Pact for the Future Rev-2 (Part 2): Analysis of Chapter 1 on Sustainable Development and Financing for Development

By Javier Surasky-

[Attention: this is a longer than usual post]

This is our second post analyzing the Second Revision of the Pact for the Future (PfF, Rev-2) published on 17 July 2024. In Part 1, we referred to the PfF coherence and highlighted the "new" preamble wording. Now, we will focus on Chapter 1 on sustainable development and financing for development, which includes 12 actions and 48 "decisions."

The Introduction to Chapter 1

The introduction to this chapter spans over two paragraphs (§15 and §16) based on §1 and §2 of the first revision of the PfF, published on 14 May 2024.

The new wording was adapted to open space to two new actions (#2 and 3) on eradicating hunger included for the first time in Rev-2, reinforce the 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind, strengthening the links with human rights, and update the references to the (lack of) progress towards achieving the SDGs at the global level (§15), introduce an express mention of the future generations, and commit with gender equality and women and girls empowerment more visible than in the Rev-1 wording.

A new reference to desertification and dust storms was also included side by side with climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as "immense risks to our natural environment and our prospects for development" (§15). Probably, this will imply a conflict with the UN and some of its allies (like Israel) that usually call to voting the annual UNGA resolution on "Combating sand and dust storms" and vote against its adoption.

The references made in Rev-1 to inequality widening and the 2030 Agenda as a road map to overcome multiple crises, which are considered interlinked in Rev-2, are still present in Rev-2.

Actions and "Decisions" in Chapter 1

The 12 actions under Chapter 1 and the 48 "decisions" linked to them are organized as follows:

Action 1. Take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to implement the 2030 Agenda, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind (action 1 the Rev-1): 4 "decisions."
Action 2. Place the eradication of poverty at the center of our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda (new action): 2 "decisions."
Action 3. End hunger and eliminate food insecurity (new action): 3 "decisions."
Action 4. Close the SDG financing gap in developing countries (action 2 in the Rev-1): 12 "decisions."
Action 5. Ensure that the multilateral trading system continues to be an engine for sustainable development (action 3 in the Rev-1): 3 "decisions."
Action 6. Invest in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion (action 4 in the Rev-1): 5 "decisions."
Action 7. Strengthen our efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice for all and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms (action 5 in the Rev-1): 2 "decisions."
Action 8. Accelerate the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as essential prerequisites to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (action 6 in the Rev-1): 4 "decisions."
Action 9. Enhance our ambition to address climate change (action 8 in the Rev-1): 3 "decisions."
Action 10. Accelerate our efforts to protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment (action 9 in the Rev-1): 5 "decisions."
Action 11. Protect and promote culture and sport as an integral component of sustainable development (action 7 in the Rev-1): 3 "decisions."
Action 12. Plan for the future and strengthen our collective efforts to turbocharge the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 and beyond (action 10 in the Rev-1): 2 "decisions."

The 12 decisions now included under the action on closing the SDG financing gap in developing countries represent 25% of the total "decisions" taken by the UN member States in this chapter, clearly showing the importance of action 4 in this chapter and the PfF as a whole: it is the action with more "decisions" attached to it in the entire document.

Hereafter, we will analyze the main changes introduced by Rev-2 on an action-by-action basis, highlighting the new texts in blue and the deleted text in orange.

-Action 1. We will take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to implement the 2030 Agenda, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.

The action now includes a specific mention of the SDGs absent in Rev-1.

On the same page, the introductory paragraph highlights that all developing countries, including those in special situations and those with specific challenges, require assistance implementing the SDGs.

Besides, the new wording incorporates specific mentions of the global partnership for sustainable development and the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, "including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities" (§17).

