All
Goal 5: Achieve Health and Wellbeing at All Ages
Goal 6: Improve Agriculture Systems and Raise Rural Prosperity
Goal 7: Empower Inclusive, Productive, and Resilient Cities
Goal 8: Curb Human-Induced Climate Change and Ensure Sustainable Energy
Goal 9: Secure Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity, and Ensure Good Management of Water and Other Natural Resources
Goal 10: Transform Governance for Sustainable Development

7. Emerging Consensus on SDGs
Limited in number, universal, implementable, measurable, integrate all three pillars of sustainable development
Bridge the gap between MDG implementation and sustainable development agenda
Means of Implementation

8. Concluding Remarks
GEO5, GSP, UNTT, HLP, SDSN and many others advanced their recommendations.
The development of SDGs represents a new critical phase - ‘a culmination and convergence of agendas’ - UNEP
OWG is hard at work in the United Nations, 69th session of UNGA is critical in considering and adopting SDGs
How to overcome institutional, technological, financial and capacity development barriers in implementation of SDGs
Voices from the Field by definition contain diverse views but the most important element in all of them is like the UNSG said “Change is inevitable but Progress is not”

9. Concluding Remarks Impacts of Climate Change cannot be underestimated
Unsustainable consumption patterns, as well as resource management must be addressed
Concrete steps to be taken
Integrate the three dimensions of SD and draw from their synergies
Revise, adjust and modify SD indicators

10. Thank you! Kilaparti Ramakrishna Director, UN ESCAP-ENEA