17 Goals for Sustainable Development As Put Forth By the United Nations

Source: the United Nations

In 2015, the 193 countries in the United Nations (UN) agreed to adopt a coordinated agenda entailing 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) to achieve by 2030. However, the impact of COVID-19 has threatened progress made thus far. The following is a list of the goals and their associated challenges.   

SDG 1. No Poverty 

The first Goal aims to end all poverty internationally by 2030. So far, poverty has almost halved since 2010; however, the COVID-19 pandemic undid over four years of progress in this area, and it is currently estimated that over three billion people live on less than $5.50 per day. 

SDG 2. Zero Hunger 

We are currently not on target to reach Zero Hunger by 2030. Worldwide, hunger has been increasing since 2015. The pandemic has almost doubled acute hunger, and food insecurity is expected to worsen due to nearly one in three people lacking access to adequate nutrition. The EAT-Lancet Commission provides evidence-based literature on how we can sustainably feed everyone in the future. 

SDG 3. Good Health and Well-Being 

This encompasses 13 targets: overcoming AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria; providing universal access to sexual and reproductive care; providing family planning and education; achieving universal health coverage; and improving systems that address global health risks. As with other SDG’s, COVID-19 threatens to undo progress, with 22.7 million children missing basic vaccines and 15 million COVID-19-related deaths.  

SDG 4. Quality Education 

The fourth Goal aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Yet again, COVID-19 threatens to undo progress, with 147 million children losing over 50% of in-person education and the possibility of 24 million learners between pre-primary and university-age not returning to education. However, the pandemic has also prompted the reconsideration of school infrastructure, which would be widely beneficial. 

SDG 5. Gender Equality 

Gender equality has been slowly improving, with more girls in school across the world, increased pro-gender equality legislation, and more women serving in positions of leadership. However, it will take another 40 years for women and men to be equally represented in national political leadership. Almost half of women between 15 and 49 are not making their own informed decisions on sex and reproductive healthcare. Over 25% of women over 15 have been subjected to partner violence, and the pandemic brought a rise in violence against women and girls.  

Additionally, women disproportionately work in economically insecure labour markets, and the US Supreme Court’s recent controversial ruling to remove the constitutional right to abortion has been deemed by many key agencies as an upturn of gender equality and women’s rights.  

SDG 6. Clean Water and Sanitation 

One in three people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water, and more than half of the global population lacks access to proper sanitation services. Progress must be quadrupled to meet the 2030 targets. Otherwise, it is projected that by 2030 1.6 billion people will not have safe drinking water, 2.8 billion people will not have access to safe sanitation, and 1.9 billion people will not have basic hand hygiene facilities, including sinks, tap water, and soap. 

SDG 7. Affordable and Clean Energy 

Access to clean and affordable energy has improved since the SDG’s were created. Lockdowns during the pandemic reduced demand for electricity by 10 to 35%, thereby increasing the proportion of renewable energy provided to meet this demand. However, this progress is losing momentum due to the obstacle of providing access to communities who may be more difficult to reach. While there has been overall improvement in the use of renewable energy, it still only contributes to 17.7% of energy sources. 

SDG 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth 

The pandemic has reduced the global economy’s output by almost $8.5 trillion over two years, undoing four years of progress.  Employment levels are unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, and it is estimated that nearly half of the international workforce is at risk of losing their livelihoods. The Ukraine Crisis has also affected the global economy, causing its predicted growth to more than halve compared to last year. 

SDG 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on global manufacturing, with one in three manufacturing jobs adversely affected. The airline industry was also heavily influenced by the pandemic. Airlines saw only half the number of passengers in 2021 as compared to 2019, and flight delays and cancellations have become a prominent news feature this summer. In contrast, higher-technology industries have fared considerably better, with digital inclusion improving as a result of the pandemic. 

SDG 10. Reduced Inequalities 

Unfortunately, the pandemic has worsened inequalities, including those related to poverty, gender, race and ethnicity, and social vulnerability. There are a record numbers of refugees, migrant deaths have risen, and xenophobia (prejudice against people from other countries) has also risen, with one in five persons experiencing discrimination on grounds prohibited by international human rights law. 

SDG 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities 

With 4.4 billion people living in cities, this goal is focused on making cities and other human settlements safe, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. One billion people currently live in slums, which often lack basic services, are overcrowded, and provide unsafe living conditions. Plus, access to public transport remains a key issue, particularly for more than two thirds of sub-Saharan Africa.  

SDG 12. Responsible Consumption and Production 

Irresponsible consumption and production are key antagonists to the triple planetary crisis which consists of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. We continue to decimate the Earth’s natural resources. Our reliance has increased 65% between 2000 and 2019.  

Food waste is also a significant problem, with over 30% of food being wasted (13.3% before it even reaches supermarkets, and 17% by consumers). However, the COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for recovery plans to be developed for responsible and sustainable consumption and production. 

SDG 13. Climate Action 

Climate Change is “the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century, but it is almost he greatest opportunity to redefine the social and environmental determinants of health.” The climate crisis is a fundamental component of the triple planetary crisis and is intrinsically linked with each SDG.  

The 2015 Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty across 196 countries to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, we continue to underfund climate finance, and while lockdowns in response to COVID-19 caused a temporary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the pandemic has dramatically increased our global waste footprint.  

SDG 14. Life Below Water 

Our oceans are essential in moderating climate change, as they absorb approximately 25% of our annual carbon emissions. However, the resulting ocean acidification causes osteoporotic-like effects, which dissolve calcium carbonate-containing shells and skeletons of marine life. In 2021 alone, more than 17 million tons of plastic were added to the ocean, and this is only predicted to worsen. Further, this goal aims to “eliminate subsidies that promote overfishing and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing”. 

SDG 15. Life on Land 

Humans, as one of at least 8.7 million species on Earth, are responsible for changing almost 75% of the Earth’s surface and have threatened one million species with extinction. This is despite “nearly half of freshwater, terrestrial and mountain key biodiversity areas” being protected. We currently lose the size of Iceland in deforestation every year. This problem is further compounded by desertification and drought; it is predicted that only one quarter of the world’s population will not be affected by drought by 2050.  

SDG 16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 

The face of violence has changed over the last few decades. There are less absolute war deaths; rather, conflict is more commonly between domestic groups. Crime currently causes more deaths than armed conflict globally, yet one in four people live in countries affected by conflict. While global homicide has reduced, it is still currently not enough to meet this Goal. Furthermore, the births of approximately one in four children under the age of five years are not officially recorded, preventing proof of legal identity and access to associated social justice.

SDG 17. Partnerships for the Goals 

Cooperation both nationally and internationally is required for the SDG’s to be met. However, the global economy is projected to experience its worst recession since the Great Depression due to COVID-19. Developing countries are experiencing rising debt, which raises concern regarding their ability to recover from the pandemic. Thus, effective partnership is arguably one of the most important Goals.  

What needs to happen between now and 2030? 

It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact in the majority of SDG’s and threatens the success of achieving them by 2030. However, one clear message of hope perseveres: the pandemic has forced us to rethink and redefine the Goals. It provides us the opportunity to reassess how we can benefit people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. And in doing so, we can “build back better.”