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Select committee inquiry

Sustainable Development Goals

Closed

Environmental Audit Committee · Opened 3 September 2014 · Closed 6 July 2016

7 recommendations · 17 conclusions
Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

What the inquiry looked at

“The Environmental Audit Committee has examined the development of the Sustainable Development Goals through our previous reports on Preparations on Rio+20 (PDF 630.91 KB) (in October 2011) and Outcomes of Rio+20 (PDF 1.25 MB) (in June 2013). In 2015, the UN will agree a new universal set of Development Goals, which will combine the conclusions of Rio+20 and the Post-2015 Development Agenda to replace the Millennium Development Goals. These Sustainable Development Goals aim to be universal, encompassing poverty and sustainable development, and equally applicable to developed as well as developing countries. The UK will be negotiating the final Goals through the EU as part of the UN process. Terms of reference: Sustainable Development Goals”

The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.

What it found

In the committee's words, from the summary of 7th Report - Connected world: Agreeing ambitious Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 ↗

Poverty and environmental degradation are urgent global challenges. In September 2015 world leaders have a unique opportunity to end extreme poverty and protect the planet, as they agree new global ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, to be achieved by 2030.

The UK has taken an important role in the international process of agreeing new goals, with the Prime Minister co-chairing a panel of experts in 2012. However, the Government has recently been seeking to reduce the currently proposed 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which risks losing the current international focus on environmental sustainability alongside poverty reduction and economic and social development. In order to reach global agreement on ambitious action next year it is important that the UK respects the status of the 17 proposed Goals when the European Union agrees its negotiating position at the European Council meeting on 18th-19th December 2014.

Achieving the global goals for 2030 will require ambitious action for the UK and other developed countries as well as for developing countries. The UK Government should:

• rapidly phase out subsidies to carbon intensive energy sources; • demand the highest standards of environmental protection in trade deals, and unequivocally ensure that there is no potential for these to be undermined through trade dispute settlement mechanisms, such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); • lead international efforts to improve air quality in cities; • accelerate its work on resource efficiency and find opportunities to fund circular economy approaches through UK aid spending; • ensure that at all economic development related aid programmes fully safeguard biodiversity and tread a new path which de-couples economic growth from natural resource use; • report annually on the impact of the International Climate Fund; • support the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in the UK overseas territories; and • engage young people in the UK with the new goals, and support activities that raise awareness about sustainable development.

Almost 80% of Dhaka's urban poor are migrants. Dhaka's slums are often situated near, alongside or even in rubbish tips as waste handling provides a means of earning a living for the urban poor, especially migrants who move from the countryside to the city in hope of finding more regular incomes - despite the very poor conditions, lower standards of living, high rents and limited space on offer.

Credit: Bangladesh Christian Aid / Mohammadur Rahma

Members of a study group do their homework by the light of a D-light solar panel lamp in Lalpur village, Jharkhand. October 2012.

What the government said

The government responded on 16 February 2015.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response.

The Government "noted" the Committee's report and says it is committed to an "ambitious and transformational post-2015 framework", while considering the Committee's analysis "overly negative".

  • On the number of goals, the Government says a framework of 17 goals and 169 targets "is not implementable", and it supports "a shorter, fully implementable list of goals and targets".
  • On energy subsidies, it states that "the UK does not subsidise carbon intensive energy sources" and that the UK "does not have any fossil fuel subsidies".
  • On trade, it agrees that the Government should demand high environmental standards in trade deals, and says the TTIP "will not erode regulatory standards in the EU or the US".
  • On monitoring, it agrees the UK needs the right data and systems, and says it "will be reviewing" the Sustainable Development Indicators "in light of the final set of agreed targets".

Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error

How the inquiry ran

Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 3 September 2014 to its close on 6 July 2016.

