Even in spite of pandemic, rising global debt levels, and worsening climate change, countries remain committed to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They must find ways to engage private business so as to transform unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
Sustainable development is an approach to driving economic growth while taking into account both human needs and those of our planet. Achieve it successfully requires strong global cooperation.
Economic Growth
National governments and corporations alike are turning towards economic development strategies as part of a solution for global sustainability challenges, driven by both poverty eradication efforts as well as growing recognition that sustainable development must coexist with strategies designed to boost economic growth. This trend can be explained by two forces. One is poverty alleviation needs; another is an increasing awareness of this fact.
Rio+20 marks the beginning of creating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to succeed the Millennium Development Goals, by setting 17 international development objectives called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Energy Solutions, Decent Work & Economic Growth and Responsible Consumption and Production.
At present, Finland leads the Sustainable Development Goals Index – which tracks progress toward attaining these goals – though wealthier nations often score highly even if their consumption of natural resources exceeds sustainable limits.
Environmental Protection
Sustainable development first gained recognition following the 1987 publication of “Our Common Future,” by the World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as Brundtland Commission). This report defined sustainable development as development that meets current needs without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
Sustainable development plans must include measures to protect the environment as part of their core principles, which means limiting pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting renewable energy sources; in addition to this effort to conserve and restore biodiversity.
Nearly all nations have environmental protection agencies or programs. Some, such as the EPA, also support community growth in ways that benefit the environment – like encouraging green infrastructure development projects that reduce runoff and save water, improve resilience against climate change and natural disasters, revitalize neighborhoods, improve access to jobs and amenities and support job training initiatives. Many communities are working toward sustainable practices like shifting from fossil fuels to wind power.
Social Equity
In 2015, the United Nations developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their primary purpose is to transform society by ending poverty and inequality, stimulating economic growth and combatting climate change as well as ocean conservation. Their central tenet is that no one should be left behind.
Social equity differs from equality by taking into account specific needs, while taking into account race, gender, income or disability barriers that prevent people from having equal access to goals they set themselves. Policies designed to account for these differences must therefore be flexible enough to address them appropriately.
Locally, incorporating a social equity framework into policy may require improving planning processes to allow all community members an equal chance to take part. Or it might mean acknowledging how previous planning practices have had unequal effects on certain neighborhoods, and working directly with these neighborhoods to produce better future results. These strategies may be applied across education, policing, housing and transportation policies as well as social programs.
Gender Equality
Gender equality is a core human right and essential for people-centred development. Gender equality ensures men and women alike can reach their full potential and participate fully in society – an indicator of sustainable development.
Educational programs and the media must address harmful stereotypes, challenge gender norms in family settings, foster workplace inclusion, change cultural attitudes, promote inclusive policies such as flexible work schedules, mentorship programs and equal pay for women performing identical work to men.
Although progress has been made, gender parity still isn’t an achievable goal. Women and girls continue to face barriers in education, employment, political participation, healthcare access and unpaid care work compared with men. UN Women was created as an entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women to speed up this progress by consolidating four existing agencies within the World Body into one entity.