General Assembly Distr.: General 3 November 2015

United Nations A/C.2/70/9

Original: English

Seventieth session Second Committee Agenda item 18 (b) Macroeconomic policy questions: international financial system and development

Letter dated 30 October 2015 from the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit to you on behalf of the informal Global Governance Group (3G) comprising the following States Members of the United Nations, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Finland, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Viet Nam, two documents, entitled “Input of the Global Governance Group (3G) to the Group of 20 (G-20) on sustainable development and governance” and “Input of the Global Governance Group (3G) to the Group of 20 (G -20) Action Plan on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems” (see annexes). On behalf of the 3G, I would be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annexes circulated as an official document of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, under agenda item 18 (b).

(Signed) Karen Tan Ambassador Permanent Representative

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Annex I to the letter dated 30 October 2015 from the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Input of the Global Governance Group (3G) to the Group of 20 (G-20) on sustainable development and governance

1. World leaders adopted the landmark 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) on 25 September 2015. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. The 2030 Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, combating inequality within and among countries, preserving the planet, creating sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and fostering social inclusion are linked to each other and are interdependent. Success will depend on a revitalized Global Partnership that facilitates an intensive global engagement in support of the implementation of all the goals and targets, bringing together Governments, civil society, the private sector, the United Nations system and other actors and mobilizing all available resources. 2. The Global Governance Group (3G)a notes that the focus of the current Group of 20 (G-20) presidency, Turkey, is to ensure inclusive and robust growth through collective action — formulated as the “three Is”: (i) inclusiveness; (ii) implementation; and (iii) investment for growth — and wishes to provide comments on how the G-20 can support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 3. On inclusiveness, the 3G stresses the importance of an effective, open and transparent multilateral system that ensures that the voices of all countries are heard. The United Nations, the only global body with universal membership and unquestioned legitimacy, plays a central role in overseeing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Groupings like the G-20 can make important contributions, which should continue to respect the mandates of the United Nations and its agencies. The 2030 Agenda recognizes that sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth is important for sustainable development. In this regard, the 3G urges the G-20 to align its development agenda with the 2030 Agenda, which is the result of intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations. The 3G reiterates the importance of complementary work between the G-20 and the United Nations in implementing the 2030 Agenda. In this connection, the 3G welcomes the 2015 Antalya development road map, which details the commitment of the G-20 to contribute to the 2030 Agenda. 4. On implementation, the 2030 Agenda requires all of us to do development better. Progress on one Goal will impact other Goals. We must therefore pursue all the Sustainable Development Goals in an integrated manner, develop holistic approaches and build synergies. In this regard, the 3G urges the G-20 to strengthen

a The 3G comprises the following States Members of the United Nations: Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Finland, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Viet Nam. 2/6 15-19188

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policy coherence on sustainable development across each of the G-20 workstreams to better support the 2030 Agenda and notes that the Turkish presidency has made policy coherence a cross-cutting issue this year. The 3G also emphasizes the importance of considering the interlinkages between and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals in any streamlining of the development commitments of the G-20. 5. At the international level, the United Nations and the world’s international and regional institutions must work better to coordinate their respective wor k programmes and agendas to ensure that they complement each other to achieve better outcomes for sustainable development. In this regard, the 3G notes that there are several international initiatives that can contribute to the 2030 Agenda: (a) On trade, the 3G recognizes the importance of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system in promoting sustainable and balanced global growth and affirms the centrality of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in global trade. The 3G calls on the G-20 to push for the implementation of the full Bali Package from the WTO Ninth Ministerial Conference in December 2013, as well as the achievement of substantive outcomes at the Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December this year; (b) On climate change, the 3G recognizes that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and that its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development. The 3G therefore urges the G -20 to send a strong message of commitment to an ambitious and universal climate agreement at the upcoming twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris. The submission of intended nationally determined contributions is a significant reflection of this commitment. In this regard, the 3G encourages parties that have not submitted their intended nationally determined contributions to do so before the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties; (c) On international tax cooperation, the 3G notes that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently submitted its final recommendations to the G-20 for an international approach to combat tax avoidance. The 3G calls for an inclusive mechanism to be implemented as widely as possible for the implementation of base erosion and profit-shifting recommendations to ensure widespread and consistent adoption. The 3G stresses that this should involve G-20 and non-G-20 countries and jurisdictions, including developing and small economies, on an equal footing. This will ensure a fair and level playing field with no regulatory arbitrage. 6. At the national level, all countries are committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda. We recognize that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development. At the same time, national development efforts need to be supported by an enabling international economic environment, including coherent and mutually supporting world trade, monetary and financial systems, and strengthened and enhanced global economic governance. The 3G also recognizes that enhanced North-South, South-South cooperation and triangular regional and international cooperation are needed to support national plans, especially in the poorest and most vulnerable countries with limited domestic resources, to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the 3G recognizes that the G-20 can play a critical role in fulfilling the commitments related to official

