L2 - UN & SDGS Flashcards
Set up of the UN
October 1945 - ratification of UN charter by 5 main allies (France, US, UK, China, USSR)
January 1946 - GA + SC meet, adopt 1st resolution
193 members, 2 observers (Holy See, Palestine)
6 PRINCIPLE ORGANS
- General Assembly = features reps from each UN member ‘primary deliberative body’, forumn for diplomacy - 2/3 majority required, lead by 1 year term president
- Security Council = maintains global peace + security, membership limited to 15. 10 rotating, 5 permanent (US, UK, France, Russia, China) - 10 rotating elected for 2 year terms (legally bound)
- Economic and Social Council = 54 members, elected by GA for 3 years - 18 seats per year, 30 subsidiary bodies
- International Court of Justice = main judicial body, relies on international law, offers ‘advisory’ opinions, 15 judges (relies on state consent)
5.UN Secretariat = day-to-day operation, lead by secretary general elected by the GA, nominated by SC - 5 year term
- Trusteeship = inactive, but supervised 11 ‘trust’ territories (Togo, Namibia)
SWOT analysis of the UN
S: global reach, norm setting, peacekeeping, humanitarian aid
W: bureaucracy, funding, political influence, resource constraints
O: advancing global goals, technology, public awareness, partnerships
T: geopolitical conflicts, budget constraints, nationalism, security risks
Short history of the UN
1945: goals of a ‘world governance’, universal membership, policy scope, Liberal Internationalism as the leading ideology of the times
1947: CW, decolonisation - paralysis and parallel multilateralism (IMF/WB, G7, NATO, OECD) deepening international complexity
2000: China rising + BRICS challenge
HOW is UN centrality eroding
REGIME COMPLEXITY - emergence of NATO (Kosovo without SC approval)
DEADLOCKS IN SC - Veto power of 5 (i.e RU veto over Syria, USA veto over Palestine)
CONFLICT PREVENTION - lack of robust enforcement mechanisms, inability to act (i.e UA-RU, Afghanistan, Palestine)
WHY UN centrality is eroding
GEOPOLITICAL RIVALRY
LACK OF REFORM (SC)
RISE OF MULTIPOLARITY
EROSION OF MULTILATERALISM
LOSS OF CREDIBILITY (Scandals, etc, sexual abuse of peacekeepers in DRC, Haiti)
FUNDING ISSUES
Short history of the SGDS & 2030 Agenda
1987: Brundtland Report - concept of ‘sustainable development’
1992: United Nations Council on Environment & Development (UNCED), RIO - Rio declaration & 27 principles
2000: UN launches Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with 8 global targets to address poverty, health, and education (deadline: 2015).
2012: At the Rio+20 Summit, world leaders agree to create new, broader goals.
2015: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are adopted by all 193 UN member states as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN General Assembly.
Includes 17 goals and 169 targets addressing poverty, inequality, climate change, education, and more.
Motto: “Leave no one behind.”
2030: Deadline for achieving the SDGs.
Sustainable Development definition
‘Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’
2 KEY CONCEPTS
- needs of the world’s poor
- limitations of technology/social organisation
UN 1992 Rio Conference and Outcomes
Rio Declaration:
27 principles on sustainable development (e.g., sovereign environmental right, right to development, common but differentiated responsibilities.
Agenda 21:action plan for sustainable development at global, national, and local levels.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):
Foundation for global climate action; led to the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement.
how have the specific institutional origins of the SDG influenced their
content?
MDGs Legacy (2000–2015)
Expanded focus from poverty, health, and education to environment, inequality, and governance.
Lessons learned: Inclusivity, measurability, and holistic approach to global challenges.
Rio+20 Conference (2012)
Emphasised sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.
Influenced SDGs to balance all three pillars of sustainability.
Participatory Process (2013–2014)
193 UN member states, NGOs, and civil society involved in drafting SDGs.
Ensured goals were universal, inclusive, and addressed global/local priorities.Alignment with UN Frameworks
Incorporated UNFCCC, CBD, and Human Rights frameworks (e.g., SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 5: Gender Equality).
Promoted global partnerships (SDG 17).
Holistic, Cross-Sectoral Approach
Integrated economic, social, and environmental goals.
Recognised interconnections between goals (e.g., SDG 1: Poverty, SDG 4: Education, SDG 13: Climate).
What were the political struggles in the run-up to the SDGs?
MDGs vs SDGs: Debate over whether to build on MDGs or create a broader framework to address inequalities and sustainability.
North-South Divide: Developed countries focused on climate and partnerships, while developing nations prioritised poverty and economic growth.
Climate Change: Developed nations hesitated on strong climate commitments, while vulnerable countries pushed for action.
Universal vs Targeted Goals: Disagreement on whether goals should apply to all countries or focus on developing nations.
New Issues: Struggles to include gender equality, peace, and sustainable consumption.
Financing & Political Will: Concerns over funding, implementation, and political commitment from countries with different priorities.
What is the notion common but differentiated responsbility about?
Definition: A principle that acknowledges all countries have a shared responsibility to address global issues like climate change, but developed and developing nations have different capacities and historical contributions.
Common Responsibility: All countries must act to address global challenges.
Differentiated Responsibility: Developed nations should take greater action and provide financial support and technology transfer to help developing countries.
Origin: The principle was established in the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and is a cornerstone of international environmental agreements, especially on climate change.
MDGs?
2000 at the UN Millennium Summit. The objective was to tackle global poverty and improve human development by 2015.
Key Features: 8 goals focused on poverty, education, health, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and global partnerships. 169 targets to track progress. 192 countries committed to achieving these goals.
The 8 MDGs:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Achieve universal primary education.
Promote gender equality and empower women.
Reduce child mortality.
Improve maternal health.
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
Ensure environmental sustainability.
Develop a global partnership for development.
Outcome: Mixed success with significant progress on education and health, but uneven results, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Limitations included a focus more on developing countries with little attention to environmental sustainability or global inequalities.
SDGs - main themes and thematic tenets
17 goals, 169 targets (MDGS were more expect/UN driven)
Universality, Inclusivity, Sustainability, Emphasis on environmental protection, sustainable resource use, and tackling climate change,
Holistic Approach: Integration of economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
Global Partnership: Collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector for shared action.
Accountability & Monitoring: Measurable targets with regular progress reviews to ensure accountability.
2 Tracks? (SD)
UN post-15 development agenda (SDGS) & SD (broader conceptual framework)
Social protection floors?
Nationally defined sets of basic social security guarantees (income security/access to essential services)
linked to 1. no poverty, 3. good health, 5. gender equality