Among the four "decisions" integrated to this action, one is new and refers to scaling up countries' efforts towards the full implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the Paris Agreement (§17.a), one is modified to include the "decision" of mobilizing and delivering significant and adequate resources and investments from all sources for sustainable development (§17.c), and the other two, on fully implementing the SDG 2023 Summit Political Declaration agreed at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2023 and removing all obstacles to sustainable development and refraining from economic coercion, continue without modifications.

-Action 2. We will place the eradication of poverty at the center of our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

After identifying poverty "in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty" as "an imperative for all humankind," States decide to take comprehensive and targeted measures to eradicate poverty by addressing the multidimensional nature of poverty, including through rural development strategies, and adopt concrete actions to prevent people falling back into poverty, including by establishing social protection systems.

-Action 3. We will end hunger and eliminate food insecurity.

Expressing concern about one-third of the world's population that remains food insecure, to tackle the drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition, States adopted three decisions:

To support both countries and communities affected by food insecurity by providing them with emergency food supplies, implementing programs, providing financing, and supporting agricultural production, and ensuring that food and agriculture supply chains function and markets and trade channels remain open. (§19.a).

To Assist countries in debt distress, manage volatility in international food markets and work in partnership with international financial institutions to support developing countries affected by food insecurity. (§19.b).

To promote equitable, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems so that everyone has access to safe, affordable and nutritious food. (§19.c).

-Action 4. Close the SDG financing gap in developing countries.

In Rev-1, this action included the mention of "providing sustainable, affordable, accessible and predictable development finance and effective means of implementation," which was erased. That is correct because the deleted phrases are "decisions" in the PfF logic, and then to include them in the action wording was redundant.

This action starts with States expressing deep concern "by the growing SDG financing gap facing developing countries" that must be closed "to prevent a lasting sustainable development divide, widening inequality between and among countries and a further erosion of trust in international relations [previously, "international cooperation"] and the multilateral system."

Then, after "noting ongoing [previously, "welcoming"] efforts to address the SDG financing gap, including through the Secretary-General's proposal for an SDG Stimulus," States include a long list of decisions attached to one action in the PfF

Provide and mobilize sustainable, affordable, accessible, transparent and predictable development finance and the required means of implementation to developing countries (§20.a).
Continue to advance with urgency the Secretary-General's proposal for an SDG Stimulus at the United Nations and in other relevant forums and institutions (§20.b).
Scale up and fulfill official development assistance commitments to reach 0.7 percent of gross national income for official development assistance (ODA/GNI), and 0.15 to 0.20 percent to Least Developed Countries while "continue discussions on the modernization of measurements of official development assistance" (§20.c). In Rev-1, this paragraph included a reference to provide particular attention to countries in special situations or facing specific challenges that were deleted in Rev-2.
Ensure that development assistance is focused on and reaches developing countries, in particular the poorest communities, and those in vulnerable situations, and take further actions to strengthen its effectiveness (§20.d). In comparison to Rev-1, we found a more general reference to "developing countries" and an application of the leave no one behind principle that now is focused on communities and "those in vulnerable situations," when previously referred to as "the poorest and vulnerable people and countries."
Create a more enabling environment "at the global, regional and national level" [previously mentioned only the global level] to increase the mobilization of domestic resources and enhance the capacities, institutions, and systems of developing countries at all levels "including through international support," to increase sustainable development-oriented investments (§20.e).
Implement effective economic, social and environmental policies and ensure good governance and transparent institutions to advance sustainable development (§20.f).
Strengthen ongoing efforts to prevent and combat illicit financial flows, corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, and avoidance, eliminate safe havens, and recover and return assets derived from illicit activities (§20.g). Three relevant additions have been made here to the previous paragraph version.
Strengthen inclusiveness and effectiveness in international tax cooperation, engage constructively in negotiations aimed at finalizing, strangely the word "adopting" is not used here, a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, while "ensuring coherence and complementarity with ongoing work in other forunms"(§20.h).
Exploringe options for international cooperation on the taxation of high net-worth individuals in the appropriate forums (§20.I). This is a huge change compared to Rev-1, which called for exploring options for a "global minimum-level of taxation of high net-worth individuals." Besides, Rev-1 expressly pointed to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to carry out that work, while Rev-2 uses a generic reference to "appropriate fora." The same lack of specificity appears in changes introduced to paragraph 20.j, expressing the decision to support developing countries "to catalyze increased private sector investment in sustainable development, including by creating a more enabling domestic and international regulatory and investment environment." Rev-1 referred here to support developing countries by "accelerating reforms of the multilateral development banks and development finance institutions," but that part of the paragraph faded away.
A new decision included in Rev-2 is to "scale up international support for investment in increasing productive capacities, sustainable industrialization, infrastructure and structural economic transformation in developing countries" (§20.k).
Securing "an ambitious outcome at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 that will close the SDG financing gap." Previously, the wording asked for "meaningfully close" the SDG financing gap and "respond to new and emerging challenges on the broader means of implementation." There are two relevant deletions in the new wording (§20.l).

