UN Sustainability Goals - Part I
The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a foundational plan that focuses on growing peace and prosperity for the planet and people across the globe. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call to action for all countries, developed and developing ones, to unite in a partnership. All recognize that ending poverty and removing challenges for the world’s everyday citizens must align with strategies that greatly improve health and education, reduce social inequality and support economic growth.
SDGs are built upon decades of work by the UN and its countries. The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG), based within the United Nations’ Department of Economics and Social Affairs (UNDESA), provides substantive support and capacity that helps create SDGs and related issues like water, energy and climate. The DSDGs’ role is significant in the UN system’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda and outreach and advocacy programs that sustain the SDGs. In the hopes of making the 2030 agenda a realistic goal, ownership and a strong commitment to the SDGs by all stakeholders are necessary to implement these goals.
Below you can find Part I in our series that highlights the issue for each sustainability goal.
Goal #1: Eradicate Poverty
The first goal is to end poverty in all forms throughout the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the first increase in extreme poverty in a generation. An estimated 119 to 124 million people were pushed into extreme poverty in 2020. In 2030, the projected extreme poverty rate will reach 7% of the world, missing the UN’s target of eradicating poverty. Thus far, governments across the globe have reportedly instilled 1,600 short-term protections in response to COVID-19. However, more countries need to implement temporary protections along with long-term dedication to this goal.
Eradicating extreme poverty has been incremental and in widespread efforts. However, continued poverty remains a major concern in Africa, the least developed countries, small island developing States, and even in some middle-income countries. Countries in conflict and post-conflict countries also struggle with poverty. Due to these issues, the General Assembly decided to take action with the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018–2027). The objective of the decade is to maintain any momentum generated from the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017). This third decade also seeks to support the international development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
Goal #2: Zero Hunger
The second sustainability goal is to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The COVID-19 pandemic is also impacting global hunger. Worldwide, an extra 70 to 161 million people are expected to have experienced hunger due to the pandemic in 2020. That’s on top of 2.37 billion without food or unable to eat a healthy, balanced diet. It has also worsened child malnutrition. An estimated 22% of children under the age of five are malnourished.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was still not on track to end world hunger and food insecurity. Currently, the SDGs have made some momentum to help fight increased hunger and food insecurity. In 2020, the first comprehensive data assessments and reports on the subject were collected across the globe in a year greatly impacted by the pandemic. New projections will help to provide a better understanding of the major drivers and challenges behind the global food security and nutrition crisis, framed around food systems.
Goal #3: Ensure Healthy Lives and Wellbeing for All Ages
The third goal focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all ages. For instance, the pandemic has also reversed progress in health and also decreased life expectancy. At least 90 percent of countries report that one or more disruptions to essential healthcare services. A decade of progress in maternal, child, and reproductive health may be stalled due to the pandemic. Currently, we lack data surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as countries with death registration systems are only 75% complete. It is evident that scaling up in universal healthcare coverage is necessary for improvement.
For now, every country needs to determine how to best implement the national sustainable development strategies depending upon prevailing ecological, historical and cultural factors. No one blueprint is possible or desirable.
Underlying principles that characterize a sustainable goal strategy must be considered and adhered to while economic, social and environmental goals must be balanced and integrated.