SDGs EDITION 2021

PracticaContributorsl kn include:owledge for a fairer,Amina J.safe Mohammedr, sust • Jeffreyainabl D. Sachse world Maimunah Mohd Sharif • Preeti Sinha Peter Bakker • Miguel Ángel Moratinos Teresa Ribera • Johan Rockström Kirsten Brosbøl • Nebojsa Nakicenovic Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

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Contents 26

FOREWORD 16 Governance tested We must urgently innovate and democratize 8 Healing people and planet our governance structures if we’re to thwart The pandemic makes the SDGs even more the existential threats facing humankind. relevant, even more critical to ensure that we By Adolf Kloke-Lesch leave no one behind. By Amina J. Mohammed 23 Acting on science We need bold reform now to place science INTRODUCTION genuinely at the heart of decision-making. By Kirsten Brosbøl and Neena Joshi 10 A global roadmap for recovery The SDGs provide a ready-made plan for 26 Fostering innovation tackling humankind’s two greatest threats: The Decade of Action demands rapid COVID-19 and climate change. The solutions and impactful innovation in all areas to are within our reach. By Jeffrey D. Sachs make Agenda 2030 a reality. By Nebojsa Nakicenovic

CROSS-CUTTING THEMES 30 Speeding up progress “Incubators for transformative partnerships” 12 Recovery built on the SDGs could be a critical tool to fast-track action on The SDGs provide the only possible path to the SDGs. By Carlos Mataix Aldeanueva, lead us from current crises to a future of long- Teresa Sánchez Chaparro, Julio Lumbreras term survival for our planet and inhabitants. Martín, Jaime Moreno Serna, and Miguel By Phoebe Koundouri Soberón

SDG ACTION 3 CONTENTS

HEALTH

48 Lessons from COVID-19 The pandemic has cruelly exposed social inequities and set back progress on the SDGs. But it also gives us critical insights on what must change in our global mission to build a more just, secure, and sustainable future. By Salim S. Abdool Karim and Cheryl Baxter

51 Tackling NCDs In current times, it’s easy to forget that over 70% of deaths worldwide are due to non- communicable diseases. How can we tackle their rise? By Nísia Trindade Lima and Carlos A. Grabois Gadelha

53 Better living through nutrition Despite the will, many developing countries lack the resources to deal with a problem that ravages at both the national and individual level. We need smarter, context-specific 10 solutions on nutrition that can catalyze sustainable change. By Namukolo Covic

32 Education to achieve the SDGs 56 Universal healthcare post-COVID Making the SDGs a reality will require people With the pandemic demonstrating that with new mindsets as well as new skills. By “no one is safe until everyone is safe,” the Chandrika Bahadur and María Cortés Puch case for universal health coverage has never been clearer. How do we achieve it? 35 A new era of multilateralism? By K. Srinath Reddy The last four years have seen a fractured and antagonistic approach to global affairs. Is a 59 Spending smarter on health new era possible? By Miguel Ángel Moratinos Achieving good health and well-being for all by 2030, while restoring public finances, will need 38 America back on board cost-effective spending on health. The US is once again committed to tackling By Zulfiqar A. Bhutta and Jai K. Das climate change. Can it succeed, and take the rest of the world with it? By Elena Crete, Helen Bond, Dan Esty, and Gordon C. McCord SOCIETY

41 At the turning point? 62 Building a more equal world After years of rhetoric and little action, is Post-pandemic, we must go beyond lifting this year finally the moment when political people out of poverty and tackle the deeper will, technological advancement, and ESG structural causes of inequality at all levels. investment combine to set the Earth on a path By Max Lawson to net zero? By Jeffrey D. Sachs 65 Equality for women 44 No alternatives to facts The pandemic is negatively impacting women Improvements in technology have made more than men, by exacerbating already information more accessible than ever. Then entrenched inequalities. We need bold, why has public debate in recent years been transformative action if we are to achieve overrun with false narratives, and what can be SDG 5 by the end of the decade. done? By Grant Cameron By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

4 SDG ACTION CONTENTS

68 Achieving the just transition 89 Bridging the growing finance gap The phasing out of fossil fuels must be fair to We must rapidly accelerate the take-up all, including those communities dependent of financial instruments for sustainable on polluting industries. By Robert Pollin development if we’re to meet the 2030 deadline. By Felipe Larraín Bascuñán and Luis E. Gonzales-Carrasco CITIES 94 Reinventing capitalism 70 Cities as vanguards for action Business leaders are rallying behind a bold This decade, we must transform how agenda for business action and long-term cities operate to drive global efforts on value creation, fully aligned with the SDGs and sustainable development, climate action, the Paris Agreement. By Peter Bakker and recovery from COVID-19. By Maimunah Mohd Sharif 96 Rooting out bad money From illegal pollution to terrorism, one critical 72 Greening older buildings way to curb nefarious action is to identify and While regulations for new buildings are cut off its finance. ByOlajumoke M. Akiode improving sustainability, the vast majority of existing properties predate these rules. How can we “fix” older buildings? ByAlexei Trundle 12

74 Towards emission-free mobility in cities For cities of the future, the car will not be king. Redesigning cities to promote sustainable and safer forms of transport must start now. By Alejandro Saniger

78 A new approach to waste We must urgently find ways to turn burgeoning waste from cities into a resource. By Stella Kasiva and James Mwololo

80 Reimagining cities For the world’s growing urban populations, the “new normal” must mean sustainable places to live and work, and ways to travel. By Barbara Norman and Peter Newman

FINANCE

82 Long-term focus? Six years after signing up to sustainable development and climate action, are countries’ plans fit for purpose to make long- term change? By Guillaume Lafortune and Finn Woelm

86 Fair finance Development in low-income countries is too often thwarted by lack of access to finance. We must connect promising projects in these nations with the capital lifeline they need and 65 deserve. By Preeti Sinha

SDG ACTION 5 CONTENTS

111 Respecting planetary boundaries Climate is just one of nine identified ‘planetary boundaries’, beyond which humanity’s future comes under threat. By Johan Rockström

NATURAL RESOURCES

114 Sustainable mining How can we ensure that a healthy extractives industry delivers on the SDGs? By Lisa Sachs, Martin Dietrich Brauch, and Antonio M.A. Pedro

118 Feeding the world sustainably To balance the combined pressures of climate change and growing populations, we need to re-evaluate what we eat and where and how it’s grown. By Ken E. Giller

121 Restoring land 111 Countries must act on land restoration now. By Marion Ferrat and Micheline Khan

CLIMATE & ENERGY 125 Ocean solutions The continuous degradation of ocean health 98 Global climate ambition represents a major civilizational challenge With a stronger concentration of national and should be high on the international policy leaders who recognize the need to act, what agenda. By Vladimir Ryabinin can we now realistically hope to achieve on climate action? By Teresa Ribera 128 Save our species Halting biodiversity loss calls for all countries The reproduction of advertisements in 100 Weaning the world off fossil fuels to act now. By Aline Mosnier, Sarah K. Jones, this publication does not in any way imply endorsement by SDSN or Witan Media Ltd of What is holding up progress on the transition and Andrea C. Sánchez products or services referred to therein to carbon neutrality, and what must we do to speed it up? By Fatima Denton 131 About us More about SDG Action 103 Next generation of energy Technologies like wind power and photovoltaic solar have advanced from expensive, With thanks to our supporters: subsidized, niche technology to wide-scale, commercially competitive solutions. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority 20 By Mechthild Wörsdörfer The Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz 47 International Prize for Water 106 Ramping up renewables Liechtenstein Bankers Association 92 We need robust political, economic, and technological levers and deeper sectoral Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board 117 collaboration if we’re to bring clean power to World Gold Council 132 all. By Fei Teng UnipolSai Assicurazioni online 108 Preparing for climate change Federated Hermes online With the impacts of climate change ramping up, building resilience, particularly in Participation of sponsors does not imply endorsement developing countries and small island states, by SDSN or Witan Media. is now critical and urgent. By David C. Smith

6 SDG ACTION CONTENTS

End poverty in all its End hunger, achieve forms everywhere food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

pages 8, 53, 59, 118 pages 53, 59, 125

Ensure healthy Ensure inclusive Achieve gender lives and promote and equitable quality equality and empower well-being for all education and promote all women and girls at all ages lifelong learning opportunities for all

pages 48, 51, 53, 56, 59 pages 32, 108 pages 8, 65

Ensure availability Ensure access to Promote sustained, and sustainable affordable, reliable, inclusive and sustainable management of water sustainable and economic growth, full and and sanitation for all modern energy for all productive employment and decent work for all

pages 111, 114 pages 23, 41, 68, 72, 100, 103, 106, 108, 114 pages 30, 53, 56, 65, 68, 80, 89, 94

Build resilient Reduce inequality Make cities and infrastructure, within and among human settlements promote inclusive countries inclusive, safe, and sustainable resilient and industrialisation and sustainable foster innovation

pages 8, 12, 35, 48, 51, 53, 56, 62, 70, 80, pages 12, 26, 68, 94, 118 94, 108, 114 pages 12, 16, 23, 38, 70, 72, 78, 80, 100, 111

Ensure sustainable Take urgent action Conserve and consumption and to combat climate sustainably use the production patterns change and its oceans, seas and impacts marine resources for sustainable development

pages 8, 12, 38, 41, 68, 72, 80, 82, 89, 94, 96, pages 12, 23, 78, 94, 100, 111, 118, 125, 128 98, 100, 103, 106, 108, 111, 114, 121, 125, 128 pages 111, 125, 128

Protect, restore and Promote peaceful and Strengthen the means promote sustainable inclusive societies of implementation use of terrestrial for sustainable and revitalise the ecosystems, development, provide global partnership sustainably manage access to justice for for sustainable forests, combat all and build effective, development desertification, accountable and and halt and reverse inclusive institutions at land degradation and all levels halt biodiversity loss pages 8, 12, 16, 23, 30, 35, 38, 41, 44, 53, pages 96, 111, 114, 118, 121, 128 pages 8, 16, 35, 44, 65, 70, 94, 96 82, 89, 96, 98, 106, 125

SDG ACTION 7 FOREWORD © UN in Papua New Guinea Healing people and planet

The pandemic makes the SDGs even more relevant, even more critical to ensure that we leave no one behind

By Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy than 10% of gross domestic product on consequences. All of this has also been Secretary-General, United Nations; rescue packages and other measures, accompanied by an alarming increase in Chair, United Nations Sustainable emerging economies and the poorest male violence against women and girls. Development Group countries have lower budgets and little The pandemic has hit the most fiscal space, and face liquidity shortfalls vulnerable hardest, including:

OVID-19 has shaken the pillars of that constrain their responses. ● people caught up in conflicts or our world with all-encompassing The crisis has also highlighted and disasters Cdisruption: societies, economies, exacerbated pre-existing inequalities ● children and youth and people are reeling. According to across the world. This is particularly the ● persons with disabilities

United Nations estimates, the pandemic case for gender equality, where we risk ● people lacking social protection

has pushed 114.4 million people into losing a generation of gains. ● those in the informal sector extreme poverty, and we are forecasting Women have been pushed out of the sharp declines in the UN Human labor force and into poverty in higher It has caused immense psychological Development Index. numbers, and are absorbing the burden suffering for millions with limited mental While rich countries have eased of skyrocketing care responsibilities health services. And it has exposed the some of the pain by spending more alongside the economic and health perils of encroachment on wild habitats,

8 SDG ACTION FOREWORD

Members of a community in Hoiebia, of decision-making, advance economic in civil society, the private sector, local Papua New Guinea, meet with Amina J. inclusion, invest in the care economy, authorities, and other sectors and Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General. and enact laws and national emergency stakeholders. The community is home to families plans that prevent violence by men The summits, high-level meetings, displaced by disasters and conflict against women and girls. We have seen and other key moments this year in the last year the effectiveness of provide many opportunities to come women’s leadership in achieving better together in the face of today’s multiple which are the primary pathways for outcomes for all, and so can build on emergencies and heal people and emerging infectious diseases. With those successes. planet. These include: biodiversity declining and climate Responding to the climate ● COP26, the United Nations climate change intensifying, the current emergency will require: change conference in Glasgow in crisis must also be a wake-up call to ● halving emissions by 2030 November transform our relationship with nature. (compared with 1990 levels) ● COP15 on Biodiversity, aimed

● ending environmentally harmful at adopting a post-2020 global A new urgency subsidies and the building of new biodiversity framework to halt the The upheaval has underscored the coal-fired power plants extinction crisis urgency of the SDGs. Indeed, the 2030 ● investing in renewable energy ● the UN Food Systems Summit

Agenda for Sustainable Development is ● shifting to sustainable food systems ● the Generation Equality Forum designed to address the very fragilities ● taking advantage of nature-based ● gatherings on sustainable transport and shortcomings that the pandemic solutions and energy has exposed. This means that ● ensuring just transitions

COVID-19 recovery is an opportunity ● achieving net-zero emissions by the Pummeled as we have been by the to invest in the SDGs and to find a path middle of the century pandemic, we can still draw strength that: from the human spirit displayed so

● promotes public health Beyond the benefits for the health widely and movingly across these

● revitalizes economies of people and planet, the transition challenging months: the heroics of

● safeguards the environment to net zero will bring substantial new essential workers, the collaboration of

● closes the digital divide opportunities for employment. scientists to produce vaccines in record

● brings people in from the margins

● builds long-term resilience, sustainability, opportunity, and peace Ending poverty and ensuring equality will require a major expansion of social protection But doing so requires bold policy choices. We need to put the SDGs, systems and a reimagining of education, women’s full inclusion, and the aims health, jobs, and financial systems of the Paris Agreement on climate change at the heart of the pandemic recovery. We need to make sure Finance and cooperation time, the passion of young climate that countries have the resources to Financing will be crucial and developing activists, and the engagement of those continue responding to the pandemic countries will need solid packages of calling for gender equality and racial and to recover better, including through support. This is a central focus of the justice. debt relief. And we need to ensure the initiative launched by the Secretary- The appetite for change is palpable. equitable distribution of vaccines. General, together with the Prime The 2030 Agenda provides the guiding Ministers of Canada and Jamaica, on light towards a safer, more equitable Raising ambition Financing for Development in the Era and peaceful world for today’s and It will be critical to raise ambition on of COVID-19 and Beyond. The entire future generations. The decisions three major fronts: poverty, gender financial system has started to shift, taken over the next few months and equality, and climate action. led by champions such as the Net-Zero years will have enormous impact on Ending poverty and ensuring equality Asset Owners Alliance, representing where we will be by 2030. will require a major expansion of social USD 5.7 trillion of assets under The United Nations will continue protection systems and a reimagining management. to work actively with all partners of education, health, jobs, and financial We also need a reinvigorated to make the most of this pivotal systems. Tackling gender equality will multilateralism: networked to promote moment and to propel the world into require funding and political will to closer cooperation among international a transformative Decade of Action to achieve equal participation in all realms organizations, and inclusive to bring deliver the SDGs.

SDG ACTION 9 INTRODUCTION A global roadmap for recovery

The SDGs provide a ready-made plan for tackling humankind’s two greatest threats: COVID-19 and climate change. The solutions are within our reach

By Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, Center cooperation, technological innovation, some days it seems that the answer is for Sustainable Development, Columbia commitment to social justice, long-term yes to all of these questions, but the University; President, UN Sustainable planning, and financial mobilization – important essays in this volume remind Development Solutions Network are the same prerequisites for success us otherwise. Cooperation is possible, in our other global challenges. Climate and human needs can prevail over udos to the authors of the SDG change too can be faced only with vested interests, greed, and the pursuit Action Report for helping us deep global cooperation, innovative of power. Kto see the way forward. The energy technologies, commitments to Take the case of climate change, world was complicated enough before a just transition, planning to 2050, and discussed by several of the COVID-19, but became immeasurably the mobilization of finances needed for writers. First, the news is good more complicated with the pandemic. the large-scale energy transformation in regarding innovation. Zero-carbon How can we think about bold global all parts of the world. energy technologies, ranging from goals when we are in the midst of battle We can say, in short, that the photovoltaics to electric vehicles, are against a virus? challenges of sustainable development improving dramatically. We can see the The answer comes in two parts. First, require a new kind of thinking and technological pathway to a net-zero the path to success in fighting COVID-19 a new kind of policy-making. The emissions economy by mid-century. has much in common with the path to essays in this volume make this very Second, there is a growing success in achieving the Sustainable clear. Our problems today – whether movement of global cooperation Development Goals and objectives of from disease, climate change, loss of around the shared vision of reaching the Paris Climate Agreement. Second, biodiversity, gender discrimination, net-zero emissions by mid-century. The the SDGs and Paris Agreement give a poverty traps, or others – cut across world’s major economies are signing global roadmap for recovery, enabling us society and the economy, engage the on to the vision of rapid, global-scale to rebound quickly and effectively from entire world, and require long-term decarbonization. the pandemic. global and national strategies for Third, even though the mobilization Whether we are fighting a pandemic, or transformation. of official financing for climate action climate change, or loss of biodiversity, or There are no easy and pat solutions. has been woefully slow up until now, the scourges of extreme poverty, we face The “magic of the marketplace” the world is finally beginning to focus a similar set of challenges of global scale. won’t solve our problems. Nor can attention on the trillions of dollars of To succeed against COVID-19, we any single sector or innovation. new renewable energy financing that must cooperate globally, since the virus Sustainable development requires a will be needed, and on the role of and its new variants do not stop at holistic approach to problem-solving, the multilateral financial institutions national borders. We need to mobilize one that simultaneously addresses such as the World Bank and regional innovations, such as new vaccines and economic, social, and environmental development banks that can play a therapeutics. We need social justice, objectives, that calls for unprecedented crucial role in that financial mobilization. so that we don’t leave the poor to cooperation across nations, and Fourth, the major stakeholders across suffer while the rich are able to protect collaboration across stakeholders, society are finally coalescing around themselves. We need forward planning, including government, business, the climate realities. Young people for example to achieve comprehensive academia and civil society. have been in the lead, forcing the older vaccine coverage in the coming This kind of holistic and ethical generation to abandon the delays and months. We need financial resources, approach may seem far-fetched. cynicism that have blocked effective mobilized to face humanitarian crises, After all, isn’t conflict between action for so many years. Businesses buy and distribute vaccines, and propel nations inevitable? Aren’t businesses are coming around too, and when economic recovery. committed to profits ahead of societal the managers are too slow, activist Yet these systematic prerequisites interests? Aren’t the rich and the poor shareholders are increasingly jumping for ending the pandemic – global condemned to social conflict? On into action.

10 SDG ACTION INTRODUCTION © UNDP / Jodi Hilton

In our thinking at the UN Sustainable We have two major tasks in the year A Roma mother and baby attend a health Development Solutions Network, the ahead. The first, most urgently and check at a pediatric clinic in Serbia. The SDGs and the Paris Agreement require obviously, is to win the battle over COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated and six major transformations across COVID-19. There have been four million highlighted the inequalities experienced by minority groups global society. These are spelled out in confirmed COVID-19 deaths by mid- the Sustainable Development Report 2021 (and many more deaths from the 2021. The transformations include: pandemic not properly counted). This quality education for all; healthcare scourge must be brought to a rapid global assent on a common framework and wellbeing for all; clean energy and end. Our most important task in the for action. industry; sustainable agriculture and coming months is to ensure universal As an economist, I will conclude this land use; sustainable cities; and digital vaccine coverage, while maintaining the introduction with a call to action on transformation with universal access to other needed public health measures financing for sustainable development. digital services. and precautions. We are a very rich world beset by The essays in this volume touch on The second challenge is to secure the poverty and self-inflicted environmental all of these critical transformations. path of recovery, not merely to return destruction. They show, in fact, the feasibility to the pre-COVID status quo, but to The actions called for in this volume of these transformations. We have launch a new global trajectory towards are not expensive, especially compared impressive new technologies, rising sustainable development, including with the costs of inaction. The end global awareness, and ample potential success in the SDGs and the Paris of poverty is within our reach, and a financing if we direct our resources Climate Agreement. Several important safe environment is similarly within properly. In short, we have the global summits this year will take on our grasp. By pursuing the wise technological and financial tools that the great challenges of sustainable approaches recommended throughout we need for sustainable development, if food systems, protection of biodiversity, this volume, and investing our we adopt the proper mindset and policy and climate change. We will have resources in those solutions, we can strategies needed for success. the key occasions, therefore, to win indeed achieve the future we want.

SDG ACTION 11 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © iStock

By Phoebe Koundouri, Director, ReSEES Research Laboratory, Athens Recovery built on University of Economics and Business; Co-chair, UN Sustainable Development the SDGs Solutions Network (SDSN) Europe e currently face three simultaneous global The SDGs provide the only possible path to lead W“tsunamis”: the COVID-19 us from current crises to a future of long-term pandemic, the economic crisis that derives from the pandemic, and the survival for our planet and inhabitants mother of all crises, the climate crisis. To respond to the health crisis, we take

12 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

Park Biblioteca degli Alberi (Library of extreme weather events and poverty sustainable industry

Trees) with the towers of Bosco Verticale for hundreds of millions of people will ● sustainable food, land, water, oceans

(Vertical Forest) in Milan, Italy. The European significantly increase. ● sustainable cities and communities Union has instituted NextGenerationEU, a Currently, there is no country in the ● digital revolution for sustainable €750 billion temporary recovery instrument world that is not experiencing the development to help repair the immediate economic and drastic effects of climate change. The social damage from the COVID-19 pandemic. Its aims and substance align with the EU’s annual average economic losses from Each transformation respects the net-zero plan (the European Green Deal) and climate-related disasters are in the strong interdependencies across the the SDGs hundreds of billions of dollars. Between 17 SDGs. The transformations identify 1998 and 2017, 1.3 million people were priority investments and regulatory killed and 4.4 billion injured by climate- challenges, calling for actions by well- related events. defined parts of government, business, social distancing measures. Biomedical As indicated in the UNEP Emissions and civil society. research, meanwhile, has enabled Gap Report 2020, current nationally Indeed, beyond the fiscal stimuli the production of relevant vaccines, determined contributions (NDCs) that are expected to boost aggregate which provide hope for containing the for climate change mitigation are demand, this crisis calls for pandemic. inadequate to achieve the Paris goals, transformative public investments. To respond to the economic crisis, and would lead to a temperature These must shape a sustainable, both short and medium-term measures increase of at least 3°C by the end of resilient, job-based, socially inclusive, have been employed. Short-term the century. The net-zero emissions green, and digital transition, and must measures try to avoid the pandemic goals recently announced in Europe, also leverage private-sector investment. turning into a major economic and China, and other major economies could The message that we must get across financial disaster that will long outlast reduce this increase by about 0.5°C. to all relevant stakeholders, politicians, the health crisis. Currently, these measures include ensuring that:

● the workforce remains employed This crisis calls for transformative even if quarantined public investments. These must shape a ● public and private institutions have the financial support to help sustainable, resilient, job-based, socially vulnerable citizen groups inclusive, green, and digital transition ● small and medium-sized enterprises are safeguarded against bankruptcy

● policies are enacted to support the The tools to enact change policymakers, businesses, financial financial system as non-performing The main question we need to answer institutions, and civil society is that, in loans mount is: how can countries recover in a way addition to the moral case, there is an that simultaneously responds to this economic case for a sustainable and Medium and long-term responses unprecedented triple crisis? The answer resilient recovery. Various simulations focus on developing fiscal packages is that the relevant blueprint already of the effect of green recovery plans that will finance the recovery, exists. It consists of the Sustainable worldwide confirm that a green comparable to the crisis-related loss of Development Goals (SDGs) and the economic stimulus is more growth- gross domestic product (GDP). These Paris Agreement on climate change. enhancing than a “return-to-normal” fiscal packages will have to be financed Both these frameworks call for deep stimulus. The latter would merely boost by national debt. As such, they will be transformations in every country, current, unsustainable consumption paid for by future generations. requiring complementary actions by and production patterns. The current generation therefore has governments, civil society, science, and In the 2021 statement of the Lancet a moral responsibility to “build forward business. COVID-19 Commission Task Force better” in a way that considers the An excellent framework for realizing on Green Recovery, we argue that the prosperity of future generations. That the 17 SDGs is the Six Transformations following policy-financial-technology means restarting our socio-economic introduced by UN SDSN, which provide interactions will provide the required systems and their interaction with modular building blocks of SDG impetus to transform the recovery into natural ecosystems in a sustainable way. achievement. The Six Transformations a green and digital future:

One major challenge for a sustainable are: ● Recent political commitments to recovery is the urgency of tackling the ● education, gender, and inequality achieve climate neutrality by around climate crisis, to limit global warming ● health, well-being, and demography mid-century in Europe, China and to 1.5°C, beyond which the risk of ● energy decarbonization and other major economies.

SDG ACTION 13 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

● Strategies based on environmental, complexity of the energy system: “mission” of central banks to include

social, and corporate governance ● variable renewable energy sources climate and environmental degradation

(ESG) and investing in sustainability ● zero-carbon technologies risks.

now account for over one third of ● public and private investments The European Investment Bank (EIB)

global assets under management ● natural and engineered systems and the European Investment Fund

and are likely to be the majority of ● mitigation and adaptation have the expertise and scale to set

global assets in the coming years, ● centralized and decentralized the direction in deploying equity-type which changes the direction of solutions financial instruments complementary

global capital flows. ● actions and strategies to loans and guarantees. At the meso

● Renewable energy sources, ● research and development activities level, national public investment circular economy production and promoted by research institutions organizations provide positive sources consumption practices, and nature- and academia and funded by the of long-term patient finance, which based solutions, offering significant private or public sector support sustainable investing. At financial private and public benefits, the micro level, companies need to major reductions in greenhouse gas Moreover, EU countries should have understand that those which switch emissions footprint, coupled with detailed plans exploring all options for towards sustainable or green practices numerous health and social benefits. decarbonizing their economies, and soonest will be the most competitive, the associated costs. These should most innovative, and most successful European Green Deal be reflected in their national energy over time. The European Green Deal (EGD) is an and climate plans, and their Paris An important mobilizer for the interesting case study for an SDG- Agreement NDCs. EU countries need European sustainability transition is the based transformative transition, as broad policy frameworks that contain: EU taxonomy, launched in 2019. This

it provides the right level of ambition ● clear goals is a classification system that defines

and direction for the long-run vision ● technology roadmaps sustainable economic activities, and

of the joint implementation of the ● regulatory assignments to as such creates a common language SDGs and the Paris Agreement. UN stakeholders for investors and lenders. The EU

SDSN has showcased work around ● strong systems of deliberation taxonomy can scale up private and

the recovery in Europe in a recent ● strategies to raise public awareness public investments to finance the

report. The main message from the ● mechanisms for reporting on transition to a climate-neutral and green report is that the SDGs, the EGD outcomes economy. The challenge is to connect

and the NextGenerationEU recovery ● a holistic approach the taxonomy with financial instruments

instrument (worth €750 billion, in ● a focus on energy efficiency and (green or transition bonds, green loans, addition to European Multiannual energy saving on the demand side, and so on) and business reporting. Financial Framework, and focused limiting worldwide energy demand Currently, corporate leaders and on a green, digital, inclusive recovery) without compromising economic investors deal with two separate and are consistent policies, with the same development and energy access disconnected business reporting targets and content. systems: one for financial results The SDSN report also discusses Since the 1980s, governments in and the other for ESG performance. the actual transformation pathways Europe were asked to intervene only for What are needed are hybrid metrics, that can mobilize the European the purpose of fixing market failures. allowing companies to report both their transformation and are also relevant Now governments are asked to make financial profits and their footprint on for the global sustainable recovery. significant long-term investments the environment and the society. Such In the report we argue that the EGD to support rapid recovery from the metrics will enable a new frontier for and the European Recovery and coronavirus shock. Businesses do not sustainable valuation. Resilience Facility (the main part invest unless they see an opportunity Another crucial dimension of the of NextGenerationEU) should be for growth, so turning mitigation into sustainability transition, explicitly conceived with a systems approach. opportunities for investment and addressed by both the SDGs and This means simultaneously addressing innovation is key. the EGD, is the importance of a just multiple objectives and promoting Sustainable innovation requires and inclusive transition. For this, policy instruments and technological patient, long-term, strategic job creation multipliers are crucial. solutions that can be used across the finance. This demands a significant Investments in line with the EGD can various sectors of the economy. entrepreneurial role for the state to lead to approximately one million new Within this systems approach, it provide the required patience. At the jobs in energy and energy-related is important to consider the many macro level, Europe needs to re- sectors in Europe by 2030. Most new complementarities for managing the conceptualize financial stability and the jobs created in Europe will be in highly

14 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

skilled positions, requiring substantial engagement are crucial for supporting address the immediate consequences training. A third of new jobs will require the green and digital stimulus measures of the pandemic, but also to build moderate retraining (transitioning enacted by governments and society. back in a way that is more sustainable, workers within the same industry or As in all crises, timing is critical. inclusive, and resilient. occupation). Very few opportunities The post-pandemic fiscal stimulus is As a response, the International in Europe, however, will be for low- larger than anything we’ve seen before. Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, skilled jobs. Moreover, the distributional Policymakers need guidance, and fast, including major economies like the US, effects of key EU climate policies to steer between health protection, the EU, China, and other G20 countries, should be considered. Measures to economic relief, and climate resilience. have signaled their support for a new limit the regressive effects of combined The potential of sector-specific policies USD 650 billion special drawing rights mitigation policy options should ensure and reforms to green and digitize the allocation of IMF reserves. These more equality, increase GDP and economy could be assessed through a will ensure that governments in low employment, and have a progressive comprehensive list of sustainability and and middle-income countries have effect in all EU regions. resilience criteria, explicitly linked with the means to combat the COVID-19 The energy transition must be the SDGs. pandemic and start on the path of inclusive and fair for all people in investment-led recovery. Europe, while EGD and recovery and A global challenge Given that this help, together with resilience plans should be oriented to Looking at the global picture, financial the existing Recovery and Resilience reduce income inequalities. Genuine resources and commitments for a Facility, will start being implemented stakeholder participation can ensure post-COVID-19 recovery are so far around September 2021, the world’s democratic oversight, as well as largely insufficient for a green recovery, capacity for deploying the green and directing public funds towards the most including in most G20 countries. Low- digital transformative transition to socially desirable uses. Open-source income countries and some emerging sustainability will certainly be tested in models, transparency, and stakeholder markets urgently need support to the next three years.

FIGURE 1: Progress in the world for each SDG since 2015 in percentage points

SDG 1: No poverty 3.0 p.p.

SDG 2: Zero hunger 1.1 p.p.

SDG 3: Good health and well-being 1.3 p.p.

SDG 4: Quality education 1.4 p.p.

SDG 5: Gender equality 2.6 p.p.

SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation 0.4 p.p.

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy 1.1 p.p.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth 0.8 p.p.

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 8.6 p.p.

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities 1.8 p.p.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production -0.4 p.p.

SDG 13: Climate action 0.4 p.p.

SDG 14: Life below water 0.1 p.p.

SDG 15: Life on land -0.3 p.p.

SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions 1.3 p.p.

0

Note: Population-weighted averages. Insufficient data for SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source: Sustainable Time series data for SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) is only based on the indicator “Electronic waste (kg/capita).” Development Report 2021

SDG ACTION 15 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

By Adolf Kloke-Lesch, Governance tested Co-Chair, SDSN Europe he challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals The pandemic has painfully exposed many T (SDGs) puts the way in which societies’ inability to deal with crises. We we govern ourselves to the test. If we wanted to achieve the SDGs by must urgently innovate and democratize 2030 by just using the governance our governance structures if we’re to thwart structures of the pre-2015 world, we would end up in that world again, or the existential threats facing humankind even worse. © Christophe Archambault / AFP via Getty Images © Christophe Archambault

16 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

For several years, our domestic Why governance is ineffective as well as the increase of geopolitical political systems and the global In many countries, politics and society tensions, let multilateral, solution- governance architecture have been are characterized by institutional, oriented cooperation grind almost to a struggling to respond effectively political, and ideological path halt. The patchy international reaction to people’s changing needs and dependencies, where practices to the pandemic has sadly been further aspirations, as well as to present and continue based on historic preference. proof of this. future threats to our societies. The nature of entrenched vested The need for integrated, all-society, The COVID-19 pandemic has further interests and power elites also and all-humanity approaches to the laid bare the deficiencies of how renders it difficult to adequately great challenges of our times is at our societies, as well as humanity address challenges like the pandemic, odds with two main features of today’s as a whole, deal with common and climate change, or the fracturing of domestic and global governance. collective problems. societies. Where political systems First is the separation and division of fail to respond to grievances, bring labor between policy fields at both the forward responsible leadership, national and international level. This or integrate heterogeneous values goes beyond ministries or international and norms among societal groups, organizations and extends to business, populist movements and leaders can academia, and society. The underlying more easily exploit frustration, often rational of effective policymaking exacerbating the underlying root assumes that the sum of rational causes. actions in each field yields the best On the other hand, we observe societal or global impact. societal movements like Fridays Second is the narrow understanding For Future and Black Lives Matter, of the role of the state and of the and democracy and human rights interaction between nation states. activism in all continents that call for Here, the focus lies on regulating solutions to these problems. In some competition or balancing interests places, they are increasingly met in the domestic and global markets with the authoritarian arm of political as well as between nation states. systems, particularly in the wake of the Only at the nation-state level is this pandemic. accompanied by public finance in Similarly, many features of the the order of 30% to 50% of gross present global governance architecture domestic product for investment in hail from a time when our world looked infrastructure and redistribution. different from today. Over the past Again, the misguided assumption is decades we have seen major global that such an approach alone can best shifts in demography, economics, serve the interests of the individual and politics. These shifts, as well as economic actors or nation states, and today’s urgent needs for collective therefore of society and humanity at action to safeguard the future of large. humanity, are not adequately mirrored in our global institutions. Transformations and new ways of It was a rare and historic achievement working when in 2015 world leaders adopted The mismatch between our ambitions the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable and the way we govern ourselves Development and the Paris Agreement creates a dilemma. We need to change on climate change. However, the first policies faster than we can responsibly five years of the implementation of change politics. The only way forward both did not meet expectations. On is disruptive incrementalism: looking for the contrary, the rise of populist and doable, smaller steps that can trigger nationalist counter-transformations, bigger, transformative change. In this respect, two interrelated approaches are proving both innovative Demonstrators from several NGOs and and helpful templates for transformative unions call for a “true” law on climate at governance. First, advancing the Place de la Republique in Paris, France implementation of the 2030 Agenda

SDG ACTION 17 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

and the Paris Agreement by focusing unions, the scientific community, and respond to this innovative, cross- on a limited set of key transformations. the political parties that made up the cutting approach. And, second, creating new ways for government. various actors to collaborate to drive The agreement reached by the Build forward better by aligning these transformations forward. commission in 2019 may not satisfy economic governance with The concept of SDG transformations everyone’s ambitions, but without transformation was introduced by the global research it the German energy transition The urgent need to respond to the initiative, The World in 2050 and would probably have ended up in economic and social damage caused developed further by the first Global a “governance gridlock.” This and by the pandemic in a way consistent Sustainable Development Report other examples have shown that with the Global Goals requires an (GSDR) prepared for the UN in 2019. such cooperation can be successful, innovative re-alignment of economic The GSDR identifies six systemic from the international Extractive governance mechanisms. transformations (like food systems Industries Transparency Initiative In Europe, the NextGenerationEU and nutrition patterns) and four (EITI) to municipal advisory boards recovery instrument links solidarity transformational levers (like science for sustainable development. Another and transformation in a continent-wide and technology) (see Figure 1). This way is the introduction of randomly endeavor. It is innovative not only in approach is mirrored in the European composed citizens’ assemblies, such the way it is financed but also in how Green Deal (EGD), which designs a set as the French Citizens’ Convention on it is governed. All member states both of deeply transformative policies to Climate. Whether through stakeholder contribute to and benefit from the implement the 2030 Agenda, and was commissions of antagonistic facility. They must all present recovery also adopted by the recently updated cooperation or citizens’ assemblies, and resilience plans that will be German Sustainable Development success hinges on how the legislative assessed by the European Commission Strategy. and executive branches of government and approved by the European Council. The concept of SDG transformations deal with the output of these fora. Although there are some procedural both requires and allows for shortcomings with regard to the government, business, and civil Transforming policy advice operational role of both the SDGs and society to work together in new ways Transformative politics needs the EGD, NextGenerationEU is the across different sectors, to define transformative policy advice that biggest chance ever to restart the EU’s goals and put integrated solutions breaks the boundaries of traditional transformation towards sustainable into practice. These new ways of disciplines. But most scientific advisory development. For this to happen, the working are not meant to supplant the councils are mandated and peopled European Commission and the member established structures of government in ways that mirror government states need to strongly link the design, and governance. Rather, they should departmental structures. Councils of assessment, implementation and complement, incentivize and reform economic experts advise the ministries monitoring of their recovery plans to the structures to deliver the necessary of finance and economy. Councils of the EGD and the SDGs. Furthermore, change. natural scientists talk to the ministries they must ensure that all stakeholders for climate and the environment. If in sustainable development, from More power to the people departmental policymakers and their business to civil-society organizations The example of the German respective epistemic communities are to academia, are fully involved in the Coal Commission has shown locked in self-referential discourse, unfolding processes (including in the that coordinated action for deep solutions to problems that require European Semester, the framework for transformation can be agreed upon cross-departmental cooperation are the coordination of economic policies by the “antagonistic cooperation” of hard to find. across the EU). politics, business, and civil society. Since 2018, SDSN Germany and the In 2018, the Federal Government Science Platform Sustainability 2030 Universal cooperation appointed and mandated the Coal have invited around 20 key advisory Achieving the SDGs requires an Commission to develop a plan for councils across government to the so- international cooperation architecture the gradual phasing out of coal- called Beirätedialog, an annual dialogue that is truly universal, one which fired power generation, which at of the scientific councils. The aim is encourages transformations in all the time accounted for one third of to foster interaction on policy advice countries, poorer and richer alike. As we Germany’s total power generation. and alignment with the 2030 Agenda. are learning from both the pandemic and The commission was composed The dialogue has already led to some our collective sustainability challenges, of representatives from the energy joint initiatives and changes in advisory there is no direct correlation between sector, lignite mining regions, industry, work, but further success depends successful responses by countries and environmental associations, trade on the how government departments their income levels. All countries need

18 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

to live up to their responsibilities. All international cooperation architecture towards a new framework for financing can contribute to solutions within and is still trapped in the persistent path social, economic, and environmental beyond their borders. All should have a dependency of a North–South narrative challenges in rich, poor, and middle- voice in addressing challenges around that perceives cooperation as aid or income countries. This new model the globe. charity limited to poorer countries. of Global Public Investment is, in the Achieving the Global Goals critically Nonetheless, change is creeping words of former UN Development depends on implementation within in. In the fields of global health, Programme Administrator Helen the so-called developed countries as environment, and climate, new Clark, “our best bet for modernizing well as between them. The world is cooperation instruments have been international public finance for the moving on from a time when a few set up that follow innovative ways to 21st century.” countries had the solutions, money, mobilize, allocate, and govern funds. But do not be fooled: this transition and power, while others with the Among the contributors are some will not come cheap. We will need problems sat at the receiving end. poorer nations. Allocation follows significantly higher and more stable The voluntary national reviews (VNRs) more the necessity to act than the global funding to build forward better for the High-Level Political Forum on neediness of places. Countries can be after the pandemic and achieve the Sustainable Development and the both contributing and implementing Global Goals. Governing these funds nationally determined contributions partners at the same time, can engage differently is a precondition for doing so (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement in reciprocal and circular learning, and successfully. International cooperation are welcome first innovative steps in come together in governance bodies in for sustainable development needs the intergovernmental architecture new and equitable forms. to become universal, multimodal, that reflect the universality of both These experiences demonstrate mutual, and transformative if it wants agendas. In contrast, most of today’s that a transition is already underway to deliver change.

