1. Please list a limited number, preferably between five and ten, of the important priority areas that must be addressed through the SDGs to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development
1) Poverty alleviation;
2) Societal and Cultural cohesiveness and understanding - where a decline in a sense of community will lead to to social unrest and a weakening in environmental responsibility;
3) Environmental degradation, specifically in rural environments as the most affected group are the rural poor;
4) Population growth;
5) Climate change and energy;
6) Access to information; and
7) Development-oriented research which is essential for adapting to changing conditions.
2. How might the SDGs strive to balance the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development?
a. Reflect social, economic and environmental dimensions within each SDG, possibly through the associated targets
They should reflect social, economic and environmental dimensions within each SDG, possibly through the associated targets. But these should not be addressed in isolation.
b. Integrate the MDGs, suitably modified/updated for post-2015, into a larger sustainable development framework
They should integrate the MDGs, suitably modified/updated for post-2015, into a larger sustainable development framework. But these should not be addressed in isolation.
c. Expand MDG7 (‘environmental sustainability’) into a number of goals with a natural/environmental resource dimension (water, food, energy, etc.)
They should expand MDG7 (‘environmental sustainability’) into a number of goals with a natural/environmental resource dimension (water, food, energy, etc.). But these should not be addressed in isolation.
d. Other (please describe)
3. Based on your experience with MDGs or other existing goals, what would be the key use of SDGs for your country (select at most two)?
Key use #1
a. Defining national policies
Key use #2
f. Guiding development cooperation
If g. Other (please describe)
4. How can “universally applicable” SDGs be made practically relevant for countries at different levels of development? (Please refer to your country’s situation as appropriate.)
Brunei Darussalam has realised most of the MDGs particularly major targets such as health, education and the environment. Relative to what other countries, specifically the poor and developing countries, in the region have achieved, Brunei Darussalam has made great stride in this area even before commitment towards MDG was made at the beginning of the millennium.
Nevertheless, as the findings from the second MDG report stated, Brunei Darussalam is still in a phase where it has to consolidate its achievements and maintain them in order to cope with the universal challenges posed by multiple crises such as climate change and volatility in food and energy prices. For a sustainable economic development, the challenge specific to Brunei Darussalam is on how to ensure that existing policies will be implemented so as to realize the Brunei Vision 2035, which aims towards educated, highly-skilled and accomplished people; increase in the quality of life; and a dynamic and sustainable economy. Brunei Darussalam also faces similar universal challenges in its development agenda whereby it needs to ensure continuous development in areas such as human capital through education and training; protecting and empowering the vulnerable such as the poor and women; food security; continued vigilance in containing physical and disease threats; as well as safeguarding the environment as its future policies and national development strategy.
The SDGs are relevant to the objectives considered similar to Brunei Darussalam's which emphasised the preservation of environment and human development through education by having the options for partnerships between countries (developing and developed), government and private sectors and the public at large.
5. The SDGs are supposed to be “global in nature”. Should targets associated with those goals be:
a. common to all countries
If c., please explain how:
6. Which existing goals and targets (e.g., MDGs, goals/targets in Agenda 21, JPOI) do you think should be incorporated - perhaps in updated form - in a proposal for sustainable development goals?
The existing goals and targets for "MDG1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger", "MDG2: Achieve Universal Primary Education" and "MDG7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability" should be incorporated in a proposal for SDGs, in updated form.
7. What specific steps can be taken to ensure that the SDGs are coherent with and integrated into the UN development agenda beyond 2015?
8. How should assessments of progress toward the achievement of the SDGs be carried out at the global level?
9. What measures should be taken to make the process of developing a proposal for SDGs inclusive and participatory? How should civil society and other relevant stakeholders be engaged?
To make the process of developing a proposal for SDGs inclusive and participatory as well as engaging civil society and other relevant stakeholders are by having open communication, governance and access to the right information between government agencies, private sectors, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
10. What principles should underpin the development of the SDGs? (the UN TT report, for example, recommended adding (i) reducing inequalities and (ii) promoting human rights (iii) ensuring sustainability);
11. How should a new Global Partnership for Development be constructed within or around the SDGs?
12. Do you have any other observations, ideas or inputs you would like to offer to inform the initial work of the open working group on sustainable development goals?
Submitted by: Permanent Mission of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations