The United Nations' efforts to achieve its sustainable development goals are falling short.
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| 17 goals of SDGs |
Disillusionment is rapidly spreading throughout the streets of New York City. The United Nations member states convened on September 18th and 19th to conduct a mid-term review of the UN Development Goals, commonly referred to as the SDGs. In a startling revelation, it has been found that out of a total of 140 assessable goals, a mere 15 percent are currently on track to be accomplished by the year 2030.
This disheartening statistic indicates a significant shortfall in progress towards achieving these goals. What's even more concerning is that up to 30 percent of these goals are actually experiencing a decline, further exacerbating the challenges faced in attaining them. These findings shed light on the urgent need for increased efforts and strategic interventions to ensure the successful realisation of these objectives within the designated time frame.
In light of this, the responses elicited were consistently uniform. In the pursuit of success, the primary focus remains on attaining the desired objectives. The global community has turned its attention towards the key areas of digitalization and financing. In a display of technological optimism and substantial financial support, Germany has allocated approximately 300 million Euro from funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to the World Bank. This significant investment aims to bring about transformative changes within the next seven years, while simultaneously ensuring that certain aspects remain unchanged.
In a rather unsurprising turn of events, the speakers at the summit have found themselves navigating the treacherous terrain of rhetorical ambiguity, where hopes, dreams, and wishes reign supreme. Amidst the complex web of constraints and conflicting agendas, individuals find solace in non-binding slogans that embody the spirit of perseverance.
In a powerful opening statement at the commencement of the summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged member states to shift their attention away from assigning blame and instead channel their energies towards intensifying their collective endeavours to attain the set objectives.
In the words of the renowned German writer Kurt Tucholsky, it is worth noting that the individual who brings attention to the unsavoury aspects of a situation is often regarded as a far greater threat than the individual responsible for creating those unfavourable circumstances. From the highest echelons, the question of whether the international community must acknowledge that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) themselves pose a problem has been shrouded in taboo. The lack of an exit strategy for this venture is evident.
During the SDG action weekend, Secretary-General Guterres expressed his belief that sustainable development stands as the ultimate business plan. In a surprising omission, he neglected to acknowledge that within the prevailing global economic framework, the pursuit of profit often necessitates the creation of value at the detriment of both individuals and their surrounding ecosystems.
The notion of sustainability and economic growth being inherently contradictory has long been a subject of debate. Critics argue that even the most skilled practitioners at the summit are often accused of engaging in cognitive dissonance or greenwashing in order to reconcile these seemingly opposing forces.
The United Nations' pursuit of greater economic growth, as reflected in SDG 8, has been called into question, with critics arguing that it may be perpetuating a fallacy. The relentless pursuit of growth and accumulation is widely regarded as a significant factor contributing to the global challenges we face today, and in fact, it can be seen as the root cause of these issues. Among the largest companies in the world, there are those whose utilisation of fossil fuels has been linked to the ongoing global climate crisis and the perpetuation of structural inequality across different regions.
Amidst the ongoing summit, a sense of disappointment looms among the participants as they reach the halfway mark. Despite the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth, it has become evident that the battle against global warming has not been effectively curbed to the desired extent. In a startling development, it has been revealed that a staggering six out of the nine planetary boundaries have been breached today. This alarming news highlights the precarious state of our planet and the urgent need for immediate action.
The fact that more than half of these crucial thresholds have already been surpassed is a stark reminder of the pressing environmental challenges we face. It is imperative that we address these issues with utmost urgency and take decisive steps to safeguard the future of our planet. In a surprising turn of events, it appears that a contradiction has emerged regarding the objective of reducing fossil fuels. This contradiction stems from the fact that the goal of decreasing reliance on fossil fuels had already been acknowledged in the lead-up to the negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In a stunning turn of events, it appears that the mere mention of a discussion regarding the matter has effectively deterred the oil-producing states from even considering the possibility of engaging in negotiations. In a significant development at the SDG summit, Qatar and Ireland jointly spearheaded the passage of yet another declaration. In a disappointing turn of events, the recently unveiled ten-page document fails to address the pressing issue of reducing fossil fuels.