FIGURE 1: The six SDG Transformations underpinned by the principle of leaving no one behind, and circularity and decoupling

Leave No One Behind

1. EDUCATION, GENDER, AND INEQUALITY SDGS 1, 5, 7-10, 12-15, 17

2. HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND DEMOGRAPHY SDGS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10

3. ENERGY DECARBONIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY SDGS 1-16

4. SUSTAINABLE FOOD, LAND, WATER, AND OCEANS SDG 1-3, 5 6, 8, 10-15

5. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES SDGS 1-16

6. DIGITAL REVOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SDGS 1-4, 7-13, 17

Circularity and Decoupling

Source: Sachs J D, Schmidt-Traub G, Mazzucato M, Messner D, Nakicenovic N, Rockström J (2019). Nature Sustainability

SDG ACTION 19 DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY

Space-D: Innovation for the SDGs

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is harnessing the power of space technology to transform its electricity and water networks

ater and electricity are vital the best life for its people. UAE’s Vision Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler for life and, as such, are 2021 was launched by His Highness of Dubai, launches DEWA’s Space Program Wenshrined in the Sustainable Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Development Goals (SDGs) under Maktoum, Vice President and Prime SDG 6 and 7 respectively. As the sole Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, distinguished by its level of ambition: provider for electricity and water in the five years before the SDGs. it aspires to position the country as Emirate of Dubai, the Dubai Electricity The Vision had much common a world leader in all these areas. This and Water Authority (DEWA) has ground with the Goals: sustainable vision, combined with the efforts of made a commitment to support and environment (SDGs 13, 14 and 15) organizations and citizens, is enabling contribute to the SDGs. Its purpose is and infrastructure (SDGs 6, 7, 9 and the country to overcome challenges to provide globally leading sustainable, 11); world-class healthcare (SDG 3); and achieve its ambitions. efficient, and reliable power and water first-rate education system (SDG 4); As part of this drive to succeed, DEWA services, and related innovative smart competitive knowledge economy (SDG has made a commitment to support solutions. 8); and safe, public, and fair judiciary the country’s goals for sustainable (SDG 16). The country has now refined development by utilizing cutting-edge Visionary leadership and built on that vision to map its technologies and innovations. What The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a development for the next five decades. could be more cutting edge or innovative human-centric vision, aiming to provide The UAE Centennial Plan 2071 is than harnessing the power of space

20 SDG ACTION DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY

technology to revolutionize the provision of power and water? DEWA’s space program will pave the way for a new phase of Emirati capabilities in Space-D: DEWA’s space program In January 2021, His Highness Sheikh space exploration, technology, and related Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum industries that will be used to strengthen launched DEWA’s space program: Space-D. electricity and water networks in Dubai. This ambitious initiative aims to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA build DEWA’s capabilities and train Emirati professionals to use space technologies to enhance its electricity Space-D’s main satellite, equipped and supervision – with the ultimate and water networks. Space-D will with the latest imaging and objective to achieve full automation. utilize Fourth Industrial Revolution communication technologies, will be The benefits of this will be many and technologies such as the Internet launched in conjunction with Expo varied – from improved visibility across of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence 2020 Dubai, taking place between the system, to spotting anomalous (AI), and Blockchain to exchange October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. activity more quickly, to making better information using satellites and Earth A constellation of satellites, built by use of assets, and minimizing labor observation technologies. Emiratis at DEWA’s Research and costs. “DEWA’s space program will Development Centre at the Mohammed contribute to enhancing the UAE’s bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Predictive maintenance and global competitiveness and strategic will support the main satellite. A asset monitoring partnerships in the national space central ground station at the solar park Applying AI to the data captured from sector as well as paving the way for will communicate with transmission IoT sensors and satellite imagery will a new phase of Emirati capabilities stations across the electricity and water allow DEWA to more effectively monitor in space exploration, technology, networks. energy assets and predict when and related industries that will be maintenance is needed to avoid failures used to strengthen electricity and Digitizing power such as power outages. water networks in Dubai,” said Saeed Satellite connectivity, IoT sensors, Space-D will enable real-time event Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and AI will transform the network from and automated fault detection – and Chief Executive Officer of DEWA. individual energy silos to fully digitally everything from when overhead line Space-D will bring myriad benefits interconnected systems. It will see a poles tilt during abnormal weather, to across DEWA’s entire organization. revolution in automation, significantly when live conductors snap, vehicles It will increase the efficiency and reducing human-to-human coordination collide, land slips, or overhead lines effectiveness of DEWA’s planning and operations, reducing costs and work-hours. It will enhance preventive maintenance at its generation, transmission, and distribution divisions, as well as at its smart grids and electric vehicle charging stations. The new infrastructure will enhance DEWA’s flexibility and agility in monitoring and managing electricity and water networks. It will enable more accurate and rapid assessments of weather and climate change impacts on energy supplies and infrastructure. And it has the potential to provide a backup support system for the network through satellite communications.

A visualization of DEWA’s main Earth observation satellite. Built by Emiratis and launching in 2021, the satellite will be at the heart of a constellation of satellites

SDG ACTION 21 DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY

SPACE D PROGRAMME METHODOLOGY

DEWA Satellite Constellation Equipped with communication and cameras specially designed for Manufactured by Emiratis at the electricity and water networks uses Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

Internet of things and artificial intelligence sensors sending information to satellites Generation Network Transmission Station Transmission Station Transmission Station

Transmission Network Planning Distribution Network Satellite station control centre and data analysis

sag. The expected value and impact reactive power compensation, acknowledging and affirming the SDGs’ of this is a significant reduction in frequency response, as well as importance, identifying the SDGs of customer minutes lost and the number minimizing grid overload. greatest relevance, building capacity, of technical complaints. As well as and embedding the SDGs into its improving the reliability of the network, Bigger picture decision-making processes. benefits will also include better power Through innovation and sound scientific In 2021, DEWA won the prestigious supply quality, reduced operational planning, DEWA seeks to make its EFQM UN Sustainable Development costs, and less reliance on manual contribution to the UAE achieving its Goals (SDGs) Challenge, which labor, thanks to automating the centennial ambitions in 2071. Space-D recognizes DEWA’s efforts in inspection process. will be an important part of that. sustainable development and its The Space-D program supports the support of the UAE’s efforts to achieve Solar production forecasting UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030, the SDGs. Space-D will enhance production which aims to realize the leadership’s Through Space-D, DEWA is and management of solar power. The vision by using space sciences, strengthening its efforts to support the satellite constellation’s advanced technologies, applications, and services SDGs by utilizing modern technology to imaging capabilities, coupled with on- to enhance the country’s development. deliver its electricity and water services. the-ground weather stations and sky Space-D also supports the Dubai Clean Space-D has both direct and indirect imagers, will enable DEWA to develop Energy Strategy’s target of obtaining contributions to many of the Goals, AI algorithms and models to forecast 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity including SDGs 6, 7, 9, and 11. photovoltaic (PV) energy production for from clean energy sources by 2050. the coming hours. This will mean better regulation Supporting the SDGs and power scheduling in both the Since 2016, DEWA has made a decisive distribution and transmission grids, and effort to systematically explore how it being better able to assess fluctuations can increase its alignment to the SDGs and risks of intermittence. and be better positioned to contribute This in turn will generate a range of to their effective delivery. SDSN and its publisher thank the Dubai Electricity improvements in system stability and DEWA has aligned its strategies and Water Authority for its generous support efficiency, electric power balance, and operations with the SDGs by for this publication

22 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © European Union 2020 © European Acting on science

As political mantras go, “we’re guided by the science” ranks high. Yet established policymaking structures mean scientific considerations are often marginalized. We need bold reform now to place science genuinely at the heart of decision-making

By Kirsten Brosbøl, CEO and target to limit global warming to well Climate activist Greta Thunberg addressing founder, 2030beyond, and Neena below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C. the EU Parliament’s environment committee, Joshi, Consultant, Lancet COVID-19 Greta, like many other young urging them to follow “a science-based Commission people, has questioned and criticized pathway… nature doesn’t bargain and you cannot make deals with physics.” the inaction by politicians and other don’t want you to listen to decision-makers. And rightly so. me. I want you to listen to the Because why is it that (putting aside “Iscientists. I want you to unite a few notable exceptions in recent The inconvenient truth behind the science. And then I want years) most politicians claim to follow The key to understanding this paradox you to take action.” The words are science, and yet so many have the of inaction lies in the motives that Greta Thunberg’s from her powerful weight of scientific opinion against drive politicians. Legislators are a address to the United States Congress them? What can be done to create a heterogenous group, with various in 2019, urging legislators to do what is more constructive relationship between policy narratives and value systems. needed to reach the Paris Agreement science and government? In liberal democracies, where they

SDG ACTION 23 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

are up for election once every four to climate change often come out as red doing that work in partnership with us.” five years, public opinion counts, and numbers, as the cost of inaction is not It is necessary to use different many competing interest groups will be part of the metric. channels and “messengers” to translate fighting for their attention. These models have not been the science into actionable policy In my conversations with updated according to the science, design that legislators can transform parliamentarians all over the world about and this contributes to the lack of into action. how we can accelerate political action multisectoral buy-in. The models are for the Sustainable Development Goals not multidimensional, do not encourage Strengthening the science–policy (SDGs), I hear many variations of the legislators to think outside of their nexus same argument: that jobs depend on the specific sectors, and do not consider As academic institutions must redefine oil/gas/coal/agricultural/heavy industry, the cost of inaction, such as the cost their role, so must parliaments. While hence it would be political suicide of environmental degradation. This is governments often have well-defined to campaign for climate action. Or, why many good policy initiatives are channels to draw on the scientific particularly in the Global South, as long blocked due to lack of initial funding. community, legislators do not have as people cannot feed their families and access to the same established do not have access to electricity, talking Lost in translation scientific networks. Institutionalizing about global issues such as climate To move towards science-based the dialogue between the scientific change is a luxury no one can afford. policy, the scientific community must community and legislators can ease Scientific opinion is not always be able to operate according to these the introduction of evidence-based the same as public opinion, nor in dynamics. It is not enough to present information into the political realm, the interest of powerful stakeholders solid scientific evidence, data, and encourage productive discussion and potential campaign funders. facts that are continuously “lost in and debate among legislators, and Fifteen years after Al Gore’s film translation” in the meeting with habitual promote multisectoral collaboration. “An Inconvenient Truth,” its title is, thinking, competing narratives, and a Regular dialogue will also help the tragically, still spot on. Science presents political culture of “who strikes first.” scientific community understand the politicians with an inconvenient truth, It is encouraging to see examples political processes of creating and because it is not opportune for them to of academic institutions around the implementing policy, empower them to act upon it. world beginning to break down silos present holistic rather than fragmented and work across the sciences, arts, and evidence, and view legislators as Outdated economic models humanities and take on a more forward- partners and colleagues rather than There are, however, true leaders leaning role. Alliances with other one-dimensional or untrustworthy among our elected representatives stakeholders, grassroots movements, individuals. who understand the significance and activists are needed to further align Ideally, parliaments should establish of science-based policy. These public opinion with scientific opinion. structures and mechanisms to pioneers are willing to challenge As an example, Columbia University institutionalize this nexus and provide public opinion and show leadership in the City of New York has defined the structure for the dialogue to take in their communities. But they face a fourth purpose, besides research, place on a regular and systematic challenges inside the political system: education and service. It is: basis. In the absence of this, other not just by political opponents, but “The advancement of human actors might support that dialogue to also by rigid and outdated economic welfare through the complex process happen. models that dictate which policies of merging scholarly knowledge and Think tanks and do tanks, interest are considered good investments our distinctive intellectual capacities organizations, and councils are and which are seen as red (negative) with groups and institutions beyond working to strengthen the science– numbers on the bottom line. Spending the academy that respect what we do, policy nexus by creating a space for on clean air, clean water, biodiversity, possess the skills and power to bring the scientific community to engage climate adaptation, and prevention of about change, and are dedicated to with policymakers. This can increase the mutual understanding of what information is needed, and provide Think tanks and do tanks, interest economic, social, and environmental organizations, and councils are working perspectives of the scientific evidence, as well as address the bottlenecks to strengthen the science–policy nexus that keep evidence from influencing by creating a space for the scientific policies. By using the SDGs to guide their community to engage with policymakers research and policy advice, these

24 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © Hannah Peters / Getty Images

groups have been able to ensure that equity perspectives. SDSN Europe’s New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda policies that advance the progress report, Transformations for the Joint Ardern’s science-led response to the COVID-19 on environmental and health goals Implementation of Agenda 2030 for pandemic was conspicuously effective do not hinder economic growth. They Sustainable Development and the have also identified how policies European Green Deal is guiding the promoting affordable and clean energy, European Union’s COVID-19 economic Wake-up call and responsible consumption and recovery, the region’s plan to achieve It is remarkable that a Swedish teenage production can accelerate economic the SDGs and the implementation of activist has had more luck, or skill, than progress. the European Green Deal. It is doing most scientists to get the attention Councils and platforms like the this by providing actionable strategies of decision-makers and the media to International Science Council and for policymakers that align with their advocate for science-based policy. It is the Intergovernmental Science- values and goals, such as ensuring also a wake-up call and lesson about Policy Platform on Biodiversity and their constituents’ job security. the missing links, the failure of our Ecosystem Services (IPBES) are Parliamentarians for the Global traditional structures, to bridge the gap providing policymakers with scientific Goals (PfGG) is connecting and translate what we know into what assessments about natural and social parliamentarians all over the world with we do. Recalling the words of Greta sciences and are suggesting tools and global thought leaders and experts Thunberg, she and her generation are methods to protect natural resources in collaboration with SDSN with an asking us to “act as you would in a and global sustainability. They are ambition to establish national fora crisis. I want you to act as if our house focused on catalyzing international for dialogue among legislators and is on fire. Because it is.” scientific expertise to effectively academia. These fora will help develop In times of crisis, we need integrate science into policy and concrete policies and campaigns for courageous leaders who are willing to public action. the SDGs and encourage cross-party take risks and put their own personal The Sustainable Development dialogue and collaboration. They will gain aside, to go against public opinion Solutions Network (SDSN) Europe also strengthen the exchange of ideas if needed, to do what is right. We need is facilitating the policy–science between academia and legislators to innovation and thought leadership to nexus by presenting evidence and accelerate political action for the 2030 replace old models with new ones for a providing policy recommendations Agenda and increase the localization new reality. And we need to mobilize – from economic, climate change, and of the SDGs. together.

SDG ACTION 25 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES Fostering innovation

The Decade of Action demands rapid and impactful innovation in all areas to make Agenda 2030 a reality. How can we achieve this? © UNDP Uganda / Steven Goldfinch

26 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

By Nebojsa Nakicenovic, They depend on human capacity and policies, and systems, to support Director, The World in 2050 ingenuity empowered by the right sustainable development toward a conditions and “social steering.” safe and just future for all. This is nnovation, as a collective learning more critical than ever, as the current process, has been the foundation Winners and losers rate and direction of innovation is Iof human and societal development Innovation in its simplest terms is insufficient to achieve the 2030 Agenda since the dawn of civilization. an emergence of novelty, originating with its 17 aspirational and ambitious Innovation was the central force of from human endeavor and inspiration. Sustainable Development Goals the “explosive” nature of the Industrial Innovations range from radical new (SDGs). Revolution, which has resulted in inventions to incremental performance In part this inadequacy is due to a enormous benefits for humans and improvements. They encompass relatively narrow focus on technological fundamentally changed settlements, technological, social, and behavioral innovation without fully addressing families, societies, the way of life, work, changes reflected in processes, societal, institutional, and cultural and interaction among people and products, and institutional change. innovation. And it’s also in part due their social networks. Significantly, life Innovations that are successful to underinvestment in innovation. As expectancy has doubled and half of typically undergo widespread innovations constitute new knowledge, humanity now benefits from secondary diffusion, upscaling, and commercial they are difficult to fully appropriate by education. uptake. However, this outcome is the private sector. However, this explosive development the culmination of an often lengthy Consequently, the private sector, has also brought about negative process, which runs from research with its focus on short-term profitability, environmental and societal impacts and development (R&D) through inherently underinvests in innovations and left billions to live in poverty. demonstration and trials to early market that have a general purpose or facilitate This phenomenon was especially formation and then diffusion. It is not public goods that support sustainable pronounced during the last half century a linear but an interactive process. development. This particularly applies of the “Great Acceleration” when it Learning by doing and using are to fundamental R&D, and public brought about a new era in human central to improvement, scale up, and goods such a health care, education history, the age of the Anthropocene. ultimately successful diffusion. and infrastructure. This then must This is a critical crossroads where further There are countless pitfalls along be offset by the public sector, by unconstrained development may expose the way. The process is characterized foundations, and by new investments in societal and environmental tipping by deep uncertainties: one can say a sustainable future for all. points and possible collapse. It is a that “many are called but few are period in which one species dominates chosen.” The majority of innovations Balanced innovation planetary processes. Yet that species end in failure: some abject, others The quest for innovation needs to has an ever-increasing awareness of its marginal. Innovation is neither costless be guided by balance: benefits must own responsibility for stewardship of the nor determinate. Even successful be fairly shared within society and Earth, nature, and its own future. innovators often have a history of societal gains must respect planetary This “paradox of innovation” is failures that are important learning boundaries. Innovations must be that it is both at the core of human experiences for the eventual adoption. socially directed toward assuring the progress and a major cause of human basic needs of all, addressing inequities interference with the environment and Supporting innovation and inclusion. planetary processes. At the same This renders support of the innovation Yet this is not sufficient, as much time, innovations in the broader sense process difficult because the discovery more needs to be done to foster decent will provide many possible solutions processes are unpredictable, making and good life for all. This would also for achieving a sustainable future for it impossible to “pick” winners. The involve efforts to improve efficiencies people and planet. Innovations need to support and social steering of the at all scales and reduce the pressures be fostered, nurtured, and supported process needs to foster the right on the Earth’s systems. Simultaneously, as their emergence is not automatic. conditions for innovation and for new innovations must drastically reduce ideas. Unfortunately, there are no silver the need for new materials through bullets. That support needs to be circularity (resource reuse and adequate and sustainable from both elimination of waste). Isingiro, Uganda, using drones to create a public and private stakeholders, through Three elements of innovative refugee settlement base map that will enable evidence-based development decisions. both policies and the public at large. processes need to be strengthened: Digital technologies can act in a leapfrogging The appropriate policy support can efficiency, sufficiency, and capacity, levelling up countries with less well guide innovation and development, circularity. Efficiency and sufficiency developed infrastructure including the emergence of values, transformations to sustainable

SDG ACTION 27 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

and resilient futures minimize the successful innovation is the worldwide indicates that for rapid transformation environmental harm by lowering the spread of mobile phones. The first to occur, investments should be energy use or material requirements of mobile phone was introduced three directed toward innovations with a product or service. Innovations (from decades ago. Today, essentially high learning and diffusion potentials. micro and macro perspectives) need everyone in the world has one, So, while innovation processes are to anticipate and integrate both short including about a billion people characterized by deep uncertainties, and long-term effects. This is to avoid without access to electricity. There are the strategy of supporting innovations the risk of overall unintended impacts approximately 10 billion phones for that are inherently granular increases that may cause an increase in harmful almost eight billion people. Significantly, the likelihood of rapid diffusion and environmental and social impacts, the diffusion occurred essentially benefits for people and nature. ideally through evidence-based synchronously throughout the world, feedbacks to the societal discourse. among rich and poor. In many Where to focus? The diffusion of innovations, including important ways it is a leapfrogging Digital technologies are examples dematerialized societal innovations, can technology. This is especially the of innovations with rapid diffusion contribute to a more sustainable future case with smartphones that provide because they are granular, even for all, as envisioned by the UN 2030 internet access, banking, billing, and though they are embedded in large and Agenda and the Paris Agreement. many other important services. At the complex infrastructures and systems. Examples of granular innovations include: For rapid transformation to ● artificial intelligence occur, investments should be directed ● connectivity (the Internet of Things) ● digitalization of information toward innovations with high learning ● additive manufacturing (such as 3D and diffusion potentials printing) ● virtual or augmented reality

● machine learning

Emissions of greenhouse gases same time a smartphone uses about ● blockchain

(GHGs) are an example of one of a hundred times less energy than the ● robotics

the largest waste flows related to myriad analogue devices it replaced: ● quantum computing

human activities but would require from the television and fax machine ● synthetic biology a fundamental transformation from to the alarm clock and satnav. It also primary reliance on fossil energy toward requires 25 times less material and As mentioned previously, balance zero-carbon alternatives and uses. In energy to produce. All told, this results needs to be an overarching principle. some sense, the challenge is not only in a hundredfold decrease of GHGs Digital technologies have spread rapidly to innovate but also to change the way without even changing energy supply. in much of the world. They can help to we live, work, and behave. It will be There are other examples of such overcome social inequalities, but they next to impossible to achieve these breathtaking innovation diffusion: from are also characterized by inequalities complex and multiple goals through photovoltaics and windmills to laptops, themselves. Large disparities exist in incremental innovative processes. tablets, and the internet. What they access to, usage of, and skills relevant Rather, we need synergies across have in common is “granularity” rather for digital innovations, summarized fundamental transformations. than large “unit size.” More granular as the “digital divide.” Even more Digitalization is an early sign of innovations can be expected to have: importantly, gaps also exist in the

such a fundamental change that has ● faster diffusion broader development benefits from

been accelerated through the tragic ● lower investment risk using digital innovations. Digitalization

COVID-19 pandemic. Most important, ● faster learning has often boosted growth, expanded

however, would be to develop more ● more opportunities to escape lock-in opportunities, and improved service

proactive efforts to promote diffusion ● more equitable access delivery. Yet the aggregate impact

and learning, foster education, ● high job creation has fallen short of being inclusive

and address barriers, constraints, ● larger social returns on innovation and is thus unevenly distributed. and unintended consequences of investment Because of its generally granular innovations. nature and fast diffusion and learning In combination, these advantages rates, digitalization is reshaping work, Ingredients for success enable rapid change. This is highly leisure, behavior, education, health, One of the best examples of relevant for the role of innovations in and governance, and can facilitate the digitalization and the epitome of the context of transformative change. It achievement of the SDGs.

28 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

Digital technologies and innovations Mobile connections are practically universal, but about are disrupting production processes FIGUREha 1:lf theThe global digital population divide is offline, mostly in LDCs in nearly every sector of the economy, Mobile connections are practically universal, but about and this has been accelerated during half the global population are offline, mostly in LDCs the COVID-19 lockdowns. In general, digitalization can raise labor, energy, resource, and carbon productivity, lower World Least developed countries production costs, expand access to services, and dematerialize production. But without proper policy frameworks 79 and social “escape hatches,” it can also leave many behind. 19 On a global level, what is commonly described as the digital divide boils 9354 down to a physical reality, access to the internet. There are also clear dangers and downsides to digitalization, including job losses, rising inequality, and the further disparities of income, from labor to capital. Digital identities can be stolen, or artificial identities Internet user Mobile-broadband coverage can be created. Proprietary digital Proportion of population covered by a mobile-broadband information can be stolen. Governments signal and using the internet, 2019 estimates (percentage) and private businesses can invade privacy and monitor individuals against Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021 their will or without their knowledge.

The challenge to change are also important. Finally, evidence- The pandemic and the ensuing Research systems and organizations based science for policy is essential for economic upheaval have shown the that are based on traditional social fostering innovation for the SDGs. dangers of degrading ecosystems and industrial structures, lifestyles, However, initiating transformation and nature, as well as the need for culture, and science and technology is difficult. This is due to institutional international cooperation and greater must be redesigned for the age of inertia by incumbent actors with vested social and economic resilience. the SDGs, digitalization, and beyond, interests, and consumers or users stuck The crisis has had major economic toward other innovations: from agenda- in comfortable routines. In addition, the costs and is triggering significant setting processes, funding, and globalization of economic and social investment pledges. Ensuring that these evaluation systems, to human resource activities that has occurred over past investments support transformative and development methods and career decades has created intricate webs innovative change is key to achieving paths. It is necessary to diversify R&D of activities, making transformation the SDGs. investment and priorities according to a complex process. Furthermore, The full unfolding of the “digital actual needs and context. Collaboration existing studies indicate that current revolution” will have even deeper between natural sciences, humanities policy instruments are either absent impacts on our societies, creating and social sciences is essential. or ineffective for achieving the the next generation of sustainability Cooperation between supply and magnitude of transformation needed challenges. Moreover, the digital demand sides and the combination of in the expected timeframe. This means transformation may redefine our own top-down and bottom-up approaches that unless there are substantially concept of ourselves as humans. In the is important. advantageous (simple, low cost, Anthropocene, humans become the We need to accumulate, share, and superior, and universal) alternatives main drivers of Earth-system changes. feedback those efforts for reflection offered to individuals, achieving change In the “digital Anthropocene,” humans and transformation. It is necessary in will continue to be difficult. will also start to transform themselves, parallel to recognize the importance of enhancing cognitive capacities into what preserving basic science, and a dialogue Conclusion can be called “Homo digitalis.” This between policymakers and researchers. COVID-19 is a great human tragedy, but could be the next disruptive innovation Building trust and maintaining scientific may provide an impetus to accelerating to transform humanity for the benefit of quality, integrity, and codes of conduct innovation and transformative change. all people, and the planet.

SDG ACTION 29 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © Aldara Zarraoa / Getty Images Speeding up progress

We need to radically speed and shake things up to meet the 2030 deadline. “Incubators for transformative partnerships” could be a critical tool to fast-track action on the SDGs

By Carlos Mataix Aldeanueva, structural changes we need in time. We with the SDGs. Ideally, the partnership Director, Innovation and Technology need ambition combined with spaces includes a responsible public for Development Centre, Universidad to connect and learn, to ensure that administration. Politécnica de Madrid (itdUPM); Teresa collective efforts do not break down into 2. They address intractable problems Sánchez Chaparro, Scientific Director, silos, and that partnerships are effective Transformative multi-stakeholder itdUPM; Julio Lumbreras Martín, Vice- for enabling change. Below we explore partnerships address “wicked problems” Rector for Academic Strategy and five characteristics that can accelerate that do not have a defined solution, are Internationalization, UPM; Jaime Moreno the “next generation” of collaborative affected by high levels of uncertainty, Serna, Technical Director, itdUPM; practices. and cannot be addressed by a single Miguel Soberón, SDG Integrator, itdUPM Based on our experience, the organization or specific policy. The following five ingredients increase course of action is usually to improve ulti-stakeholder partnerships the transformative potential of multi- the situation rather than to solve it. can be effective in promoting stakeholder partnerships: 3. They articulate the aspirations Mthe collaborations necessary 1. They link to public policies of a diverse set of partners for to implement the transformations to While the purpose to which the transformative change achieve the Sustainable Development partnership aims to contribute is defined The collaborative value created in the Goals (SDGs). However, by themselves among the partners, it should aim to initial stages of a partnership is generally they may not be enough to produce the develop a public policy connected based on philanthropic or transactional

30 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

Backstage during the Circular Sustainable development: conditions for success”). orient their action towards systemic Fashion Week, Madrid, Spain. The show So, in our experience, there is a change. Both collaborative vehicles promotes designers and brands with a need for intermediary spaces that rely on a “challenge owner approach,” commitment to sustainability, eco-design, connect partnerships aligned around a demand-led innovation strategy that and the circular economy. A combination common transformative processes that places public policy at the center of of bottom-up and top-down approaches combine both bottom-up and top- the innovation process. Partnerships is a prerequisite for the success of transformative partnerships down approaches. The initiative El Día develop through a facilitation function Después (The Day After) is an example (a person or institution) to promote of such a space. It is promoted by the homogeneity and conditions of approaches. Austin and Seitanidi (2012) Sustainable Development Solutions symmetry among the partners. For identified several critical factors (such as Network Spain (REDS), the Innovation incubators, this function is equally the level of commitment of the partners, and Technology for Development Centre developed but is performed by all the the scope of their activities, trust, and at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, incubator drivers. the generation of synergistic value) the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, When transformative partnerships for a partnership to evolve, or even and the energy company Iberdrola. begin their public activity, there is start in a transformative state. A wide The Day After launched in March usually a tension between flexibility and diversity of participants is also essential 2020 to provide an SDG-based formalization, often leading to explicit to maximize the amount of resources, response to the crisis triggered by regulations to facilitate implementation. ideas, and experiences that interact in a COVID-19 in Spain. It creates spaces In incubators, however, there is more partnership. for connecting, learning, generating of a trend towards flexibility, with an 4. They affect singular points of a shared meaning, and incubating emphasis on trust and shared vision. In system innovative projects. It does this through both cases, operations are conceived as Participants working in specific the stable and deep collaboration of a continuous design process. niche areas within a system have a large number of public institutions, Partnerships tend to place more opportunities, through partnerships, private companies, civil-society emphasis on planning and monitoring, to scale innovations from prototypes organizations, and academic entities. whereas incubators focus more on to mass production, exerting influence Connecting the partner networks of aligning a vision. When it comes over the conditions in which the system multiple organizations and designing to generating value, partnerships operates. from the priorities of these networks orient towards execution, utilizing the 5. They include an enabling facilitator leads to greater efficiency. It means specific capacities of the partners, Creating a successful collaboration of participants can take advantage of while incubators lean more towards a disparate partners can be challenging. joint learning, and that partnerships “portfolio approach,” integrating learning Successful partnerships often include can focus on activities with the highest and emerging opportunities. a facilitator (normally performed by an potential for systemic change. Consequently, partnerships and individual or organization). The facilitator incubators are complementary can help to evaluate incentives, create Incubators for transformative instruments. Notably, partnerships consensus, establish a distributed partnerships aimed at solving specific problems can governance, and so on. In short, a The Day After initiative therefore amplify their transformative potential by facilitator generates a comfortable space inspired the notion of an incubator for connecting public policy and its most for all the partners. transformative partnerships, similar to relevant actors within an incubator. In an entrepreneurship incubator. This addition, by sharing experiences with Connecting partnerships would be a multi-actor organizational other partnerships through an incubator, Some authors point out that partnerships vehicle aimed at connecting and efficiency and impact increase. with a transformative vocation should not accelerating partnerships, facilitating the This reduces the learning curve, just be created “spontaneously” through incorporation of systemic approaches strengthens trust between partners, “bottom-up” processes, since these and practices, and cross-learning accelerates escalation processes, and can be hampered by lack of ambition, between initiatives. Below we consider creates a common roadmap to tackle short-termism, insufficient coordination how such incubators might compare more complex problems. Thus, the mechanisms, or misaligned incentives. with transformative partnerships through notion of a “convening incubator for In addition, initiating a partnership takes their life cycle. transformative partnerships” can be energy and resources, and sustaining In the early stages of defining their an instrument with huge potential for the commitment of multiple actors in scope, transformative partnerships implementing Agenda 2030 through the medium term is complex (see, for dedicate collaborative energy to solving stable and complex interaction between example, “Transnational multistakeholder complex problems. Their focus is on public, private, social, and scientific partnerships for sustainable concrete results. Incubators, however, actors.

