SDGs UK

To read all speeches and contributions you can click.................. here

(Thanks to Sr. Helen Burke and Lucy Troy for this link)

TO WATCH THE DEBATE CLICK ......................................................HERE...

Although only a small crowd gathered for this debate on the SDGs in advance of the upcoming UK VNR it was significant that the debate was held.

The Debate was introduced by the Rory Stewart Minister at DFID (Department of Foreign Investment and Development) who is contesting the Conservative Leadership Party at the moment;

Key points:

1. The VNR has had over 300 case studies (Presentation Sisters have submitted four of these).
2. This is the first UK VNR
3. It will be balanced in that it will not just record the positive aspects of UK development but also the challenges.

Labour MP Chris Law spoke next:

Key pionts:

1. He hopes that all the goals will be referred to in the UK VNR
2. Why is there not specific focus on Goal # Zero Hunger with so many people in work depending on the foodbanks and in light of the report from the Special Rapporteur on his visit to report on poverty in the UK (here)
3. From the very beginning the UK felt that the work on the SDGs was in the achievement of the agreement and not the work that follows and hence 111 countries have presented their VNR to date and the UK is lagging behind.
4. This debate should have been preceeded by 17 other sub-debates and this "farcical" debate should have been the wrap up debate not the first.

Chris Law MP Dundee SNP spoke next:

Key Points:

1. What of the Climate emergency? It will cost up to £1.7 billion p.a. on top of what is already committed to mitigate the ongoing effects of climate change.
2. What of the Just transition to a carbon neutral future? Who is taking the lead on this?
3. The UK appears to be doing well on Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. When we drill down it is the economic growth part that is doing well at the expense of Decent Work.
4. We are not doing enough about safe, clean affordable water in the UK.

Stephen Twigg Liverpool MP Labour was very strong:

Key Points

1. We are shipping too much plastic abroad to DEVELOPING countries and to address the SDGs we must address plastic waste.
2. There is no real awareness of the SDGs at home 4 years on (9%).
3. The VNR cannot just pick on which goals to report on.
4. When Trump visited last week there was no mention of Climate Change.
5. What of the Heads of State at the September UNGA where the modalities of the SDGs, VNRs, HLPF will be re-examined, are the UK qualified to submit an opinion on this?
6. Progress to date is bitterly disappointing.
7. Following an investigation by the International Committee:
   1. There is disappointment that the goals were divided out to each of the Departments
   2. There is disappointment that SDG implementation is not run from the Cabinet.
   3. Our VNR preparation is a lesson on how not to prepare and present a VNR.
   4. In the 2017 the Election Manifesto were very light on SDG implementation.
   5. DFID must not lead on the domestic implementation of the SDGs as this department has specific responsibility for foreign aid.

He finished by asking for 5 things:

1. That all departments would be accountable and that the SDGs would be properly embedded in all future policy.
2. That the VNR must include a plan on how the SDGs are to be implemented as requested by UKSSD given that there is no National Implementation Plan.
3. That all stakeholders must be engaged,
4. That there must be a published timeline for the implementation of the SDGs.
5. And how will we bring the VNR home so that we can capitalise on the momentum of VNR presentation at the HLPF 2019

Kerry McCarthy (Labour ) Bristol

Key points;

1. We must commit early to our next VNR
2. 20% of all children under 15 live with food insecurity (the UK is second only to Romania in the EU in this regard).
3. Universal Credit (according to the UN special rapporteur) has pushed more people into poverty and will continue to do so,:
   1. Because of the long waiting times.,
   2. Because of the delayed payments.
   3. This is as a direct result of government policy
   4. DFID abroad gives cash vouchers to those abroad to purchase food but no such scheme happens at home,

Patrick Grady Glasgow MP SNP

Key points:

1. 2015 should have been a running start after all the UK was instrumental in the construction of the MDGs.
2. There needs to be an alignment og the SDGs and the indicators with the National Performance Framework (as is the case in Scotland)
3. By pushing for 0.7% GNI ODA across the developed world would go some way towards achieving the SDGs at home and abroad.
4. There is a lack of understanding and awareness of the SDGs across Whitehall.
5. Councils should have their own implementation plans and VNRs
6. Wealth inequality needs to addresses and tax policies should no longer favour those earning in excess of £80K#
7. Main Messages that have been published were criticised.

Heather Baldwin Conservative MP Minister of State at DFID in reply:

Key points:

1. What gets measured and get managed and currently the Office of National Statistics (ONS) only measures up to 72% of all indicators.
2. We will engage the youth.
3. We will not publish the VNR for all ahead of the HLPF presentation.

TO WATCH THE DEBATE CLICK ................HERE...