Chaired by Corinne Woods, Director, UN Millennium Campaign, this event heard different perspectives from civil society, member States and the UN system on the inclusion of sustainability in the post-2015 development framework.

Jeannet Lingán, Stakeholder Forum, presented the findings of a research paper on the SDG discussion. She outlined principles highlighted as necessary for underpinning the framework of potential SDGs, including: universality; comprehensiveness; common but differentiated responsibilities; measurability; and legitimacy.

Cristina Diez, ATD Fourth World, called for a post-2015 development framework to take all persons into account and consider each person as having relevant knowledge. To increase participation, she urged for capacity building and creating a space of trust and security.

Jeffery Huffines, CIVICUS, speaking on behalf of the Beyond 2015 campaign and CIVICUS, called for learning from the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) process, and strong leadership from the UN for establishing SDGs.

Felix Dodds, Stakeholder Forum, lamented the gaps present in posited SDGs, but said that is still possible to leave Rio+20 with at least five negotiated SDGs.

Ed Barry, Sustainable World Initiative, suggested that resource sufficiency evaluations, which reflect demand and supply of natural resources, be carried out at national and global levels to avoid a global humanitarian crisis.

Flavia Pansieri, Executive Coordinator, UN Volunteers (UNV), said that the SDGs should not include quantitative targets so that the goals can be durable while ensuring sustainability is addressed.

Paula Caballero, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombia, underscored that since all the SDGs should contribute to poverty reduction and poverty elimination, a specific SDG on this issue may be counter-productive.

In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: the role of the private sector; integrating planetary boundaries into the SDGs; and concern that human rights principles are not being recognized.

This event discussed sustainable agriculture and hunger elimination in the run-up to the Rio+20 Conference, with a view to informing the on-going negotiations on the zero draft outcome document for Rio+20.

Ambassador Herman Schaper, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN, outlined the role of the Friends of Food and Nutrition Security, which aims to inform the Rio+20 negotiations on how to transform food insecurity towards a world free of hunger through sustainable agriculture.

Lila Hanitra Ratsifandrihamanana, FAO, called for: greater access to resources for women; improvement of agricultural practices; correct management of water resources in water scarce areas; and eradication of unsustainable fishing practices.

Pedro Medrano, World Food Programme (WFP), stressed the role of women in the food value chain, increasing resilience, and applying smart agricultural practices.

Cheryl Morden, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), emphasized the importance of clear land rights and secure land tenure for small holder farmers, enabling them to organize themselves in addition to breaking down the segmented roles of men and women.

Emile Frison, Director General, Bioversity International, called for a different agricultural model that uses biodiversity as a foundation by, inter alia: increasing productivity through diversification; improving resilience to extreme events; reducing dependency on fossil fuels; and improving empowerment of small holder farmers.

Franklin Moore, Vice-Chair, Committee on World Food Security (CFS), presented CFS’s ambition to bring about reforms that will produce a fundamental change in the international governance of food security and nutrition.

In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed: the role of the agro-chemical industry; access to the markets; agricultural subsidies that distort international markets and act as a barrier to launching food security; and the nexus between food production and water.