SDG ACTION 31 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES Education to achieve the SDGs

Making the SDGs a reality will require people with new mindsets as well as new skills. Education is critical, and must rise to the challenge of enabling learners to drive sustainable development forward at the scale and pace required © Cyril Villemain / UNEP © Cyril Villemain

32 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

By Chandrika Bahadur, new mindsets, more cooperative Third, the fields of study covered Director, SDG Academy, and Vice processes, and real-life applications. by the SDGs are evolving in real time. President of Education, Sustainable Through education, learners can We are constantly grappling with new Development Solutions Network make links between theory and evidence, new challenges and new (SDSN); and María Cortés Puch, concrete challenges, opening up new solutions. Academia needs to keep Vice President for Networks, SDSN opportunities to improve the lives up with these developments and of people within our communities. build them into its existing body of he world has less than a decade In being trained to find and pursue knowledge. left to achieve the Sustainable realistic opportunities to achieve This is a challenge for those fields T Development Goals (SDGs). change, learners can be empowered of study where deliberative, careful The COVID-19 pandemic has made as active actors in shaping their future, research is the norm, and where meeting this deadline even harder. creating new narratives of hope for the evidence needs to pass through Even before the pandemic, no future. several layers of scrutiny before country was on track to achieve all taking its place as established the SDGs (as seen in the Sustainable Challenges wisdom. It is exacerbated by the Development Report 2020). The SDGs require deep and radical democratization of information and the The pandemic has brought about transformations in each country and shift in the role of the instructor from greater awareness of our vulnerability in the way we approach every one being the font of knowledge to being and of the urgency of advancing of our activities. Current education the curator of knowledge. Educators sustainable development with systems and pedagogies at all levels need to be much more agile and adept multidisciplinary solutions. It has are ill-equipped for preparing learners at processing new information, while highlighted the role of science and the to take on ownership and leadership at the same time keeping to the high complexity of the challenges we face, at the scale and pace required by the standards that define their field. interconnected across disciplines, SDGs. We describe three challenges sectors, and countries. It has also below. Educating for the SDGs today shown the breakthroughs that science First, the interdisciplinary nature of Through the SDG Academy and can achieve within months if scientists the SDGs is at odds with the focus on the recently published report on are able to share their knowledge, and specialization that is a defining feature accelerating education for the SDGs in if the public and private sectors work of higher education. The Accelerating universities (mentioned above), SDSN together. We now have an opportunity Education for the SDGs in Universities has been proposing ways to address to change how we confront the guide proposes a number of examples the key principles of an evolving challenge of sustainable development of how to successfully support education in the service of the SDGs. and enact the deep transformations cross-university, interdisciplinary These principles include: that are required. collaboration on education for the ● interdisciplinarity (working across To succeed in the biggest challenge SDGs that can address the need to traditional silos and disciplines of of our time, education will be vital. train specialists who are also able knowledge)

Achieving the SDGs requires a to work across epistemological ● systemic approaches (studying shared understanding of sustainable fields. Such efforts need to begin societies and economies as single development, including the complex at the institution level. Avenues for systems to better understand sub interactions between systems, as well cross-disciplinary projects or areas parts) as advanced mechanisms to bridge of research and practice need to be ● action-based learning (grounded in across sectors and disciplines. developed within universities. real-life problem-solving)

Education processes can expand a Second, high schools and ● multi-actor involvement (recognizing comprehensive and multidisciplinary universities lack trained teachers the role of different stakeholders) body of knowledge, as well as or sufficient resources to cover all ● solutions-oriented approaches contribute to changing how we analyze SDG-relevant fields of knowledge. (applying knowledge to practice) and confront problems. Achieving Educators will need to identify the SDGs will not just require people opportunities to work with resources As part of this work, SDSN has with the right skill sets, but also outside of their institutions, including: identified over 300 cases from

● financial resources universities from around the world

● involvement of working professionals that can help inspire other teaching as adjunct professors or invited institutions and promote scaling. Schoolchildren in Watamu, Kenya, learning speakers Universities are taking diverse about conservation, release a sea turtle back ● recognition of collaborative projects approaches that are well suited to in the ocean as part of their formal curriculum their contexts. Some are organizing

SDG ACTION 33 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

activities to raise awareness in their parts of the world, and focus on development education and drastically communities, such as social media solutions that work. scaling up successful initiatives. campaigns, public events, or co- An important focus is to teach The COVID-19 pandemic has, curricular activities that focus on learners the range of actions needed in just 15 months, mirrored the sustainable development. at different scales of implementation challenges and opportunities we For example, “entrepreneurship (local, national, global), and to help face in sustainable development: challenges” or “living labs” are understand what works in different the enormity of a global challenge, processes that can bridge across contexts. More importantly, a global experienced differently in different sectors. They can gain the wide cohort of learners fosters a multi- parts of the world; the need for interest of local communities while cultural dialogue, exposing students to collective solutions, driven by providing students with opportunities ways of examining the same challenge science, but localized for impact; the to develop the skills and mindsets from different lenses. need to keep pace with an evolving of sustainable development. These SDSN is also working, through its challenge and multiple sources of activities allow a degree of design Global Schools Program and Mission information around it; and the dangers innovation that can be difficult to 4.7, with ministries of education to of fragmentation, both of knowledge implement in a formal curriculum. review existing curricula from the and effort, in limiting our ability to Other institutions are incorporating perspective of the SDGs. The aim is collectively address the most critical the SDGs into their existing curriculum to understand how best to update and challenges of our times. via SDG-focused capstone projects, integrate sustainable development We have a unique opportunity to case study analysis, exercises, topics into existing pedagogies. build a generation that can create a lectures, or readings. The SDG This shortlist of examples shows more just, equal, prosperous, and Academy has reached over 850,000 that institutions of many sorts are sustainable world. Let us, educators learners across 193 countries with its advancing education for the SDGs. worldwide, not squander that content of over 35 courses, covering However, the scale of the necessary opportunity. Let us work to create topics of the SDGs. The courses are transformations to achieve the SDGs education systems that are fit for taught online by faculty from different will require mainstreaming sustainable purpose to achieve the SDGs.

FIGURE 1: Percentage of countries in each region in which schools were closed due to COVID‑19

% 100

80 East and South Asia Oceania Eastern Europe and Central Asia OECD countries Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-Saharan Africa Middle East and North Africa 60

40

20

0

2020 16 Feb 16 Mar 2020 16 Apr 2020 16 May 2020 16 Jun 2020 16 Jul 2020 16 Aug 2020 16 Sep 2020 16 Oct 2020 16 Nov 2020 16 Dec 2020 16 Jan 2021 16 Feb 2021 16 Mar 2021 16 Apr 202130 Apr 2021

Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021. Based on UNESCO (2021)

34 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © Pasqual Gorriz / UN A new era of multilateralism?

The last four years have seen a fractured and antagonistic approach to global affairs. What are the prizes to be gained from global leaders working together towards common goals? Is a new era possible?

By Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High change in world governance. The idea Women peacekeepers from the United Representative for the United Nations was to abandon the old system of Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) alliances and ententes that arose from community outreach in a market in Tyre that desired balance of power. In its ong gone are the days of the place would be a system of collective so-called “Westphalian order” security in which all actors would take to face with its own destruction. Never L in which countries sought the responsibility in the search for a new, had the human being descended to the “balance of power” (preventing any more just, and peaceful order. hells of his maximum evil. one state from gaining enough military It did not work immediately and the It is true that a perfect multilateralism power to dominate all others) as the League of Nations could not prevent never existed. For it to work, a framework to regulate the international the atrocity of a second world war “directorate,” the Security Council, system. We had to wait until the horrors accompanied by the barbarity of a had to be inserted to lead the work of the first world war for a Copernican holocaust that brought humanity face and developments of this new world

SDG ACTION 35 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

governance. A good synthesis was population felt marginalized because of civil society, and others formed this achieved: universal participation of all gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. council to raise awareness in our the Member States of the international societies, adopt the 2030 Agenda for community was achieved through New crossroads Sustainable Development, and then the UN General Assembly, while the In these circumstances there seems provide practical solutions to the Security Council, with five permanent to be no escape. Humanity in general problems that would appear when members, mobilized and controlled the and nation states in particular are trying to advance the Agenda. development of events. facing new crossroads very similar to There is now unanimous awareness This was more than 75 years the ones that occurred after the two of this agenda. Most countries have ago. Today, the United Nations, the world wars. The world is increasingly begun to incorporate it into all their ultimate symbol of multilateralism, interconnected, more global than ever, national policies. needs and seeks reform of the entire and totally interdependent. We can only multilateral system. The need to adapt wonder how we will have to act to order Lessons learned the model that emerged in 1945 to and regulate collective coexistence in Effective, democratic, and sustainable the new realities and challenges of the coming decades of this century. multilateralism can only be achieved if the 21st century is obvious. There is This is where multilateralism emerges we are able to avoid falling into the old unanimous agreement on the urgency as the unavoidable response to this traps of the past. of reform to make the multilateral new reality. All analysts agree that the The first is to avoid at all costs system more effective and credible. The global challenges of the 21st century the resurgence of new “cold wars” COVID-19 crisis has only corroborated, cannot be resolved unilaterally. What is or “bipolarities.” The last few years, highlighted, and amplified the needed is a world governance in which and in particular the latest diplomatic inadequacies and contradictions of effective, democratic, and sustainable episodes, show us a new hegemonic multilateralism today. multilateralism can provide a response struggle that all of us who advocate It is true that in the face of this global to all of them. This new multilateralism genuine multilateralism would like health challenge, no one could deny must take note of and draw inspiration to avoid. We cannot set the new a call for the need to strengthen and from the lessons of the past and multilateral framework of the 21st reinforce multilateral bodies as much from some recent initiatives that have century if we find ourselves with a as possible. This is what Secretary- yielded good results. belligerent attitude among the main General António Guterres tried to lead. I refer particularly to the Sustainable actors of the international community. During this pandemic, his appeals, Development Solutions Network The relationship and competition initiatives, and proposals have always (SDSN) and its Leadership Council. between the two leading powers, China been aimed at providing the entire Under the leadership of Jeffrey Sachs and the US, must be constructive multilateral system with resources and and with the support of then-Secretary- and with a shared purpose: to support. General Ban Ki-moon, this advocacy promote the reform and adaptation of The response has been ambivalent. initiative was launched to firstly achieve multilateral structures for the benefit On the one hand, we have generally the adoption of a forward-looking of all humanity. Without the “G2,” we witnessed declarative support agenda, and then to support the cannot imagine a new sustainable for multilateralism. Except for the advancement of the 17 Sustainable multilateralism. unilateralism of the previous American Development Goals. However, neither can we be administration, most of the main The idea of creating a Leadership satisfied with what might be called a actors proclaimed their support Council composed of about a hundred multilateralism à la carte where the for and adherence to the value of people from different spheres of two major players agree only on a few multilateralism. On the other hand, this expertise marks a revolutionary essential issues but disagree on the support was often limited to diplomatic innovation in the way problems are other elements of this new governance. declarations that were later called addressed within the United Nations. It is not enough to be multilateralist into question by nationalist and Academics, scientists, politicians, only in favor of the fight against unilateralist behaviors and conducts, businesspeople, representatives of climate change and the eradication where “everyone for themselves” seemed to win the day. Contradictory measures, a lack of Any new reform of the world’s organization international coordination, vaccination campaigns where the common good must build on the participation of the multiple of humanity was not contemplated: all actors that shape the day-to-day of our this combined with deep discriminatory social ruptures where sectors of the political action

36 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

FIGURE 1: International spillovers and the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 1 No poverty

SDG 2 Zero hunger

Environmental and SDG 3 Good health and well-being social spillovers embodied into trade SDG 4 Quality education SDG 5 Gender equality

SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation

SDG 7 Renewable energy

SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth Direct cross-border flows in air and water SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure SDG 10 Reduced inequalities SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities

SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production

International economic SDG 13 Climate action and financial flows

SDG 14 Life below water

SDG 15 Life on land

Peacekeeping SDG 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions and security

SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Note: Detailed Excel file available at www.sdgindex.org The width of the lines denotes the degree of impact: (3) Direct significant impact, (2) Moderate impact (direct or indirect) and (1) No or limited impact.

Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021

of pandemics while at the same time Therefore, any new reform of the There is therefore no alternative. The being nationalist and unilateralist in world’s organization must build on the global citizenry, that single humanity, trying to resolve the other challenges participation of the multiple actors that is the one that must mobilize. Through facing the international community. shape the day-to-day of our political this, their respective states and It is not a matter of standardizing the action. We cannot continue as if governments can better understand thinking and political action of each nothing has changed. the present challenges, and sapiens of the Member States and of the main The nation states are the main can continue to advance and develop actors that can drive the new world. subject of the international concert, all their human capacities without fear Instead, it is about reaching a level of but alongside them are a whole of falling into political or technological understanding on the major principles series of new actors who legitimately totalitarianism. and values that multilateralism in demand their participation on this The answer lies with the almost eight the 21st century needs. The second new multilateral stage. We cannot billion citizens of the world who, at the mistake is to ignore the radical changes seek solutions today and guarantee end of the day, are the ones who suffer that have taken place over the last few their successful implementation if from wars, conflicts, hunger, misery, decades and to approach the reform we do not incorporate private sector, pandemics, and acts of terrorism. superficially as “business as usual.” scientists, academics, civil society, These are the same eight billion Technological, scientific, economic, media, artists, athletes, etc. as the citizens who wish to save the planet cultural, and social advances have essential subjects of the new reality and humanity. We can only achieve totally modified the reality and behavior in this new multilateralism in a more this through effective, democratic, and of all our societies in recent decades. democratic way. sustainable multilateralism.

SDG ACTION 37 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images © David Paul Morris / Bloomberg America back on board

The US is once again committed to tackling climate change. Can it succeed, and take the rest of the world with it?

By Elena Crete, Program Manager, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN); Helen Bond, Associate Professor, Howard University; Dan Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University; and Gordon C. McCord, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego

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Smoke from wildfires hangs over the skyline in San Francisco, US. The country has been suffering an increasing number of extreme weather events that can be attributed to climate warming. The Biden-Harris administration has committed to addressing the threat on a national and global level

When the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, it was with the expectation that all countries would work together to take urgent action on climate change, along with the other 16 goals put forward. We now have less than 10 years to achieve Agenda 2030, and meanwhile are moving ever closer to the dangerous climate tipping points highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Having the US on board is therefore essential if the world is to increase its climate action ambition, make the investments necessary to transition to a clean energy future, and design the policies needed to achieve a robust, just, and green economy.

No time to lose On his first day in office, President Biden followed through on several of his most significant campaign promises and confirmed that climate change would be a top priority of the new administration. Most notably, just hours after being sworn in, the new president formally rejoined the nly one year ago, the sustainability through a wide range Paris Agreement and promised to United States was mired of ambitious proposals and funding update the US nationally determined Oin a pandemic with many commitments at a level not seen since contribution (NDC) to climate change Americans suffering as segments the 1930s. action. of the economy collapsed. The While the US remains the second- As a first step in moving forward his nation was on the verge of formally largest greenhouse gas emitter in the Build Back Better campaign, President withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, world, nations across the globe have Biden also announced that he would and sustainability was nowhere to celebrated the re-engagement of the host a global climate change summit be found on the national agenda. A new president with the global effort to at the White House to bolster ambition year later, a new president has taken combat climate change. And leaders around the world in the lead up to office, the US has rejoined the Paris everywhere are eager to see how the November 2021 Conference of Agreement, and the Biden-Harris far the new administration will go to the Parties (COP26) climate change administration has recommitted to deliver on America’s commitments. negotiations in Glasgow.

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This commitment to climate change and environmental justice efforts by but the consequences of inaction are mitigation was reinforced by the revising how federal grant programs potentially profound. president’s recently announced are awarded, and targeting benefits What does all this mean for the rest USD 2 trillion American Jobs Plan, to frontline communities of the world? President Biden’s Build

which proposes to allocate billions ● designing a robust infrastructure Back Better strategy fundamentally of dollars in green infrastructure and package commitment to building reasserts America’s commitment to clean energy investments as part of an electric vehicle charging a sustainable future. His leadership the US recovery post-COVID-19. In a network, investing in more public sends a message to the entire world series of executive orders, strategies, transportation, and revitalizing the that the future is green. The potentially and policy announcements, President industrial heartland of America huge US investment in clean energy Biden has clearly signaled his intention technologies will:

to be a transformative leader with a Making good on promises ● spur new public-private partnerships

deep commitment to the sustainability The climate change debate in America ● advance research and development agenda, including: is now shifting from whether to move of a wide range of new technologies

● encouraging an-all-of government to a clean energy future to how and lower the costs of renewable power commitment to climate change how fast. Several teams of researchers and other elements of our future action with climate change leaders have developed detailed deep sustainable energy economy

appointed to critical government decarbonization strategies for the US, ● create a new global market for low- roles, including: Brian Deese as highlighting the pathways to clean carbon industries the Head of the National Economic electricity by 2035 and full carbon Council; John Kerry as Special neutrality by mid-century. Simply put, the United States is Envoy for Climate; Gina McCarthy Two of these strategies include the back and ready to promote innovation, as White House National Climate National Academies of Sciences (NAS) entrepreneurship, and economic Advisor Accelerating Decarbonization in the strategies that promise to advance

● advancing climate leadership in new United States: Technology, Policy, sustainability at home and abroad. arenas by appointing: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; Senior Director for Buildings Emissions President Biden’s Build Back Better in the White House Council on strategy fundamentally reasserts America’s Environmental Quality Mark Chambers; Treasury Secretary commitment to a sustainable future Janet Yellen; Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Societal Dimensions and SDSN Much remains to be done on racial

● revising how the social cost of USA’s Zero Carbon Action Plan. Both equality, public health, and overcoming carbon is calculated, correcting the of these studies take an in-depth America’s deep political divides. Trump administration’s methodology look at the highest-emitting sectors, Addressing these challenges alongside that had vitiated this tool for bringing including buildings, industry, transport, the effort to recommit the nation to climate change concerns into and power generation, and aligning the sustainability imperative will not be regulatory decision-making and those sectors with an economy-wide easy. Indeed, it will require a carefully governmental policy determinations decarbonization strategy. structured and coordinated effort in more broadly If the US really is to be seen as line with the National Sustainable

● working to reverse President back on board, the Biden-Harris Development Strategy, which is part Trump’s regulatory rollbacks with a administration will need to close of UN Agenda 21 and calls upon broad commitment to sustainability the gap between, on the one hand, countries to integrate economic, social, and equity, including not just goal-setting, benchmarking, scenario- and environmental goals into a unified action to strengthen America’s building, and policymaking, and on blueprint for action at the national level. pollution control rules and promote the other delivering transformative President Biden has signaled his environmental justice, but also an change. intention to address these critical economic framework embedded in The Biden team will also need to elements comprehensively and ensure the Made in America Tax Plan that bridge the divides across federal a just transition to a sustainable would ensure that corporations pay agencies and from federal to state future for America and the world in their share of the costs of public and local governments to capture his opening months in office. But now services and encourage US job all the opportunities available for the the hard work of execution on this growth American economy. Achieving these transformative agenda takes center

● supporting community development national objectives will not be easy stage.

40 SDG ACTION CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © Alamy At the turning point?

After years of rhetoric and little action, is this year finally the moment when political will, technological advancement, and ESG investment combine to set the Earth on a path to net zero?

By Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, Center with the pre-industrial average. That Wind turbines off the Aberdeen coast, for Sustainable Development, Columbia rise means that Earth is now warmer Scotland. Scotland, host for COP26, generated University; President, UN Sustainable than during the entire 100 centuries the equivalent of 97% of its electricity Development Solutions Network (10,000 years) of civilization, the period demand in 2020 from renewable sources. The country has set a legally binding target of since the end of the last ice age. The 2045 to achieve net-zero emissions fter two centuries of relying on Earth is warming by around 0.2°C per fossil fuels, the world will shift decade, or even faster. Within a decade Ain the 21st century to zero- or two, Earth could easily exceed carbon energy sources. The direction the 1.5°C danger limit identified by Earth will also be vulnerable to huge of change is not in doubt; the pace of climate scientists and adopted by the and potentially devastating feedback change is the huge question. Will the Paris Agreement as the target limit of effects. With global warming of 1.5°C, world change fast enough to avoid warming. dire risks multiply in several areas:

devastating costs of climate change? Why is 1.5°C so important? Not only ● a multi-meter rise in the sea level It’s going to be a very close call. will the damages of climate change caused by the partial disintegration Here’s why. The Earth has already be very large and globally widespread of the West Antarctic ice sheet

warmed by around 1.2°C compared at that average temperature, but ● a dramatic slowing or shutdown of

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the ocean (thermohaline) circulation was an enormous breakthrough. It ● electrification of buildings for heating

● a major release of cardon dioxide was the first comprehensive program and cooking

● (CO2) and or methane (CH4) from the to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 electrification of some industries permafrost or deep sea by a major part of the world economy. ● clean fuels such as hydrogen,

● a drying of the rainforests and It was quickly followed by China’s ammonia, and synthetic peatlands, leading to a mega-release commitment to reach net zero by no hydrocarbons, produced with the

of CO2 later than 2060, and by Japan’s and zero-carbon electricity Korea’s commitments to reach net zero To head off these risks the world by 2050. The election of Joe Biden Puzzles remain, such as the best economy must wean itself from fossil as US President put the US into the low-cost technologies for heavy trucks, fuels as rapidly as possible, and net-zero group of nations. Now there ocean shipping, and long-distance stop or sharply slash other forms of are dozens. Yet there also remain many aviation. But even in those sectors, human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) governments, including many of major solutions are in sight.

emissions, such as the CO2 released fossil-fuel-producing countries, that Third, the practicalities of from deforestation and land degradation, still have not signed on to net zero by implementing such technology the methane released from ruminant 2050, including Russia, India, Australia, pathways have also dramatically livestock, and the nitrous oxide released Indonesia, and the Gulf oil states. We are improved because of sharp and from chemical fertilizers. Nature-based still far from a decisive global political continuing declines in the costs of solutions will be needed as well for a commitment. key technologies. Solar power costs massive restoration of degraded lands Second, the clarity of how to reach continue to plummet, as do the costs

and forests in order to recapture CO2 in net zero has advanced markedly. While of batteries at all scales (for example, soils, forests, and other vegetative cover. there are still puzzles, the basic pathway for vehicles as well as for grid-scale applications), and offshore wind. Rapid progress is also being made in The behavior among major investors advanced materials, energy efficiency, seems finally to be shifting significantly and, smart grids, electric vehicles, hydrogen production, and other components in my view, irreversibly given the climate of a net-zero energy system. Even risks and decarbonization opportunities breakthroughs seem on the horizon for hydrogen-based ocean shipping, and for alternative fuels (such as advanced These things will happen. The to net zero by 2050 is now fairly clear. biofuels and synthetic green fuels) for question is whether they will happen The UN Sustainable Development aviation. The net cost of decarbonizing slowly, fitfully, and inconsistently, Solutions Network has been leading the US energy system compared with or whether they will happen rapidly, modeling projects since 2014 to answer the status quo seems to be well below decisively, and consistently between the question of how to decarbonize, 1% of GDP per year between now and now and mid-century. Dozens of starting with the Deep Decarbonization 2050, and perhaps near zero if the costs governments, including those of many of Pathways Project and in 2020 with the of green technologies continue to decline the largest economies, are adopting the Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP) for the rapidly in coming years, as seems likely. goal of reaching “net-zero” emissions US economy. This year, the International Fourth, the capital markets are by 2050. That means that emissions of Energy Agency (IEA) issued a finally beginning to get the message. GHGs would be at least offset by the comprehensive report on how to achieve Until the late 2010s, while scientists

biological storage of CO2 in restored net zero by 2050. All of these detailed and technologists were highlighting lands and in the natural reduction of studies, and dozens more around the the potential of a rapid energy other GHGs from the atmosphere. world at this stage, point in the same transformation, most Wall Street bankers The question is whether such political direction. and money managers were still not commitments will be enough and will be The pathways to net-zero energy shifting their investments decisively implemented in time. systems include the following: towards decarbonization. The big

Let me offer a scorecard on the critical ● zero-carbon power generation, banks continued to pour money into issue of the pace of change. First, the using solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, pipelines, oil and gas exploration and political understanding of what needs nuclear (in some countries), and other development, and even coal. Green to be done has spread rapidly in recent zero-carbon sources rhetoric ran ahead of green investing.

years, but is still far from comprehensive. ● electrification of automobiles and ESG investing (that is, investing The European Union’s adoption of the some other transport (for example, ostensibly guided by environment, European Green Deal in 2019 to 2020 rail and urban trucking) social, and governance considerations)

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FIGURE 1: Climate Action Tracker

The Climate Action Tracker is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of “holding warming well below 2°C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.”

1.5ºC PARIS AGREEMENT CRITICALLY INSUFFICIENT HIGHLY INSUFFICIENT INSUFFICIENT 2ºC COMPATIBLE ROLE MODEL COMPATIBLE

was widely regarded as “greenwashing” like ExxonMobil and Chevron had world reach net-zero emissions by rather than a real shift of investor action. seemingly unbounded lobbying power mid-century, and that even with that Yet all of that is changing, perhaps with in Washington. Perhaps not surprisingly, breakthrough, the limit of 1.5°C warming the defeat of Donald Trump and the these companies epitomized political might still be exceeded. Even after Paris, Biden administration’s commitment to arrogance. They found it hard to believe however, and especially in view of the decarbonization. that a group of climate scientists and disastrous Trump administration in the Since 2020, investor funds are pouring environmental activists could come US, actual progress towards net zero into zero-carbon technologies. Tesla, anywhere close to threatening their by 2050 was scant or non-existent, as the electric vehicle manufacturer, has financial bottom line. global emissions continued to rise, and soared in market capitalization far How quickly now the times are as big money continued to pour into the ahead of the incumbent producers of changing. In May 2021, the ExxonMobil fossil-fuel energy sector. Yet all of this internal combustion engine vehicles. management lost a highly contested is now changing. Governments around Pipeline projects, oil and gas exploration shareholder vote that put three backers the world are adopting the net-zero- projects, and fracking projects are being of decarbonization onto the ExxonMobil by-2050 goal. They are discovering the cancelled. There remain considerable board. At Chevron, activist shareholders pathways to action, especially as the new investments in oil and gas, far passed a resolution over management costs of the energy transition continue above what is consistent with a net- opposition calling on the company to fall. Investors are now pouring money zero-by-2050 trajectory. Yet the behavior to cut the GHG emissions from their into clean energy on a massive scale. among major investors seems finally to product mix. The Supreme Court of the Key stakeholders, from ESG investors, be shifting significantly and, in my view, Netherlands ordered Shell Oil to slash activist shareholders, and the courts, are irreversibly given the climate risks and emissions by 45% by 2030, as part of its weighing in. decarbonization opportunities. duty of care under Dutch law. This year, 2021, could therefore mark Fifth, other key stakeholders are now The bottom line is therefore the the political and financial tipping point weighing in, shifting the balance of following. With the 2015 Paris to a clean energy future. All eyes are political power against the fossil-fuel Agreement, the world’s governments on COP26 in Glasgow in November, industry. For a hundred years, during finally adopted a global agreement to when all of the world’s governments the 20th century, Big Oil ran the show. try to keep global warming to below assembled together will have the Access to oil was considered so vital for 1.5°C. The scientists have indicated occasion to align on a pathway to national security that Big Oil companies that this requires, at the least, that the decarbonization by 2050.

SDG ACTION 43 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES © Ty O’Neil / SOPA Images/Sipa O’Neil / SOPA © Ty No alternatives to facts

Improvements in technology have made information more accessible than ever. Then why has public debate in recent years been overrun with false narratives, and what can be done?

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Nevada, USA, protestors supporting an them, it’s inevitable that they stop array of conspiracy theories gather outside believing the experts and look for the state’s legislative building answers elsewhere.” The 2008 financial crisis offers a clear example. During this time, gross domestic product (GDP), the standard- bearer for measuring country output, incomes and welfare for over 60 years, best, I checked the weather app on continued to grow steadily. But GDP my phone to see if the daily forecast did not reflect that the majority of was conducive for biking. If the people were worse off and, in the US, weather looked dodgy, I then reviewed that nearly 91% of the gains went to the subway app to see if there were the top 1%. Moreover, GDP also did service delays. Based on these two not capture that the crisis caused a sources, I either jumped on my bike or permanent loss of “hidden capital” headed to the metro station. in the form of reduced on-the-job What made me rely on these sources training, weaker career prospects for my commuting decisions? First, the for younger workers, and a growing information mattered to my decision. sense of economic insecurity. As some Second, with nearly daily use, I came economists relied almost exclusively on to trust these sources as reliable. GDP to report on the economy’s health, Third, their information was up to date: people’s trust in both the experts and in both sources updated their data and the statistics was undermined.

What factors contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic becoming an “infodemic”: a global outbreak of misinformation?

analysis in near real time. Fourth, the The COVID-19 pandemic provides data was easily accessible: from the a more recent example of this simple touch of my phone, I could phenomenon. By July 2020, 45% easily pull up the apps. Finally, the of the recorded 125,000 COVID-19 presentation of the information made deaths were in just four US states: it a snap to absorb: their graphs and New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts maps provided a convenient summary and Illinois. By contrast, 25 states of the data. All it took was a glance at had lost a combined total of 8,000 my phone to make my decision. people, 6.4% of the national total. Yet, if reliable and trustworthy Four states (Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming information has become easier to and Montana) had only 80 reported consume, why has public debate often deaths. Although travel between states By Grant Cameron, been overrun by false narratives? And was never fully restricted, the lack of Director, SDSN’s Thematic Research most recently, what factors contributed day-to-day encounters with the disease Network on Data and Statistics to the COVID-19 pandemic becoming encouraged indifference in states with (TReNDS) an “infodemic”: a global outbreak of a low prevalence of deaths in adopting misinformation? social distancing and quarantine oday, the information that measures. As a result, a surge in cases enables our day-to-day The data does not fit with what and deaths nearly overwhelmed many Tdecisions is plentiful and people see or feel of these states in the latter half of 2020. accessible. Before the pandemic, I Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Fortunately, steps are being taken to had a 50-minute commute to work by Stiglitz believes that, “if what the develop measures that fit better with either bicycle or subway. To decide expert says has little or no relation to what people see and feel. For example, which mode of transportation was what people feel or can see all around the disconnect between GDP and the

SDG ACTION 45 CROSS-CUTTING THEMES

true impact of the economic crisis led the Organisation for Economic Co- Presenting V-safe data in compelling operation and Development to create ways will be important for demonstrating to a high-level group to develop data sets and tools to examine factors that the public how few people are experiencing matter most to people. adverse effects and encouraging greater And the US Centers for Disease Control is rolling out V-safe, a vaccination take-up among the distrustful mobile phone app that collects data on symptoms from the recently vaccinated. Presenting V-safe data in pressure to get the story out ahead For the US, the dashboard used compelling ways will be important for of competitors that they are forced to data gathered by the COVID Tracking demonstrating to the public how few publish urgently to get the exclusive. Project. Recently, the project’s creators people are experiencing adverse effects Traditional print sources would have described the challenges they faced in and encouraging greater vaccination had more time to fact-check and compiling comprehensive and reliable take-up among those who remain validate sources. To combat the spread data across the US. They observed distrustful of the vaccine. of misinformation via digital channels, that, “before March 2020, the US had the UN recently launched its PAUSE no shortage of pandemic preparation Fact-checking is not always seen campaign to encourage social media plans. Many of these plans stressed as impartial users to reflect before they share the importance of data-driven decision- The proliferation of false narratives content. making. Yet these plans largely in public discourse has made fact- Fact-checking may have more assumed detailed and reliable data checking a staple of news reporting impact if it comes from within the would simply exist.” services.The New York Times, The public sector. For instance, the Head Unfortunately, this was not the case. Washington Post and the BBC are of the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) is The project devoted much effort to well-known examples. Recent research legally empowered to call out politicians adjusting state-level data to ensure that tested the impact of fact-checking on when facts and figures are misused in they were comparable at the national public opinion. While it showed that reports and speeches. This prerogative level. Had state-level data providers it does indeed improve the public’s works because the UKSA reports to routinely provided metadata (information factual knowledge, increased factual the UK Parliament rather than the that describes how and what their knowledge is insufficient to change Prime Minister and is perceived as an data reflect), steps could have been policy positions or politicians who impartial figure. taken before the pandemic to create a support these positions. The UKSA recently made the news consistent set of statistics and allowed One possible reason for this can when the UK government misled the policymakers to act sooner. be attributed to the current state public over the number of COVID-19 of news media. Media outlets play tests it carried out. The UKSA, however, Doing better next time multiple roles: they report on news as is careful to not overstep. It believes The indicators underlying the objectively as possible, they fact- that selective use of factual statistics Sustainable Development Goals have check statements made in the public is part of the political discourse, been developed through an inclusive domain, and they provide commentary and careful judgement is applied to consultative process to ensure that on these issues. Some researchers determine when selectivity crosses over these statistics are policy-relevant have found that the media’s multiple to misuse or misleading facts. and consistently measured by 195 roles undermine trust in fact-checking. countries. Yet, technical challenges And the problem has only worsened Information providers need to be remain to provide numbers for small in recent years as news distribution upfront about the limitations of geographic areas and for vulnerable has shifted from traditional print to their measures population groups. digital (online and social media). Digital When experts at John Hopkins At SDSN TReNDS, we have a distribution allows for highly efficient University created a dashboard and mandate to get a range of actors micro-targeting, limiting users to interactive map to track the spread (including statisticians, policymakers, challenge the content. of COVID-19, little did they know that data scientists and lawmakers) to work Further, anyone with a “following” or it would quickly become the world’s together to overcome these challenges. “klout” can comment on a statement most authoritative source on the latest The resulting information, we believe, and claim it’s incorrect when in coronavirus numbers and trends, with will provide a solid foundation for reality it’s true. Finally, digital media the dashboard receiving upwards of 1.2 fighting false narratives on development organisations are under so much billion requests daily. progress.

46 SDG ACTION Recognizing Innovation Winners for the 9th Award (2020) Creativity Prize 1) The team of Dr. Benjamin S. Hsiao and Dr. Priyanka Sharma, (Stony Brook University, New York, USA) for the development of adsorbents, coagulants and membrane materials from sustainable, biomass-sourced nanocellulose fibres along with numerous practical applications that promise to provide effective water purification for off-grid communities of the developing world.

2) The team of Dr. Sherif El-Safty (National Institute for Materials Science, Japan) for developing novel nano-materials in hierarchal and micrometric monoliths to achieve a nano-filtration/capture/detection process that quantitatively detects and selectively removes a wide range of water contaminants in a single step. A diverse range of these materials, which are conducive to mass-scale production, provides nano-filtration membranes and filters for water management applications, including purification, remediation, and the monitoring of hazard levels.

Surface Water Prize Dr. Zbigniew Kundzewicz (Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan) for advancing our understanding of the relationship between flood risk, river flow, and climate change.

Groundwater Prize Dr. J. Jaime Gómez-Hernández (Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain) for pioneering work on solving the “inverse problem” in hydrogeology.

Alternative Water Resources Prize Dr. Peng Wang (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia) for work at the forefront of solar-evaporation water production technology.

Water Management and Protection Prize Dr. Jay R. Lund (University of California Davis, USA) for the development of the CALVIN water supply optimization model that couples traditional water-supply criteria with economic considerations.

