TO conclude the three-part series on the update of the United Nations regarding the achievements related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, here is the summary of the report on Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; Life on Land; Place, Justice and Strong Institutions; and Partnerships for the Goals.
The way humans consume is killing the planet. In exchange for industrialization and economic growth, our natural resources are being depleted and our environment suffers. More effort and action are necessary to move the Earth toward a sustainable, circular economy.
Since the year 1990, the global material footprint has more than doubled. This refers to the amount of raw materials needed to meet the world’s consumption demands. In addition, about one-third of the food produced every year is wasted or lost, and this happens most in rich or developed countries.
And the greatest challenge to sustainable development? Yes, climate change. The UN says that in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030, the total carbon emissions the world over should decrease by 45 percent compared to the 2010 levels. We can see around us that governments are doing something about this. As of May 2019, there were 182 countries (and the European Union) that have set their first nationally determined contributions. They are also committed to increasing the budgets for projects that address climate change. Likewise, more countries are doing more to protect our oceans.
According to the Red List Index, the risk of extinction is higher today than in the last 25 years. This index tracks the species on Earth. The increase is apparently due to unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change, and deforestation.
As far as Place, Justice and Strong Institutions are concerned, the UN’s report revealed that we all have a long way to go. In many places around the world, many of those who are trying to push this agenda are being killed. From January to October 2018 alone, an average of nine people were murdered each week. These victims include journalists, human-rights defenders, and other people who work on the front lines of building a more inclusive and just society. In 2015 to 2017, the average was seven people killed every week.
Based on the update from the UN, there is support for the SDG, generally. However, overseas aid or Official Development Assistance dropped 2.7 percent to $149 billion from 2017 to 2018. This funding is the biggest source of external financing for the poorer nations. And finally, to be able to spread the word about the SDG campaigns, access to the Internet is greatly needed. Statistics show that more than 80 percent of people in developed countries were online in 2018. However, this number was just 20 percent for the least developed countries. The disparity means that there is more work to be done in order to create an inclusive global information society.