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development assistance (ODA), including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/gross national income (GNI) and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries. The 3G is encouraged by those few countries that have met or surpassed their commitments and urges all others to step up efforts to increase their ODA and to make additional concrete efforts towards the ODA targets. 7. On investment and growth, the 3G welcomes the Turkish presidency’s emphasis on the G-20’s agenda of enhancing resilience, buttressing sustainability, strengthening recovery and lifting potential in the global economy. The 3G urges the full and timely implementation of the agreed growth strategies towards the goal of lifting the gross domestic product (GDP) of G-20 economies by more than 2 per cent by 2018,b in particular, to boost investments to close the estimated $70 trillion infrastructure gap, which would contribute to increasing employment and jobs. The 3G emphasizes that sustainable urbanization can play a transformative role in the 2030 Agenda. In this regard, the 3G hopes that recently launched G-20 initiatives, such as the Global Infrastructure Hub, will help to catalyse the necessary infrastructure investments that foster sustainable development. 8. The 3G looks forward to continue working with the next G-20 presidency, China, on the topics of sustainable development and governance.

b The goal agreed during the 2014 Brisbane Summit was to lift the gross domestic product (GDP) of the G-20 by more than 2 per cent above the trajectory in the October 2013 International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook baseline by 2018.

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Annex II to the letter dated 30 October 2015 from the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Input of the Global Governance Group (3G) to the Group of 20 (G-20) Action Plan on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems

1. Given the challenges to global food security, the Global Governance Group (3G)a supports the efforts of the Group of 20 (G-20) on food security and nutrition and the Turkish presidency’s priorities in implementing the Food Security and Nutrition Framework. In particular, the 3G welcomes the G-20 Action Plan on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems to address the challenge of improving global food security, nutrition and the sustainability of food systems.

Global food security challenges

2. The 3G is deeply concerned at the food security challenges faced by small and developing States. Some of these challenges include population growth and demographic change, economic turbulence, climate change, resource scarcity (land and water) and lack of food supply and safety capabilities. Food security is a complex issue, and these challenges are interlinked. There is a need for coordination and cooperation among nations and economies, international organizations and industries to overcome these challenges.

Increasing responsible investment and sustainable productivity

3. The 3G agrees that sustainable food systems and reducing food loss and waste are important focus areas to achieve our goal of ensuring food security and nutrition across the world. The systems perspective and multi-pronged approach to food security taken by the G-20 are commendable. For example, the comprehensive food systems approach of the G-20 takes into consideration responsible investment and sustainable development throughout the entire food value chain. It is fundamental to the objectives of raising productivity and production and generating jobs and incomes so as to achieve global food security.

Greater market transparency for food security

4. The 3G recognizes the need to build an open and sustainable partnership for food security. The 3G welcomes the efforts undertaken by the G-20 to improve market transparency and information-sharing and to support human resource development. The efforts of the G-20 in deepening and strengthening collaboration in the Agricultural Market Information System will improve market transparency and policy coordination. 5. The 3G reiterates the importance of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is a cornerstone to achieving food security.

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Reducing food loss and waste

6. The 3G believes that increasing agricultural output alone is insufficient to address global food security challenges. Improving food safety and nutritional quality, strengthening food supply chains and reducing food loss and waste at all stages are also key considerations. The 3G recognizes the role of knowledge, technology and innovation in advancing these considerations. The G-20 Action Plan’s emphasis on skills development for smallholders, youth and women is commendable, as it supports science and technology cooperation in food production. 7. In summary, the 3G supports the G-20 Action Plan on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems and the ongoing work on the Implementation Plan of the G-20 Food Security and Nutrition Framework. This good work can improve food security policy coherence and effectiveness to address global food and nutrition security issues. The 3G also looks forward to working with the next G-20 presidency, China, on these issues.

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