Nominations are open for the 10th Award. Nominations www.psipw.org can be made online until 31 December 2021. email: [email protected]

_PSIPW 9th Winners Ad 276x210mm_New_Final.indd 1 7/14/21 4:37 PM HEALTH © Mario Tama / Getty Images © Mario Tama Lessons from COVID-19 The pandemic has cruelly exposed social inequities and set back progress on the SDGs. But it also gives us critical insights on what must change in our global mission to build a more just, secure, and sustainable future

By Salim S. Abdool Karim, 171 million cases and 3.5 million providing high levels of hospital care to Director, Centre for the AIDS Program COVID-19-related deaths reported by 1 thousands of patients with coronavirus, of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) June 2021. In many parts of the world, while continuing to treat other and CAPRISA Professor of Global the pandemic is unfolding against communicable, non-communicable, Health at Columbia University, a backdrop of overburdened and and neglected diseases. New York; and Cheryl Baxter, maldistributed health systems. A key lesson in addressing the Senior Scientist, CAPRISA; Honorary COVID-19 has highlighted the pandemic has been the dire need for Lecturer, Department of Public Health, importance of resilient health systems ensuring access to care. Failure to University of KwaZulu-Natal that have the capacity for effective access medical care makes COVID-19 surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, a deadly disease. Coronavirus has put he COVID-19 pandemic has contact tracing, and hospitals with a spotlight on the disparities in access, resulted in immense suffering adequate beds for patients needing which has translated to higher levels Tthroughout the world, with over oxygen. A particular challenge was of preventable death. It is this fault line

48 SDG ACTION HEALTH

COVID-19 vaccination outside the Los stages of the pandemic, several Angeles Mission in the Skid Row community, countries experienced shortages of Los Angeles, California. Skid Row is home personal protective equipment (PPE), to thousands who either live on the streets polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or in homeless shelters. COVID-19 has diagnostic kits to identify those who are exacerbated the long-standing inequities between rich and poor, within countries and infected, and cell phone technologies between countries, with regards to access to for contact tracing. In April 2020, South prevention and treatment Africa was unable to secure adequate supplies of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test kits, despite orders being placed and paid for well in advance. Most poor alarming, and several instances of countries were last in line for these neglect and abuse of the elderly in precious resources, which were in short these facilities throughout the world supply and high demand across the have been exposed. globe. The pandemic has also brought Under this pressure, some innovative social and racial injustice and inequity solutions were created, such as to the forefront of public health. the African Union’s African Medical COVID-19 unequally affects many racial Supplies Platform. The platform and ethnic minority groups, placing leveraged the continent’s collective them at increased risk of getting sick buying power to become a major and dying from the disease. These purchaser of these essential goods and racial disparities are evident in several improve Africa’s access to diagnostic countries and have been extensively kits. documented in the US, where Most concerning has been the coronavirus has disproportionately inequitable distribution of vaccines. affected racial (black or African Despite the remarkable achievement American, American Indian, or Alaska of rapidly developing several highly Native people) and ethnic minority effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines within (Hispanic or Latino) groups. These a year of the new virus being identified, groups are 2.9 to 3.5 times more likely many poorer countries have fallen to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and behind in the race to vaccinate their of how age, race, and wealth impact 1.9 to 2.4 times more likely to die from populations. access to health that has highlighted a COVID-19 than white people. The unequal distribution of vaccines key obstacle in the quest to meet the 13 In South Africa, COVID-19 mortality is partly due to limited supplies, but targets and focus on the 28 indicators of in blacks was almost twice the rate in is also due to vaccine nationalism, SDG 3 (good health and well-being). whites. Racial health disparities such whereby some countries, particularly as these are frequently aggravated by those with more resources, adopt a A pandemic of inequities poverty, which leads to inequitable “me first” approach. They have secured The pandemic has exacerbated access to emergency medical care in more doses than their populations several disparities within society. disadvantaged communities. need because they are able to pay Globally, inequitable access to COVID-19 has also exacerbated higher prices and jump the queue. healthcare has a long history, usually the long-standing inequities By 1 June 2021, two thirds of the 1.8 on the basis of affordability. SARS- between rich and poor countries billion vaccine doses that have been CoV-2 disproportionally affects older with regards to access to prevention administered globally have been given individuals who are at greater risk of and treatment. During the early in just six countries (China, the US, requiring hospitalization or dying if diagnosed, with about 80% of deaths being among those 65 years or older. The African Union’s African Medical Despite being the most vulnerable, Supplies Platform leveraged the continent’s older people were often denied access to beds and ventilators, based on collective buying power to become a major decisions made around the use of purchaser of essential goods and improve scarce medical resources. Mortality rates in some care homes have been Africa’s access to diagnostic kits

SDG ACTION 49 HEALTH

FIGURE 1: Cumulative confirmed COVID‑19 deaths per million population (average by region)

Deaths per million inhabitants 1400

1200 East and South Asia Middle East and North Africa Eastern Europe and Central Asia OECD countries Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-Saharan Africa 1000

800

600

400

200

0

1 Jul 2020 1 Mar 2020 1 Apr 2020 1 May 2020 1 Jun 2020 1 Aug 2020 1 Sep 2020 1 Oct 2020 1 Nov 2020 1 Dec 2020 1 Jan 2021 1 Feb 2021 1 Mar 2021 1 Apr 2021 24 Apr 2021

Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021. Based on Our World in Data (2021). As of 26 April 2021

India, the UK, Brazil, and Russia), some of the SDG targets. But it is also HIV, and tuberculosis to rapidly scale while some countries are only just an opportunity to draw on the lessons up SARS-CoV-2 testing. Several African starting their SARS-CoV-2 vaccination learned during this pandemic to be countries also utilized their community programs. better prepared for future threats and health worker programs to carry out The world is facing a new, unethical, to achieve a better, more sustainable widespread screening and contact and immoral situation where young, future. tracing in the community. low-risk people are being vaccinated The reliance of poor countries on Perhaps the most important in one country while those at highest others for the development of vaccines lesson has been a reminder of the risk, such as healthcare workers and and diagnostics highlights the dire need importance of our humanity and mutual the elderly, have not been vaccinated for these countries to increase local interdependence; each person’s actions in other countries. This unconscionable investments in science and technology influence not only their own risk but situation is rapidly growing. Israel, to build self-sufficiency and enhance also the risks experienced by many which is recovering from its third their capacity to control pandemics. others, such as their families, work wave, is vaccinating young, low- An important lesson is that colleagues, and people they share risk individuals while many of its preparation and planning fosters health transport with. neighboring countries have not secured system resilience and saves lives. In Similarly, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 sufficient vaccines for their healthcare general, countries that were able to in one part of the world will almost workers. In April, all states in the US rapidly implement testing, contact certainly affect other parts of the world. expanded vaccine availability to young, tracing, and quarantining (such as New Defeating the pandemic requires global low-risk people, while at least 10 Zealand) were better able to cope and control, which can only be achieved countries in Africa had not yet secured contain COVID-19. through solidarity among people, doses to start vaccinating high-risk Some countries (such as Thailand) communities, and nations. healthcare workers. with experience in dealing with similar To be better prepared for future respiratory epidemics such as MERS pandemics, the world will need to While COVID-19 is a calamity, and SARS were also better able to draw on the lessons learned during it is an opportunity to bolster slow the spread of the epidemic. this pandemic. Achieving universal progress towards universal Countries like Rwanda, Ghana, and healthcare will need to address fault healthcare South Africa creatively pivoted testing lines in society, foster the importance COVID-19 has taken the world off infrastructure that had been established of collective action, and build track on its progress towards achieving over many decades to address Ebola, solidarity.

50 SDG ACTION HEALTH © Reuters / WIlly Kurniawan via Alamy Tackling the rise in non-communicable diseases

In current times, it’s easy to forget that over 70% of deaths worldwide are due to non-communicable diseases. How can we combat this growing problem?

By Nísia Trindade Lima, President, The same warning applies in the Patients exercise at a COVID-19 quarantine Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of opposite direction: the COVID-19 house on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia. Health, Brazil; and Carlos A. Grabois pandemic cannot disrupt efforts or Unhealthy diets and lack of exercise are major Gadelha, Economist, Oswaldo Cruz distract us from the need to ensure drivers in the rise of NCDs Foundation, Ministry of Health, Brazil access to health and well-being, including promoting, preventing, and he theory of epidemiological treating chronic diseases. As the COVID-19 pandemic has transition (or the changing patterns According to the World Health revealed, the global health picture can Tof population age distributions, Organization, 41 million people die no longer be characterized simplistically mortality, fertility, life expectancy, and every year from NCDs, the equivalent as NCDs impacting developed causes of death) offers a valuable of 71% of the world’s total deaths. countries and communicable diseases framework for understanding how The four NCDs that cause the highest impacting developing countries. NCDs different types of diseases can occur mortality are: seriously affect people in low and

simultaneously in a population. However, ● cardiovascular diseases (17.9 million middle-income countries (LMICs), it can also put too much focus on non- people a year) where 77% of global NCD deaths

communicable diseases (NCDs), when ● cancers (9.3 million people) (31.4 million) occur. These diseases

what is needed is a systemic approach ● respiratory diseases (4.1 million) are usually associated with older age

to the social determinants of health. ● diabetes (1.5 million) groups, but more than 15 million of

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all deaths attributed to NCDs occur posed by the 2030 Agenda have had development. Health is development! It between the ages of 30 and 69. An little effect. Add to this the fact that strongly involves science, technology estimated 85% of these deaths occur some of the conditions that contribute and innovation, local and regional in LMICs. to the prevalence of NCDs are linked to production capability, general NCDs are a problem worldwide, the very ways societies are structured, conditions of social welfare, and affecting countries of different and we have an extremely complex sustainability. All of these determinants development levels, as made explicit scenario. These diseases are driven by conditioned the access to health and in target 3.4 of the Sustainable forces that include increasing inequity the global and national preparedness to Development Goals (SDGs): “By 2030, within countries and globally, rapid face NCDs challenges. reduce by one third premature mortality unplanned urbanization, globalization According to the World Intellectual from non-communicable diseases of unhealthy lifestyles, and population Property Organization’s Global through prevention and treatment and ageing. Unbalanced diets and lack Innovation Index 2019, just 15 global promote mental health and well-being.” of physical activity can lead to raised companies hold 60% of the patents metabolic risk factors such as increased in biotechnology for the treatment of Reducing deaths from NCDs blood pressure, blood glucose and cancer and other chronic diseases. Some of the actions needed to achieve blood lipids, and obesity. All these can Patents are indicators of current target 3.4 are sectoral in nature, such lead to cancer, cardiovascular, and other and, critically, future technological as efforts to increase access to new chronic diseases, strongly contributing production profiles. Such patent generations of medicines in LMICs. For to premature deaths. concentration today means more example, in many countries, including In addition to all the arguments concentration and asymmetry from a Brazil, the cost of immunotherapies for regarding chronic diseases, it should production and technology standpoint cancer treatment is prohibitive, directly be noted that these conditions do not in years to come. This is not consistent affecting access. occur in isolation. The term “syndemics” with the 2030 Agenda. It will reproduce Policymakers must recognize this link describes an epidemiological situation inequities in health and in economic between price and access and work in which multiple diseases coexist development. The SDGs represent strategically with the healthcare sector and progress in synergy. The reality a positive global initiative that must to enable treatments to be scaled of the threat to life goes beyond the involve political decision-making at up at lower prices, making universal compartmentalized view to which we national and global levels to face these access feasible. Through public–private are accustomed, reinforcing the need international knowledge asymmetries. cooperation, the cost of access can be to propose solutions from a systemic We must address, at the same reduced while increasing opportunities perspective. COVID-19, for example, time, sustainability and access to for investment, improving returns on is more dangerous among carriers of technologies as two sides of the same research and development spending, comorbidities, such as many NCDs. coin. This includes a global effort to and generating sectorial jobs and foster a generation of innovation in income. Cooperation is essential to Integrated solutions less developed countries and link tackling NDCs, as the case of cancer The set of transformations needed to science, technology, and innovation shows. Without it, innovation will address NCDs goes beyond the field of with universal access needs. We need limit treatment to those people and health. A systemic approach is needed, game-changers in incentivizing and countries who can afford it, leaving one that relates well-being to the regulating innovation, including in many behind. economy. the field of intellectual property. The It is therefore vital that governments In the classical sustainable sustainable development agenda and the private sector deal directly development view, three worlds need can only be achieved if there is and transparently with the issues to engage in dialogue: the world a commitment to reduce global of price and access by establishing of economics, the world of social asymmetries in knowledge and health relationships of trust and institutional welfare, and the world of environmental production. stability. Nation states can use both sustainability. We emphasize that health This perspective involves a paradigm carrot and stick, mixing incentives with incorporates these three dimensions shift in public policies. We must appropriate regulation, in a process of in an interdependent way. Health integrate the world of economics and negotiation with the pharmaceutical is, at the same time, a constituent innovation with the world of well-being industry. This should involve mutual part of the welfare state, an essential and environmental sustainability. procurement commitments with public vector of economic development and international organizations to based on innovation capabilities and The authors would like to thank Marco enable universal access worldwide. an integral part of environmental Nascimento and Karla Montenegro for Current data reveal that, so far, efforts sustainability. It is not just an externality their help in gathering and organizing made by countries to face the urgencies to development or complementary to information for this article.

52 SDG ACTION HEALTH © IFAD / Petterik Wiggers © IFAD Better living through nutrition

Despite the will, many developing countries lack the resources to deal with a problem that ravages at both the national and individual level. We need smarter, context-specific solutions on nutrition that can catalyze sustainable change

By Namukolo Covic, Senior Research conditions that cause a person to lose A farmer in the Chencha district of Ethiopia Coordinator, CGIAR Programme on the nutrients they’ve consumed, for using agroforestry techniques. Planting Agriculture for Nutrition and Health example through frequent diarrhea or indigenous tree species to restore the land, (A4NH), Ethiopia; President, African vomiting. Undernutrition is a form of the soil fertility is improved and the crops are more resilient to climate change Nutrition Society malnutrition caused by a deficiency in one or more specific nutrients. It’s

alnutrition is a frequently also possible for an individual to have ● be too short for their age (stunted)

used but less well understood too little of some nutrients and too ● weigh too little for their height Mword. It refers to all forms of much of others. Such imbalances lead (wasted) unfavorable health conditions that to different forms of malnutrition. For ● weigh too much for their height result from inadequate diets, or health example, malnourished children can: (overweight)

SDG ACTION 53 HEALTH

Another example is when adults you imagine any government investing of the African Leaders for Nutrition become overweight or obese and in something that resulted in a 17% Initiative, implemented by the African develop type-2 diabetes, high blood gain in GDP (or 2% for that matter)? Development Bank and the African pressure, or some cancers. It would be an astonishing investment Union to promote investment in In all these forms of malnutrition, the that political leaders would deservedly nutrition, are therefore commendable. result is poor health outcomes, often brag about. But we also know that, This initiative has coined the phrase, needing frequent or chronic medical due to lack of data, these estimates “investing in Africa’s grey matter attention, at much cost to households do not account for the full cost of infrastructure” by governments. and governments. Taking action on malnutrition. This refers to the negative impacts Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) To see the full picture, we would of malnutrition on children’s brain 2, to foster zero hunger and prevent need to add the costs of treating development, limiting earning capacity all forms of malnutrition, therefore other resulting conditions: overweight, in adulthood. It would be highly contributes to attaining SDG 3 on obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, desirable to see African governments promoting good health and well-being, and diet-related cancers. Simply dedicate fixed percentages of while also reducing health costs. put, malnutrition is expensive for any national GDP to nutrition. Why not? Governments focus on investing in government. Malnutrition is eroding national health systems, medical technologies, Malnutrition is also costly from GDP year after year, like a leaky tap training, medical practitioners, and an education perspective. The Cost whose losses can only be stopped by treating illnesses. They give us of Hunger in Africa studies have investing in nutrition. statistics like the number of doctors associated up to 18% of school So, what does investing in nutrition or nurses per 1,000 people. Less repetitions (pupils having to repeat really mean? What should national attention, however, is given to the need for greater investment in nutrition. No matter how much governments Many African countries have an enhanced invest in health systems, good health nutrition policy environment, but unfortunately will be difficult to attain without good nutrition. Indeed, medication without struggle to effectively implement them the right food and nutrients can at scale due to resource constraints lead to undesirable complications. Better nutrition that helps to prevent malnutrition is cost-effective. a school year) to stunting. Another and development partner budgets be estimate was that stunted children allocated to? The cost of malnutrition in Africa completed up to four fewer years Today, 41 of the 54 African Union Many low and middle-income of school, undoubtedly reducing member states are part of the SUN countries, including most African economic earning potential in (Scaling Up Nutrition) Movement, countries, face the persistent challenge adulthood. and many have over time developed of high levels of undernutrition, Malnutrition can therefore be a policies targeting nutrition in some characterized by high prevalence of curse: not just for health systems but form. Many African countries, stunting and wasting. also in how it limits people’s potential therefore, have an enhanced nutrition The 2020 Global Nutrition Report to attain decent work and constrains policy environment, but unfortunately showed that 29% of children in Africa economic growth (both targets under struggle to effectively implement them were stunted, with 24 countries SDG 8). Malnutrition also makes SDG at scale due to resource constraints. having stunting prevalence over 1 (on poverty eradication) difficult to This calls for finance ministers to 30%. The cost of undernutrition has achieve. In fact, malnutrition can limit review the intended actions of existing been estimated across 21 African the attainment of at least five SDGs (1, policies towards providing regular and countries through joint studies of 2, 3, 8, and 10) while being impacted predictable funding for:

national governments and the African by 10 SDGs. And of course, this in turn ● nutrition services

Union supported by the World Food means SDG 17 is critical to ensure ● coordination structures and Programme. They clearly show how coordinated and aligned actions mechanisms across different costly undernutrition can be, ranging among all relevant stakeholders. government sectors and at different from 2% of gross domestic product administrative levels, from national (GDP) in Egypt to 17% of GDP in Scaling up nutrition to community level

Ethiopia. Finance ministers must assess the ● better training and deployment of These are staggering economic losses accrued as a result of not enough nutrition professionals to losses. If we flip these figures, can investing in nutrition. The efforts implement programs effectively

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FIGURE 1: Map of countries with overlapping forms of stunting in children under 5, anaemia among women of reproductive age, and overweight in adult women

Saint Lucia Barbados Trinidad and Tobago

Marshall Is. Solomon Is. Vanuatu

Samoa Fiji Tonga

Insufficient data Anaemia only Overweight and anaemia Anaemia and stunting Overweight only Stunting only Overweight and stunting Overweight, anaemia and stunting

Source: UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database: Stunting, Wasting and Overweight, (March 2019, New York), NCD Risk Factor Collaboration 2019, WHO Global Health Observatory 2019.

Yes, countries face resource that called on people everywhere would limit our ability to sustain food constraints, making prioritization to collectively consider the food security and nutrition over time. Africa a must. Prioritization must target choices they make, not just for is already experiencing significant catalytic actions for a given country nutrition but also for long-term food climate variability with frequent context. Answering the question, security and planetary sustainability. droughts and floods in some settings. “what would be catalytic in a given It warned that ignoring the impact Nuanced action is needed. context?” is critical and must be of our food systems on the For example, many countries informed by available evidence. If environment, from production to need to increase consumption of the evidence is not there, investing consumption, would not be wise. animal-derived foods to address in research is essential. Otherwise, What would be the consequence for nutrient deficiencies. Yet they also targeting the most catalytic actions future food security? Should African need to increase productivity of becomes a challenge, leaving countries be worrying about the different foods including the animal countries unable to get the most environment when so many still face derived foods, while adopting best from the limited resources available significant food insecurity? practices to manage soil and water; and losing out on potential catalytic These questions bring us to the mitigate against biodiversity loss momentum. Similarly, development SDGs on managing and protecting life and environmental damage; and limit partners must seek to be catalytic in in water and on land (SDGs 14 and climate change. Meeting the nutritional their actions. This would be “investing 15), adopting responsible consumption needs of Africa is not only about smart.” patterns (SDG 12), ensuring affordable people today but also about future The ongoing United Nations Food and clean energy (SDG 7), and climate generations. Systems Summit 2021 process is a action (SDG 13). By addressing these It makes good sense to invest in welcome effort and potentially catalytic SDGs, we protect future food security nutrition and the food system that for nutrition. and nutrition. delivers it. The benefits are many, and The Lancet Commission Report of African countries cannot afford to not doing so is a cost we must not 2019 rattled us with recommendations ignore the environment. Doing so entertain.

SDG ACTION 55 HEALTH © UNDP Afghanistan

By K. Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India; Co-Chair, Universal healthcare SDSN’s Thematic Network on Health For All

post-COVID ealth systems and economies around the world have been Hchallenged as never before by With the pandemic demonstrating that “no one COVID-19. Even as countries wage is safe until everyone is safe,” the case for battles to counter and curb this threat, there are concerns as to whether universal health coverage has never been the pandemic will undermine or alter clearer. How do we achieve it? global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or delay

56 SDG ACTION HEALTH

Nurses training in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. solemn affirmation of social solidarity, After graduation, these nurses will help bring which is the most ennobling attribute healthcare to some of the country’s most of an advancing civilization. disadvantaged and inaccessible regions UHC requires that all essential health services be available to every person, based on need and with assured quality, without anyone suffering competently functioning in a steady financial hardship. This means that state. Second, comprehensive primary UHC must greatly reduce the risks of care must form the foundation of such high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), a health system. Third, if countries catastrophic health expenditure do not invest in a well-resourced caused by episodes of illness that are health system focused on UHC, their expensive to treat, and healthcare- economies will keep slipping on the related descent into poverty. banana skins of unanticipated or poorly Since it is not possible for all handled public health emergencies. countries to immediately meet all of Indeed, the historical evidence of the these requirements, the World Health last 75 years shows that those countries Organization (Figure 1) recommends a which did invest in health and ushered path of progressive universalization, in in plans for UHC during or immediately the form of a cube with three dimensions:

after a crisis reaped rich dividends in ● population coverage

health gains and economic growth. ● service coverage

● cost coverage Wide-ranging gains UHC is the hallmark of a society that At each stage of the evolution invests in the health of its people not of UHC, based on the resources only because it makes sound economic available, priorities set in each sense but also because it recognizes of these dimensions must be health as a human right that must be reconciled to meet the health needs respected and protected. Economic of the population. An essential gains from investments in health health package, delivered through

Economic gains from investments in health are wide-ranging. They include the increased productivity of the population and reduced healthcare costs for averted or abbreviated illness the attainment of targets to far beyond are wide-ranging. They include the periodically revised standard 2030. Of particular concern is the increased productivity of the population management guidelines, becomes the vulnerability of target 3.8 on universal and reduced healthcare costs for vehicle for delivering UHC. health coverage (UHC). averted or abbreviated illness. Since financial resources are always Concerns about the feasibility of Gains also arise from expanded finite, the choices of service package vigorously pursuing the UHC agenda employment opportunities in the components must be guided by their during the post-COVID recovery are health sector, and the social stability cost-effectiveness (how much health misplaced. The pandemic underscores of a society that is not severely is gained for the money spent) and three clear messages on health challenged by physical and mental extended cost-effectiveness (how systems. First, if a swift and strong health disorders. The right of an much financial protection is also response has to be mounted against individual to lead a healthy life must provided to people). a public health emergency, countries not be undermined by failures of the Equity too must play a major role in must have an efficient and equitable health system to prevent, recognize, or balancing priorities. “Horizontal equity” health system, well established and effectively care for an illness. UHC is a ensures that all people are entitled to a

SDG ACTION 57 HEALTH

themselves in a rush to impress, these FIGURE 1: The World Health Organization recommends a questions must form part of their path of progressive universalization, in the form of a cube assessment, even as existing health with three dimensions services are subjected to periodic technical, financial, and social audits. Financing of UHC must be mainly through tax-based public financing. Contributory health insurance, through payroll deductions (labor taxes), Direct costs: are not a feasible option in low and Reduce proportion of Include cost sharing the costs middle-income countries with a high other and fees covered services proportion of informal workers, and poor families with low incomes. Even if employer-provided insurance and Extend to Current pooled funds private insurance are additional sources non-covered of financing, a single-payer system that channels all funds will create a large Services: which services risk pool, provide the purchaser the Population: who is covered? are covered? power to negotiate cost and quality standards and enable an expanded Source: World Health Organization service package. A capitation fee system is more efficient than a fee-for-service mode common package of services. “Vertical participation, it democratizes the of purchase of services from care equity” seeks to address the needs of health system and makes it directly providers. Ultimately, UHC has to vulnerable groups (such as children and accountable to citizens. operate on the principle of cross- disabled people) and bridge existing subsidy, where many healthy people health equity gaps that have been Strengthening every component subsidize the fewer sick people at any created by income, gender, geographic, Other components of the health system one time, and the rich subsidize the or social disadvantages. This is too need be strengthened, to provide poor through a progressive tax system. addressed through additional services advanced care when needed. Even as Apart from health financing, all other or resources. While such targeting may secondary and tertiary care facilities elements of the health system too must be accommodated within UHC, the are strengthened, they must be bi- be assured. They include:

overall program must remain universal. directionally connected to primary care, ● adequate infrastructure at all levels Primary healthcare (PHC) should be which must be the pivot that operates of care

the major delivery vehicle of UHC. It is the health system. ● a multi-layered, multi-skilled health truly universal in population coverage, While governments must remain workforce

as everyone needs primary care the guarantors of UHC, they need ● uninterrupted supply of essential services sometime in their life, from not be the sole providers. They drugs, vaccines, and technologies

childhood vaccination to therapeutic may engage private and voluntary ● accurate and time-sensitive health and rehabilitative services for the elderly. healthcare providers, as per need information systems

PHC provides the broadest package and opportunity, but must create the ● community engagement

of services and is also the most cost- architecture and regulatory systems ● good governance and administrative optimizing. Since outpatient health within which they operate as partners efficiency services over many years contribute providing contracted UHC services with to high OOPE, UHC packages which accountability. A strong public-sector The social, environmental, and prioritize PHC will reduce poverty. healthcare delivery system will help to commercial determinants of health Provision of essential medicines, free of set cost and quality standards for UHC. too must be addressed, both through cost, must be assured. The quality of healthcare services coordinated planning at a policy level PHC is not highly doctor-dependent, too must be measured. Are they and convergent service delivery at the as community health workers and beneficial? Are they safe? Are they primary-care level. technology-enabled allied health cost-optimizing? Do they provide As the post-pandemic period dawns, professionals can provide many of the satisfaction to recipients, their families, we must build forward broader, better, required services in rural and urban and providers? As a number of and fairer. PHC-led UHC lights up that primary care. By engaging community innovative health technologies offer path to our collective future.

58 SDG ACTION HEALTH © Ministry of Health Rwanda Spending smarter on health

The pandemic shows the critical importance of robust health systems, and that bigger budgets alone are no guarantee of “success.” Achieving good health and well-being for all by 2030, while restoring public finances, will need cost-effective spending on health

By Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Founding (per capita gross domestic product) Neonatal care in Kirehe District Hospital, Director, Centre of Excellence in and life expectancy. However, the curve Rwanda. The country has made remarkable Women and Child Health, Aga Khan also shows that this correlation is not gains in public health over the last two University, Karachi; and Jai K. Das, linear. Life expectancy in several low decades Assistant Professor, Division of and middle-income countries (LMICs) Women and Child Health, and Section for a given level of GDP per capita is Head, Section of Public Health and better than others. marginalized and disadvantaged. Many Epidemiology, Aga Khan University, And, as the COVID-19 pandemic LMICs have also seen their economies Karachi demonstrates, some of the so-called devastated and health systems severely highly developed countries with strained. igher investment in health extensive per capita health expenditure Good health and well-being are correlates with better health have had abysmal health outcomes. among the top priorities for individuals H outcomes. This is often There have been wide disparities in and nations alike. As defined by represented by the Preston Curve COVID-related morbidity and mortality the World Health Organization over (Figure 1, overleaf), which shows the in these countries’ populations, 50 years ago, “health is a state of correlation between economic growth disproportionately affecting the socially complete physical, mental, and social

SDG ACTION 59 HEALTH

well-being and not merely the absence The concept of public health faster than the economy (although it of disease or infirmity.” This was a financing has been increasingly slowed after the financial crisis of 2007 promise reinvigorated more than 40 recognized globally for many decades. to 2008). In 2018, global spending on years ago in the Declaration of Alma- In 2005, members of the World Health health was USD 8.3 trillion or 10% Ata. The declaration identified primary Organization pledged to develop of global GDP. The picture between healthcare as the key to promoting health-financing systems so that all countries, however, is highly variable. and protecting health for all, deemed people have access to services. The average health expenditure in low- essential to ensure sustained human, Today, the expanded repertoire income countries was just USD 41 per social, and economic development. of interventions necessary to person in 2017, more than 70 times However, the health of a population achieve UHC requires fiscal space less than in high-income countries, at is not determined solely by health (budgetary room for governments to USD 2,937 per person. Indeed, the top systems, but is greatly influenced by provide resources for health without 1% of spenders account for more than the so-called social determinants of undermining fiscal sustainability). In 20% of total healthcare spend. health. These are “the conditions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Health expenditures in LMICs, though which people are born, grow, work, live, and its consequent fiscal pressures, lower, may be proportionally greater and age, and the wider set of forces investment in UHC must not be at in relation to GDP. And, unfortunately, and systems shaping the conditions of the expense of the gains made in in many instances health spending daily life.” maternal, newborn, and child health in these countries is regarded by These forces and systems include and nutritional interventions. Worryingly, governments as an expense rather than economic policies and structures, such reversals are already being an investment. There are also huge development agendas, social norms, observed. disparities within countries, as health social policies, and political systems. Yet there are also clear examples access is low in difficult-to-reach or We can also add the influence of of countries mobilizing domestic thinly populated areas. factors such as climate change, resources and financing to make UHC In many countries, healthcare environment, and living conditions, a reality. Rwanda is a remarkable financing is comprised mainly of public and how these factors overlap with example of an African country that and private funding. This includes conflict and displacement or migration. was able to lift itself from the ashes government budgets, compulsory or Recognizing the interconnectedness of of a terrible genocide and achieve voluntary prepaid insurance schemes, these drivers underpins the Sustainable remarkable gains in public health over direct out-of-pocket payments by Development Goals (SDGs) and their the last two decades. users, and external aid. Healthcare interdependence. True and equitable UHC is not spending is usually focused on achievable without well-functioning infectious diseases in developing Resourcing UHC and efficient public health financing, countries and accounts for over half A recent analysis of the status of and innovations such as health of those countries’ overall health implementing the health and health- insurance and conditional cash spending. In developed countries, related SDGs, both globally and in a transfers. This is especially relevant meanwhile, non-communicable representative sample of countries, for LMICs as healthcare expenditures diseases account for about 30% of suggests that effective implementation have grown rapidly in recent decades healthcare spending. would require appropriate organization with the advent of powerful new Health spending from external aid and oversight structures, as well as treatments. Spending is set to rise reached its peak in 2014 and has attention to the principles of universal further with the inclusion of non- since fallen. Most external aid is being health coverage (UHC). communicable diseases within UHC absorbed by middle-income countries There are wide disparities in health packages of care. and in recent years has surpassed that access and coverage globally. Some Global healthcare expenditure as of low-income countries. As the health 3.6 billion people do not get the most a share of world income has been sector expands it becomes less reliant essential health services they need increasing steadily in recent years, as on out-of-pocket spending. Total out- and some 100 million are pushed into the health sector continues to expand of-pocket spending doubled in LMICs poverty from paying out of pocket for health services. COVID-19 has made this even more difficult. Few LMICs will True and equitable UHC is not achievable meet their targets for UHC and health and poverty-related SDGs without without well-functioning, efficient public health adequate resources, and so must take financing, and innovations such as health urgent steps to strengthen their health- financing situation. insurance and conditional cash transfers

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FIGURE 1: ThePreston Preston curve: life expectancy Curve relative– life to expectancy income relative to income

90

85

80

75

70

65 Life Expectancy at Birth 2018 Life Expectancy

60

55

50 0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000 140000

GDP Per capita (PPP, Current International USD) 2017 Preston Curve: T. Freeman, International Journal for Equity in Health

from 2000 to 2017 and increased 46% especially to countries suffering conflict better equipping and training health in high-income countries, but this and humanitarian emergencies. At personnel growth has been slower compared the same time, developing countries ● putting in place strong monitoring with public spending across all income must focus on removing inefficiencies and evaluation systems with groups. to reduce waste of already limited independent audits resources, as an estimated 20% to Getting more bang for the buck 40% of health expenditures are wasted. The world must realize the need for Despite the multiple initiatives Such LMICs must couple more money inclusive growth. What better time to and global agendas, most LMICs for health with more health for the learn than now, with the pandemic have yet to seize the growth and money. Increases in development and threatening to leave lasting economic development opportunities offered by health budgets must be accompanied scars and set development back high-performing health financing and by improved tax revenues from tax years, if not decades? COVID-19 has a cost-effective healthcare. The focus of evaders. devastating impact on health systems these strategies should be to scale up There is evidence that developing globally. Nearly all countries have preventive and promotive interventions, countries with higher tax revenues responded to the crisis with exceptional which would lead to falls in the cost of tend to have higher healthcare budget allocations, but with the health treating disease. expenditures. This is an important sector receiving a smaller portion. Evidence suggests that simple determinant of progress towards UHC. We need to emerge from this crisis solutions for newborn health, Reducing waste and inappropriate better and fairer and with stronger immunization against preventable use, as well as focusing on prevention inter-sectoral collaborations. Academic childhood diseases, and micronutrient rather than acute episodic care, have and development partners must work treatments remain among the the potential to dramatically improve together to define cost-effective most cost-effective and affordable the effectiveness of healthcare packages of care, as well as innovative interventions for maternal and child expenditures and thus reduce the need financing solutions that also address health. Community-based approaches for additional financing. The efforts the underlying determinants of health. should be further explored in LMICs, as should be on: There is an urgent need for a global they could both increase outreach and ● increasing efficiency by identifying collaborative effort, with development decrease cost per person covered. and focusing on priority areas partners, national governments,

Current international collaborations ● improving the use of technology businesses, and civil society working must increase the support to LMICs, ● improving the quality of services by together to deliver the SDGs by 2030.

SDG ACTION 61 SOCIETY © iStock

By Max Lawson, Head of Inequality Building a more Policy, Oxfam International he coronavirus crisis swept across a world that was already equal world Textremely unequal. A world where a tiny majority of over 2,000 billionaires, mainly men, have more wealth than they Coronavirus threatens to push already could spend in a thousand lifetimes. A damaging levels of inequality to new extremes. world where nearly half of humanity was forced to scrape by on less than USD Post-pandemic, we must go beyond lifting 5.50 a day. A world where the richest people out of poverty and tackle the deeper 1% has consumed twice as much carbon as the bottom 50% for the last structural causes of inequality at all levels quarter of a century, driving climate destruction. A world where the growing gap between the rich and poor both built on and exacerbated age-old inequalities of gender and race.