-Action 5. We will ensure that the multilateral trading system continues to be an engine for sustainable development.

The main conceptual change here is that, in Rev-1, trade was presented as a tool that can support sustainable development. Differently, Rev-2 affirms that trade promotes sustainable development. Then, after reaffirming the WTO is at the core of a universal, rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, and transparent multilateral trading system, UN member States "underscore the importance of the multilateral trading system contributing to the achievement of the SDGs" and reiterate their strong and urgent call to refrain from promulgating and applying unilateral economic measures contrary to international law and the UN Charter "that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries."

Subsequently, they decided to promote export-led growth in developing countries through, inter alia, preferential trade access for developing countries and targeted special and differential treatment that responds to the development needs of individual countries, while previously the decision was promoting a "multilateral trading system that contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by offering more preferential trade access" (§21.a).

A new decision (§21.b) is to "work towards concluding the necessary reform of the WTO to improve all its functions and effectively address the challenges facing global trade." Then, countries decide to "facilitate the accession of developing countries to the WTO and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation," while in Rev-1, the decision was facilitating developing countries to drive export-led growth that will support national development objectives. Thus, "national development objectives" has been converted into "trade and investment liberalization and facilitation"(§21.c).

Finally, the decision to "urge WTO members to take decisive action on issues that are critical to achieving inclusive and sustainable development" in Rev-1 was deleted.

-Action 6. We will invest in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion.

In Rev-1, this action was oriented to investing in people "and their socio-economic development" but that reference disappeared in Rev-2. The introductory paragraph to the decisions under this action was severely cut off. Rev-1 specifically mentioned universal access to social protection, quality inclusive education, lifelong learning, universal health coverage, and clean water and sanitation. Besides, instead of referring to "all segments of society," in leaving no one behind, it listed particular groups: children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and Indigenous Peoples "and other vulnerable groups." All those references were erased for Rev-2. Now, paragraph 22 reads: "We express our deep concern at persistent inequalities within and between countries and at the slow pace of progress towards improving the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere, including people in vulnerable situations. We must meet the Sustainable Development Goals for all segments of society and leave no one behind, including through the localization of sustainable development."

Two new decisions linked to this action were included in Rev-2, three were modified, and two were erased.

The new decisions are to "eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities by promoting universal health coverage, increasing access to quality, inclusive education and lifelong learning, including in emergencies, and improving opportunities for decent work for all" (§22.a) and "ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and support developing countries to plan and implement just, safe, healthy, accessible, resilient and sustainable cities, and accelerate efforts to ensure access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all"(§22.c). Both recover elements that we highlighted as erased from the introduction of the paragraph.

The reformed paragraphs are 22.b, in which the decision to secure "ambitious outcomes on financing all aspects of social development, including universal social protection, at the Second World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025, and request the Secretary-General to provide analysis and recommendations on these issues for the consideration of Member States." was transformed in "securing ambitious outcomes on all aspects of social development at the World Social Summit entitled the Second World Summit for Social Development." A significant change: the word "financing" in the first part of the decision, the reference to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and request the Secretary-General are no more there.