In a mutually advantageous arrangement, both nations are reaping the rewards, at least for the time being. In Ireland, the average person would need to significantly decrease their CO2 emissions to approximately one-third of their current levels, while in Qatar, the reduction required would be even more substantial, amounting to approximately one-ninth of their current emissions. In a stunning display of irony, the declaration highlights the nations' susceptibility to the devastating effects of climate change, yet conveniently sidesteps any mention of the role played by fossil fuels.
The United Nations has been accused of propagating a second falsehood, namely that nations are committed to attaining their development objectives despite the ongoing challenges posed by the global pandemic, COVID-19. The SDGs, in fact, foster a lifestyle that contributes to worldwide crises. In pursuit of its objectives, SDG 9 sets its sights on the ambitious goal of expanding infrastructure. The consequences of this phenomenon can include soil sealing, deforestation, and the devastating loss of animal habitats.
In the global society, we are witnessing a concerning trend of pathogens crossing over from animals to humans, leading to an escalating transmission. A prime illustration of this phenomenon is the recent outbreak of Covid-19. At the summit, the focus on the hunger crisis shed light on a crucial issue: it is not simply a matter of increasing infrastructure, but rather a deep-rooted problem of distributional injustice and delivery blockages. In an ever-evolving world, the pursuit of solutions often leads to the emergence of unforeseen challenges, commonly referred to as "improvements".
Global social inequalities can be further illuminated by a third lie of life. In the realm of Sustainable Development Goal 10, a noteworthy aspect pertains to the categorization of nations into sustainable and non-sustainable entities, primarily contingent upon their migration policies. Specifically, countries harbouring a substantial proportion of refugee populations find themselves classified as non-sustainable under this framework. The objective is to establish border regimes with the intention of organising and dividing individuals.
In a significant development, the SDG Summit declaration has taken a step further by placing utmost importance on maximum dilution, with a specific focus on "taking national circumstances into account." This latest emphasis underscores the need for a tailored approach that considers the unique conditions and challenges faced by individual nations. By recognising the diverse contexts in which the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being pursued, this declaration aims to ensure that efforts to achieve these global targets are both effective and inclusive.
In the realm of sustainable development, a significant concern arises as people's mobility is impeded or rendered unattainable. In the realm of social justice, the concept takes on a contrasting perspective, as it suggests that individuals who venture across borders possess the highest potential for achieving social progress. Europe and the USA are currently grappling with regulatory crises at their external borders, highlighting significant challenges in managing these crucial entry points.
In a chilling turn of events, these locations have transformed into nothing short of mass graves, with the remains of tens of thousands of individuals laid to rest within their confines. In the realm of social justice, a sustainable approach would entail the establishment of unobstructed pathways, where state borders would be significantly reduced. The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has inadvertently resulted in a rise in social inequalities, as they have inadvertently impeded global personal mobility by expanding borders. The United Nations' fundamental concept of individual states attempting to divide people from one another is widely regarded as a glaring symbol of its overall ineffectiveness.
As we reach the midpoint of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a glaring truth is emerging: the fate of these ambitious objectives hangs in the balance, contingent upon the willingness of stakeholders to confront the multifaceted challenges posed by the current polycrisis. In a thought-provoking statement, it is argued that the United Nations' development goals, while aiming to foster progress, may inadvertently perpetuate an unsustainable global way of life.
In a perplexing juxtaposition, the prevailing notions of prosperity persist unabated, even as the recurring crises that inevitably ensue are inexplicably overlooked. In the pursuit of sustainability, the goal is to ensure that future generations inherit a world that is, at the very least, as valuable and livable as the one we currently inhabit.
During the summit, it became evident that the member states are poised to fall short of meeting the minimum requirement set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, their actions, which are driven by a sense of technological optimism and financial considerations, indicate a willingness to accept a deterioration of ongoing crises.
The author Dr. Albert Denk is a researcher at the Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science at the Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Source: IPG