62 SDG ACTION SOCIETY

Guanajuato, Mexico. Latin America has in their wealth. Yet this setback was been the region most heavily impacted by short lived. Billionaires had recovered COVID-19. The region is one of the most almost all the money they had lost unequal in the world, with high levels of within eight months. Their fortunes have poverty and crowded living conditions. Mexico continued to increase since then. has suffered a case-fatality rate of 9.4%, with At the same time that the greatest over 230,000 deaths as of June 2021 economic shock since the Great Depression began to bite, the virus saw hundreds of millions lose their jobs and face destitution and hunger. This cronyism are signs of a dysfunctional in turn is set to reverse the decline in economy, not a functional one. It’s global poverty we have witnessed over an economy that makes life more the last two decades. It is estimated expensive for ordinary people. that the total number of people living in This inequality is the product of a poverty could increase by between 200 flawed and exploitative economic and 500 million. The number of people system, which has its roots in living in poverty may not fall back to its neoliberal economics and the capture pre-crisis level for over a decade. of politics by elites. It has exploited The virus exposed the fact that and exacerbated entrenched systems most people on Earth live just one of inequality and oppression, namely paycheck away from penury. They live patriarchy and structural racism, on between USD 5 and USD 10 a day. ingrained in white supremacy. These They rent a couple of rooms for their systems are the root causes of injustice family in a slum. Before the crisis hit, and poverty. They generate huge they were just managing to get by, profits accumulated in the hands of and starting to imagine a better future a white patriarchal elite by exploiting for their children. They are the taxi people living in poverty, women, and drivers, the hairdressers, the market racialized and historically marginalized traders. They are the security guards, and oppressed communities around the the cleaners, the cooks. They are the world. factory workers. The virus has shown us that for Inequality’s harm most of humanity there has not Inequality has multiple impacts on been a permanent exit to poverty humanity and human progress. The and insecurity. Instead, because of International Monetary Fund (IMF) inequality and the hoarding of the According to the World Inequality recently found that in countries proceeds of growth by the richest, at Report 2018, between 1980 and 2016 with higher income inequality, gaps best there has been a temporary and the richest 1% received 27 cents of between women and men in health, deeply vulnerable reprieve. each dollar from global income growth. education, labor market participation, While it is too soon to have the full This is more than twice that of the and representation in institutions like picture, most initial studies point to a bottom 50%, who only secured 13 parliaments are also higher. The gender significant increase in inequality. The cents of every dollar. If the economic pay gap, where men earn more than IMF, World Bank and Organisation system is left to distribute the fruits women, was also found to be higher in for Economic Co-operation and of growth so unevenly, it will never more unequal societies. Development have all expressed eliminate poverty. It is also completely Those living in unequal societies are concern that, left unchecked, the unsustainable. less happy, less healthy, less educated, coronavirus will drive up inequality. Analysis of the origins of the wealth live with more crime and violence, and The fact that the virus has impacted of the world’s richest shows how much live shorter lives. It leaves many more economically on every country on of it is unearned. Oxfam has calculated people living in fear and many fewer in the planet at the same time, means it that two thirds of billionaire wealth only hope. is likely that almost every nation will exist because of inheritance, economic In the first months of the pandemic, a see an increase in inequality. That is monopolies, and crony connections to stock-market collapse saw billionaires, something never seen before in history. government. Inheritance simply creates who are some of the biggest This view is supported by Oxfam’s a new aristocracy, and monopolies and stockholders, see dramatic reductions survey of 295 economists from 79

SDG ACTION 63 SOCIETY

countries around the world, where 87% also agreed that the fight must be steps to protect their populations in of them projected that there would be an against inequality in all its forms. The response to coronavirus. Bolivia has increase or major increase in inequality gap between rich and poor undermines scaled up cash transfers by 322% to in their country in the next two years. progress on education, health, and cover 97% of the population. Ecuador gender equality. More equal societies and Argentina have increased taxation Governments face a choice are societies that are more likely to be on the richest to help pay for the An increase in inequality is almost able to meet all of the SDGs. recovery. certain. Yet the extent of this increase, Since then, progress in the fight To reduce inequality, governments and the speed with which it is reduced against inequality has been painfully must dramatically improve their efforts and greater equality achieved, is in slow. Oxfam’s Commitment to on progressive spending on key turn the choice of governments across Reducing Inequality index (CRI), which public services like health, education, the world. The World Bank has shown surveys 158 countries, shows most and social protection. They should that if leaders choose to act to reduce governments are failing to set clear increase progressive taxation, including inequality, we could return to pre-crisis goals and put plans in place to reduce taxation of wealth. They should levels of poverty within three years. the gap between rich and poor. increase workers’ pay and protection. Conversely, if governments allow The good news is that this inequality These measures should be done as inequality to increase, the number of is not inevitable. Clear, concrete steps part of national inequality reduction people living in poverty by 2030 will can be taken by governments of all plans under SDG 10, setting clear, still be higher than it was before the income levels to reduce inequality. time-bound targets to reduce the gap virus hit. If governments seek to reduce South Korea has increased taxation between rich and poor. inequality, 900 million fewer people of the richest, increased the minimum Sadly these countries are the will be living in poverty by 2030 than if wage dramatically and introduced exception, not the norm. The majority inequality is left to increase. universal social protection. Sierra of nations are simply failing to do what In 2015, all governments agreed for Leone has introduced free secondary they can do to reduce inequality. the first time to reduce inequality, as education and increased taxation Coronavirus offers us a vital Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of mining corporations. Some opportunity to imagine and build a more 10. This was a historic moment. It was governments have also taken dramatic equal world. We must not waste it.

FIGURE 1: After years of progress, extreme poverty increased in several regions in 2020

% Sub-Saharan Africa % Other regions 48 18

East and South Asia 16 Eastern Europe and Central Asia 46 Latin America and the Caribbean 14 Middle East and North Africa OECD countries 44 12

42 10

40 8

6 38

4

36 2

0 2010 2011 20122013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 20212020 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021. Based on World Data Lab (2021)

64 SDG ACTION SOCIETY © UNICEF / Arimacs Wilander Equality for women

The pandemic is negatively impacting women more than men, by exacerbating already entrenched inequalities. We need bold, transformative action to dismantle the barriers to women’s progress if we are to achieve SDG 5 by the end of the decade

By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, The COVID-19 crisis has also shown In-person schooling resumes in Bandung, UN Under-Secretary-General and us that progress can be frighteningly Indonesia. COVID-related school closures, Executive Director of UN Women reversed. increasing demand for unpaid caregiving, The pandemic has rapidly have widened gender inequalities. An extra 47 million women are forecast to fall into ore than 25 years after the exacerbated existing gender inequities. extreme poverty this year landmark Fourth World Violence against women has risen, M Conference on Women in and women have suffered higher Beijing, true and lasting equality for adverse economic impacts and job women remains in view but not yet losses. This has been caused both of the gender digital divide and have in our grasp. Though we have seen by increased unpaid caregiving and put nearly 10 million more girls at risk important gains, such as decreases in the fact that women work in more of child marriage this decade. All of maternal mortality and improvements insecure, low-paid and informal job this is posing a direct challenge to in girls’ education, overall progress settings. COVID-19-related school the achievement of the Sustainable has been too slow and too piecemeal. closures have heightened the effects Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG ACTION 65 SOCIETY

Shifting course and allies to join Generation Equality’s and systems so that the number of Despite these almost ubiquitous Global Acceleration Plan. The plan women and girls living in poverty challenges, there are positive solutions convenes collective action through is significantly reduced. Now is the that we can apply to steer our “Action Coalitions” which are centered moment for other leaders to follow societies and economies out of the around six themes: suit to support the care economy and

disastrous impact of COVID-19 and into ● gender-based violence champion women’s economic justice

constructive change. These solutions ● economic justice and rights and rights to the rest of the world.

require recognition of some previously ● bodily autonomy and sexual and underestimated underlying barriers, reproductive health and rights A pandemic of inequities

which the pandemic stressors have ● feminist action for climate justice Even before the pandemic, women’s

brought to light. ● technology and innovation for employment was often concentrated Governments’ decisive commitment gender equality in the most vulnerable informal

to gender-responsive stimulus ● feminist movements and leadership jobs. During the pandemic, women packages that truly respond to have lost their jobs at a faster rate women’s needs will be critical. Several The targets that support the themes than men. This has had particularly governments have already taken are intended to guide action and devastating consequences for the unprecedented measures, such as investment for the next five years. economic autonomy of women with strengthening access to healthcare For example, the pandemic has care responsibilities. Labor market and providing cash transfers, paid sick confirmed that care for children and vulnerabilities are even worse for the leave and unemployment benefits. other family members is essential, life- most excluded, including women Yet while some of these measures will sustaining work and there is a need for with disabilities, migrant and refugee benefit women, far too few are being investments in both public and private women, and small farmers. designed or implemented with women’s quality care services. In recent studies, lost income and rights or needs in mind. As the UN It also requires the creation of new, employment, food insecurity, and Development Programme/UN Women well-paid, and safe care jobs that substance abuse has been linked COVID-19 Global Gender Response recognize, reduce, and redistribute the to increased risk of men’s violence Tracker shows, only 18% of the global current unpaid care work in homes, and against women and girls, exacerbating social protection and jobs response that reward care workers and guarantee the prevalence of domestic and other so far have targeted either women’s their labor rights. In turn, such changes forms of violence. Young women aged economic security or addressed the need an enabling legal and policy between 15 and 24 years are often the rise in unpaid care work. environment. worst affected. There are well-grounded Current forecasts are that without Canada has recently promised fears that other forms of violence, such a change in course, an additional 47 significant fiscal resources to achieve as female genital mutilation and child million women will be pushed into affordable childcare for all, by marriage, are also on the increase. extreme poverty this year, overturning specifically committing to improving I urge all stakeholders to join the decades of progress. This would be a the pay and conditions of care-sector Global Acceleration Plan to:

stunning reversal for the SDGs, but this workers. The United States’ Biden ● tackle gender-based violence and kind of backsliding is not a foregone administration has recognized that care commit to ratify international and conclusion: with bold policies to boost is infrastructure, alongside roads and regional conventions

women’s economic empowerment, bridges, and has pledged investments ● scale up implementation and we can shift course and accelerate of USD 400 billion. financing of evidence-driven progress instead. Every country should have and prevention strategies

implement gender-responsive ● scale up implementation and Generation Equality macroeconomic plans, budget reforms, financing of survivor-centred, We look to governments and to those and stimulus packages, including comprehensive, quality, accessible, who have power, resources, and quality public social protection floors and affordable services for survivors influence to become the champions of what we call Generation Equality. We need new Commitment Makers A new global minimum tax rate proposed to shape a future that dismantles the barriers to women’s progress by by the UN would help to stem the tide of tax working across generations and sectors evasion and avoidance. It would ensure that and on priority issues. I invite all countries, businesses, civil- everyone makes a fair contribution to the kind society organizations, young people, of world we want for the next generation

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FIGURE 1: A global view of gender inequality Results for SDG 5 (Gender equality) from the Sustainable Development Report 2021, tracking countries’ performances on women representation in parliament, equality in years of education received, access to reproductive health, and labor force participation

Information unavailable Major challenges remain Significant challenges remain Challenges remain SDG achieved

Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021

● support women’s rights networks, young women peacebuilders, calls to the International Monetary organizations, activists and and those working in humanitarian and Fund (IMF) to issue special drawing movements, including those working crisis settings and the private sector to rights. These will provide emergency to address gender-based violence join the Global Compact. I invite them funds for developing countries to pay against women and girls in all their to support the sustainable deployment off unsustainable debt, fund vaccines, diversity and meaningful participation of or invest in social protection for their uniformed women peacekeepers, people. Meanwhile, a new global Generation Equality also includes so that security institutions become minimum tax rate proposed by the a Compact on Women, Peace and representative, responsive, and UN would help to stem the tide of tax Security and Humanitarian Action. This accountable to all. evasion and avoidance. It would ensure calls for the acceleration of full, equal that everyone makes a fair contribution and meaningful participation of women We need bold, transformative to the kind of world we want for the in security institutions, among other key action next generation. leadership, protection, and financing There is hope if we change course. Crises of the magnitude we face goals. But hope is not a strategy. At a critical today call for big, bold ideas and While progress has been achieved, moment in this Decade of Action, these extraordinary levels of global solidarity particularly in civilian leadership where and the other elements of the plan will and cooperation to implement them. women now comprise 41%, a UN help us rethink, renew, and revolutionize The Generation Equality Action Women analysis estimates that at how we organize our societies and Coalitions bring together the broad current rates it will take 30 years to economies. range of actors needed to drive reach gender parity for military troops Progress will also depend on progress forward. Together, we must in the UN. generating much-needed financial aim towards a more sustainable and I invite Member States, regional resources, especially for developing just future, to ensure prosperity for all bodies, civil-society organizations and countries. There have been significant and realize the 2030 Agenda.

SDG ACTION 67 SOCIETY © RAG Achieving the just transition

The phasing out of fossil fuels must be fair to all, including those communities dependent on polluting industries. Yet policies to achieve this “just transition” remain weak and scattered. What must governments do to strengthen them?

By Robert Pollin, Distinguished global industrial transition in the world’s are overwhelmingly persuasive. The University Professor of Economics, and energy system that must occur so that investments that will be needed to build Co-Director, Political Economy Research the global economy can move onto a a global clean energy system (averaging Institute, University of Massachusetts- viable climate stabilization path. This about 2.5% of global gross domestic Amherst issue lies at the heart of at least four of product (GDP) per year until 2050) the goals, including SDG 7 (affordable will be a major engine of job creation onsidered as a full package, the and clean energy), SDG 8 (decent work throughout all regions of the world. On Sustainable Development Goals and economic growth), SDG 9 (industry, average, these investments will generate C(SDGs) establish a powerful innovation, and infrastructure) and SDG in the range of 160 million jobs that will and broadly unified program for raising 13 (climate action). The new energy be sustained throughout the 30-year average global living standards, system must be highly efficient and transition period. This amounts to about reducing poverty, and protecting the powered by clean renewable sources, two to three times more jobs than if we environment. At the same time, some primarily solar and wind power. This is continued to invest in maintaining our tensions do inevitably arise in advancing because, on a global scale, roughly 70% existing fossil fuel-dominant energy

these combined purposes of the SDGs. of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions system. It is critical that we recognize where come from burning oil, coal, and natural However, what is frequently these tensions exist since it is the only gas to produce energy. Reducing these overlooked is the scale of disruption

way through which we can resolve them CO2 emissions, in turn, is the most critical and economic loss that will be inflicted effectively. factor in addressing climate change. on certain parts of society. To take One crucial area in which unavoidable The economic rewards for the effective action on climate stabilization, tension arises is with the massive transition to a sustainable energy system the global economy’s currently fossil

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Pit water management at a former coal Of course, other countries will need to TAA is designed to provide extended mine in the Ruhr Valley, Germany. The mount comparable programs. unemployment insurance benefits, policies and initiatives deployed in the The second, equally critical, area supplemental income for displaced region to transition to clean and sustainable for just transition in the global energy workers moving into lower-paying jobs, alternatives are a good guide for how to industry is reinvestment and general retraining support, health benefits, approach the transition from fossil fuels support for communities that are, at and allowances for job searches present, heavily dependent on the fossil and relocation. In reality only a small fuel industry. These communities will minority of workers who lost jobs in face formidable challenges adapting manufacturing received support from fuel-dominant energy system needs to to the fossil fuel industry’s decline. the program; most had to rely on Social be phased out completely over the next One obvious set of projects would Security and disability benefits. 20 to 30 years. Worldwide, the fossil fuel be to clean up and reclaim the land On a global scale, a 2017 study by the energy system employs approximately surrounding abandoned coal mines as Organization for Economic Co-operation 40 million people. Without intervention, well as oil and gas production sites. and Development’s Just Transition the transition will act counter to the Another is land repurposing. Centre concludes by emphasizing that, SDGs, creating winners and losers, and A prominent case of successful to date, only minimal progress has been heightening inequality. repurposing has been the experience achieved in implementing successful Workers and communities throughout in Germany’s Ruhr Valley, the traditional transition policies in the energy industry the world whose livelihoods depend on home for Germany’s coal, steel, and and other high CO2-emitting sectors, the production of oil, coal, and natural chemical industries. Since the 1990s, the such as cement. The study emphasizes gas, will, without question, lose out in region has advanced industrial policies the “absence of appropriate government this clean energy transition if we do not to develop new clean energy industries. policies, funds, and structures for just manage to create a just transition for As one important example of this transition.” It argues that “without more them. It is not an exaggeration to say repurposing project in the Ruhr region, assertive and coherent action from that the fate of the planet depends on it. RAG AG, a German coal-mining firm, is governments, we risk seeing many more This is not purely a matter of doing in the process of converting its Prosper- examples of transition that do not deliver what is right and fair, it is pragmatic and Haniel coal mine into a 200-megawatt justice, resulting in stranded workers necessary to facilitate the transition. pumped-storage hydroelectric reservoir and communities.” Without such programs, the workers that acts like a giant battery. The capacity and communities facing retrenchment is enough to power more than 400,000 Making the commitment from the global fossil fuel phase-out homes in North Rhine-Westphalia. This Germany’s successful transition in will fight to defend their communities example shows that political will, together the Ruhr Valley resulted because and livelihoods. This in turn will create with strict regulations, can put in place policymakers were committed to dangerous delays in advancing effective feasible transitions, even in fossil fuel providing sufficient resources to climate stabilization policies. hotspots. support the project. Government policies delivered in supporting workers What support is needed? Execution is everything with income supplements, retraining One approach to mitigate the harm and Recognition that governments must opportunities and active assistance smooth the transition is to focus on support industrial transition and in finding new job opportunities. direct support for the workers impacted. commit investment is not enough in Government policies also provided Consider the US economy. Recent itself. Successful programs of this significant financial subsidies for work that I have done with co-authors kind are rare. For decades, the much private clean energy investors. Without estimates that the rough average costs more common experience, both in the significant subsidies, many, if not most, of a just transition program for displaced energy industry and more generally, of the Ruhr Valley’s major clean energy workers would be a relatively modest has been transition programs that have projects would have entailed excessive USD 3.1 billion per year. That is less been largely ineffective in delivering costs or risks for private investors. than 0.01% of the likely average US meaningful results for impacted workers What should therefore be clear is GDP from 2021 to 2050. This level of and communities. that just transition policies for both funding would provide strong support in In the US the Trade Adjustment workers and communities need to two areas: Assistance (TAA) program, which was be recognized as a first-order policy

● guaranteeing both pensions and new first enacted in 1962, is a conspicuous priority on a global scale – including jobs, at pay levels equal to their fossil example. The purpose of the TAA, as its commitments of adequate financial fuel jobs, for laid-off workers name implies, is to assist US workers resources to support these policies –

● high-quality retraining and relocation whose jobs have been displaced for the SDGs to fully deliver on their support as needed due to rising import competition. The enormous promise.

SDG ACTION 69 CITIES © Wohnprojekt Wien © Wohnprojekt Cities as vanguards for action

The future of our planet and its people rests significantly on cities. This decade, we must transform how cities operate to drive global efforts on sustainable development, climate action, and recovery from COVID-19

By Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive their surroundings can be devastating. income inequality was found to be Director, United Nations Human Cities now generate 80% of the world’s higher within urban areas than within Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) economy, and most countries that have rural areas. Some of the qualities that urbanized have experienced the benefits make city life so exciting can also breed ities are now on the frontline of of economic growth. The problem is inequality. almost all the global agendas that that not everyone is benefiting in equal Cwill either accelerate humankind’s measure. Spatial inequalities achievements or speed up our collective There is a notable trend of increased Human activities generate wealth. The demise. A decade ago, the world shifted social inequality that corresponds with more concentrated wealth becomes, irreversibly from being mostly rural to urbanization. Inequalities occur between so particular areas of the city receive mostly urban. Today 55% of the global urban and rural areas, between urban more investments than others. This population lives in urban areas. This centers, and between neighborhoods. It phenomenon, often termed as spatial is projected reach to 68% in 2050, is not uncommon to have slums existing inequality, is a consequence of certain with the urban population increasing alongside affluent communities. locations benefiting more than others in by 2.3 billion. While cities exert a huge In 86% of countries with data, studied their access to economic opportunities economic pull, their ecological impact on for the UN’s World Social Report 2020, and infrastructure investment.

70 SDG ACTION CITIES

Wohnprojekt Wien, Austria, a sustainable, recent Report on Cities and Pandemics the SDGs and can commit to priorities collaborative housing association, highlights the fact that unplanned, for measurable action to accelerate their incorporating social housing. Cities can be densely populated urban communities, achievement. planned and managed in a way that meets without commensurate infrastructure, The New Urban Agenda provides positive social, environmental, economic, and have been “weak spots” with greater a blueprint on how the transformative cultural outcomes prevalence and risk. potential of cities to drive sustainable development can be harnessed. Cities Peace must be governed in a way that engages Inequality of outcomes in cities plays The inequalities experienced in cities can all people, groups, and communities. out in various global agendas as follows: be stark. It was the desperate act of an E-governance plays a welcome role in urban informal market vendor in 2010 including people and stakeholders in Migration that sparked the “Arab Spring,” and its decision-making processes. Particular Cities offer economic opportunities, impact is still being felt over a decade efforts are needed to engage the urban refuge, and basic services. They have later. It is also notable that unemployed poor and others that are traditionally served as destinations or places of urban youth became recruitment targets excluded, including women, youth, transit for most migrants and refugees. for extremist groups. As urban dynamics and elderly people. Cities can also be According to the UN High Commissioner play an increasing role in conflict, it is planned with principles of compactness for Refugees, cities now accommodate high time to reflect on the impacts and and connectivity, which when 60% of the world’s refugees. Despite cost of prevailing inequalities. complemented with equitably distributed migrants generating 9.4% of global basic infrastructure and services, can gross domestic product, migrants and Sustainable development drive economic development while refugees frequently face social exclusion Around two thirds of the global also protecting the environment and and poverty in cities. Here national and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) biodiversity. regional governments have an important targets have urban dimensions. SDG 11 When cities are planned and managed role to ensure that systems of small and (sustainable cities and communities) is well, they can be vanguards for large cities, not just the major cities, closely interconnected to all the other inclusivity, shared prosperity, climate can accommodate population growth SDGs. It has a particular bearing on change mitigation and adaptation, peace, sustainably, and local governments have poverty alleviation, gender equality, and a green, just, economic recovery an important role to support economic productivity, and access to health, from COVID-19. and social integration, and thus facilitate education, water, and clean energy. UN-Habitat has developed with the the many positive impacts of migration United Cities and Local Government in cities. Cause for optimism (UCLG) guidance on Voluntary Local While this tension between economic Reviews so cities can critique and Climate change development and social inequality share their experience. Cities are at the heart of the climate prevails, and for as long as economic Related to this, the recently launched agenda. Production, unsustainable priorities compromise environmental SDG Cities Global Initiative helps construction, and carbon-heavy energy sustainability, cities will have a mixed cities connect urban data to strategic and transportation contribute to cities impact on the achievement of global planning, to the identification and generating 70% of global greenhouse agendas. It has long been acknowledged financing of high-impact projects while gases. As spatial inequalities prevail, that the battle for sustainable also building the key capacities and informal settlements, often built on development will be won or lost in cities. systems needed to achieve the SDGs. steep slopes and floodplains, are highly There is, however, reason for optimism. Through its array of digitalized tools and vulnerable to climate-induced disaster. The agendas outlined above are partnerships with national authorities, Cities thus need to be at the heart of the interconnected. Cities, being a human local government associations, forthcoming debates at the UN Climate construct, can be planned and managed academia, civil society, and private- Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. in a way that meets positive social, sector investors, it aims to impact on environmental, economic, and cultural 1,000 cities and a billion lives. COVID-19 outcomes. Cities are recognizing their The decade ahead is a critical moment Due to their economic activity and importance as vanguards of sustainable for our cities. UN-Habitat has recently interconnectedness, cities became development. An important trend has launched its New Urban Agenda epicenters for the spread of COVID-19. recently emerged where cities are illustrated handbook and e-learning By mid-2020, 90% of cases were holding themselves to account on this by course that can guide city leaders, and recorded in cities, and local measures publishing their Voluntary Local Reviews. local and national institutions to plan to mitigate the spread profoundly Through these, cities undertake a critical and manage cities in a way that drives impacted local economies. UN-Habitat’s analysis of their performance in achieving sustainable development.

SDG ACTION 71 CITIES Greening older buildings

While regulations for new buildings are improving sustainability, the vast majority of existing properties predate these rules. How can we “fix” older buildings?

By Alexei Trundle, Research Fellow, consider where the built environment has broadly remained subsidiary to Connected Cities Lab, University of fits within the global sustainable the more clearly articulated 17 SDGs Melbourne development agenda. (and associated targets and indicators) In any such analysis, due contained within the UN’s 2030 Agenda ver the 15-year lifespan of consideration must also be given for Sustainable Development. the Sustainable Development to differences in not only built form Although the 2030 Agenda includes OGoals (SDGs), the world’s urban and urban governance but also, a much-lauded “urban” goal (SDG population is projected to increase by as importantly, the socio-cultural 11), there is little direct reference to nearly a third: from 3.98 billion in 2015 conditions from which cities emerge, buildings, construction, urban design, to 5.17 billion by 2030. Over the next and should ultimately be designed to and built form, either within its 10 targets decade alone, 789 million people are support, at a local scale. or elsewhere across the 17 Global expected to be added to our cities. The negative impact of cities and Goals. Only one out of the full suite of In recognition of the immense scale buildings on global environmental 169 SDG targets refers to buildings of ongoing global urbanization, a sustainability has been recognized and materials (target 11.c), and only significant effort has been committed by the international community for for consideration in the context of least to the greening of new building stock the better part of half a century. The developed countries. through design, technological innovation, declaration that resulted from the Both “design” and “construction” do incentives, accreditation, and regulation. first United Nations Conference on not rate a mention in the resolution’s These initiatives have the potential Human Settlements (Habitat I) in text. Sustainable urban development to transform much of the world’s Vancouver in 1976 recognized the is primarily referenced in the body of urban environment. However, most detrimental “environmental impact of the 2030 Agenda in paragraph 34. This city dwellers depend upon existing human settlements.” The concern was focuses responses to the “negative buildings and associated infrastructure, that “uncontrolled urbanization” was impacts of urban activities” through which generally predate sustainability- resulting in “overcrowding, pollution, consideration of hazardous chemicals, focused changes to construction and deterioration, and psychological waste management, and water and design processes. tensions” in major urban areas. energy efficiency. Underscoring the scale of this These viewpoints were expanded two The greening of existing buildings is “inherited” challenge are recent findings decades later at the second such global therefore primarily able to be addressed by the UN Environment Programme that conference on urban development, through key targets across the other 16 the operation of existing building stock Habitat II. There, it was declared that SDGs, attributes that are subsequently was responsible for an estimated 28% profound changes to patterns of embedded within design considerations,

of global energy-related CO2 emissions consumption and production were guidelines, and standards. SDG 7, for in 2019. This is before accounting for the necessary “prerequisites for sustainable instance, which focuses on affordable global construction industry, which adds human settlements development.” and clean energy, includes targets a further 10% to the share of emissions It was not, however, until Habitat III, and indicators for improving energy contributed by the building sector. held in Quito, Ecuador in 2016, that efficiency and investment (targets cities and the built environment were 7.3 and 7.b). National and municipal Sustainable urban (re) recognized as critical, positive “drivers governments, and even private utilities, development and the UN of sustainable development in an have generated a diverse suite of While the need to construct better increasingly urbanized world.” Despite approaches for supporting household new buildings is therefore critical, it’s hopes that Habitat III, and its outcome and commercial building energy retrofits equally important to understand how document The New Urban Agenda, globally (see the 2018 State Energy the global community can retrofit our would reinvigorate interest in cities by Efficiency Scorecard). existing human settlements to be more the global development community and The continuing rapid reduction in sustainable. To do so we must first UN Member States, its implementation photovoltaic (PV) solar panel costs,

72 SDG ACTION CITIES © Mohammad Tauheed via Flickr © Mohammad Tauheed

coupled with differing government more than one billion urban dwellers The informal settlement of Karail in Dhaka, feed-in tariffs, subsidies, and targets, reside in informal settlements. These Bangladesh, viewed from the more affluent has resulted in the integration of rooftop are areas that generally operate outside Gulshan district solar at a household scale across a of formal governance structures, rules, diverse range of urban environments. and legislation. Even within formal This addresses both SDG 7 as well as areas, it is often poorer households that in resource reuse, community recycling, targets within SDG 13 (climate action). lack the financial capacity to improve and creative redesign of public open In countries typified by low-density their residences or are constrained or space for cultural practices all offer suburbia, such as Australia, this has disincentivized from direct investment sustainability solutions that are often resulted in some local government areas by tenancy arrangements. With the not able to be tested and demonstrated having more than half of all households centerpiece of the 2030 Agenda being within the strict confines of regulated with grid-connected solar systems. In to leave no one behind, it is critical governance. the Global South, uptake of off-grid that national and subnational efforts to The world is traversing the second panels coupled with batteries for use improve our existing built environments year of the Decade of Action on the in lighting, charging devices, heating, account for these spaces and the SDGs while it struggles with the ongoing and cooking is also transforming urban people that inhabit them. impacts of a global pandemic. It is informal settlements. In the process, Informal settlements can already show clear that we must draw upon not just this is leading to co-benefits in poverty us many innovative forms of sustainable the deep interconnections across the reduction (SDG 1), education (SDG 3), urban living and green built form design. different fields of knowledge that relate and decent work and economic growth We just need to be more willing to to sustainable urban development, (SDG 8). consider, engage with, and learn from but also on the diversity of innovative their inhabitants. Widespread urban solutions across the world’s cities and Beyond the regulated city: leaving gardening in the informal settlements settlements. no settlement behind of Pacific Island cities, for example, In building back better, we must also Government regulations and incentives provides community governance rebuild and reconfigure our existing continue to play a critical role in mechanisms that could be replicated cities. Only then can our urbanized regulating, incentivizing, and guiding the not only in the formal domain, but also planet transition into a genuinely socially, greening of older buildings. However, by cities in the Global North trying to environmentally, and economically it is also important to recognize that accelerate urban agriculture. Efficiencies sustainable “new normal.”

SDG ACTION 73 CITIES © Sipa US / Alamy

By Alejandro Saniger, Professor, National Towards Autonomous University of Mexico o how did we get to this point? The 17th century saw the birth emission-free Sof steam-powered vehicles, although steam-powered cars never really took off. It wasn’t until the 19th mobility in cities century that internal combustion and electric engines were used in cars. At the beginning of the 20th For cities of the future, the car will not be king. century, Henry Ford’s mass production Redesigning cities to promote sustainable assembly line combined with an international oil boom opened the door and safer forms of transport must start now to car-centric urban development. Private cars are attractive for many reasons. They provide door-to- door traveling, offer protection from environmental conditions, and in many cases are a social status symbol. But

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The recently launched Cableway public transport system in Mexico City, Mexico. With 2.3 million vehicles in Mexico City’s metropolitan area, it has been ranked as the 13th most congested city in the world. Its average traffic speed of 13.9 kph during peak times is slower than a bicycle

of “predict and provide”: build all the road infrastructure that vehicular traffic would demand to avoid congestion. Then, as the 90s began, some countries identified that this policy was unsustainable. Instead, they began to switch to a policy of “predict and prevent” to start to manage traffic demand. This new vision led the City of London to implement the Congestion Charge in 2003, with private vehicles having to pay to enter the city center to reduce congestion. Singapore had had a similar scheme in place since 1975, upgrading it in 1998 with a system that could read vehicle number plates automatically. Congestion charge schemes have since been complemented with other ways of managing vehicular access in city centers. These include limiting parking spaces (especially free, on-street parking), and introducing pedestrian-only streets and dedicated they are particularly inefficient when Curbing car use bus and cycle lanes. it comes to road space consumption The Netherlands was one of the per passenger, quickly congesting first countries to react against the Safe and inclusive road design cities and demanding big-scale negative effects of excessive car use. In this sense, a safer design for the road infrastructure. This is not only The country’s vehicular traffic grew different users and uses of the road expensive to build and maintain, enormously in the 1950s and 1960s began to be promoted. Measures like but is in constant conflict with more thanks to postwar economic growth, limiting speeds, introducing exclusive sustainable means of transport like but so did accidents and pollution. lanes for sustainable transport modes, walking or cycling. In 1971 3,300 people died in traffic better pedestrian infrastructure, The combination of road congestion accidents, 400 of them children. Thus narrowing lanes, reducing vehicle plus emissions from internal began a series of social protests. turning radii (to slow vehicles down), combustion engines has caused air Government and social groups worked and concepts like “superblocks” (large quality to plummet in many cities together to design streets that were areas in a city within which there are around the world, leading to health more friendly to vulnerable road users. no major roads) became common problems and premature deaths. The 1973 oil crisis quadrupled the cost elements of the transport planning Traffic accidents, meanwhile, killed of oil, which also worked in favor of portfolio, even when this meant 1.35 million people around the world in these policies. reducing vehicle capacity. Many of 2018, many of them pedestrians and Other countries took a little longer these measures can be seen in different cyclists, according to figures from the to react against car growth. Until the city planning blueprints, like the design World Health Organization. 1990s, many cities followed a policy guides produced by the National

SDG ACTION 75 CITIES

Association of City Transportation Officials. Many countries and cities are working to improve urban air quality and promoting Active and electric mobility Lithium batteries, with their higher the use of cleaner vehicle technologies. energy density, have enabled many An effective way to do it is by implementing new applications, from mobile phones to electric vehicles. Their cost has low emission zones (LEZs) decreased significantly in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue. Many developed countries the city could be made by e-bicycles. In general, there is consensus among have announced bans on internal Second, they allow a wider group of specialists that congestion charge combustion engine cars as early as users to consider cycling as an option schemes are positive for promoting 2030. – for example, those who may not want more sustainable and equitable mobility. However, some important challenges or be able to pedal using human power However, it has been challenging to for electric vehicles remain: alone over longer distances. Cargo implement these schemes both socially

● cost e-bikes are also an attractive alternative and politically, particularly because of

● range limitations for “last mile” distribution in urban areas. the charges’ regressive nature: they

● charging infrastructure Urban regulation can go a long way hit lower-income car drivers relatively

● battery life to promoting these kinds of vehicles, harder than higher-income drivers. But

● battery reuse, recycling and disposal particularly in city centers. then, this has always been the case with car usage. For more than a century, cars Given the characteristics of electric Low-emission zones have improved accessibility for higher- mobility, it makes sense to think of it Many countries and cities are working income groups while making it more for smaller vehicles, as these obviously to improve urban air quality and difficult for lower-income groups (by require smaller batteries. This, together promoting the use of cleaner vehicle having to move around without a car in with higher energy efficiency, also technologies. An effective way to do it cities that have been shaped for cars). would mean fewer requirements for is by implementing low emission zones Congestion charging is likely to charging infrastructure and far fewer (LEZs), where access to most polluting enjoy better social acceptance if batteries to dispose of at the end vehicles is restricted or deterred. This other measures to support equitable of their lifetime. Smaller and slower can be done by, for example: mobility are introduced at the same

vehicles would also bring far fewer ● charging an access fee time, such as:

deaths from traffic accidents. ● banning polluting vehicles ● making public transport less

The International Transport Forum ● restricting access at certain times of polluting and more efficient

defines “micromobility” as a form of the day (when congestion is higher) ● improving urban safety for

transport using vehicles weighing less ● restricting access on days when pedestrians and micromobility

than 350 kg with a maximum speed pollution levels are higher ● better infrastructure to support multi- of 45 kph (limiting kinetic energy to a modal travel, such as convenient maximum that is 100 times less than Examples of this exist in many cities park-and-ride facilities a car at full speed). This definition is around the world. Mostly they are in interesting because as well as bicycles Europe, but also in China, Hong Kong, Achieving long-term change and scooters, it also includes microcars and Japan. Cities are slowly but surely being (although most are around 400 to shaped by the transport systems 500 kg including battery, such as the Internalizing the cost of vehicle use that exist within, and are in constant Microlino, Renault Twizy and Citroen Car use externalizes many of its development with, them. For almost a AmiOne). costs. This is the case for air pollution, century, a car-oriented transport system When compared with traditional accidents and congestion, where the has dominated city design, in many bicycles, e-bikes have two significant whole of society pays for a portion of cases generating a dependency for it. advantages. First, they help increase society’s car usage. Externalizing costs Changing land-use patterns takes average trip length. Some studies have leads to a higher demand than what time. But sustainable transportation found average trip lengths increasing would be socially efficient. Congestion policy needs to persistently push to from 6 to 7 km on traditional bicycles charging is one tool that tries to obtain results. If urban mobility policy to 10 to 11 km on e-bicycles, a rise of internalize at least part of these costs to changes every time a government 50% to 60%. That means that a higher bring down car travel demand to more changes, it will be difficult to achieve percentage of trips already made in efficient levels. progress for the long term.

