Global Framework for Climate Services
IBCS MC-3/Doc. 7.5, REV. 1
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL BOARD ON
CLIMATE SERVICES
Date:
Original Language:
Chair of the
Management
Committee
13.X.2015
English
Status:
Approved
Submitted by:
THIRD SESSION
Geneva, Switzerland, 26-28 October 2015
AGENDA ITEM 7.5: GFCS AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
SUMMARY
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
Discuss and provide guidance on approaches for better reflecting the linkages of the GFCS
and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development
CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:
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IBCS MC-3/Doc. 7.5, REV. 1, APPROVED, p. 2
APPENDIX A:
DRAFT TEXT FOR INCLUSION IN THE GENERAL SUMMARY
7.5
GFCS AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
7.5.1 The UN member states, on the occasion of the Summit on Sustainable development
held in New York (USA) 25-27 September 2015 adopted the Draft resolution submitted by
the President of the General Assembly: Draft outcome document of the United Nations
summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda – see
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/L.85&Lang=E.
7.5.2 The document “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development” prepared by the Co-Chairs during the negotiations is the official declaration
endorsed unanimously by the UN Members – see:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld. Its preamble is
presented in the ANNEX to this paragraph.
GFCS AND THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Relevance for the GFCS and its partners
7.5.3 Being universal, transformative and integrated, the 2030 agenda will provide an
aligned pathway for the activities of the UN Members, the international organizations within
and beyond the UN system, as well as the entire sphere of entities and individuals having a
stake in sustainable development. In this regard, and as stressed by many heads of State
and Government, Sustainable Development and Climate Change are two intertwined
challenges which will require the mobilization of all to implement the full spectrum of
internationally agreed objectives, such as the Sendai Framework on DRR, the SIDS
Accelerated Modalities of Action (S.A.M.O.A.) Pathway, this 2030 agenda for Sustainable
Development, and the future outcomes of the UNFCCC COP21 to be held in Paris 30
November–11 December 2015, the Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing
and Sustainable Urban Development to take place in Quito, Ecuador, from 17–20 October
2016, to name a few.
7.5.4 The availability, delivery and usage of Climate Services should be of key importance
and relevance in support of some of those objectives, which have been formulated as the 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their accompanying 169 targets adopted at the
Summit for Sustainable Development. The identification and articulation of the GFCS
activities supporting the SDGs should be thus a major collective endeavour for all the GFCS
partners.
Initial guidelines for the development of a GFCS white paper on its contribution to the
2030 agenda for sustainable development and the SDGs implementation
7.5.5 The Committee recognized that a report outlining how the GFCS could assist the
implementation of the SDG’s would have a great value in aligning the GFCS partners’
activities in a consistent and coherent manner and it could assist in mobilizing resources to
support the Operational and Resource Plan for the period 2015-2018.
Themes
7.5.6 The GFCS has so far identified 5 priority areas: Agriculture and Food Security,
Disaster Risk Reduction, Health, Water and Energy, with urban activities as a cross-cutting
dimension. All areas relate directly to specific SDGs (SDG 2 “End Hunger”, SDG 3 “WellBeing”, SDG 6 “Water and Sanitation for All”, SDG 7 “Affordable and Sustainable Energy”,
SDG 11 “Safe Cities and Communities”, SDG 13 “Stop Climate Change”) or are intimately
IBCS MC-3/Doc. 7.5, REV. 1, APPROVED, p. 3
connected to many of them as for instance resilience to natural disasters which is mentioned
in many. Beyond the obvious, Climate Services are also indirectly relevant to all SDGs,
including the Education, Gender, Ocean, Environment and inclusive societies and
institutions.
Geography
7.5.7 The SDGs being people–centered universally applicable but also with special
attention to the most vulnerable and exposed, their implementation will have to be
successful in many countries and regions with specific challenges including LDCs, SIDSs,
LLDCs, etc. Thus it will be also extremely valuable for the GFCS partners to identify what
may better be done at sub-regional, regional and global scales, including with a view to have
a much more cost-effective and sustained involvement towards the achievements of the
goals.
Process/time
7.5.8 Each country has different capabilities and priorities in climate services availability,
delivery and usage. As a collective endeavour of its partners, the GFCS implementation will
make distinct progress, both in time and scope, in each country. It would be desirable that
the phasing of the GFCS implementation would take into account not only national
circumstances, but, as highlighted above, sub-regional, regional and global requirements
and opportunities.
White paper development: Procedure and Timeline
7.5.9 The Committee recognized the value of developing such a white paper in close
collaboration with the GFCS partners. They will have to coordinate their efforts, especially at
national level to be in a position to better serve the SDGs implementation. The IBCS
Partners Advisory Committee (PAC) will thus have a key role to play in this regard to gear
GFCS implementation to support the 2030 development agenda. recommended
7.5.10 The committee decided that a first version of this white paper should be available
mid-2016, with a view to provide it for consideration to all GFCS partner Executive Heads
and constituencies, as much as feasible, before consideration and possible adoption by the
Management Committee. It requested the GFCS Office to exploit all possibilities for a
constructive interaction between the Management Committee members and the PAC, within
available resources.
7.5.11 To this effect, the Management Committee requested the GFCS Office to ensure that
the PAC will be provided with a draft of the first version of the white paper for its
consideration and possible endorsement at its February 2016 meeting. This draft should be
at a strategic level and only focus on the input of the GFCS priority areas to the SDGs, and
in particular the ones which have a direct linkage with those as mentioned in 7.5.6.
7.5.12 Bearing in mind that the GFCS is a framework for action as are the outcomes of the
several international conferences mentioned in 7.5.3, the Management Committee also
stressed the need for the white paper to inform and ensure coherence with the other
dimensions of the GFCS, in particular its resource mobilization strategy supported by the
GFCS communication strategy and Operations and Resource Plan (ORP). It requested the
GFCS Office to ensure that the Task Teams in charge of further work on the ORP and the
M&E development be consulted and that their comments be included in the version of the
white paper.
IBCS MC-3/Doc. 7.5, REV. 1, APPROVED, p. 4
Next steps
7.5.13 The Management Committee decided that the first version of the white paper should
be considered by the Management Committee as soon as possible It requested the IBCS
Chair, in consultation with the GFCS Office and the Secretary-General, as per Resolution 1
(IBCS-1), to organize a session of members of the Management Committee, preferably
immediately before or after the WMO Executive Council. Given the important role of the PAC
in the development of the first draft of the white paper the Management Committee
furthermore decided to invite the PAC members to its next session. The invitation is made on
the terms included in paragraphs 10 – 13 of Resolution 1 (IBCS-1).
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ANNEX I
Preamble
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen
universal peace in larger freedom. We recognise that eradicating poverty in all its forms and
dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an
indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders,
acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the
human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are
determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the
world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we
pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169
targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new
universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete
what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve
gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and
indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic,
social and environmental.
The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical
importance for humanity and the planet:
People
We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to
ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy
environment.
Planet
We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable
consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent
action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future
generations.
Prosperity
We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives
and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
Peace
We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear
and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without
sustainable development.
Partnership
We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a
revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of
strengthened global solidarity, focussed in particular on the needs of the poorest and most
vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.
The interlinkages and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals are of crucial
importance in ensuring that the purpose of the new Agenda is realised. If we realize our
ambitions across the full extent of the Agenda, the lives of all will be profoundly improved
and our world will be transformed for the better.
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