Sustainable Development Goals

Understanding the Goals and Taking Action

Presented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Sustainable Development

• Definition: Sustainable development refers to the process of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It focuses on intergenerational equity where the environmental, economic, and social aspects are integrated.

• Importance: Sustainable development is crucial because it emphasizes the balance between ecological integrity, economic stability, and social equity, ensuring that human needs are met while protecting the ecosystem for future generations. It fosters practices that contribute to social justice, environmental health, and economic well-being.

Personal Interpretation of Sustainability

• Question: What does sustainability mean to you?

• Discussion Point: Discussing sustainability encourages individuals to share their unique perspectives influenced by personal experiences, cultural background, and individual beliefs regarding environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Overview of The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Definition: The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all." Each goal addresses a critical global challenge, leading to a holistic approach to development.

• Historical Background:

  • The SDGs originated from global summits addressing sustainable development, notably the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, which led to the formulation of various international environmental agreements.

  • The goals were expanded at the Millennium Summit in New York in 2000, which featured 8 goals primarily focused on poverty reduction (Millennium Development Goals).

  • The SDGs were adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015 during the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, which established a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

• Targets for Completion: All 17 goals aim to be achieved by 2030, yet current progress indicates that none of the goals are fully met, highlighting the urgency of collective action.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals

1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

3. Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

10. Reduced Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

14. Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

15. Life on Land: Manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.

17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Structure of a Goal

• Each SDG is composed of multiple targets (169 in total) with each target having 1-2 indicators to measure progress.

• Targets are specific objectives that provide a roadmap towards achieving the broader goal, allowing for measurable and trackable progress toward sustainable development outcomes.

Detailed Targets of Goal 14: Life Below Water

• Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

  • Target 14.1: Prevent marine pollution by 2025.

    • Indicators: Coastal eutrophication index and plastic debris density to monitor pollution levels.

  • Target 14.2: Manage marine and coastal ecosystems sustainably.

    • Indicators: Proportion of exclusive economic zones managed based on ecological approaches ensuring the health of biodiversity and marine resources.

  • Target 14.3: Minimize impacts of ocean acidification.

    • Indicators: Average marine acidity (pH) at designated sampling stations to track the changes resulting from atmospheric CO2.

Exploring Climate Action: Goal 13

• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

  • Main Targets:

    • Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

    • Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

    • Improve education, awareness, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.

  • Case Study: Canada is advancing climate strategies aligned with local and international commitments, yet still faces challenges in ensuring all policies meet the objectives for Goal 13.

  • Statistics: Continuous tracking of death rates and displacement caused by natural disasters from 1990 to 2019, illustrating the urgent need for effective climate action.

Identifying Shortcomings in the SDGs

• General Challenges: Non-specific targets hinder progress. For instance, terms like "significant reduction" in target 14.1 lack clarity, making it difficult to measure success.

• Accountability Issues: Consensus-building among nations is challenging; the frequent use of vague language such as "we encourage" complicates enforceability and accountability of SDG targets.

  • Examples from Resolution 70/299: Non-binding encouragement in resolutions without mandatory compliance creates obstacles for countries striving to achieve the SDGs.

Success Stories

• Mediterranean CleanUp (Greece): A collaborative initiative involving local fishermen to recycle marine waste, providing dual benefits of marine conservation and income enhancement for participants.

• ECOLOO (Malaysia): Innovative waterless toilet technology that emphasizes sanitation and sustainable water conservation practices, improving health outcomes in rural areas.

• CPFL nos Hospitais (Brazil): A program implemented in hospitals aimed at reducing energy costs while simultaneously promoting clean energy production, demonstrating efficient resource management in healthcare.

Accountability and Oversight Mechanisms

• The SDGs are non-legally binding, placing the responsibility for their implementation and reporting on individual countries. The effectiveness of the goals requires commitment at local, national, and international levels to track implementation progress actively.

• Monitoring Involves:

  • UN General Assembly discussions every four years to assess and review the progress made toward the SDGs.

  • Annual country reports at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to provide transparency and accountability.

Engaging with SDG Progress

• Tools for Engagement:

  • SDG Tracker website: An interactive online platform that enables individuals and governments to compare country performance against specific SDGs in real-time.

  • IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub: A comprehensive resource offering news, commentary, analyses, and access to various SDG-related events aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of global sustainability initiatives.

Taking Action at Home

• Practical Tips:

  • Water Conservation: Implement practices to avoid water waste, such as reusing leftover water for garden irrigation, fixing leaks promptly, and reducing shower times to emergency levels.

  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Adopt mindful consumer habits to minimize food waste, avoid over-purchasing single-use plastics, and explore creative ways to reuse household items.

  • Community Engagement: Actively participate in local governance, volunteer for sustainability initiatives, and donate to organizations working toward achieving the SDGs to foster collective action.

  • Personal Action: Reflect on individual lifestyles to identify changes that can contribute to the attainment of SDGs by assessing one’s carbon footprint, consumption patterns, and engagements within the community.