In paragraph 22.d a call to "strengthen international cooperation to address the drivers of irregular migration" included in Rev-1 was erased. Instead, Rev-2 refers to strengthen partnerships. Nevertheless, Rev-2 wording is stronger than Rev-1's when it affirms "the positive contribution of migrants to the sustainable development of origin, destination and host countries," calling "to ensure [previously, "protect"] the safety, dignity and human rights of all migrants." The third decision with modifications is paragraph 22.e. is oriented to "address [In Rev-1, "prevent"], manage and promote the prevention of water scarcity and build resilience to drought to achieve a world in which water is a sustainable resource, and ensure the availability and sustainable management of clean and safe water, hygiene and sanitation for all." Without the change of "prevent" by "promote the prevention," the new wording seems to be stronger and much more integral than the previous one.

Finally, the two paragraphs erased are Rev-1 22.a on increasing investment in socio-economic development "from all sources, with a particular focus on reaching all women and girls, including empowering the most vulnerable," and 22.d on transforming food systems "for the benefit of people, planet and prosperity so that everyone has access to safe, affordable and nutritious food, addressing the drivers of food insecurity, and promoting resilient and sustainable agriculture." This paragraph is now reflected in the current wording of the Rev-2 decision 3 (§19).

-Action 7. We will strengthen our efforts to build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice for all and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In this action, States recognize the links between the SDGs, human rights, peace and security, and the rule of law to achieve a sustainable development that leaves no one behind.

The first decision is to "respect, protect and fulfill [previously, "uphold"] all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, promote effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and build transparent, inclusive, effective and accountable institutions"(§23.a).

The second decision has not changed: "Ensure that all human rights are at the center of our efforts to eradicate poverty, combat inequalities, leave no one behind and implement the 2030 Agenda"(§23.b).

-Action 8. We will accelerate the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as essential prerequisites to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This action is the first focused on women and girls. The only relevant modification in its introductory paragraph is the change from women and girls "comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights" in Rev-1 to "women, adolescent girls and girls universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights" (§24).

The four decisions attached to this action are:

"Take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all women and girls" (§24.a), which almost repeated the first half of the Rev-1 paragraph 8.a.
The second action departs for the second half of Rev-1 paragraph 8.a, extending its reach: "urgently remove all legal, social and economic barriers to achieve gender equality and ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life" (§24.b).
A third action also extends, making more specific, a decision previously included in Rev-1, which now reads as follows: "Take targeted and accelerated action to eradicate all forms of violence against all women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence" (§24.c).
"Significantly increase investments to close the gender gap, including in the care"(§24.d). The word "economy" appeared in Rev-1 after "care." A sentence acknowledging that poverty exacerbates gender inequalities was also erased from Rev-2.

-Action 9. We will enhance our ambition to address climate change.

This action has plenty of modifications in Rev-2. To start, in the wording of the action itself. In Rev-1, the document referred to "combat climate change" instead of "enhance our ambition to address climate change." Moreover, this action had a second part, now deleted, which said, "support developing countries adapt to its impact and ensure they have the financing they need." Much more than simple wording reforms.

In its introductory part, which combines two different paragraphs of Rev-1 (§ 10 and 11) in a single paragraph in Rev-2 (§25), a previous mention of a "climate crisis" is now a reference to "climate change" and a previous mention of the "adverse impacts of climate-related disasters" is now, again, a reference to the "adverse impacts of climate change, in particular on developing countries, especially those that are particularly vulnerable." An entire phrase in Rev-1, in which States recognized that "the window for changing course is rapidly closing, and that accelerated action is urgently needed in this critical decade to deliver on existing commitments, implement necessary policies, and scale up financing" and affirmed the importance of "contributing to global efforts towards deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5 °C pathways, in a nationally determined manner, taking into account the Paris Agreement and different national circumstances, pathways and approaches" were taken out from Rev-2. The same happens with the Rev-1 expression of concern about "the growing gap between the needs of developing countries and the levels of support they receive to adapt to adverse effects of climate change and loss and damage." Only a statement reaffirming "the importance of accelerating action on the basis of the best available science, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances" passed untouched from Rev-1 to Rev-2.

