ORIGINS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

BACKGROUND

In the year 2000 leaders of 189 countries agreed on a vision of a new millennium. They wanted to end extreme poverty in all of its forms, so they made eight goals called the Millennium Development Goals, which were to be achieved in 15 years. One of the leading organizations working to fulfill these goals was the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP champion the goal so that people everywhere will know what MDGs entail and how they can play their part. UNDP acted as a scorekeeper, helping countries to track progress as a result, the number of people living less than a US$1.25 dropped more than half the primary aged children. Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia constituency achieved less progress than other regions. (UNDP 2015).

The MDGs measured success on national leverages often missing what happened to marginalized groups like women, the disabled and the indigenous people. Oceans were becoming more acidic threatening food security and marine systems, literacy rate among women equated to two thirds. The international community recognized that human prosperity must go hand in hand with protecting the planet. The leaders agreed on a new set of goals to help finish up the work started in 2000. These new goals are called the Sustainable Development Goals.

WHAT ARE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS?

SDGs provide room for far reaching action. Today the world is connected through technology, there is need to balance the three pillars of SDGs: social progress, economic growth and environmental protection. These goals were envisioned in Rio+20 conference goal for 2030. The new global goals are 17 diverse goals that range from ending poverty to strengthening international partnership for development.

The SDGs are designed to end all forms of poverty everywhere and build a better planet. However, our climate is changing, our planet is transforming and there are more people on earth than ever before. UNDP believes everyone can have enough of what they need living within our planetary boundaries and working around the world for this to happen. The goal is to eradicate poverty and protect our environment and prosperous health for all. The 17 goals and 169 indicators of the SDGs focus on six key areas: people, planet, prosperity, dignity and partnerships to ensure a progressive development that leaves no one and no country behind.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SDGs AND MDGs

For starters the number of goals in SDGs at 17 is more than two times the goals of MDGs which were 8. While MDGs had over 60 indicators to monitor their progress. The new SDGs include 169 indicators that in all likelihood may even further a number compared to the more vertical, social and health goals of the MDGs. SDGs go beyond and health to indicate goals for economy justice and environment which reflects a changing trend and development from a vertical approach to a more horizontal approach.

There is a lot more optimism surrounding the SDGs for 2030 and a lot of debate regarding the actual sustainability and achievability of these goals which raises many questions, such as, what are the trade offs for achieving these goals for poorer nations? These goals are ambitious, but are they realistic? Whether the SDGs will achieve the goals they have set out to achieve in the years to come is something only time will tell.