1.3.2 - Sustainable Development Goals and Global Impact

1. No Poverty – COVID 19 pushed 8 million workers into poverty worldwide and working poverty rate climbed for the first time in two decades. Furthered by inflation, wars and political crisis, and disaster there is an ongoing migration and refugee crisis making ending poverty the foremost priority.

1. Zero Hunger – 1 in 10 people worldwide are suffering from hunger and 1 in 3 people lack regular access to adequate food. Food shortages and soaring food prices affected 47% of countries in 2020, up from 16% in 2019. Ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture are some of the primary targets.

1. Good health and well-being – The COVID 19 led to 15 million deaths and essential health services in 92% of countries got disrupted (2021), leading to reduction in global life expectancy and prevalence of anxiety and depression. Thus, ensuring healthy lives and holistic well-being at all ages is a critical goal.

1. Quality Education - Between 2020-21, over half of in-person instruction at schools were missed by 147 million children, and it is estimated that 24 million learners worldwide may never return to school. At the same time, many countries have started improving classroom infrastructure as 25% primary schools still lack electricity, drinking water and basic sanitation, and around 50% lack computers and internet access. In addition, skill and competence development is a driver for industry readiness, improved economy and social upliftment, making quality education a major goal.

1. Gender Equality - While there was a rise in women employment in 2019, the 45% global employment loss in 2020 set back the equal representation pace. It was also revealed through a 15-year survey, that 1 in every 4 women, accounting to 641 million women, were subject to violence at least once in their lifetime. Therefore, exalting women is decisive towards a better and inclusive future generation.

1. Clean water and sanitation – The world’s water ecosystems are degrading at alarming rates, with over 85% of wetlands being lost, while 733+ million people live in countries with high and critical levels of water stress. This goal aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, as a 4 times increase in requirement is estimated by 2030.

1. Affordable and clean energy - While progress in energy efficiency is underway, and total renewable energy consumption has increased, the annual energy-intensity rate needs to go up from 1.9% presently to 3.2% by 2030. The key hurdles are; slowdown in electrification due to the challenge of reach, the use of inefficient and polluting cooking systems, and decline in financial flows to develop countries for renewables, making affordable and clean energy a priority.

1. Decent work and Economic growth – While global unemployment plummeted, child labour worldwide continues to account for 1 in 10 children. Presently, the annual growth rate of global real GDP per capita got affected by rising inflation, supply-chain disruption, policy uncertainties, etc. Thus, full and productive employment is crucial for decent work and sustainable economic growth.

1. Industry, innovation and infrastructure – While global manufacturing has bounced back and is on a steady rise, over the COVID crisis it was noted that high-tech industries are more resilient than lower-tech counterparts, with small scale industries lacking financial support and loss in manufacturing jobs. Therefore, building resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation is key.

1. Reduced inequalities - The pandemic caused a first rise in between-country income inequality, and global refugee figures hit a record high. In addition, discrimination on at least one of the grounds prohibited under international Human Rights Law is still faced by 1 in 5 people, making reducing inequality a major global goal.

1. Sustainable Cities and Communities - As rapid urbanization occurs, issues of; polluted air breathed in by 99% of urban population, municipal solid waste of which only 55% is managed, and 1 billion slum dwellers indicate the need to make cities and human settlements inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

1. Responsible Consumption and production – With reliance on natural resources increasing over 65% globally from 2000-2019 and large amounts of food are either lost between harvesting and reaching markets, or wasted at the consumer level, making sustainable consumption a pivotal goal.

1. Climate Action – Droughts estimated to displace 700 million, extreme weather, and other natural disasters estimated to increase by 40% by 2030, climate catastrophes are surmounting. 70-90% of coral reefs have diminished and CO2 emissions have gone up to its highest in 2021, while climate finance has dropped with a shortfall of 100 billion dollars in 2019; showcasing the grim state of affairs and the urgency for climate action as a global goal.

1. Life below Water - Oceans are our planet’s largest ecosystem and are endangered due to ocean warming, eutrophication, acidification, over-fishing, and plastic pollution; with over 17+ million metric tons of plastics choking the ocean and acidification hindering the ocean’s capability to absorb CO2 emissions to moderate climate change. Conservation and sustainable use of marine resources is a necessity.

1. Life on Land – Almost 90% of global deforestation is due to cropland expansion and livestock grazing, and around 40,000 species are at the risk of extinction. Protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests sustainably, combating desertification and addressing land degradation and biodiversity is our moral duty.

1. Peace, Justice and strong Institutions – With a quarter of the world’s population living in conflict-affected countries and corruption and bribery rampant, providing justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels is imperative for peaceful societies.

1. Partnerships for the Goals - Post pandemic, with rising debt burdens threatening developing countries and global Official Development Assistance (ODA) declining for SDG data, it is vital to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnerships for sustainable development.

Each SDG has a number of Targets, each measurable by indicators; for example, Target 1.1 ‘By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less that $1.25 per day’ can be measured through the indicator 1.1.1 ‘Proportion of population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)’.

India, as the fifth largest economy and the second largest in population in the world, plays a crucial role in the achievement of Agenda 2030 and the future. The SDG India Index, an aggregate measure presented in a comprehensible, interactive dashboard (2020-21; http://sdgindiaindex.niti.gov.in), for 16 goals with 115 quantitative indicators and a qualitative assessment of SDG 17, tracks and monitors progress of all states and union territories.