Consequently, there are also reforms in the "decisions" linked to this action. Five "decisions" under Rev-1 were deleted in Rev-2: increasing additional grant-based or highly concessional finance for both adaptation and mitigation (Rev-1, §11.c); accelerating the deployment and development of clean and renewable energy technologies to double energy efficiency by 2030 (Rev-1, §11.d); closing adaptation finance gap affecting developing countries (Rev-1, §11.e); increasing the accessibility of climate finance vehicles including those run by international financial institutions and through the provision of affordable, long-term capital (Rev-1, §11.f); and requesting the SG to present options for Member SStates'consideration in advance of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development for improved monitoring, assessment and verification of climate finance (Rev-1, §11.h).

A renewed action on working towards an ambitious outcome at the COP29, setting the new collective quantified goal on climate finance and building on the UAE consensus and the first global stocktake of the Paris Agreement is included in Rev-2 (§25.a).

Rev-1's decision to deliver on the Secretary-General's call to protect everyone on earth through universal coverage of early warning systems by 2027, including through the accelerated implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative, is still in Rev-2. However, the reference to the SG call was deleted, and a new segment was added at the end of the paragraph, expressing that countries have decided to "promote a disaster risk-informed approach to sustainable development that integrates disaster risk reduction into policies, programs and investments at all levels" (§25.c).

One decision adopted in Rev-1 continues in Rev-2 without modifications: "Come forward in our next nationally determined contributions with ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, as informed by the latest science, in the light of different national circumstances" (§25.b).

-Action 10. We will accelerate our efforts to protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.

Here, Rev-2 added some components to a list of the "adverse impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, water scarcity, floods, desertification, land degradation, drought, deforestation, sand and dust storms" but deleted a final part in Rev-1 stating that the causes of those phenomena would be addressed "through the implementation of existing intergovernmentally agreed commitments and multilateral environmental agreements." Rev-2 also includes new wording when the paragraph refers to "conserve, restore and sustainably use our planet's ecosystems and natural resources"(§26).

The "decisions" linked to this action also went through deep reforms.

A paragraph in Rev-1 on delivering on "our agreed commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030" was deleted, and two new "decisions" were included: "achieve a world in which humanity lives in harmony with nature, conserve and sustainably use our planet's resources and reverse the trends of environmental degradation"(§26.a), and "deliver on our agreed commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and implement all multilateral environmental agreements" (§26.e).

Other three decisions linked to this action were reformed:

"Conserve and sustainably use oceans and seas" became "take ambitious action to improve the health, productivity, sustainable use and resilience of the oceans and their ecosystems, and conserve and sustainably use and restore seas." A list in this article including resources to be protected: "freshwater resources, as well as forests, mountains, and drylands," now also mentions "glaciers," and the commitment to "protect" biodiversity, ecosystems and wildlife" was enlarged to "protect, conserve and restore" them (§26.b).
"Promote sustainable lifestyles, and circular economy approaches as a pathway to achieving sustainable consumption and production patterns" in Rev-1 has changed into "Promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, including sustainable lifestyles, and circular economy approaches as a pathway to achieving sustainable consumption and production patterns, and zero waste initiatives" (§26.c).
Rev-1's decision to finalize the negotiations of "an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by 2024." became in Rev-2 a call to "accelerate efforts to address the pollution of air, land and soil, freshwater and the oceans, including the sound management of chemicals" and finalize the negotiations on the Treaty on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, "by the end of 2024."

-Action 11. We will protect and promote culture and sport as an integral component of sustainable development.

