Brussels, 17 December 2014 - UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner today addressed the EU Environment Council on the post-2015 process and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Mr. Steiner congratulated the EU Ministers on the adoption of Council Conclusions on Post 2015 on 16 December. He acknowledged the constructive role played by the EU in supporting and shaping of the Post 2015 agenda through its proactive engagement, starting in the wake of Rio+20, and continuing in the context of the Open Working Group, resulting in considerable progress towards an ambitious, integrated and universal sustainable development agenda - and the importance to continue to play a strong leadership role.
Following the UN Secretary-General's presentation of his Synthesis Report and the statement last week to the Development Council by Amina Mohammed, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, Mr. Steiner provided further perspectives on the inter-linkages between environmental issues and the global economic ambitions and imperatives.
Mr. Steiner especially emphasized two aspects of the Post 2015 agenda, which are particularly relevant both from an environmental and from an EU perspective: the need to maintain an integrated approach, and the principle of universality.
Strong EU environmental leadership is needed both at global level and in delivering the sustainable development agenda on the ground globally and in Europe. Environment policy should no longer be perceived as a constraint as it opens up new economic opportunities and markets.
He also invited the EU to contribute to refining and specifying targets and indicators supporting the proposed SDGs.
Mr. Steiner also reflected on the role of UNEP and the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), which could contribute to a successful implementation of the post 2015 agenda. UNEA is the main political vehicle in the UN system to promote the environmental dimension of the Post 2015 agenda. He called for continued strong support and leadership from the EU in shaping UNEA's role so that it can fulfill its full potential as the Environment Ministers global policy platform.
While in Brussels, Mr. Steiner had bilateral meetings with several new European Commissioners: Mr Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mr Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, and Mr Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development. He also met with a number of EU Ministers of Environment, and representatives from key Brussels based environment and development related NGOs.