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Case study: towards carbon-free transport in Mexico City

In Mexico City’s metropolitan area (the ZMVM), according to the Figure 1: Superblocks and road types 2017 Origin-Destination Survey, 22.3% of people traveling on weekdays use a private car (3.15 million out of 15.62 million). Another 6.9% use taxis (1.07 million). Yet cars are the main cause of road congestion. According to Sedema, 83% of the 2.3 million vehicles in the ZMVM are private cars. The TomTom Traffic Index shows that in 2019 (pre-pandemic), Mexico City SUPER SUPER BLOCK BLOCK was the 13th most congested in the world. Average traffic speeds were 13.9 kph (slower than a bicycle) during peak times, according to the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard 2019. Additionally, vehicular traffic (“mobile sources”) generates a significant percentage of air pollution in Mexico City, especially particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

EMISSION PM10 PM2.5 SO2 CO NO2 COT COV NH3 TYPE all traffic Through vehicles Exclusive pedestrian, micromobility and local

MOBILE 52.5% 55.7% 28.1% 86.4% 86.1% 16.1% 17.2% 6.4% SOURCES The Mexico City proposal would encompass the entire area Source: Sedema 2016 within the interior ring road. This covers 94 km2 and an estimated To promote active mobility, reduce polluting emissions, cut traffic population of more than 1.5 million people (according to the accident fatalities, and reduce congestion, a traffic management SEDAC Population Estimation Service). scheme for Mexico City is proposed. The scheme includes:

● a low-emission zone (LEZ) Figure 2: 15 districts within Mexico City’s inner ring road

● congestion charging

● remote parking (park and ride)

● superblocks (providing exclusive roads for pedestrians and micromobility)

Combined, the LEZ and congestion charging would:

● reduce the total number of vehicles in the zone, cutting congestion

● free up road space for providing safer pedestrian infrastructure, and cycle and bus lanes

● promote the use of lower-emission vehicles, increasing the use of micromobility, public transport, and electric or hybrid The 2017 Origin-Destination survey shows that within the vehicles metropolitan area, there are 34 million trips on a weekday (including some only walking), of which 5.9 million are in private The congestion charge rate would vary depending on the type of cars. Of these car trips, nearly 1.7 million have either their vehicle and its impact in terms of emissions, congestion (space origin or destination inside this area (28.5% of all car trips). consumption), and road safety (weight, power, and operating This doesn’t include purely internal trips (starting and stopping speed). within the area) or through traffic. Based on these numbers, the potential impact of introducing the proposed traffic management Superblocks could roughly define two roads systems: scheme is huge. The scheme will also help towards achieving at

● one that continues to allow the circulation of through traffic, least six of the Sustainable Development Goals: including private motorized vehicles

● another that provides connectivity exclusively for pedestrians ● SDG 3 (Good health and well-being)

and non-motorized or light vehicles ● SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure)

● SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities)

This would generate a far-reaching and exclusive network for ● SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities)

pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles, and light vehicles without ● SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production)

emissions. ● SDG 13 (Climate action)

SDG ACTION 77 CITIES A new approach to waste

We must urgently find ways to turn burgeoning waste from cities into a resource

By Stella Kasiva, Assistant Lecturer, by half by 2030. In accordance with 2020, paving the way for a cleaner and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture international standards, SDGs 11 and more competitive Europe. and Technology, Kenya; and James 12 also commit to the proper handling The approaches to circular Mwololo, Scientist, International Crops and treatment of chemical and other economy adoption presented by Research Institute for the Semi-Arid hazardous waste through its whole the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Tropics, Malawi life cycle. Waste services also feature the Government of China, built on in the New Urban Agenda, through comprehensive analyses, advocate he world’s urban population which UN-Habitat Member States for circularity in everything from will double by 2050, estimates commit to transforming and realizing materials production through to Tpredict. This presents a number universal access to sustainable waste products and systems (thus more of sustainability challenges, like how management systems, minimizing aligned to the value chain approach). to provide essential services such as landfill, and converting waste into Additionally, the collective action of housing, food, health, and education, energy, paying special attention to different sectors has contributed to as well as decent jobs. coastal areas. the development of various tools Rapid urban population growth will that can act as a framework for affect the Earth’s natural environmental A circular approach to waste implementation. In particular, there are systems, and will exert pressure on management now circular economy strategies and food production and use of energy, Rising urbanization coupled with implementation databases for each part water, and land. There will also be shrinking natural resources has of the value chain. Experts in different a likely upsurge in the production led to a shift in the public’s view of fields can offer support to customize of solid waste. Urban environments waste. Waste is no longer seen as the these tools for specific contexts. are associated with both organic predictable outcome of industrialized and inorganic solid waste, such as economies but rather as a valuable and Circular controversy construction debris, uncollected reusable resource. This is evidenced The circular economy is not without its waste paper, food remains, plastics, by the demand to invest in the circular critics, however. One of the principles metal scraps, and disposable medical economy worldwide. The circular of the circular economy is that it remains. The associated environmental economy disrupts the traditional “take, decouples economic activity from degradation caused by waste can in make, consume, and dispose” pattern the consumption of finite resources. turn adversely impact the quality of of growth, and enables the reuse of Yet some critiques question the health and services provided to urban solid waste in the economic production sustainability of several approaches populations. process. It also promises to generate related to the circular economy, such as Faced with rapid urban population economic growth, net savings for industrial ecology, eco-efficiency and growth, efficient approaches to industry, and environmental benefits by: cleaner production. The charge is that

waste management will be critical ● creating new businesses and job these approaches only achieve relative for providing safe and clean urban opportunities decoupling (slowing resource use

environments, while protecting ● reducing the cost of materials, relative to economic growth) rather than cities from the harm caused by poor supply and production completely severing the link.

handling of urban waste. Global best ● minimizing environmental Second, there is a lack of conceptual practice, as advocated by Sustainable degradation clarity and standard definitions. In Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 12, some accounts, the circular economy is for sustainable waste management. New development agendas, policies is treated as a new, innovative, and This includes promoting the principles and investment strategies should transformative initiative. However, of “prevent, reduce, reuse and recycle,” therefore be geared towards promoting academic literature also reveals as well ensuring proper collection the circular economy. Indeed, the credible evidence that the concept has and discharge of solid waste in urban European Commission adopted the existed since the 18th century. Lastly, areas, and reducing global food waste circular economy action plan in March organizations are implementing the

78 SDG ACTION CITIES © UNDP / Tobin Jones © UNDP / Tobin

circular economy despite there being informal waste collection and recycling Rubbish being dumped at a camp for no comprehensive analyses of different sector (scavengers) that dominates internally displaced people on the outskirts circular economy strategies. This has in developing countries, but not in of Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. Without led to dysfunctional implementation, developed countries. sustainable management, waste poses a threat to the safety of urban settlements and and the possibility of insufficient Within the circular economy initiative, to the integrity of the natural environment robust mitigation measures in place the recovery and remanufacture part to deal with potential future risks. of the value chain has received most While progress has been made attention. Waste collection and disposal in some developed countries, the are intertwined, and comprise half and is common to concepts such as implementation of the circular economy of the implementation cases. This is “planetary boundaries.” One obvious in developing nations could yet face due to the historical development of way that waste management integrates major setbacks due to capacity and circular economy elements within the with circular economy principles is technological challenges. waste management sector. As such, through the “four Rs”: reduce, reuse, waste avoidance principles and tools recycle and recover. Waste management as an have widely been formulated and integral part of a circular included as elements of the circular Conclusion economy economy, particularly in developed Despite the importance of the circular A multifaceted approach is thus countries. Such development is a basis economy in waste management, needed to apply circular economy for replicating the same in developing there is no common ground between principles to waste management, countries. This in turn calls for Global the various established approaches. combined with a clear framework North and South collaboration in the Integrating circular economy and strategy on how to replicate the implementation of the circular economy principles within sustainable supply approach around the world, including initiative. chain management must offer clear in developing countries. This is due Indeed, managing waste better is advantages from an environmental to the complexity and variation in considered by some to be the main point of view. We need a new approach different countries, and the fact that the reason to switch to a circular economy. to ensure that sustainable waste circular economy is “top-down” and Waste management stems from the management is cost-effective, creates dependent on government initiatives. recognition of the Earth’s limited wealth, is environmentally friendly, and Another complicating factor is the capacity for assimilating pollution, protects public health.

SDG ACTION 79 CITIES © Alamy Reimagining cities

For the world’s growing urban populations, the “new normal” must mean better and sustainable places to live and work, and ways to travel, for all – not just a privileged few

By Barbara Norman, Chair and of journeys to work, full-time office decades cities were coming back in Professor, Urban and Regional employees and empty suburbs during after 50 years of suburban sprawl. Planning, University of Canberra; the working day. With these changes So will COVID-19 cause our cities and Peter Newman, Professor of during 2020 and 2021 come new to sprawl out again as people react Sustainability, Curtin University, Perth opportunities and, with some creative against density rather than embrace it? planning and investment, the possibility Such sprawl has been associated with eimagining our cities has been of even more sustainable cities. heavy resource use and multiple equity reignited with the impact of Throughout history, cities have issues that would challenge many of the RCOVID-19 on urban communities moved in and out in size depending Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). throughout the world. No longer can we on the economy and the availability of American urbanist Richard Florida rely on and assume historical patterns new transport technologies. In recent suggests that there will be an even

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A tunnel dedicated to bicycles in Seattle, electric transit and connect this to USA. Many cities are striving to re-localize, to their local active travel through local enable residents to reach all their essential centers. President Biden’s Build Back destinations within 15 minutes of walking or Better plan has both these elements. cycling Cities can use the plan to make more “inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and safe” settlements, as SDG 11 requires. As in all new eras of technological change, other options that can achieve Lasting change? better outcomes for the common good So, the big question post-COVID and are feasible, and indeed make the vaccinations is: will there be lasting SDGs even more likely to be achieved. change that scatters our cities into Not only did we discover that we more wealthy and poor enclaves? could work a lot more from home, Or will we be able to choose more we also rediscovered the importance “common good” outcomes that enable of local places, services, parks, and our cities to become better places for community. everyone, as well as for the planet? If This shift towards re-localizing cities so, what do we do with empty offices in during the pandemic has led many town centers and increased congestion cities like Paris and London to direct as people leave fixed transit? Can cities infrastructure spending into what be rebuilt with new urban solutions? they call the “15-minute city” (where And will the nature of our suburbs need everything a resident needs can be to change to meet new demands from reached within 15 minutes by walking home-based work? or cycling). Similar movements are The impact of COVID on the underway in Sydney and Melbourne functioning of cities has been (the 20-minute city), and even in substantial in both developed and Stockholm (the 1-minute city). developing countries. But the issues Transforming neighborhood centers of wealthy and poor enclaves, overly supported by active travel has been the congested roads, and the need hallmark of COVID and can be built on. to leapfrog into new zero-carbon All these initiatives are enabling technologies remain high for all cities in the new electric bikes, scooters, and both the Global North and South. stronger return to the city as “the walking to be prioritized. These local Bouncing forward by building back clustering of ideas and talent is way areas that are rediscovering their better, after such a shock to the urban more powerful a force than any place can also rebuild housing into system, provides the opportunity to infectious disease.” He predicts denser precincts that enable greater implement the SDGs with multiple a “roaring 2020s” style urbanism. community, while using the new benefits to both people and the However, the COVID reactions have technologies to share solar and electric environment (see Future of Cities Will set in motion a range of processes that vehicles of all kinds. Shape Post-COVID-19 World and could enhance the scattering of cities But cities and their regions also Apocalypse now: Australian bushfires even further than we’ve ever imagined. need transport links across their and the future of urban settlements). Digital meetings have become a geographies, for various reasons. They Villages within cities, with smart hubs much more feasible and productive way may not need their historic centers meeting new community demands. of doing face-to-face economic activity. quite as much, but they still need Sustainable regional development Now, the acceleration of rooftop solar people to be able to move around. capitalizing on more flexible work (currently the cheapest source of power Electric public transport charged by options and possible outmigration in history) and electromobility (about solar at depots and station precincts from global cities. Smart infrastructure to become the cheapest way to move can now compete with congested and innovation investment providing around) make it possible for extremely highways and enable cities to rebuild connectivity and economic stimulus. cheap automobile-based transport to new localized centers, like pearls along All of these provide government and enable urban scatter. This would be their strings. urban leaders with a unique opportunity driven by the wealthy seeking eco- Many cities such as Canberra, to reimagine our cities to be more security in gated communities, with all Australia’s capital, are seeing that they productive, climate-resilient and the best urban services. can now invest sensibly in zero-carbon liveable in the future.

SDG ACTION 81 FINANCE © Xinhua / Alamy Long-term focus?

Six years after signing up to sustainable development and climate action, are countries’ plans fit for purpose to make long-term change?

By Guillaume Lafortune, Director, SDSN and the Paris goals will help prevent and enough to achieve internationally Paris; and Finn Woelm, Data Scientist respond to those low-probability, high- agreed targets for sustainable and Analyst, SDSN cost events such as pandemics that development. This is particularly true in will inevitably strike again. And, second, G20 countries, responsible for 75% of n 2015, UN Member States adopted because there is nothing in terms of global greenhouse gas emissions. the Sustainable Development Goals technology or finance that says that Yet achieving the SDGs and the Paris I(SDGs) and the Paris Agreement goals cannot be achieved. goals requires accelerated actions on climate change, with objectives The SDGs and the Paris Agreement and leadership from G20 countries, to be achieved by 2030 and 2050 provide the vision for “building forward especially on the energy and climate respectively. better.” Yet, despite some progress on transition. This in turn needs a stronger The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear the SDGs since 2015 and increased focus on benchmarking: not only setback. But governments all over the country commitments to achieve comparing outcomes and commitments world should not lose sight of the long- climate neutrality by mid-century, but also aligning government actions, term objectives they signed up to in governments’ actions and investments such as investments, subsidies, and 2015. First, because achieving the SDGs so far have not been transformative regulations, to achieving the goals.

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NOOR II and NOOR III Concentrated Solar gauge whether countries think and act CO2 emissions in both absolute and per Power (CSP) project in Ouarzazate, Morocco. for the long term. At the international capita terms. Besides Brazil and India, According to Climate Action Tracker, Morocco level, outcome statistics are often three no G20 country is close to achieving is one of only two countries that have plans years old or more by the time they are the target of two metric tons of CO compliant with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5ºC 2 published. emissions per person per year that target. The other is The Gambia Also, looking at past growth rates is needed to limit global temperature to estimate future trajectories may not rise to 1.5°C by 2050. The observed

reflect accurately the introduction of decline in in CO2 emissions observed The pandemic has stalled transformative policies and actions. in some G20 countries since 2015 progress on the SDGs Benchmarking commitments and remains largely insufficient. Through Before the pandemic hit, the world observable actions provides more consumption, many G20 countries was making headway on sustainability forward-looking approaches to also generate CO2 emissions abroad and climate action. But the pace was estimating countries’ level of ambition (so-called “spillovers”). These include insufficient in all countries, and no UN for achieving long-term goals. outsourcing the production of cement member state was on track to achieve Estimating government commitments or steel, equivalent to three metric tons all the SDGs. and actions for the SDGs and the per person per year or more in Australia Every year, SDSN and the Paris goals remains a difficult exercise. and the UK. Bertelsmann Stiftung publish the SDG It relies on qualitative data (laws, As of this writing in April 2021, six Index and Dashboards. These track regulations, policies, and so on) that of the G20 countries have made no the performance and progress of all are not standardized internationally, significant commitment to achieving UN Member States on the 17 SDGs. and on expert judgment. Yet, available climate neutrality by mid-century. Under The global SDG Index is based on 85 data suggest that commitments and the leadership of the governments of outcome indicators such as prevalence actions for the SDGs in G20 countries Chile and the UK, and with the support of extreme poverty, life expectancy, are largely insufficient, including on from UN Climate Change and the literacy rate, CO2 emissions, and energy decarbonization, sustainable UN Development Programme, 121 homicide rate. industry, and the objectives of the Paris countries (as of March 2021) have The 2020 edition underlined that Agreement. joined the Climate Ambition Alliance. before the pandemic hit, on average, Table 1 (overleaf) shows that G20 The alliance aims to “push for net- every UN region and country income countries are responsible for the bulk of zero CO2 emissions in line with latest group was making progress towards the SDGs. To a large extent this was driven by gains on socio-economic FIGURE 1: Progress on the SDG Index from 2010 to 2020 goals, including SDGs 1 to 9 that Progress on the SDG Index by region (2010-2020) Progress on the SDG Index by group (2010-2020) cover access to basic services and SDG Index Score SDG Index Score infrastructure. 80 80 Yet, the pace was not fast enough to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Some 75 75 goals, especially SDGs 12 to 15 on 70 70 climate and biodiversity, SDG 2 on sustainable agriculture and diets, and 65 65 SDG 10 on reduced inequalities, did 60 60 not show significant progress in many parts of the world, including in highly 55 55 populated countries such as the G20. 50 50 Frustratingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to reversals in 45 45 progress on many key SDG indicators.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 The gap between long-term World High-income countries (HIC) commitments and transformative East and South Asia Upper-middle-income countries (UMICs) actions Eastern Europe and Central Asia Lower-middle-income-countries (LMICs) Latin America and the Caribbean Low-income countries (LICs) Due to time lags and data gaps in Middle East and North Africa Oceania international statistics, it is important to OECD countries Sub-Saharan Africa also assess government commitments Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021 and pledges as well as their actions to

SDG ACTION 83 FINANCE

scientific information.” According to achieving climate neutrality by mid- According to Energy Policy Tracker, the Net Zero Tracker, 32 countries century. G20 countries continue to provide have included a net-zero emissions Despite these commitments unconditional fossil fuel subsidies in target either in national law, proposed and pledges for climate neutrality, COVID-19 recovery packages. In eight legislation, or a policy document. At the government actions remain largely of the G20 countries, these subsidies Leaders’ Summit on Climate convened insufficient. The Climate Action Tracker exceed USD 50 per person of the in April 2021 by the US administration, (CAT) is a scientific evaluation tool population. Vivid Economics and President Biden urged world leaders to developed by a research consortium Oxford University’s Global Recovery accelerate efforts on climate actions. specialized in the field of climate Observatory also emphasize the lack In 2019 the European Union adopted mitigation. It evaluates both the content of “greenness” in most G20 countries’ its climate neutrality target (by 2050) of nationally determined contributions recovery packages. via the European Green Deal. In 2020, (what governments propose to do) and several G20 countries, including current policies (what governments are Four public governance priorities Canada, Japan, South Korea, the US actually doing) to meet the objectives for achieving long-term goals (all by 2050), and China (by 2060) of the Paris Agreement. The latest Looking ahead, we identify four public committed to net-zero emissions. CAT assessment covers 32 countries, governance priorities for accelerated Meanwhile, Australia, India, Indonesia, including all G20 countries, and the actions in both G20 and other nations. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are European Union. No G20 country is First, countries need to emphasize neither signatories to the Climate considered to have aligned its actions long-term planning with support from Ambition Alliance nor have committed to achieving the 1.5°C objective of the science, engineering, and public in national policy documents to Paris goals. policy. Countries should consider

TABLE 1: CO2 emissions v climate pledges and actions in G20 countries

OUTCOME INDICATORS (CO2 EMISSIONS) CLIMATE NEUTRALITY PLEDGES CLIMATE ACTIONS Policy- or NDC- 1.5ºC Paris- Unconditional Imported CO based commitment agreement- CO emissions CO emissions 2 UN Climate Ambition fossil fuel 2 2 emissions to reach net-zero compatible Country/Region (million tonnes, (tonnes/capita, Alliance Signatory subsidies (tonnes/capita, emissions climate action 2019) 2019) (March 2021) (USD/capita, 2015) by 2050 (Climate Action April 2021) (March 2021) Tracker, 2020)

Argentina 178.9 4.0 0.7 Critically insufficient 30 Australia 411.0 16.3 3.0 Insufficient 34 Brazil 465.7 2.2 0.2 2060 Insufficient 3 Canada 576.7 15.4 2.3 Insufficient 454 China 10,174.7 7.1 0.1 2060 Highly insufficient 3 European Union 2,916.7 6.6 1.8 Insufficient 0 France 323.6 5.0 1.9 Insufficient 114 Germany 702.0 8.4 2.4 Highly insufficient 196 India 2,615.8 1.9 0.1 2ºC compatible 16 Indonesia 617.5 2.3 0.2 Highly insufficient 24 Italy 337.1 5.6 1.3 Insufficient 64 Japan 1,106.7 8.7 1.8 Highly insufficient 13 Korea, Rep 611.3 11.9 1.7 Highly insufficient 98 Mexico 438.5 3.4 0.4 Insufficient 24 Russian Federation 1,678.4 11.5 0.5 Critically insufficient 35 Saudi Arabia 582.1 17.0 1.5 Critically insufficient 7 South Africa 478.6 8.2 0.5 Highly insufficient 11 Turkey 405.1 4.9 0.5 Critically insufficient 167 United Kingdom 369.9 5.5 3.2 Insufficient 590 United States 5,284.7 16.1 1.9 Critically insufficient 219 Low-income countries* 185.7 0.3 < 0.1 * Population-weighted average

Legend < 200 < 2 < 1 Yes Yes, by 2050 (or earlier) 1.5ºC compatible 0 200 < x < 1,000 2 < x < 8 1< x < 2 (not applicable) Yes, by 2060 2ºC compatible 0 < x < 50 1,000< 8 < 2 < No No Insufficient 50 <

Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021

84 SDG ACTION FINANCE-CUTTING THEMES

medium-term targets with time SDGs alongside private financing. Fourth, global challenges and horizons of 10 to 30 years (that is, According to various estimates, the risks require global cooperation 2030 for the SDGs and 2050 for the “greenness” of stimulus packages and responses. The COVID-19 Paris Agreement) and develop policy varies extensively from country to pandemic and emergence of new pathways for achieving them. country, both in size and level of variants highlighted that no one is In the context of the SDGs, the SDSN ambition. Private financing should also safe until everyone is safe, calling for has proposed six SDG transformations be further mobilized for the SDGs. international collaboration to accelerate that consider synergies and trade-offs The new EU taxonomy regulation for mass vaccination for all. across the SDGs and the institutional sustainable development that came In a globalized and interconnected set-up within governments. Long-term into force in July 2020 is a promising world, pandemics, climate change, pathways and backcasting exercises effort towards redirecting capital flows cybersecurity threats, and other (working backwards from a desired into sustainable projects. economic and social shocks cannot future outcome to define the path to Third, SDG transformations can be managed by countries working achieve it) can be done focusing on only succeed if they enjoy societal independently. As the world recovers these transformations (or adjusted legitimacy. Political processes should from the COVID-19 pandemic, versions of them, depending on engage the public in participatory strengthening multilateralism and countries and context). decision-making and promote UN institutions, including early- Second, budgetary frameworks transparency and accountability. warning and monitoring systems, and financing must be aligned Recent engagement processes are key priorities for accelerated with these long-term pathways to launched in France and the UK (among actions on the SDGs and the Paris strengthen public investment in the others) are moving in the right direction. Agreement.

FIGURE 2: 2021 SDG dashboards (levels and trends) by region and income group

The prevalence of red and orange dots, particularly when they form lines to indicate lack of progress on an SDG or in a regional group, demonstrate the scale of what needs to be achieved in the current decade INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH ZERO HUNGER AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY QUALITY EDUCATION GENDER EQUALITY GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING CLIMATE ACTION PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES LIFE BELOW WATER NO POVERTY RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION LIFE ON LAND REDUCED INEQUALITIES CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 East and South Asia Eastern Europe and Central Asia Latin America and the Caribbean Middle East and North Africa Oceania

OECD Countries Small Island Developing States Sub-Saharan Africa

Low-income Countries Lower-middle- income Countries Upper-middle- income Countries High-income Countries

SDG achievement Major challenges remain Challenges remain Significant challenges remain Data not available On track Moderately Increasing Stagnating Decreasing

Note: Excluding OECD specific indicators. Population-weighted averages. Source: Sustainable Development Report 2021

SDG ACTION 85 FINANCE Fair finance

Development in low-income countries is too often thwarted by lack of access to finance. The Decade of Action demands that we connect promising projects in these nations with the capital lifeline they need and deserve © UNDP / S. Omer Sadaat

86 SDG ACTION FINANCE

By Preeti Sinha, Executive Secretary, It is a challenge that calls for Local Development Finance practice, UN Capital Development Fund innovation and intentionality to we work to scale up the transformative (UNCDF) unlock public and private finance potential of local finance by increasing to historically underserved markets the flows of public and private capital ne of the more disturbing to finance SDG-positive and in a variety of ways. These include:

impacts of COVID-19, amid the transformative projects. And it is a ● supporting policy and regulatory Oharrowing human tragedies, challenge that calls for robust and reforms for local governments is the depth of economic damage experienced intervention to advance ● strengthening domestic capital the pandemic has wrought. Look no the structural improvements in these markets and local fiscal space

further than the top-line points from markets that will sustain SDG gains ● financing development projects the United Nations’ Financing for and support economic resilience. on the ground that possess both Sustainable Development Report 2021. Addressing this hybrid challenge commercial and development A few examples: is central to UNCDF’s mission and potential (the role of our Dual Key

● Global gross domestic product mandate as the UN flagship agency for pipeline management program) contracted by 4.3% in 2020, LDC finance. marking the sharpest decline in This collective of capabilities output since the Great Depression. Scaling up inclusive digital enabled UNCDF in 2020 to support ● Global output is expected to remain economies and local 536 local governments in 42 well below pre-pandemic trends. development finance countries. Our support enhanced their

● Disturbingly and unsurprisingly, Currently, only 6% of private finance subnational financial systems, creating losses in output and per capita mobilized by blended finance fiscal space so that local economies income have reversed many years interventions go to LDCs, according can support future finance flows. of income gains in developing to our flagship report Blended Finance Another area is digital finance. countries. in the LDCs. Even seasoned investors Inclusion in the digital era is not a assume that low levels of finance flow given. Technology itself is neutral, Of course, the harshest of these to LDCs because of lack of a pipeline and can lead to either inclusion or impacts were experienced by the or projects with both commercial and exclusion based on how it is deployed world’s 46 least developed countries development potential. The reality and whether it is accompanied by (LDCs). It proves, if proof were needed, is that there is a wealth of projects measures prohibiting new forms of that years of gains in Sustainable in critical sectors: from energy to exclusion. Development Goal (SDG) achievement agribusiness, from healthcare to Although digital technologies can can be eviscerated in a fraction of transportation to digital. leapfrog traditional models of market the time. More likely than not, the challenge expansion, adoption often depends 2020 was a reminder that unlocking is that finance capital (whether on whether the intended clients the finance that will support both commercial or concessional) is not understand, accept, and perceive real a resilient post-COVID economic connecting with these projects. value added from those financial and recovery and accelerate SDG Scaling up public finance mechanisms non-financial digital services. achievement in the world’s developing and markets on the ground is essential UNCDF’s Inclusive Digital and LDC markets (or, as I see them, to providing the initial foundation Economies practice deploys a market pre-frontier markets) represents for finance to flow to such projects. development approach to support neither a development nor a finance Meanwhile, we must ensure that digital economies by focusing on both challenge. Rather, it is a development economies are poised to be inclusive, the supply side (the “digital rails” or finance challenge. dynamic, and sustainable in the future. infrastructure) and the demand side One area of involvement is cities and (such as digital literacy-building and local governments. From plastic waste agent networks). to peaceful streets to economic and We focus on accelerating such social empowerment, cities and local market development at the country A greenhouse project in the Herat district governments are typically the leading level with government, the private of Afghanistan, which is helping to diversify providers of essential services. Yet sector, and academia. We give livelihoods and improve women’s economic the global financial ecosystem favors specific attention to developing the freedom. Only 6% of private finance countries that have access to capital right services to reduce the “digital mobilized by blended finance interventions go to LDCs, largely due to a lack of markets with sovereign guarantees and divide” and to empower key customer awareness of the opportunities. Agribusiness a monopoly of taxation. It’s also biased segments, notably women, youth, is one of several critical sectors that offers a towards large businesses, which can and micro, small, and medium-sized wealth of investment potential move capital with ease. Through our enterprises (MSMEs).

SDG ACTION 87 FINANCE

Scaling up project preparation investment opportunities of commercial capital into otherwise

UNCDF’s work to scale up local ● investment monitoring systems overlooked projects. UNCDF is

transformative finance and inclusive ● capacities to manage and oversee a working with partners to capitalize and digital economies has provided portfolio of capital investments and utilize two impactful blended finance the platform to finance and ensure robust accountability vehicles:

support innovative projects with ● the BUILD Fund, a blended finance transformational potential. Since 2017, UNCDF has disbursed a fund managed by Bamboo Capital To date, UNCDF has completed total of 18 loans and three guarantees Partners and targeting USD 250 674 localized strategic investments. (in financial inclusion, food security, million, which focuses on SMEs

These demonstrate the effectiveness of and green energy) in seven countries. ● the International Municipal decentralized financing and contribute The portfolio has increased by Investment Fund (IMIF), managed by to COVID-19 emergency response and 45% compared with 2019. Just as Meridiam and targeting €350 million, recovery efforts at the local level. We’ve importantly, our portfolio also proves which focuses on SDG-positive also partnered with over 420 financial that investments in these pre-frontier infrastructure at the local level and digital service providers, small markets can indeed be commercially and medium enterprises, and public viable. Finally, there are larger transformational organizations to provide inclusive projects, with financing valued at financial and digital solutions to over Scaling up finance USD 20 million and above. Here, two million people in 44 countries. Scaling up finance in support of success requires convening big-ticket In many other markets, such developing and LDC markets requires investment players, such as multilateral projects would have ready access to the same approach as any successful development banks, development the financing, technical assistance, investment strategy: diversification. finance institutions, and private capital and business advisory services that Investment projects in these markets investors. would make them attractive to larger are not monolithic: they feature Looking to the future, UNCDF commercial lenders. Of course, this is different types and levels of capital, wants to take advantage of its on- hardly a given in pre-frontier markets. and different levels of transformative the-ground presence to provide a With the right blend of finance potential. That is why UNCDF, as the pipeline to ensure that projects in through loans and guarantees, plus UN flagship agency for LDC finance, LDCs and other markets can access technical assistance and business will look to scale up finance in three the levels of capital that can unlock advisory services, many of these distinct ways. transformational potential. Specifically, projects can develop the capability For MSMEs in “last mile” markets we will look to convene and syndicate to acquire commercial capital and (the businesses at the center of our with the relevant development and achieve scale. UNCDF utilizes its traditional mandate), their capital needs finance actors, such as those bigger pipeline of projects from our Local typically lie between USD 50,000 and players mentioned above. Development Finance and Inclusive USD 5 million. This tends to be too Digital Economies practices. We large for microfinance, too small for A transformational journey provide the technical assistance institutional investors, and too risky Transformation occurs when local and business advisory services that for domestic banks. These projects governments and cities are given enable projects to attract follow- require grants, technical assistance, critical fiscal space, and where on, commercial capital while also and guarantees, which can fill capital markets for digital economies are advancing SDG achievement. needs while catalyzing follow-on developed. Transformation also These projects occupy the pipeline finance into otherwise overlooked occurs when project preparation and for UNCDF’s project preparation projects. This is just the sort of project finance are scaled so as to connect capability, conducted through our finance we perform through our Local promising projects with a capital Least Developed Country Investment Development Finance and Inclusive lifeline. Transformation, in other words, Platform. The platform is our on- Digital Economies practices. is not just the goal or endpoint of the balance sheet investment portfolio. It For MSMEs with capital needs journey. It is the journey. enables UNCDF to provide loans and of USD 5 million to USD 25 million, UNCDF hopes to provide a model guarantees that can position small blended finance solutions become a that can be deployed by all relevant businesses with commercial and dominant source of capital. Blended actors in the development space, the development potential. It also allows finance vehicles can leverage official finance space, or both. Our ambition us to execute our risk management development assistance and other is for these actors to finally and fully and investment policies: forms of concessional finance to harness the hybrid power of capital:

● due diligence processes for vetting absorb first losses on such projects, to deliver return on investment and to and assessing risks of potential which can catalyze significant levels leave no one behind.

88 SDG ACTION FINANCE © iStock Bridging the growing finance gap

If generating the finance to achieve the SDGs seemed a tall order pre-pandemic, it looks much harder now. We must rapidly accelerate the take-up of financial instruments for sustainable development, and attract a wider range of investors, if we’re to meet the 2030 deadline

By Felipe Larraín Bascuñán, Professor addresses two important dimensions. Cape Town, Strandfontein waste-water of Economics, Universidad Católica First, the challenge of mobilizing treatment, which also provides one of the de Chile; former Finance Minister of resources from the public and private most important habitats for wetland birds in Chile; and Luis E. Gonzales-Carrasco, sectors to face a post-COVID-19 world. South Africa. Cape Town has been suffering a water crisis since 2015. The city is financing Environment and Energy Economist And, second, the general conditions the upgrade of its essential water systems and Coordinator, Clapes UC, Chile for issuers and investors to be able though a green bond accredited by the to connect the demand and supply of Climate Bonds Initiative he COVID-19 pandemic and resources for the SDGs with acceptable environmental deterioration levels of risk. T(reflected in climate change, COVID-19 has caused the most SDG financing and the pandemic water scarcity, and the extinction of severe economic, social, and human Before the COVID-19 pandemic, countless species) are exacerbating crisis since the second world war. To achieving the SDGs by 2030 required structural problems such as poverty in date more than 130 million people bridging a finance gap of an estimated developed and developing economies have been infected and about 3 million USD 2.5 trillion a year. In 2020 alone, alike. One way to face these challenges people have died. The crisis has further USD 1 trillion in external financing is by improving the coordination of exacerbated the needs that were dire was earmarked for emerging and finance to achieve the Sustainable even prior to the pandemic, one of low-income economies to soften the Development Goals (SDGs). This article which is how to finance the 17 SDGs. economic effects of the pandemic.