By adding "sport" to this action, the Rev-1 introductory paragraph was divided into two parts. The first part refers to culture, recognizing that it offers "people and communities a strong sense of identity and fosters social cohesion." The second part of the paragraph takes attributes that Rev-1 linked to the culture and now are associated with sports: In Rev-1 States reaffirmed "the role of culture as an enabler of sustainable development (…) by providing people and communities with a strong sense of identity and social cohesion, and by contributing to more effective, inclusive, equitable and sustainable development policies and measures," while in Rev,2 countries recognize "that sport can contribute to individuals' and communities' health and wellbeing"(§27.a).

Paragraph 27.b states the decision of engaging "promptly and constructively in bilateral negotiations, engaging relevant stakeholders as required, on the return or restitution to countries of their cultural property of spiritual, historical and cultural value, and strengthen international cooperation on this issue."

A new paragraph 27.c calls to "promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue to strengthen social cohesion and contribute to sustainable development," while a decision "ensure adequate investment in the protection and promotion of culture," present in Rev-1, no longer appears in Rev.2

-Action 12. We will plan for the future and strengthen our collective efforts to turbocharge the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 and beyond.

In Rev-1, this action aimed to plan for the future and strengthen collective efforts "to reduce global inequalities and advance sustainable development beyond." Its introductory paragraph now reaffirms that States "remain steadfastly focused and committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We will sustain our efforts to build the future we want by addressing existing, new and emerging challenges to sustainable development by 2030 and beyond."

A Rev-1 decision requesting the SG "to submit a report to Member States in advance of the 2027 SDG Summit on key considerations for determining an ambitious and effective post-2030 framework for sustainable development" was removed from Rev-2. Instead, a new decision is to "significantly advance progress towards the full and timely achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030" (§28.a). To that end, decision 2 went through a mere wording reform and now states: "Consider in September 2027, at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), under the auspices of the General Assembly [previously "the SDG Summit in 2027"], how we will advance sustainable development by 2030 and beyond" (§28.b).

Conclusion

Including two new actions focused on poverty and hunger is good news. They align this Chapter of the Pact for the Future with the 2030 Agenda and other sustainable development-related international documents adopted by the United Nations since its adoption, including the Political Declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit.

Along the same line, Rev-2 seems slightly more open to stakeholders' engagement in the efforts towards fulfilling the "decisions" included in the Pact.

Having a specific action on culture and sustainable development was an opportunity to consider culture as a lever for sustainable development and cultural pertinence as a requirement for any action on sustainability. Nevertheless, the approach to this dimension is still too narrow and open.

The fact that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda is mentioned only once in this chapter clearly shows that it is not generating attraction at the international level. Piece by piece, it was left behind. The Paris Agreement is also almost absent, with only two express mentions.

However, the most worrisome element from the comparison between PfF Rev-1 and Rev-2 lies in the financing for development area. The new version represents a step back in defining actionable future steps: almost every decision with the level of detail required to be implemented was pruned, becoming a promise or, even worse, a wish. No innovations or strong ideas regarding new financial tools or sources are mentioned.

A good example of stepping back on financing ambition is reflected in paragraph 20.i that makes a broad call to "secure an ambitious outcome at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025 that will close the SDG financing gap," deleting from Rev-1 the mention of reaching a "meaningful" SDG financing gap close and the decision of responding "to new and emerging challenges on the broader means of implementation."

In the same line, paragraph 22.b of Rev-2 erased a part of its precedent (§6-b in Rev-1), transforming the decision to secure "ambitious outcomes on financing all aspects of social development" at the Second World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and to request from the Secretary-General analysis and recommendations on these issues for the consideration of Member States into "securing ambitious outcomes on all aspects of social development at the World Social Summit."

Even when the ambition bar was moved slightly higher, the action-orientation of Chapter 1 decisions took a step back. To transform the world and strengthen multilateralism, we need action, not a renewal of old promises under new disguises.