  1. Oral evidence 3 sessions
  2. Report 15 Dec 2014
  3. Government response 16 Feb 2015

What it recommended 7 recommendations · 17 conclusions

1The Millennium Development Goals gave insufficient attention to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Concluded (the committee's words)
The Millennium Development Goals gave insufficient attention to environmental protection and sustainable development. The prioritisation of aid resources on vital areas of human development such as health and education, was at the expense of an integrated sustainable development agenda. The Open Working Group’s proposals provide a broader framework which better captures the complexity and inter- dependency of the relationship between people and planet. The mix of standalone goals and integrated indicators has the potential to be just as action-orientated as the MDGs, but have the advantage of being more comprehensive. It includes innovative tools such as Natural Capital Accounting which help Governments measure what really matters to support decision making and guide policy.
2The similar timing of the SDG and climate change negotiations presents an important opportunity to...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The similar timing of the SDG and climate change negotiations presents an important opportunity to embed climate change thinking throughout the SDGs—to avoid development that exacerbates climate change while also building decarbonisation and adaptation into development. However, at the same time as stating a commitment to ambitious action on climate change, the Government is pursuing contradictory policies by effectively giving subsidies for fossil fuels.
3International trade has played an important role in reducing extreme poverty.
Concluded (the committee's words)
International trade has played an important role in reducing extreme poverty. But such gains often come at the expense of the environment. It is equally important that the poorest and most vulnerable groups are not further impoverished by changing trade rules and agreements.
4As we stated in our recent report on Action on Air Quality, air pollution is...
Concluded (the committee's words)
As we stated in our recent report on Action on Air Quality, air pollution is an “invisible killer” in the UK. However, poor air quality is also a major issue and cause of premature death in cities in many developing countries.
5The UK should support the vital goal of sustainable and resource efficient consumption and production...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The UK should support the vital goal of sustainable and resource efficient consumption and production in the Sustainable Development Goals. Rising population growth means ‘business as usual’ economic models of disposable products are not an option in the 21st Century. Resource efficiency is something that makes both environmental and economic sense. It is therefore disappointing that the UK is taking only small steps when a larger shift towards a more resource efficient economy is needed. Whilst the Government supports ambitious goals for other countries for poverty reduction, it is reluctant to commit the UK to such ambitious goals in the EU. There is also a role for businesses, which can be supported by more detailed corporate sustainability reporting.
6Inequality prevents sustainable development, not only because it can undermine social cohesion and a sense...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Inequality prevents sustainable development, not only because it can undermine social cohesion and a sense of shared well-being, but because some sections of societies may be excluded from the benefits of development and prosperity.
7The current wide consensus on the components of sustainable development, as set out in the...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The current wide consensus on the components of sustainable development, as set out in the 17 Goals listed in the Open Working Group’s report, is historic and powerful. The UN Secretary General has indicated that the 17 Goals should be taken forward in the final SDGs, but has put forward a set of six ‘essential elements’ to facilitate engagement and communication of the sustainability message. To reduce the number of goals, as the UK has proposed, would inevitably be to omit key aspects of the sustainable development framework after 2015, potentially including those relating to environmental sustainability. That would be a mistake. Environmental limits are a key challenge that we face in the 21st Century, and a reductionist approach risks removing the growing international focus on these key areas. Communicating the goals is important, but ultimately what counts is global action across a range of areas that is truly sustainable.
8The Government has committed significant time and energy to the process of developing new Sustainable...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The Government has committed significant time and energy to the process of developing new Sustainable Development Goals, including officials and Ministers from different Government departments. The focus has primarily been international, however, with much less thought having been given to the domestic implications of the Goals. The Government seems readier to consider goals for other countries than for itself.
9The UK has committed significant amounts of funding to the International Climate Fund and now...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The UK has committed significant amounts of funding to the International Climate Fund and now also the Green Climate Fund. Whilst we are pleased that the Government is prioritising these, it is vital that the funds are spent effectively and have as large an impact as possible. Currently, there is poor public transparency of how these are being used. We welcome the Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s report on the ICF, but note this was originally due in 2013.
10The UK is not sufficiently prioritising funding for the establishment of marine protected areas in...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The UK is not sufficiently prioritising funding for the establishment of marine protected areas in the UK Overseas Territories. It is vital that these unique ecosystems are protected before it is too late. There is a lack of timely and transparent information to explain how biodiversity-related funds are spent overseas.
11Agreeing the right indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals is a vital step in ensuring...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Agreeing the right indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals is a vital step in ensuring that they have traction. The universal nature of the goals means that there will need to be a combination of international and national goals, and the UK has an important role in agreeing these. It is important that the UK is accountable for its progress in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. It has not yet done sufficient work to consider the implications for UK policy. We will continue to monitor and review the Government’s progress in agreeing the goals, and there is a clear role for our successor Committee to audit implementation and performance against the goals in future.
12Education for sustainable development is crucial to help people understand the impact their actions have...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Education for sustainable development is crucial to help people understand the impact their actions have on the planet. The Government has shown few signs of promoting this, as illustrated by the lack of ministerial priority given to global conference on education for sustainable development. This is despite a strong Connected world: Agreeing ambitious Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 55 appetite from business and voluntary organisations for engaging with such universal themes at both a global and local level. The Government has invested in young people through the International Citizens Service, although that programme has been more successful in engaging young people from London and the South-East than other parts of the UK. It is important that the Government empowers citizens to embrace this in order to achieve sustainable economic growth which values people and the planet.
