Learn what the 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, is and what stage it is at.
Defined as a global action plan, 2030 Agenda, unites 193 countries in favor of sustainable development. Where have the global challenges faced in recent years left us?
The 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development, adopted by all of the United Nations member states in 2015, defines the priorities, goals and targets to be achieved by 2030 for global sustainable development, only possible with the mobilization of efforts by all countries.
What is the 2030 Agenda?
The 2030 Agenda consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which represent an urgent call to action by all countries, developed and developing.
Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the 17 SDGs as: “our shared vision for humanity and a social contract between world leaders and people. They are a list of things to do on behalf of peoples and the planet, and a blueprint for success”.
The 17 SDGs - which were born out of the progress and knowledge gained from the implementation of the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set between 2000 and 2015 - were unanimously approved by the 193 UN member states, and hope to address people’s needs by ensuring that no one is “left behind”.
What are the priority areas of the Agenda?
The core foundations, also known as the 5 P’s, of the 2030 Agenda are the following:
People
It aims to end hunger and poverty, regardless of their dimensions, ensuring that all human beings can fully develop, with the same conditions, in a healthy environment.
Planet
We assume the urgency of protecting the planet from degradation, encouraging, among other practices, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable management of natural resources, and implementing urgent measures to mitigate climate change.
Prosperity
We intend to ensure all human beings can live prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
Peace
We strive to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, free from fear and violence. Sustainable development is not possible without peace, and peace also depends on sustainable development.
Partnership
Member States pledge their determination to mobilize the necessary means to implement the Agenda by promoting a Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on the spirit of global solidarity and focused on the poorest and most vulnerable.
How is the progress of the SDGs defined in the Agenda reviewed?
The evaluation of implementation is carried out regularly by each country, involving governments, civil society, businesses and representatives of various interest groups. For this purpose, a set of global indicators associated with each sustainable development goal is used, the results of which are compiled in an annual report. For its part, the UN monitors the progress of countries through the SDG Index & Monitoring.
Global Compact Network Portugal (GCNP) is the Portuguese network of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which gathers the adherent entities, headquartered or operating in Portugal.
Where does the achievement of the SDGs stand?
Between 2015 and 2019, the global progress registered, at the level of the 17 SDGs, was 0.5% per year, an indicator that is admittedly insufficient, taking into account the goals proposed until 2030.
Between 2020 and 2021 there was no progress, mainly due to the negative performance of developing countries.
The latest Sustainable Development Goals Report was released on July 7, 2022 and highlights the danger posed by the various crises that have succeeded each other to the success of the 2030 Agenda - and, consequently, to the survival of humanity.
Among the main threats are:
- The COVID-19 pandemic which is now in its third year of impact and has led to the deaths, directly and indirectly, of an estimated 15 million people, also impacting global health systems, which are overwhelmed and, in some cases, forced to be disrupted.
- Climate change.
- Conflicts in various parts of the world.
These threats have had serious consequences worldwide:
- Many millions of people now live in extreme poverty.
- An estimated 147 million children have been deprived of more than half of their classroom instruction over the past three years, significantly affecting their learning curve and well-being.
- There has been a significant increase in inflation, disruptions in supply chains; increasing labor market pressures, and growing and unaffordable debt in developing countries.
- Approximately 2 billion people live in countries affected by conflict. The number of refugees and displaced persons continues to rise, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. As of the end of May 2022, about 6.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine alone, mainly women and children.
- The conflict in Ukraine has also caused food, fuel, and fertilizer prices to skyrocket. By current estimates, the war may have represented a global economic decrease of 0.9 percentage points by 2022.
- Climate change has the “crisis multiplier” effect that has already been felt around the world, such as increased heat waves, droughts, and floods. Based on nations’ current commitments, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase by nearly 14% over the current decade.
Where do the SDGs stand?
SDG 1 - Erradicate Poverty
Between 657 and 676 million people are estimated to live in extreme poverty post-pademic. The projection before the pandemic was 581 million.
SDG 2 - Erradicate Hunger
About one in ten people worldwide are affected by hunger. By 2020 alone, 161 million more people will be chronically hungry.
SDG 3 - Quality Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened (and continues to threaten) decades of progress in global health, decreasing global life expectancy and increasing the prevalence of anxiety and depression and deaths from tuberculosis and malaria.
SDG 4 - Quality Education
Between 2020 and 2021, 147 million children will miss more than half of their classroom education. 24 million students may never return to school.
SDG 5 - Gender Equality
Women, who accounted for 39% of all jobs in 2019 and 45% of global losses in 2020, with many of them increasingly burdened with unpaid care work and intensifying domestic violence.
SDG 6 - Safe drinking water and sanitation
Meeting the drinking water, sanitation and hygiene targets by 2030 now requires a four-fold increase in the pace of progress.
SDG 7 - Renewable and affordable energy
Progress on electrification has slowed, with 679 million people expected, based on current trends, to have no access to electricity by 2030.
SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth
One in ten children are engaged in child labor worldwide. By 2020, it was already 160 million.
SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
The least developed countries have been lagging behind, a situation made worse by the pandemic.
SDG 10 - Reduce inequalities
The pandemic caused the first increase in income inequality between countries in a generation.
SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Leaving no one behind will require a special focus on 1 billion residents in slums.
SDG 12 - Sustainable production and consumption
13.3% of the world’s food is lost after harvest and before it reaches markets and 17% of total food is wasted by consumers.
SDG 13 - Climate Action
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased by 6% in 2021, reaching the highest level ever.
SDG 14 - Protect marine Life
In 2021, more than 17 million tons of plastic per m2 entered the oceans. It is estimated that this number could double or triple by 2040.
SDG 15 - Protect Earth Life
Ten million hectares of forest are destroyed every year. Agricultural expansion has led to nearly 90% deforestation.
SDG 16 - Peace, justice and effective institutions
A quarter of the global population lives in countries affected by conflict.
SDG 17 - Partnerships for Goal Implementation
Net direct official assistance reached a new record high of $177.6 billion, largely due to COVID-19 related aid, but assistance for SDG data fell by over 18% (2020).
Against this current backdrop, the SDGs continue to represent, now even more importantly, a unique and compelling opportunity to support sustainable growth and at the global level to address climate emergencies, humanitarian crises and social inequalities and asymmetries, ensuring that, as they propose, “no one is left behind”.