SDG ACTION 89 FINANCE

FIGURE 1: SDG financing needs and public stimulus packages in developing countries

400 378 350 300 273 250 200 261

Billions USD 150 112 89 189 90 91 100 12 85 49 50 48 19 5 29 0 44 40 0 13 0 22 26 East Asia & Europe & Central Latin America & Middle East & South Asia Sub-Saharan Paci c Asia Caribbean North Africa Africa Low-income Lower-middle-income Upper-middle-income Aggregate regional needs

FIGURE 2: The SDGs in 2020

Low-income countries Lower-middle-income countries Upper-middle-income countries High-income countries

100

75

50

25

0 SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG SDG Source: OECD, Global Outlook 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 on Financing for Sustainable Development 2021

Currently, it is estimated that returning emissions had rebounded by December, and public sources is by looking at to the previous path to reach the SDGs up 2% compared with the year before. the progress towards sustainable by 2030, some USD 4.5 trillion will be The financial situation countries face, development across the Global Goals. needed annually. This requires a major whether looking at their own budgets Between 2015 and 2019, the world effort in resource mobilization. or factoring in external resources, made significant progress towards To measure the economic, social, and is challenging. Developed countries eliminating poverty (SDG 1). Extreme environmental effects of the pandemic, expect a total debt of 124% of GDP poverty, although not eradicated, was note that in just a few months, progress by 2021, similar to that registered after on a downward trend, reaching 8.2% in the fight against poverty fell back by the second world war. Developing in 2019 due to rapid economic growth, at least two years, exposing some 100 countries, meanwhile, are set to reach especially in East and South Asia. million people to the brink of extreme debt levels equivalent to 62.5% of Progress in health outcomes (SDG 3) poverty. The fall in economic activity has GDP, the highest since records began. and educational attainment (SDG 4) was meant a loss of close to 3.5% in global Figure 1 shows that the SDG financing also notable, with heavy investment output with the consequent destruction needs in developing countries grouped in schools, immunization campaigns, of more than 200 million jobs. by income level vary greatly between and maternal health, although progress Meanwhile, figures from the regions and levels of development. toward other goals, such as achieving International Energy Agency show that reading literacy, was slower. Investment

after a steep drop in CO2e emissions in Progress towards the SDGs in infrastructure also increased early 2020 (meaning overall emissions Another way of discussing the significantly. For example, electrification for the year as a whole fell 6%), challenge of financing from private rates (SDG 7) increased globally from

90 SDG ACTION FINANCE

83% to 90% between 2010 and 2019, companies, and organisations can It’s important to make potential and industrialization (SDG 9) increased use to finance projects that seek to investors aware of the financial slightly in less developed countries. mitigate and adapt to climate change benefits that these options represent. But progress towards other SDGs (and pursue social objectives) are In the Chilean case, the green bond has stalled or reversed. Food insecurity green bonds (sovereign and corporate) achieved a five basis points premium (SDG 2) rose between 2015 and 2018. and more generally the promotion of (lower yield) over comparable non- Inequalities (SDG 10) have increased environmental, social, and governance green sovereign securities. Issuers also in some regions, as affluent people (ESG) investment criteria. need to reach out to the wide variety have continued to see their wealth and Figure 3 shows the green and social of potential, perhaps non-traditional, income rise while protection of the most financing (mainly bonds) in Latin investors who may be attracted by vulnerable has weakened. Progress America, one of the regions with the these specific types of instruments. for girls and women (SDG 5) has been greatest dynamism in the sustainable One other aspect to consider is the uneven. The global material footprint and green bond market. As the figure heterogeneity in investment metrics, (SDG 12) continues on an unsustainable shows, only a few countries have ratings and approaches that makes it path, while global greenhouse gas made extensive use of ESG financing, difficult for regulators, investors and emissions increased between 2015 and most notably Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. issuers to assess the performance of 2019, with no signs of reduction. The slow development of these these instruments. Market participants Biodiversity has decreased. Fish financing sources in several countries often lack the tools they need, such as populations have continued to decline may be partly caused by the lack of consistent data, comparable metrics, (SDG 14) and species extinctions understanding about these instruments and transparent methodologies, to threaten sustainable development and and the difficulties in the certification adequately inform decisions, manage compromise the world’s global heritage. and identification of projects that are risks, measure results, and align These extinctions are driven primarily required. investments with long-term sustainable by habitat loss from unsustainable For sovereign issuers, it is important value. This is despite the proliferation of agricultural practices, as well as trade, to create an institutional base to ratings, methodologies, and metrics. So deforestation and invasive alien species establish the roles of national agencies there must be a general taxonomy to (SDG 15). Furthermore, the proportion in the measurement, reporting, and facilitate the participation of investors. of the urban population living in verification of projects. This would If these challenges are addressed, slums is once again growing after allow countries to determine the ESG instruments can be a powerful years of decline. Access to water and types of eligible public spending and way to finance the SDGs as the world sanitation is not improving due to rapid the sectors that can be financed. recovers from COVID-19. urbanization (SDG 11). Countries must also develop a comprehensive framework within the References available at: https://sdg- Green bonds and ESG criteria: public sector to improve the processes action.org/coordinating-disparate- lessons and challenges of selecting and allocating resources sources-of-finance-to-achieve-the- Two approaches that governments, transparently and efficiently. sdgs/

FIGURE 3: Sustainable and green financing by country

12 10

8 6 4 Billions USD 2

0

Peru Chile Brazil Mexico Panama Regional Colombia Uruguay Ecuador Argentina Costa Rica

Sovereign Subnational government Non- nancial corporate Development bank Financial corporate Loan Government support Private support Source: Luis E. Gonzales

SDG ACTION 91 LIECHTENSTEIN BANKERS ASSOCIATION

Who rests, rusts

Liechtenstein banks aspire to play a creative role in developing a more sustainable global economy and inclusive society. The theme of our Roadmap 2025 is growth through innovation and sustainability

ithout the past, there is no future. principles, there is a strong business imperative to Tradition is important – especially for deliver them. W banks like ours, given that they pursue The 2017 Better Business, Better World a long-term, cross-generational approach in all report revealed that pursuing sustainable and their thought and action. But we cannot rest on the inclusive business models could unlock economic laurels of our past. In other words: tradition must opportunities worth at least USD 12 trillion a year not mean that we unconditionally stick to what by 2030 and generate up to 380 million jobs, we’ve always done, without constantly questioning mostly in developing countries. Hence, we do this Simon Tribelhorn, ourselves and our surroundings. We need a good knowing that our clients expect more than simply CEO, Liechtenstein mix between the proven and the new – between high-quality services. Bankers Association tradition and innovation. Our clients also want financial institutions to This is why, together with our member banks, contribute to solving the environmental and social we have developed our new multi-year strategy, challenges of our time. Are we on the right track? Roadmap 2025. Its leitmotif is “Growth through Yes, we think so, but we are aware that much innovation and sustainability,” deliberately placing remains to be done and we need to speed up all an even greater emphasis on sustainability than our efforts. And again speaking for Liechtenstein we already have in the past. The goal is for the banks, especially in our core business – investment banking center to play a crucial and creative role advice and asset management – our range of shaping the so urgently needed transformation of products and services must be swiftly further the global economy and society towards greater expanded. sustainability, and to achieve a real impact with our The coronavirus pandemic has caused us all – products and services for the benefit of our clients including investors – to reflect more deeply about and future generations. the future. The focus has shifted dramatically We strive for a comprehensive approach towards health and security, and sensitivity about to sustainability, whereby the 17 Sustainable one’s own financial security in the future has Development Goals not only serve as guiding noticeably increased. The slowing down of our

92 SDG ACTION LIECHTENSTEIN BANKERS ASSOCIATION

everyday lives has led to a speeding up Only the future will tell to what of sustainable investments. A change in extent this will still go hand in hand About the Liechtenstein thinking can be seen in society, politics, with interactions in person and on site. Bankers Association and business. Clearly, younger generations are more Energy companies are looking for mobile, digitally savvy, and used to Established in 1969, the new, sustainable business models, virtual interactions. At the same time, Liechtenstein Bankers Association and even traditional car producers they expect more than merely customer is the domestic and international are converting their entire fleet to care; they desire customer experiences. voice of the banks operating in e-mobility, to name just two examples. For the service industry in general and out of Liechtenstein. In addition to sustainability, we must and banks in particular, the challenge It is one of the country’s most also incorporate the opportunities and will be to remain relevant to tomorrow’s significant associations and risks of digitalization in a meaningful customers and to create traceable and plays a key role in the successful way. COVID-19 has shown us this measurable added value in a digital development of the financial impressively as well. In particular the world. center. Member interests are way we work, and above all where we And last but not least, the “war for pursued in accordance with the work, changed significantly during the talent” is likely to intensify. Qualified principles of sustainability and coronavirus pandemic. personnel will continue to be scarce, credibility. Up to 90% of the employees of especially for a small country like As a member of the European our financial institutions had to work Liechtenstein, which is dependent Banking Federation (EBF), the from home and in some cases still do. on workers from abroad. Companies European Payments Council (EPC) Coronavirus dramatically accelerated will be challenged to offer employees and the European Parliamentary the already existing trend towards more tailored working models that are Financial Services Forum (EPFSF), compatibility of family and career of all optimized to their work and objectives, the Liechtenstein Bankers our workforce. What was unthinkable and that both create attractive jobs and Association is a member of key just a few months ago has suddenly ensure business success. committees at the European level become reality and will certainly and plays an active role in the become an integral part of our everyday Fit for the future European legislation process. life in the future. In the medium to long Having said that, building back better Since 2017, the LBA has also term, hybrid forms of working, or the and playing an active role in this will been a member of the Public “flexible office,” are likely to dominate demand a lot from banks and the Affairs Council (PAC) with offices after the pandemic. financial industry, but it also brings in Washington and Brussels, and enormous potential opportunities for since 2018 of the international Three key questions those who are willing to assume their network “Financial Centres for In any event, three questions relating responsibility for a modern society, for Sustainability” (FC4S). to this new world of work will occupy the implementation of the SDGs and to us in the banking sector for quite some net zero. Or as Woodrow Wilson rightly Registered in the EU Transparency time. Firstly, what impact will these said: “Responsibility is proportionate to Register with number: developments have on corporate opportunity.” 024432110419-97 culture? Since management guru We still face the greatest challenge, Peter Drucker, we know that culture namely to make the technological www.bankenverband.li eats strategy for breakfast. This spirit change usable for our transformation is strongly influenced by interaction into a more sustainable economy. www.bankenverband.li/ among employees. Atmosphere, Digitalization and sustainable en/bankers-association/ personal exchanges, and joint activities development go hand in hand. roadmap-2025 help shape identity. In the ‘flexible However, time is running out and the office,’ where everyone is hardly ever house is burning. Quick action and on site at the same time, these drivers leadership is needed to unlock the are missing. As a consequence, culture trillions necessary for a sustainable must be rethought and put into practice future. differently. In Roadmap 2025, we have Secondly, personalized services and addressed these and other questions support for our clients continue to be of relating to a new economic and working vital importance, especially in the core environment, and defined concerns and SDSN and its publisher thank the business of our member banks, asset measures to become fit for the future in Liechtenstein Bankers Association for its generous management. this area as well. support for this publication

SDG ACTION 93 FINANCE © Pierre Crom / Getty Images Crom © Pierre Reinventing capitalism

We need a new form of capitalism, one that values and rewards sustainable practices and gets us on the path to 1.5°C. Business leaders are rising to the challenge and rallying behind a bold agenda for business action and long-term value creation, fully aligned with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement

By Peter Bakker, President and CEO, now. It’s essential if we are to achieve Achieving this relatively simply World Business Council for Sustainable the UN Sustainable Development Goals worded vision requires a wholesale Development (WBCSD) (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement’s goal transformation of everything we to limit global warming to well below have grown up with. Energy must ur world is facing three pressing 2°C, to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. decarbonize, materials need to go global challenges: climate We also need a long-term vision that circular, and food must be produced Oemergency, loss of nature, and we can all rally behind: over nine billion sustainably and equitably, providing growing inequality. Each of them, on its people living well, within planetary healthy diets. The need to transform own, can endanger the safe operating boundaries, by mid-century. systems is rightfully the concept that space for humanity and the planet, This is the vision of the everyone in sustainability is talking as well as the license to operate for comprehensive, forward-looking, about, and it must be backed up by business. And if there is one thing that and pragmatic Vision 2050: Time to actions. It is now or never. we have learned from the COVID-19 Transform report. It has been developed Hence, the Vision 2050 business pandemic, it is how interconnected over the past two years by more than framework focuses on nine pathways these challenges are. 40 global business leaders united in the of systems transformation, written in Action to address these challenges World Business Council for Sustainable an actionable format, and aligned with and for accelerating the transition to a Development (WBCSD) and a strong the SDGs and the Paris targets. Each sustainable world is urgently needed external review committee. of the nine transformation pathways

94 SDG ACTION FINANCE

Environmental protest outside the Shell contribute to climate change, nature action should be guided by the need to building in The Hague, Netherlands as the loss, and inequality. preserve and enhance multiple forms company holds its annual shareholder Companies cannot reinvent capitalism of capital, including social and natural meeting. Pressure from shareholder groups on their own. But they can recognize capital. such as the Transition Pathway Initiative that the system they are part of is failing 5. Accountable, rather than have elicited a commitment from the society in significant ways, and can unaccountable company to become a net-zero enterprise by 2050. A resolution at the latest AGM from the do something about it. A reinvented Both capital markets and regulators must group Follow This to accelerate the process capitalism has five key characteristics provide active oversight and control of gained support from 30% of shareholders that companies should strive for: companies, holding them accountable for 1. Stakeholder-oriented, rather than their actions and impact. Investors should shareholder value maximising prioritize stewardship, not just profit contains 10 action areas for the decade The purpose of business is to create maximization. Fiduciary duties should ahead. These areas are designed to help value for all stakeholders: employees, evolve to reflect this dual purpose. It is companies drive transformative change customers, suppliers, communities, the also essential for markets to be regulated in their strategies, business operations, natural environment, and shareholders. and counterbalanced by governmental and impact on society. These multiple obligations can and and non-governmental institutions should be harmonized and incorporated that are strong enough to be effective, Reinventing capitalism: into corporate decision-making, and inclusive enough to represent the mainstreaming ESG governance models, and incentive interests of society as a whole. Making real progress on the nine systems. pathways will depend on radical 2. Impact-internalizing, rather than In closing: it is time to transform shifts across three strategic business impact-externalizing There is an increasing awareness mindsets. Leaders everywhere need to Positive and negative social and and recognition of the vital role that change their mindsets toward: environmental impacts should be businesses and capital markets can

● building long-term resilience internalized into the relative price have in realizing the ambitious targets

● a regenerative approach to business of goods and services, and market set out in global agreements such as the

● ultimately, reinventing capitalism valuations of companies. Businesses SDGs and the Paris Agreement. and investors should seek to optimize We need to fundamentally reinvent The most critical of these mindset performance across three dimensions: capitalism and redefine the meaning shifts is that of reinventing capitalism. risk, return, and impact. Governments of value creation. We are at the start It means that economic systems, should step in to price externalities of the decade of delivery. Businesses incentives, global accounting standards, where markets are not able to internalize and financial institutions who take into and capital market valuations will no them on their own. account a wider range of capital and longer just be based on the financial 3. Geared toward the long term, rather develop innovative business models performance of business. Instead, they than the short term will be better equipped to adapt to will integrate the impact on the planet The goal of reform should be to stretch emerging issues and remain competitive and people as part of how we define businesses’ and investors’ time horizons in a fast-changing world. The move success and determine the enterprise to better align these with the much to a capitalism of true value for all will value. longer timeframes over which social and accelerate, faster than anything else, Integrating environmental, social, environmental feedback loops play out. the transformation toward nine billion+ and governance (ESG) into mainstream This would lead to better pricing and people all living well, within planetary finance will be crucial. Transparency will management of long-term risks such as boundaries. help, giving way to capital markets that climate change, ultimately averting “the I see this as a hugely exciting properly value and reward sustainable tragedy of the horizon.” prospect, but I know it’s not an easy practices and mobilize more capital 4. Regenerative, rather than one. Whether you like it or not, we are to ultimately accelerate sustainable degenerative all changemakers now. Business must development and the transition to a Regenerative capitalism is based on play a leading role in transforming 1.5°C world. Doing so will go a long way the premise that there are universal toward Vision 2050, working together to helping to build long-term resilience principles and patterns of systemic with governments, regulators, investors, into the global economic system, and to health, such as circularity and balance, and all people. It is time to transform. supporting more robust decision-making that can and should be integrated into It is time to think systems. It is time and long-term value creation. All of economic system design. Companies to create true value, now. I count on these are critical elements of reinventing should seek to actively contribute to the every changemaker (that is, everyone) capitalism, so that it no longer health of economies, societies, and the to join us on the decisive journey of our encourages the kinds of behaviors that environment. Both business and policy generation.

SDG ACTION 95 FINANCE Rooting out bad money

From illegal pollution to terrorism, one critical way to curb nefarious action is to identify and cut off its finance. How can we do this for abuses that threaten the SDGs?

By Olajumoke M. Akiode, Executive Destructive enablers Development Goals (SDGs) and the Director, Center for Ethics and Even when restricting our focus to government’s diversification and Sustainable Development, Nigeria the realm of finance, the problem of development drive. destructive enablers is a complex one Third is Nigeria’s terrorism problem, he abuse of people, systems, to solve. We need to answer the “what,” spearheaded by Boko Haram, and institutions, and environment “why,” and “where” posed by systemic involving alarming and incessant Texists in all societies. But the thinking questions. For example, attacks on Nigerians. It appears that type, scope, prevalence, impact, and what are the circumstances, factors, Boko Haram receives local funding. established framework of enforceable conditions, values, and patterns that This is corroborated by the allegation deterrents differ in each region and surround the problem? What are the made by Obadiah Malaifa, a former nation in the world. In the same boundaries that separate the problem deputy governor of the Central Bank vein, there are enabling factors that from its environment? To find answers, of Nigeria, that terrorism in Nigeria incentivize every abuse, from rainforest we must critically examine some is funded by some northern elites, destruction to toxic pollution, from examples. including some past and sitting terrorism to exploitation of labor. First, in Nigeria the crisis of northern governors. One critical enabling factor is finance. deforestation and climate change is Applying systemic thinking to these How can we expose and remove the fueled in part by the highly lucrative problems or crises helps to provide sources of finance that enable such hardwood charcoal business that context. It exposes their underlying abuses? serves both domestic consumption patterns and systemic structures. It The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable and massive overseas demand. then makes it possible to tease out Development provides a guiding Locally, charcoal is a cheap source their destructive enablers, to expose framework for resolving these abuses of energy compared with alternative and remove their sources of finance. It and more, if implemented effectively. sources like kerosene and gas. also helps us to identify leverage points It states: “We are resolved to free the Internationally, demand has been to support the desired, constructive human race from the tyranny of poverty fuelled by the need for alternative change. While finance is clearly an and want and to heal and secure our energy sources with a low carbon important destructive enabler in these planet. We are determined to take footprint. Between 1990 and 2005, highlighted crises, other factors such the bold and transformative steps Nigeria lost 35% of its rainforest cover. as weak institutions (and their inability which are urgently needed to shift the The “destructive enabler” here, then, to enforce policies and penalties) world on to a sustainable and resilient is patronage from local and overseas and a lack of political will also play path. As we embark on this collective consumers. contributory roles. journey, we pledge that no one will be A second example concerns Nigeria’s We can then use backcasting to left behind.” free trade zones. For example, the envision the achievement of the SDGs, However, to activate the agenda of Lagos State Government appears where destructive enablers have been “exposing destructive enablers,” we determined to attract foreign direct addressed, and work backwards to the need to fully understand the enablers investment (FDI) at all costs, offering present day to clearly outline what has for what they are. This will allow us to provisions or waivers that did not to be done. identify, expose, and proffer actionable benefit from proper stakeholder solutions using the approaches of consultation and social inclusion. Some Collective action systemic thinking and backcasting of the provisions will violate human Achieving the SDGs’ broad vision (working backwards from a desired and labor rights and may stifle local requires collective action by all future outcome to identify the policies industrial growth, and so are in direct stakeholders at the local, international, and programs to achieve it). contradiction with both the Sustainable and global levels. It also calls for

96 SDG ACTION FINANCE © Reurers / Temilade Adelaja via Alamy / Temilade © Reurers

bold steps and initiatives by the program in collaboration with other Logs awaiting processing in Lagos Lagoon collective bodies behind the 2030 international stakeholders. This would near the informal settlement of Makoko Agenda. It is important to reflect on ensure, through digital documentation Community. Between 1990 and 2005, Nigeria the interconnectivity of the SDGs, to and tagging, that felled trees and the lost 35% of its rainforest cover realize that the crises highlighted above end products they produce have been contribute to sustaining and reinforcing replaced with new trees. It would also the problems the SDGs are designed enable digital monitoring of compliance. citizenship will also play a critical role. to address, especially poverty and Local traders, foreign buyers, and People’s voices must be heard loud environmental protection. charcoal importers that fail to comply and clear to inform both proactive In the case of Nigeria’s charcoal should face stiff penalties. and reactive actions to address the industry and the attendant massive For the proposed free trade zones, problems. and ongoing deforestation, we need to to prevent the flow of destructive funds Unfortunately, the civic space is rework the existing ineffective attempts into the state, we must urgently review shrinking daily in Nigeria. There are to address the problem by Nigeria’s the provisions or waivers given to woo widespread clampdowns on citizen National Environmental Standards prospective FDI in the Lekki Free Trade agitation both in public and behind the and Regulations Enforcement Agency. Zone and similar Free Trade Zones in scenes. Such human rights violations NESREA’s efforts to check illegal the country. Similarly, the source(s) demand international intervention and and unregulated tree felling and of the funding for terrorism should be coordinated sanctions, in line with encroachment into forest reserves, investigated and appropriate actions the UN’s agenda to ensure sustained as well as its licensing procedure taken to stop the flow of such funds as democracy. This is vital to ensure to regulate stakeholders and boost well as stiff penalties for their sponsors. that destructive enablers in the form exports, and even its temporary export There is a need for collective action of finance, and systemic structures, ban, have all failed to yield the desired both locally and internationally. The are exposed and removed. By taking result. starting point should be a baseline bold actions in line with the UN Instead, Nigeria needs a coordinated, study, providing policymakers and SDG agenda and truly walking the ICT-supported afforestation, stakeholders with the data to inform talk of the agenda, we can ensure reforestation, and rehabilitation evidence-based decisions. Active transformational change.

SDG ACTION 97 CLIMATE & ENERGY © Al Drago-Pool / Getty Images Global climate ambition

With a stronger concentration of national leaders who recognize the need to act, what can we now realistically hope to achieve on climate action?

By Teresa Ribera, Deputy Prime augured. COVID-19 has interrupted Those of us who enthusiastically Minister for the Ecological Transition the climate challenge, necessitating celebrated the historic pact reached and the Demographic Challenge of the immediate and effective responses five years ago at COP21, against Government of Spain to the devastating health, social, and the backdrop of the Sustainable economic impacts of the pandemic. Development Goals, are raising our he world has rarely, if ever, The urgency of the coronavirus voices again. Now more than ever experienced such a turbulent response should not, however, displace we must increase our collective Ttime since the countdown the importance of tackling the climate commitment and lead by example. began in December 2015 to reach a problem. As aptly summed up in a A world without carbon in 2050 is decarbonized future. The lost years of recent Time magazine cover story, a world that’s more sustainable and, Trumpism, rampant climate denialism, “climate is everything.” If the pandemic therefore, safer. That is the objective and the insufficient ambition of some has made one thing clear, it is the we must pursue so that global average nations have slowed down the race to interconnectivity between the health of temperatures do not rise by more climate action that the Paris Agreement the planet and the health of its people. than 1.5°C and we therefore avoid the

98 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY

US President Joe Biden addresses world The NextGenerationEU recovery by measures that will facilitate a just leaders during a virtual Leaders Summit on plan draws on that same conception transition for the most vulnerable Climate. The event reflected a newfound of progress. It constitutes the groups and geographic areas, including sense of urgency, with President Biden preliminary construction of a new rural areas. pledging to halve US greenhouse gas growth model that seeks to abandon The quantified targets we set for emissions by 2030 failed prescriptions and embark on ourselves are above those set by the new paths to build prosperity and EU in its 2030 Climate Target Plan, in resilience. This is because climate both the 40% and 55% emissions- action is a question not just of our reduction scenarios (compared with most catastrophic effects of climate planet’s survival. Decarbonization is 1990 levels). Specifically, by 2030, change. The effects are well known: also a unique opportunity to cooperate, Spain is committed to: more frequent and intense extreme innovate, create quality industry and ● a 39% reduction in emissions in meteorological events, more severe employment, and bring access to diffuse sectors (mobility, thermal droughts, destruction of the coastline, modern and affordable forms of energy. uses in buildings, waste, and increased climatic migration, new agriculture) social tensions, and so on. But, above Spanish lesson ● renewable penetration of 42% in all, limiting temperature rise means Spain is no stranger to this challenge. final energy consumption and in avoiding the loss of the main natural Our country is the most biodiverse in 74% of the electricity market barrier against viruses: our biodiversity. Europe, but also one that will suffer ● greater energy efficiency, leading most from the consequences of the to a reduction in primary energy Raising ambitions climate crisis if GHG emissions are not consumption of at least 39.5% The return of the United States, the urgently mitigated. According to some largest historical emitter of greenhouse studies, our country has been warming This is an ambitious path that gases (GHGs), to the climate fight is around 0.1°C per decade since 1850, will require a huge effort, but it is undoubtedly a cause for hope. The fact a rate slightly higher than that detected compatible with full decarbonization. that its new president, Joe Biden, has for all continents. This warming has We are in a strong position to undertake committed to the United Nations to accelerated since the 1960s, to 0.3°C this profound change. reduce net GHG emissions by between per decade. Spanish summers have We believe that our Climate Change 50% and 52% in 2030 compared with lengthened by five weeks compared and Energy Transition Law is only the 2005 levels (doubling the objectives with the 1980s. first step in the transformation of our of the Obama era) inaugurates a new Last winter, we witnessed this country. Its implementation is expected age. It puts the climate agenda and changing climate with the Filomena to generate between 250,000 and multilateralism back where it always winter storm and the subsequent 350,000 jobs annually, attract more should have been. cold wave that caused a difference of than €200 billion of investment, and We must raise ambitions. It was 55°C between the coldest and hottest boost Spanish gross domestic product the message most chanted by the day in our territory. We need to adapt by 1.8% over the next 10 years. 40 world leaders during the summit our cities, towns, infrastructures, and It is under this umbrella of action that the White House itself convened natural spaces to climate change. that we want to promote and declare in April 2021, and which allowed the This must affect all areas of society: a clear political signal of where Spain establishment of new contributions and industry, health, mobility, agriculture, wants to position itself in the European renewed commitments. With our sights tourism, among others. and international arena. This is also set on the Glasgow Climate Change Not taking action would mean taking demanded by its citizens: the Spanish Conference (COP26), all countries must on more risks, more costs in lives, and population ranks as the most concerned increase their efforts to bring climate increased economic damages. It would about climate change of all EU neutrality closer to grasp. mean giving up changing an exhausted countries, according to Eurobarometer. Europe has already done its and unsustainable model and losing Climate is everything. And affects homework in this regard, advancing its opportunities to create jobs, modernize everybody. Activating a transformative, emissions-reporting target to 2030 and our economy, and attract investment. ambitious and inclusive response to giving the green light to the European Even so, after years of delay in this global emergency is a collective Climate Law. This is a milestone that climate matters, we can say that task. How humans produce, move, eat reinforces the continent’s climate Spain has taken a step forward. Our and consume will define the risks we leadership in regulatory matters. It country finally has its own climate law, must face in the coming decades. facilitates decision-making on climate which lays the foundations to achieve With time against us, postponing change, the scientific knowledge base, emissions neutrality by mid-century, climate action is not an option. social justice and economic viability, all with targets that can only be revised Tomorrow will be defined by the within environmental limits. upwards. The project is accompanied commitments we make today.

SDG ACTION 99 CLIMATE & ENERGY Weaning the world off fossil fuels

What is holding up progress on the transition to car- bon neutrality, and what must we do to speed it up?

By Fatima Denton, Director, United Ratcheting up the ambition in Nations University Institute for Natural green initiatives Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) The disruption caused by COVID-19 could result in Africa’s economy lanning for a non-fossil-fuel future contracting by some 2.6%, or a loss is not without its disruptions. The of gross domestic product (GDP) of Pchallenge resides not in what USD 120 billion. An estimated 25 to needs to be done, but on how to arrive 30 million job losses are anticipated in at climate neutrality. The complexity both the formal and informal sectors. in the direction of travel toward This economic fallout is being played carbon neutrality is that the latter out at a time of extreme vulnerability, remains a contested term, and how when parts of the region are being it is interpreted and operationalized assaulted by locust invasions against from region to region differs. There is a backdrop of low crop yields and also the fact that there are different shortages of staple foodstuffs. responsibilities for climate change and The pandemic has resulted in falling that the pathway to a green recovery GDPs across the world in small and large will be uneven. This, and the speed economies alike. We witnessed a drop of travel, are helping complicate of 50% to 85% in oil prices in just one a decarbonization process that is year. In addition, planned production of weighed down before it sets off. new oil discoveries has had to be put on development. For example, under a The world is adjusting to the the back burner as countries cut back favorable tax system, the government economic turbulence that has on new investment plans. Consequently, in Kenya increased energy access from decimated economies. It is clear that the pandemic has not only “choked off” 25% of the population in 2013 to 75% COVID-19 and its recovery might prove the vigor that economies in the North in 2018. In addition, we have seen an to be a formidable “rival” to the green displayed before the crisis, it has also left increase in the uptake of decentralized recovery. This is especially the case hydrocarbon-based economies in Africa solutions, such as solar systems, which for countries that rely on hydrocarbon on their knees. continue to have a transformational resources as a vital stream of funding There is a sense that the massive impact on the lives of millions across to support strategic Sustainable deployment of renewables could be Africa. But are these indicators enough Development Goals (SDGs) such as delayed in countries where energy to create the ripple effect of a world education and health. poverty is rife due to competition for without fossil fuels? Consequently, the green recovery funding on other strategic sectors. Yet will have to compete with countries’ there is still a sense that, if leaders do Parallel journeys towards efforts to rebuild and reboot their not make a pre-emptive strike now and decarbonization health systems and infrastructure. The absorb the lessons from the exogenous Countries across the world are context is not neutral: we are focusing shocks incurred by the crisis, then the recording steady progress in achieving on hydrocarbon-rich countries in opportunities for a managed transition carbon-neutral economies. Renewable Africa, many of which rely on revenue could be lost. options continue to grow as countries from oil and gas extraction and Nonetheless, there are some valuable continue to assert energy autonomy commercialization. indicators of progress towards green and expand non-grid solutions.

100 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY © AfDB Projects

However, even with the falling costs with this wrenching contrast between Drilling wells for geothermal power in of renewables and the meteoric development and environmental the Menengai Crater, near Nakuru, Kenya. expansion of digital innovations, sustainability. The crater has an estimated capacity to the road to carbon neutrality is not The continent’s population will generate 105MW of clean power. In the five years between 2013 and 2018, Kenya has without its challenges. For centuries, reach 2.5 billion by 2050. This calls increased energy access from 25% to 75% of we have become fixated with fossil- for an urgent, pre-emptive response its population fuel-powered economies. This is an to deal comprehensively with rapid addiction that might need a whole set urbanization, massive degradation, of tools and a radically new approach and deforestation, as well as a range to fix if our compulsion to overconsume of energy-inefficient options that will Africa’s economic growth model natural resources is to be curbed. rob the continent of its industrialization is largely reliant on land-based Currently, leaders and their potential and slow down growth. extraction. The majority of people constituents are debating accelerating Meanwhile, a twin phenomenon is feed directly off land resources and energy transitions. However, while being played out. Global agricultural are dependent on the land for their the transition will differ in terms exports have been declining for the economic livelihoods. Similarly, the of orientation, speed, capacity, past 40 years, while food imports have land is where the bulk of Africa’s and autonomy, what might remain registered a worrying increase. From emissions come from, especially invariable is the need for new climate- 2016 to 2018, Africa imported USD given deforestation, slash-and-burn resilient economies. In the case of 35 billion of food per year; UNCTAD practices, and commercial agriculture. Africa, it makes perfect sense for projects that figure to rise to USD 110 Hence, there is a growing priority leaders and people alike to be faced billion by 2025. for the region to optimize its land

SDG ACTION 101 CLIMATE & ENERGY

resources and to adopt land-based many with vested interests in Africa and are struggling to revitalize adaptation and mitigation strategies and beyond see gas as an important economies that are already saddled that will enable the sequestering alternative, despite security and safety with debt and poor terms of trade. of carbon, promote climate-smart concerns. The opportunity to bring forward the mitigation, and reduce agricultural and green transition and wean humanity other widespread deforestation. Just transitions off its addiction to fossil fuels is not If the land is a prime sector for Hence, although the call for a 1.5°C an unattainable prospect. It can be mitigation and adaptation, energy world will necessitate a radical seized, but getting it right and making systems are perceived as a driver transformation, much of what is it fair to those on the periphery of for deploying renewable options and being done at present by individual development will mean making divesting from fossil fuels. It is true that countries and regional groupings does deliberate attempts to ensure that the poor access to energy limits growth not scratch the surface of the deep rest of the carbon budget is not eaten and reduces the potential of certain structural changes that are required into by those who can eat it. Rather, social groups, particularly women and consistently and collectively. the carbon budget should become a young girls. The stark contradiction However, a justice-based transition space protected by those for whom is that Africa is abundantly rich must get the transitional imperatives environmental sustainability is a prized in renewable energy options, but right. We, as humankind, can tinker asset, both for today and for future lacks the infrastructural power and with innovative ways to fulfill the generations. capabilities to extend access widely. Paris Agreement so as to arrive at The road to carbon neutrality has However, while there are strong safe growth, but the tinkering cannot new prospects for rapid African-led arguments for why green transitions sacrifice justice for rapid mitigation urbanization, leading to an Africa make sense in Africa, not least to at all costs. The task of meeting the that is keen to get even with an power growth, enable smart cities, Paris Agreement and staying within industrialization process that has and create green jobs, the truth is the 1.5°C temperature threshold has hitherto proved elusive. However, this that many African countries do not see fossil-fuel use as problematic for sustainable development. Instead, The carbon budget should become a space their industrialization plans incorporate protected by those for whom environmental several energy options as part of the menu. sustainability is a prized asset, both for today Oil and gas-rich countries in Africa and for future generations are facing at least a temporary stranding of assets due to the collapse in oil prices, among other factors. implications for equality. Speeding up trajectory will require support from UNU-INRA’s recent study of stranded the transition is an inherent function developed countries to ensure that the assets warns of an impending future of power and capacity. Instead, the mitigation burden is not offloaded on where hydrocarbon resources in Africa urgency should be weighed against to poorer countries that are already will remain in the ground, depreciated those who can travel in the fast lane paying for climate change externalities. and devalued. towards climate neutrality and enable Instead, the relevant climate Worryingly, many countries in poorer countries to muddle through finance needed, and the associated Africa are intent on accelerating their innovative ways of managing a infrastructure, technology, and skills, returns from fossil fuels while they transition away from fossil fuels. should be frontloaded to “ramp up” still can, as can be seen in plans for The notion of a just transition is trust and build effective burden- a 1,440-kilometer, crude-oil pipeline often seen as an outcome of heavy sharing coalitions. from Uganda to Tanzania and the new fossil-fuel industries and the job COVID-19 is a stark reminder that drilling projects in Namibia’s fragile losses and safety nets they will incur. the metaphor of the fork in the road, biodiverse hotspot, the Kavango However, a “just transition” is both with its suggestion that there are basin. However, they are not alone, as process and outcome-based, requiring choices, is changing. Instead, what the pattern has already been set by institutions, structures, and practices we might observe is the road to carbon Europe and the US, where the appetite to be identified that reproduce climate neutrality ending up becoming a cul for natural gas is still growing. Indeed, injustice and expose poorer nations de sac if we do not find the transitional according to Investigate Europe, to a starker set of harder choices than tools that can enable us to make current planned investments in natural those mature economies are able to bold moves along two inseparable gas infrastructure are estimated at make. Many countries in Africa are now tracks: climate justice and the green €104 billion. Hailed as a bridging fuel, contending with an economic downturn recovery.