13The Government, despite its innovative work on developing Natural Capital Accounts, is not currently showing...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The Government, despite its innovative work on developing Natural Capital Accounts, is not currently showing sufficient leadership around biodiversity and environmental protection. It should actively champion this area in the Sustainable Development Goals in international negotiations, so that the ‘green thread’ that runs throughout the Goals leads to real improvements in environmental protection and improved outcomes by 2030.
14The Government should publically support a separate climate change goal in the SDGs given the...
Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should publically support a separate climate change goal in the SDGs given the importance of reaching an ambitious global climate change agreement in Paris next year. It should also re-consider and rapidly phase out its continued subsidies to carbon intensive energy sources in line with the commitments made at Rio +20 and the Secretary General’s call to phase out “harmful subsidies”. The Government needs to do more domestically to support the transition to a low carbon economy, including urgently working with the FCA to make it easier for community groups to register as energy co-operatives. The Government should clearly set out the steps it is taking to achieve this.
15The Government’s renewed focus on income poverty should not view economic development in isolation, but...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The Government’s renewed focus on income poverty should not view economic development in isolation, but equally consider the environmental and social impacts of this economic activity and promote low carbon growth. It should demand the highest standards of environmental protection in trade deals, and ensure unequivocally that there is no potential for these to be undermined through dispute settlement mechanisms.
16The UK should lead international efforts to improve air quality in cities in developing countries,...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The UK should lead international efforts to improve air quality in cities in developing countries, where an increasing number of people live. This could include international knowledge sharing around effective low emissions zones, low- emissions transport, and vehicle and fuel standards to save lives.
17The Government should accelerate its work on resource efficiency and the circular economy, including through...
Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should accelerate its work on resource efficiency and the circular economy, including through negotiating ambitious targets within the European Union. The Government should expand the requirement for corporate sustainability reporting beyond carbon emissions. Defra should ensure that this agenda is embraced across Government, and DFID should review its aid programmes to find opportunities to fund circular economy approaches. As it considers how best to support its future aid programmes to promote economic growth, it needs to learn lessons from the environmental degradation that has frequently accompanied rapid economic growth. It should ensure that all projects funded with UK aid, from international to community level, including the components implemented by delivery partners, are screened for climate and environment risks. It should also ensure that economic development related programmes fully safeguard biodiversity and tread a new path which de-couples economic growth from natural resource use.
18The UK is right to have a focus on completing the task of the MDGs...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The UK is right to have a focus on completing the task of the MDGs in eliminating ‘extreme poverty’, but this can best be achieved as part of a wider focus that includes tackling inequality to help deal with both poverty and social cohesion. The UK should support the inclusion in the SDGs of a range of inequality indicators to measure and monitor inequality, and should design programmes to tackle both extreme poverty and inequality simultaneously.
19It is important that the UK respects the wider international consensus established around the 17...
Recommended (the committee's words)
It is important that the UK respects the wider international consensus established around the 17 Open Working Group goals, in order for the process to have national ownership and legitimacy. The Government is right to seek an SDG framework that can be compellingly communicated, but any continued argument for a smaller number of Goals, in the face of the Secretary General’s recent guidance, risks creating unnecessary divisions between countries when it should be seeking to build support for ambitious action. At the forthcoming European Council, and beyond, the Government should push for an EU position which favours a comprehensive coverage in the SDGs of all pillars of sustainable development as set out in the Open Working Group’s 17 Goals.
20Defra should now start to play a stronger role, in collaboration with the Cabinet Office,...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Defra should now start to play a stronger role, in collaboration with the Cabinet Office, in working with all departments, including the Treasury, to consider the domestic implications of the goals and pursue policies consistent with sustainable development.
21The Government should report clear annual results summaries for the International Climate Fund, which detail...
Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should report clear annual results summaries for the International Climate Fund, which detail the impacts that the programmes have had. It should particularly ensure that expenditure on forestry programmes has clear impact indicators.
22The Government should publish an annual report outlining its spending on biodiversity- related projects overseas,...
Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should publish an annual report outlining its spending on biodiversity- related projects overseas, and the impact these have had. It should prioritise funding to support the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in the UK overseas territories, such as Pitcairn, and explore with the World Bank and others the most appropriate ways of sustainably financing and managing these.
23The ONS and Defra (as the lead department for domestic sustainable development) need ensure that...
Recommended (the committee's words)
The ONS and Defra (as the lead department for domestic sustainable development) need ensure that the appropriate data and systems are in place to monitor and report on the UK’s delivery of SDG targets. It should review the UK’s Sustainable Development Indicators and ensure that these reflect the key nationally-relevant SDG indicators, including on sustainable consumption and production.
24Given the global significance of the Sustainable Development Goals and their powerful vision for the...
Recommended (the committee's words)
Given the global significance of the Sustainable Development Goals and their powerful vision for the next 15 years, the Government should do more to engage young people in the UK with the new goals, and with the concepts of sustainable development. This should include taking Education for Sustainable Development seriously, and integrating it into the National Curriculum, and supporting the NUS’ proposals for a new accreditation scheme and questions in the National Students 58 Connected world: Agreeing ambitious Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 Survey. It should look to maximise the value of the International Citizens Service, by integrating the proposed Sustainable Development Goals into the material that young people use to prepare for their period of ICS service, and supporting them in sharing these messages about sustainable development more widely in their communities. The Government should also review the channels it uses to promote the ICS to ensure it has as wide a geographic reach across the UK and across all parts of society as possible. It should embrace creative and powerful ways of communicating the urgency of sustainable development, such as the approach taken by the Hard Rain project, and its proposal to promote the SDGs simultaneously in universities around the world. It needs to engage all stakeholders, including businesses, schools and higher and further education colleges, and NGOs to raise awareness in the run up to the UN General Assembly and Paris Climate Change conference at the end of 2015, and beyond.

Evidence

Oral evidence sessions 3