GFDD Appointed Chair of UNA USA Sub-committee Promoting Sustainable Environmental Ecosystems

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), represented by its UN Programs & Outreach Manager, Marc Jourdan, was today appointed Chair of a new sub-committee by the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA USA) Council of Organizations entitled “Support and Promote a Sustainable Environmental Ecosystem.”

The sub-committee will be constituted of UNA USA members, that are NGOs engaged in promoting
advancement in relevant elements of the topic area. It will serve to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030), which was adopted in September 2015 and provides the guiding framework for international development over the next 30 years.

The sub-committee will look to advance SDGs 9, 11, 12 and 13 which respectively seek to:

• “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation (SDG9);”
• “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable(SDG11);”
• “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns(SDG12);”
• “Take urgent
  action to combat climate change and its impacts(SDG13).”

The committee member will be directed to carry out the following Action Agenda:

• Mobilize grass roots support for US commitment to and its compliance with its international commitments to Agenda 2030 and the SDGs concerned;
• “Educate” the UNA-USA chapters and the NGO communities by providing
  timely information and encourage them to “build partnerships” with other stakeholders in the private and public sectors – corporations, foundations, educational institutions;
• “Build a Community” of informed citizens to create a grassroots constituency in support of action on issues that concerns all of us;
• “Engage” the communities to participate in UN-related activities and become change
  agents to help to protect our planet.

In developing the above Action Agenda for the COO, the intention of UNA USA to support and supplement the work of its members and their chapters, by creating a national and international constituency and audience for their efforts which may not be possible or as effective by individual NGOs or chapters.

About the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA)
UNA-USA is a membership organization dedicated to educate the American people about the United Nations. For 70 years UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission of informing, inspiring and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the UN, strengthening the UN system, promoting constructive US leadership in that system and achieving the goals of the UN Charter. Forming a strategic alliance with the UN Foundation in 2010, UNA-USA continues to pool talents to increase
public education and advocacy on the work of the UN.

About the UNA USA Council of Organizations (COO)
The COO is a coalition of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and local groups of organizations with interests in education, social justice, labor, sustainable development, energy and climate, millennium development goals, human rights, health and women””s issues that all share the common goals of making the American public more
knowledgeable about global issues and strengthening the U.S. – UN relationship.

Related links:
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E