102 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY © Yonhap/Newcom / Alamy Live News © Yonhap/Newcom Next generation of energy

Technologies like wind power and photovoltaic solar have advanced from expensive, subsidized, niche technology to wide-scale, commercially competitive solutions. We must learn from this rapid innovation to speed up the next generation of technologies

By Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Director, The energy sector sits at the heart of President Moon Jae-in, Korea views a Sustainability, Technology and these challenges. For example, energy mockup for a hydrogen production plant Outlooks, International Energy Agency production and use emits three quarters to be built under the country’s Green New of global greenhouse gases (GHGs). Deal initiative. “Green hydrogen” is a major focus for energy innovation, with potentially he adoption of the UN At the International Energy Agency unique applications for transport and steel Sustainable Development Goals (IEA), we are redoubling our efforts to manufacturing T (SDGs) in 2015 united the world’s help governments make good policy focus on a number of fundamental decisions in line with the SDGs. While challenges for the future of humanity: we have many of the technology tools up their levels of commitment. The

● tackling climate change and that we will need to make sustainable number of countries announcing delivering the Paris Agreement goals energy transitions a reality, we believe pledges to achieve net-zero GHG

● achieving affordable, reliable, that innovation is key to completing emissions over the coming decades sustainable and modern energy for all the task and making it as smooth as continues to grow. Pledges to date

● reducing the severe health impacts possible for the world’s citizens. cover around 70% of global gross of air pollution, while ensuring In the area of climate change, domestic product (GDP) and carbon

prosperity across the globe governments have significantly stepped dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, while

SDG ACTION 103 CLIMATE & ENERGY

global energy-related CO2 emissions the rapid growth rate it exhibited earlier array of energy technologies needed to declined in 2020 by a record amount,, this century. We need more support achieve net-zero emissions. they are projected to rebound in 2021 for R&D and innovation. In particular, 3. There are more paths to market to near 2019 levels. An acceleration for net-zero by 2050, around USD Energy innovators today have more of renewable energy deployment is 90 billion of public money needs to available routes to success. This needed to realize SDG target 7.2. In be mobilized globally to complete a stems from the modular, distributed, parallel, corporations and consumers portfolio of demonstration projects or digital nature of many clean energy will need to change their behavior before 2030. Currently, only about USD technologies, such as consumer and switch to cleaner energy sources. 25 billion is budgeted for that period. products like cars and appliances. The availability of competitive and appropriate clean energy technologies is a key enabling factor. While competition will always drive

Innovation to foster new tech and innovation, countries must also work together advance existing solutions to share knowledge, combine early-stage Net-zero emissions by 2050 will require further rapid deployment of markets, and use funding efficiently available technologies and accelerated innovation for solutions currently at demonstration or prototype stages. Reasons to be optimistic on These types of technologies often Almost half of the emissions reductions innovation lend themselves to scaling up via start- needed to reach net zero by 2050 may 1. Political momentum is high ups and venture capital investments. need to come from technologies that Governments have the greatest New electric vehicle manufacturers have not reached the market today. The capacity to take decisive action have attracted vast sums of risk share jumps to three quarters for key and shorten the time to bring new capital in recent years and now major sectors like heavy industry and long- technology to market and to diffuse it digital companies and philanthropists distance transport. widely. The political momentum is high. are allocating funds to start-ups in Therefore, we will not be able to The US, China, the EU, and Japan are hydrogen and energy efficiency. reach carbon neutrality by 2050 highlighting innovation in their net-zero On the other hand, solutions for without significant leaps in innovation pledges, and making clean-energy process technologies for materials in a wide range of other clean technology central to their plans for production and the engines for ships or technologies, some of which are still future prosperity. India is also currently planes need large-scale solutions with in a demonstration or pilot phase. This drafting a new science, technology, and plant-level economies of scale. These is especially urgent in those harder-to- innovation policy, where clean energy might most efficiently scale up via abate sectors like heavy industry (steel, innovation is expected to play an large corporations and public–private cement, and chemicals), shipping, important role. partnerships. Network technologies and aviation. Here, cost-effective 2. We’re not starting from scratch like smart grids might follow a hybrid solutions are still lagging behind. Faster Significant progress has already been model. innovation is required, especially in made in solar panels, wind turbines, These different routes give electrification, hydrogen, bioenergy, and electric cars, lithium-ion batteries, and governments more policy options synthetic fuels, and carbon capture, LEDs. This has reduced substantially and opportunities to experiment. usage, and storage (CCUS). the costs of renewable electricity, Inducement prizes like the US Despite the need for innovation, electric cars, and efficient lighting. American-Made Challenges and government research and development The successful examples of LEDs and Canadian Women in Cleantech (R&D) spending as a share of GDP is lithium-ion batteries took less than 30 Challenge are breaking new ground. not growing in major economies. In years to move from the first prototypes 4. Recovery packages can get fact, it has fallen from 0.1% in 1980 to to the mass market. overdue demonstration projects off just 0.03% in 2019, and only a quarter In the process, we’ve learnt valuable the ground of it is currently used on electrification, lessons about how to reduce costs Economic stimulus measures in hydrogen, sustainable bioenergy, and in technologies that rely much more response to the COVID-19 crisis offer CCUS. Despite some encouraging on mass production than the energy an opportunity to take urgent action signs in the past three years, patenting technologies of the past. Offshore wind that could boost the economy while activity in low-carbon energy provides another example of how much supporting clean energy and climate technologies has largely plateaued has been achieved in the last 20 years. goals. Large-scale demonstration since 2013, and has still not recovered These must set the benchmark for the projects that mobilize investment and

104 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY

FIGURE 1: Global energy sector CO2 emissions reductions by current technology readiness category in the Sustainable Development Scenario relative to the Stated Policies Scenario

Emissions Net-zero today emissions 2019 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 0 Mature (25%) -5

-10 Early adoption (41%) /yr

2 -15

-20

GtCO Demonstration (17%) -25

-30 Prototype (17%) -35

-40

Notes: Percentages refer to cumulative emissions reductions by 2070 between the Sustainable Development Scenario and the Stated Policies Scenario enabled by technologies at a given level of maturity.

Technologies that are only at the large prototype or demonstration stage today contribute almost half of the emissions reductions in 2070 in the Sustainable Development Scenario Source: IEA 2020

create jobs are an excellent example if countries don’t work together. on them. That means creating of this. Countries can actively lay the While competition will always drive new incentives to reward R&D and foundations for the industries of the innovation, countries must also work breakthroughs wherever they arise. future, coming out of today’s crisis together to share knowledge, combine 3. Societal challenges, including stronger and with the right bases early-stage markets, and use funding the needs of emerging markets and towards a future of clean energy. efficiently. Mission Innovation, which developing economies The US infrastructure plan proposes, has been relaunched this year, can According to IEA modeling, three among other things, demonstration play a central role in coordinating quarters of the emissions reductions projects for hydrogen, advanced efforts and focusing on priority needed to meet the Paris Agreement nuclear, and carbon capture retrofits for challenges. But other initiatives, goals will come from emerging markets, heavy industry. The European Union’s including the IEA Technology developing economies, and China, Innovation Fund is likewise investing in Collaboration Programme and UN compared with the current policy clean hydrogen and options for heavy Framework Convention on Climate trajectory. industry, energy storage, and CCUS. Change mechanisms, can be pivotal Meeting this challenge will depend Japan aims to demonstrate the world’s and enhanced by cooperation. on technologies that are appropriate first “hydrogen-based society.” Other 2. Long-term patient funding for R&D, for and adopted by companies countries, including Australia, are also including from the private sector and citizens in these countries. If stepping up their efforts. Today, many clean technologies they originate from innovators who But we must address key challenges: that show potential in reducing understand the local challenges in 1. International cooperation emissions are still in the early stages these high-growth markets, they stand Commercial deployment of of development. However, there is the the highest chance of success. technologies that are not mature yet need to fund longer-term challenges The IEA’s Clean Energy Transitions will rely on an unprecedented level for which market uncertainty is likely Programme works to reduce of international cooperation. Analysis to persist into the 2030s. Early-stage investment gaps in emerging and undertaken for the IEA’s Net Zero clean energy technologies, including developing economies, improve the by 2050 roadmap indicates that direct air capture, synthetic fuels, prospects for job creation through the transition to net–zero emissions or CCUS in some industry sectors, clean energy transitions, and help could be delayed by several decades need to have the best minds focused ensure people-centered transitions.

SDG ACTION 105 CLIMATE & ENERGY © Alamy Ramping up renewables

This Decade of Action demands a decisive shift from polluting to renewable energy. We need robust political, economic, and technological levers and deeper sectoral collaboration if we’re to bring clean power to all

By Fei Teng, Associate Professor, meet its 2050 carbon-neutrality target, it cooperation must be strengthened in Institute of Energy, Environment and will need to increase the deployment rate three areas. We must:

Economy, Tsinghua University of wind and solar PV by between 10 and ● strengthen cooperation in the global 40 times compared with current levels. renewables supply chain, to continue he Paris Agreement calls for the For China to achieve its target of to reduce renewable energy costs

world to limit temperature rise to hitting peak carbon emissions by ● introduce a carbon price, through Tno more than 2°C above pre- 2030, wind and solar PV installations market mechanisms, to further industrial levels, and to pursue efforts would need to top 1,200 GW in improve the competitiveness of to cap it at 1.5°C. To achieve this goal, 2030. That would be more than the renewable energy relative to fossil global investment and deployment in current capacity of wind and solar PV fuels

renewable energy must accelerate. installations globally, and would exceed ● strengthen the research, Installations of wind turbines and solar the current total installed electricity development and construction photovoltaic (PV) cells must far exceed capacity in the US. of energy storage technologies current levels for all major emitting To achieve such a challenging worldwide to support high countries. For example, if the US is to target at a global level, international penetration of renewables

106 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY

Renewable electricity generation at Phan where renewable energy generation in conjunction with other policies Rang, Ninh Thuân, Vietnam. The global equipment is installed, as most that liberalize and introduce market deployment rate of existing renewable employment and local benefits occur competition in the electricity sector energy technologies, particularly wind power during installation, operation, and to promote the development and and solar PV, needs to accelerate massively maintenance. deployment of renewable energy if we are to cap global warming at 1.5°C In addition, global North-South-South generation. (trilateral) cooperation in renewable energy should be strengthened. This Technical challenges will accelerate the uptake of renewable Achieving a future energy system with Reducing barriers energy in developing countries a high penetration of renewables also Renewable energy generation now through technology and knowledge means having to solve a number of accounts for around 30% of global transfer. It will also facilitate the technical challenges. In particular, we electricity generation. The rapid growth accelerated deployment of renewables need to reduce curtailment (capping of renewables has been driven by in those countries through financial, renewable energy production at those the substantial decline in generation technological, and capacity-building times when supply exceeds demand) costs in recent years. The cost of PV support. and overcome intermittency. has fallen by 82% and concentrating The overall rate of electricity solar power (CSP) by 47% in the last Economic levers curtailment shows a positive correlation decade, while the cost of onshore and At the same time, to make room with renewable energy penetration. offshore wind has fallen by 39% and for the accelerated development For every 1% increase in renewables 29% respectively. The lower costs of of renewables, the global installed penetration, the average increase in onshore wind and PV compared with capacity of fossil energy generation the curtailment rate is between 0.02% fossil power plants in most regions needs to be phased out. To this end, and 2.97%. In addition, the power have made them the competitive a pricing policy for carbon emissions generation from renewable energy choice for new power generation units. is an effective policy tool that can be sources is affected by incoming wind In most countries, onshore wind and PV used at global scale. A recent study and sunlight conditions and cannot be can already compete with fossil energy by the World Bank shows that many kept stable at all times. Solving this without government subsidies. countries have already implemented requires other technologies to regulate However, in some developing carbon pricing policies through the supply, incurring integration costs. countries, the development and establishment of carbon taxes or Energy storage technologies and deployment of renewable energy emission trading schemes (ETS). smart grids offer solutions for future still faces significant barriers. These The introduction of a carbon energy systems based on renewables. include: price could further increase the Existing storage technologies

● high costs of financing competitiveness of renewable energy include short-term options (such as

● lack of incentive policies generation. In the short term, the batteries) that can provide day-level

● insufficient capital availability carbon price will increase the cost capacity, and long-term options

● fragile grids of electricity from fossil sources (such as compressed air storage),

● lack of technical knowledge on and therefore more electricity from which can provide grid-level capacity. renewable energy renewable sources will be dispatched in However, energy storage technologies

● exchange rate risks the electricity market. In the long term, currently face challenges such as the carbon price will give investors cost and safety. Also, energy storage Addressing these barriers will more incentives to invest in renewable technologies are essentially energy require a different mix of policies, energy sources due to the increased conversion technologies that can also but the key remains to further cut profitability of renewable energy convert renewable energy into heat, the cost and increase the ease of generation, further increasing the share hydrogen, and liquids for storage. access to renewable energy. The world of renewable energy generation. Energy storage, particularly batteries, must reduce green trade barriers to However, it is also important to has made huge technological advances renewable energy technologies. It must note that some countries do not have over the last decade, with costs falling further accelerate the reduction of competition in the electricity generation significantly. In the future, further renewable energy costs through global sector. Introducing a carbon price collaborative research and development cooperation along the supply chain, therefore may not have an impact and industry cooperation can push and through economies of scale. on the dispatch of electricity. There costs down further and faster, boosting This cost reduction will not only may also be a lack of mechanisms to large-scale deployment of renewable benefit wind turbine and PV module- pass the carbon price through to the energy storage. This will create the producing countries like China. electricity price. Carbon pricing policies conditions for the further development It will also help those countries therefore need to be implemented of renewable energy.

SDG ACTION 107 CLIMATE & ENERGY

Preparing for climate change With the impacts of climate change ramping up, building resilience, particularly in developing countries and small island states, is now critical and urgent. We must convert our knowledge of climate solutions into priority actions now to achieve rapid and sustainable transformations

By David C. Smith, Director, Centre may degrade and the socio-economic particularly among small islands. for Environmental Management, and systems they support will suffer. Such countries have little capacity Coordinator, Institute for Sustainable Climate change has numerous to deal with changing climates and Development, The University of the effects. The average number of have contributed little to the problem. West Indies hurricanes in the Atlantic basin has Some are lagging in achieving the increased. Droughts, wildfires, and the SDGs. They typically have economies aste, inequality, climate incidence of vector-borne diseases dependent on exploiting natural change, and biodiversity loss have risen. Research shows that resources rather than on highly Whamper progress towards increased high temperatures will affect developed human capital. They are the Sustainable Development Goals health, sometimes causing death due more vulnerable to climate change (SDGs). These factors are often linked: to heat in tropical regions. Increased and exposed to natural hazards in climate change damages coastal temperatures decrease economic comparison to developed economies. ecosystems and biodiversity through productivity and increase the demand Some industries affected by climate sea-level rise and storms. However, for energy to cool buildings. change may not be acting to mitigate the poor are more affected by these Tourism on Caribbean and Central it. Coastal tropical tourism is highly events and recover more slowly from American beaches has been damaged vulnerable to sea-level rise, sargassum them, while exposure to repeated by vast mats of seaweed from the blooms, temperature rises, and events increases income inequality. southern Atlantic. The amount of tropical cyclones. However, flying in customers, and poor practices such as using large amounts of energy The factors that make countries vulnerable and water, and damaging reefs and are interlinked, as are the SDGs and their mangroves are contributing to climate change and vulnerability. Some targets. Pursuing a single goal, even one of these cannot be changed. But of vital importance, is not recommended governments in tourism-dependent countries need to find ways of transforming the tourism industry to Climate change takes place seaweed is increasing because of sustainability urgently. unequally on the planet as well. In high ocean temperatures (partly The factors that make countries and 2013, researchers from the University caused by emissions from airplanes) communities vulnerable are interlinked, of Hawaii indicated that dates for and agricultural runoff from southern as are the SDGs and their targets. departure from historical climate America and Africa. Tropical cyclones Pursuing a single goal, even one of regimes varied markedly depending often cause catastrophic death and on location. Mangroves, coral reefs, dislocation. But the effects of drought and other important ecosystems can be longer lasting, resulting in Andros Island, the largest island of found in the tropics and developing more lives lost and people displaced. the Bahamas, in a false-color image taken shortly after Hurricane Dorian. The countries will quickly be exposed to Droughts and floods can disrupt food Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service was new climates. systems and biodiversity loss, increase deployed to provide flood, risk, and recovery Unfortunately, the countries water-borne diseases and other maps. Improved access to technology and responsible for conserving those illnesses. the data it can provide will be critical for ecosystems are least able to manage Many of these phenomena will be small island states’ ability to withstand them. Consequently, the ecosystems experienced in tropical countries first, climate change

108 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY © ESA

SDG ACTION 109 CLIMATE & ENERGY

vital importance, is not recommended, a manufacturer of dairy proteins (used actions and how well it is storing since the linkages may lead to losses to make cheese, ice cream, and other carbon and mitigating climate change. in other goals. The Global Sustainable products), indicates that it creates 85% Improving techniques to forecast Development Report suggests taking less GHGs than by using conventional weather, especially drought and the linkages into account and pursuing methods. Other companies indicate extreme events, while extending entry points rather than individual substantial progress in creating meat information technology and insurance goals. Increasing resilience should and fish for consumers. These new schemes for farmers, is important. also manage trade-offs and capitalize technologies may not eliminate animal Oxfam, Aon and others have been on synergies. Resilience is increased rearing, but can significantly reduce the successful in extending parametric when inequality is reduced, so emissions and land used by this branch insurance to farmers in Kenya. addressing multi-dimensional poverty of agriculture. Payments are dependent on data and providing social protection like collected by satellite and are usually universal access to healthcare and Toward zero-energy buildings automatic. As a result, crop yields quality education builds resilience. The University of the West Indies have increased, mainly because the Human capital is the most important worked with local architects and risk of planting and experiencing component of nations’ wealth, so builders to design and construct the financial loss due to crop failure has increasing quality of education, first net-zero energy building for the decreased. improving access to education and Caribbean. It is a multi-use facility and A similar scheme was piloted by increasing internet access for the rural uses techniques and materials readily Oxfam in Sri Lanka and was also and urban poor and for girls is vital. found in the Caribbean, so it can be successful. The use of blockchain- Reports on the SDGs agree that replicated. The building generates based parametric insurance could be it’s better to focus on a few key areas more energy than it consumes and is used to cover other risks. Payments rather than individual SDGs. Key areas resistant to hurricanes. based on satellite or other remote data include:

● decarbonizing energy ● creating sustainable cities and peri- Improving techniques to forecast weather, urban settlements especially drought and extreme events, while ● creating sustainable food systems ● creating just economies extending information technology and ● sustaining the global environmental insurance schemes for farmers, is important commons

● increasing digital access Harnessing technology and data would be a marked improvement over Each country should develop Developing countries may lack the most current systems. development pathways that increase resources to collect data needed The Swedish Meteorological and resilience and make durable to manage climate change and Hydrological Institute uses cellphone improvements to human well-being. build resilience. Increasing access towers to measure the amount of rain For example, an efficient public to technology such as anonymized falling in Stockholm. The information transport system that uses electricity cellphone data and remote-sensing data produced is more accurate than most could reduce energy use and improve can track progress toward improving weather monitoring systems and uses the sustainability of an urban center. human well-being. It can also provide existing and widespread technology. Other possible actions are discussed increased access to information and the It could be applied to developing below. tools to improve well-being in remote or countries, which often have cellular impoverished areas. networks but lack early-warning The next agricultural revolution? In Guyana, a sizeable country with systems for weather events. Current agricultural systems cannot a small population, monitoring its Addressing climate change will require be upscaled to feed the world without tropical forest would be impossible innovation and a multidisciplinary exceeding planetary boundaries. So if without satellite data. Guyana has approach based on good-quality we want to feed the world, we will need international agreements to manage its evidence. For many economies and to transform the agricultural sector. tropical rainforest to sequester carbon. systems, upscaling what is being done Several companies are researching Consequently, it analyzes freely available currently will create major problems. if they can reduce greenhouse gas satellite data to measure the extent of A transformation is therefore required. (GHG) emissions associated with forest and track progress towards SDG This means scientists, businesses, livestock rearing by culturing meat 13 (climate action) and SDG 15 (life on government, and civil society must work and animal proteins directly, rather land). The system provides evidence together to implement solutions and than by rearing animals. Perfect Day, for the effectiveness of national forestry build resilient societies.

110 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY © UNDP Respecting planetary boundaries

Climate is just one of nine identified “planetary boundaries,” beyond which humanity’s future comes under threat. We must ensure the SDGs succeed within these critical limits

By Johan Rockström, Director, varied by no more than 1°C around the Coffee harvesting at the Pangoa Cooperative, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact long-term average. The rise of complex Peru, on the edge of the Amazon Basin. The Research, and Professor in Earth civilizations relied on the relative stability cooperative uses agroforestry techniques and System Science, University of Potsdam that emerged on Earth, generating all the is reforesting the land. In the event of 3-4°C of global warming, the Amazon rainforest could biophysical functions, from ecosystems switch into degraded savannahs, losing more umanity flourished and developed to the seasonality of water cycles, than 40% of its rainforest into today’s modern societies which we depend on. Our journey of Hunder the stable climate civilization over the past 10,000 years conditions of the last 12,000 years (the took us from the Neolithic Revolution That journey led to the increasingly geologic period called the Holocene). (also known as the first Agricultural excessive use of fossil fuels and natural During this period, Earth’s temperature Revolution) to the Industrial Revolution. resources like land and water.

SDG ACTION 111 CLIMATE & ENERGY

This came at a price. Burning fossil exploiting of natural resources, and Safe boundaries? fuels and converting almost 40% of interference with global cycles of water, These scientific insights show that the global land surface into cropland, nutrients, and chemicals, has led to we have entered the Anthropocene, meadows, and pastures has released the scientific conclusion that we have and that pushing the Earth too hard large amounts of greenhouse gases entered a new geological epoch, the can send systems beyond critical (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Since the Anthropocene. Humans have become thresholds, triggering irreversible beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Earth’s dominant force of change. trajectories for the entire planet. Yet, we

global levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have For the first time since the rise of remain dependent on the continuation risen by 50% and are now higher than at civilizations, humans face the real risk of the Holocene as the only state we any time in the past 3.6 million years. of destabilizing the entire Earth system. know for sure can support our modern The last time Earth experienced similar Some biophysical elements of the world. This leads inevitably to the

CO2 concentrations, temperatures Earth system have the potential to necessity of defining a safe operating were 2.7°C to 4°C hotter and the sea change abruptly to a fundamentally state that can continue to support level could have been 20 meters higher new state at some level of global humanity. Or, in short: what will it than today. Methane, the second most warming. These “tipping elements” take to keep Earth in a Holocene-like important GHG, has tripled since 1800. include the West Antarctic ice sheet, interglacial state? Consequently, the year 2020 was which may irreversibly start to collapse To address this, we must answer among the three warmest on record. on millennial timescales at 1.5°C to two questions. First, what are the Global mean temperature was 1.2°C 2°C of warming. The Amazon rainforest biophysical systems and processes above pre-industrial levels, sea-level rise could switch into degraded savannahs that regulate the state of the planet and accelerated, and the Arctic minimum at 3°C to 4°C of warming or more than the functioning of life-support systems sea ice extent was the second lowest 40% deforestation. Potentially, the in the biosphere? Second, for each of ever recorded. Amazon’s tipping point could happen at these systems and processes, can we scientifically define “safe boundaries?” By safe boundaries, we mean those The human dominance on Earth is beyond which we risk triggering non- linear dynamics, causing feedbacks extraordinary. The latest estimates show we that can lead to a planetary drift have lost 68% of wildlife populations on Earth away from a manageable Holocene- like state. At the same time, they are since 1970, in less than one human lifetime boundaries within which we have a safe space delineated by scientifically defined targets (or boundaries) for The impacts of rapid population 20% to 25% deforestation when global a high likelihood of maintaining an growth and explosive consumption warming interacts with ecological Earth system that can support world extend far beyond climate change. degradation. development. This is the planetary We have lost nature at unprecedented The Amazon’s shift from a tropical boundaries framework. speed through deforestation and rainforest into grasslands could Scientists have identified nine key industrial agriculture. Today, perhaps as happen within as little as 50 years. planetary boundaries in the Earth little as 3% of the world’s land remains The latest assessment shows that the system. These nine systems and free from human degradation. Global Brazilian Amazon, over the past 10 processes contribute to regulate the species extinction is 10 to 100 times years, has already flipped from being state and functioning of the Earth higher compared with the average a carbon sink to a carbon source, system. They are:

over the last 10 million years. Up to due to deforestation, forest fires, and ● climate change

one million species face extinction. droughts. ● biodiversity integrity (genetic and The human dominance on Earth is Tipping elements do not operate functional diversity of ecosystems extraordinary. The latest estimates in isolation, but as sub-systems of and their functions)

show we have lost 68% of wildlife the entire Earth system, interacting ● ocean acidification

populations on Earth since 1970, in less at global scale. There is now rising ● depletion of the ozone layer

than one human lifetime. concern that one tipping point may lead ● atmospheric aerosol pollution

to the shift in other tipping elements ● biogeochemical flows of nitrogen At tipping point in a so-called “tipping cascade.” This and phosphorus

The exponential rise in human would cause catastrophic, runaway ● freshwater use

pressures on Earth, relating both to climate change that would not stop ● land-system change

human-induced climate change, over- even if we halted emissions overnight. ● release of novel chemicals

112 SDG ACTION CLIMATE & ENERGY

We have already pushed the planet The challenge is that the SDGs climate change multiplies the threat outside the safe operating space for four that cover planetary boundaries are to biodiversity and human well-being. of the nine boundaries. Among them not quantified. So there is an urgent Only by achieving the Paris targets are climate change, considered a “core need to integrate quantitative science can we open the door to a sustainable boundary,” and biosphere integrity. targets for all planetary boundaries future envisioned in the SDGs. This Each has the potential to shift the Earth within the SDG framework. We must requires deep transformations in the system into a new state if permanently recognize the deep paradigm shift way we produce and use energy, and substantially exceeded. that is required: to truly meet the goal trade, consume, eat, and interact of healthy people on a healthy planet, with nature. Realigning the SDGs we must achieve the SDGs within Given the essential contribution Our global vision for sustainable planetary boundaries. of nature to limit global warming to development is expressed in the levels compatible with a sustainable 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable We need bold transformations future for humanity, it will be critical Development Goals (SDGs) that UN Underlying almost all the to better integrate the United Member States adopted in 2015. transformative changes outlined by Nations Framework Convention on These have created a framework for the SDGs is the decoupling of human Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the national action and global cooperation well-being and socio-economic Convention on Biological Diversity on sustainable development. The development from environmental (CBD). Only healthy ecosystems will SDGs provide time-bound targets for prosperity, people, planet, peace, and partnership to guide national action and We must recognize the deep paradigm shift global cooperation. Like the tipping points, they are that is required: to truly meet the goal of also deeply interconnected. The healthy people on a healthy planet, we must achievement of one goal can influence the feasibility of achieving other goals. achieve the SDGs within planetary boundaries Transitioning towards sustainable and resilient societies strongly depends on maintaining a stable planet and degradation. This is the only way to be able to continue to absorb large responsible stewardship of natural meet the Paris target of reducing GHG amounts of CO2. Only well-connected, resources. Sustainable land use, oceans, emissions to zero by mid-century. heterogeneous, and diverse and food systems have been identified to However, climate and Earth system ecosystems are resilient enough to do be among the most important enabling science increasingly show that so under the levels of climate change conditions for achieving the SDGs. the success or failure of the Paris that is already unavoidable. This means that, with the SDGs, Agreement does not depend solely We need to design integrated humanity has for the first time agreed on whether the world will achieve full solution pathways within planetary on a global development path decarbonization. It also depends on boundaries that ensure any necessary that integrates aspirational human whether we can preserve and expand social transformations catalyze development goals with a stable and carbon sinks in natural ecosystems at change towards inclusiveness and resilient planet. In fact, the SDGs the same time. sustainability. We need to act bold and explicitly include four of the nine Since the onset of industrialization, fast as we move towards recovering planetary boundaries: freshwater (SDG land and oceans removed and stored from the COVID-19 pandemic, which

6), climate (SDG 13), oceans (SDG 14), about 60% of all the CO2 emissions has reversed most achievements made and biodiversity (SDG 15). What’s more, from burning fossil fuels and land since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015. the Goals implicitly include all of the use change. This is despite annual 2021 brings three major international boundaries, through: emissions increasing 16-fold between meetings: COP15 of the CBD, COP26

● SDG 2 on sustainable food systems 1850 and 2019. If humanity loses of the UNFCCC, and the UN Food (the land and nutrients boundaries) this extraordinary climate protection Systems Summit. Governments,

● SDG 7 on clean energy (the aerosol provided by nature, we will have little meanwhile, are pledging huge amounts boundary) chance of achieving the Paris climate of fiscal spending for long-term

● SDG 12 on sustainable consumption goals, and therefore the SDGs. economic recovery. We have both the and production (several boundaries) Our future on Earth will depend opportunity and obligation this year

● SDG 11 on sustainable cities on our ability to maintain a stable to finally change the course of history (the novel chemicals and ozone planet that continues to support towards prosperity and environmental boundaries) life and human well-being. Rapid sustainability for all. We must take it.

SDG ACTION 113 NATURAL RESOURCES Sustainable mining

How can we ensure that a healthy extractives industry delivers on the SDGs?

By Lisa Sachs, Director, Columbia ith leadership in Europe and remote education, among a proliferation Center on Sustainable Investment Asia, and with the US finally of new technologies for our carbon- (CCSI), Columbia University; Martin Wback at the table, we are neutral and increasingly digitized future. Dietrich Brauch, Senior Legal and on the cusp of the energy and digital Believe it or not, this leap to the future Economics Researcher, Columbia transformations needed to avoid will require a scale-up in one of our most Center on Sustainable Investment climate catastrophe and to achieve basic and ancient practices: the primary (CCSI); and Antonio M.A. Pedro, the Sustainable Development Goals extraction of minerals and metals. But Director, Subregional Office for Central (SDGs). In the coming years we will see not all minerals – fossil fuels are overdue Africa, United Nations Economic a massive deployment of solar and wind to be phased out. They are clinging to Commission for Africa (UNECA) farms, electric vehicles, and mobile life because of short-termism in the platforms that allow for telehealth and market, reckless climate denialism, © Paula Bronstein / Getty Images © Paula Bronstein

114 SDG ACTION NATURAL RESOURCES

misinformation campaigns, and the are minerals required for a range of that are transferable to other sectors inertia of politicians and bankers whose existing zero-carbon technologies and, of the economy, deepening economic campaigns or bonuses are bankrolled by therefore, understood to be core to our resilience beyond the currency of the sector and their short-sighted profits. net-zero-carbon future. Indeed, they mining. It’s more complicated in countries may be the minerals in which we might Though too often overlooked, currently dependent on coal, oil, or gas expect the greatest near-term demand mining can also play an instrumental for their economic development. The growth – though in this era of rapidly role in expanding the affordability rest of the world, meanwhile, has a changing technologies, materials, and and accessibility of infrastructure responsibility to pave the path for a just approaches, the “criticality” of these and in fostering resource-driven transition from fossil fuels to sustainable minerals may also keep shifting. industrialization, diversification, and energy and livelihoods. economic development, locally and But for many minerals, it’s a different Mining and development regionally. Mining requires substantial story. Wind turbines, solar panels, Mining has always been at the heart of power, roads, rail, ports, water, and battery storage, mobile phones, the sustainable development challenge. information and communication and other technologies, combined The materials produced are the building technology (ICT) systems. with rapid urbanization, automation, blocks of our economies, from roads These projects often take place in infrastructure development, and and bridges to wind turbines and areas where infrastructure networks are population growth, mean we can satellites. For many countries rich in underdeveloped. Historically, mining safely forecast a much greater need resources, the revenues expected from companies have built the infrastructure for so-called critical minerals. These these resources are the primary source needed for their projects, and excluded of public income, and therefore for other users because of the perceived financing public goods (health systems, inefficiencies and complexities of education, water and sewage systems, allowing other users to share access. electric grids, and so on). The mining But the potential gains from sharing sector can create jobs (though not as mining-related infrastructure are many jobs as often hoped and subject enormous. Building in extra capacity to a to the changes resulting from increased rail network can unlock an agriculturally

A project’s need for massive and reliable power, even or especially in remote areas, can anchor the development or scaling of new off-grid renewable energy projects

automation). Upstream, downstream, rich region to export markets and ease and knowledge linkages, which remain the import of key inputs, like seeds and woefully underdeveloped in most fertilizers. A project’s need for massive resource-rich countries, can deepen and reliable power, even or especially their participation in global value chains. in remote areas, can anchor the Through local supply chains, skills development or scaling of new off-grid training, and project-related services, renewable energy projects that bring the sector can create local opportunities clean energy to otherwise energy-poor and livelihoods, including by fostering regions. the emergence of competitive small and Projects can also anchor demand medium-scale enterprises. If properly to expand national grids. In turn, more managed, it can build service sectors robust energy systems, along with other types of physical as well as soft infrastructure, allow for industrialization. Students at the secondary school in This can include the development of Khanbogd, Mongolia. The school and city are growing rapidly due to investment in the energy-intensive industries, such as Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine. The mine, the production of green hydrogen, co-owned by the government, is Mongolia’s steelmaking for wind turbines, and the largest industrial project production and recycling of batteries

SDG ACTION 115 NATURAL RESOURCES

that are critical for the deployment of zero-carbon energy technologies. National governments as well as regional Mining, energy and other infrastructure, and continental organizations should localize and industry can therefore work together as gears in an engine of zero-carbon the SDGs through “green new deals” economic development for resource-rich countries. interests of company shareholders, often The financialization of commodities Mitigating impacts willing to externalize costs to maximize contributes to the decoupling of Mining is at the heart of the sustainable profits, align with local interests to avoid commodity prices from demand and development challenge as much for impacts, and share in the benefits. supply dynamics, further distorting price its impacts as for its potential. Mining dynamics and market signals. In this projects are resource intensive. Towards a sustainable future for regard, accountants, traders, investors, They require large swaths of land, mining and regulators each have an important and sometimes the displacement of The Decade of Action brings a clarion role in ensuring that commodity prices communities or other livelihoods. They call to the mining sector, both to the reflect their unabated social and may compete for water with local or industry actors and those who support, environmental costs. downstream uses and users, including finance, and govern the sector. Mining’s The SDGs provide an instrumental traditional agriculture or even clean, role in achieving the SDGs is central but guide and a practical tool for this safe drinking water. not linear. Our ability to produce existing Decade of Action. Rather than Projects inevitably impact the and future technological solutions showing how existing activities map environment, including disruptions to depends on resource availability, which to specific goals, companies should biodiversity and ecosystems. These in turn depends on the sector’s ability to seek to understand the transformations impacts have been and will continue supply minerals sustainably. required to achieve them. In line with to be exacerbated by climate change, Companies must urgently: the so-called “sustainable development

adding the challenges of water stress, ● switch to net-zero-carbon energy license to operate,” they should orient

floods, and other documented impacts ● address deforestation, biodiversity all business operations and activities of climate change on workers’ health loss, and other ecosystem impacts toward achievement of the SDGs. At and productivity. Greater demand by applying the mitigation hierarchy a practical level, the SDGs can create

will create greater impacts, as mining ● use water efficiently and responsibly, a common platform for companies, pushes into new frontiers, expanding including by (re)using waste-water investors, governments, regional banks, into new territories or requiring more and treating the water they use and development partners to collect and energy and resources to deepen the before discharging it assess development needs, coordinate

production of existing reserves. ● conduct climate risk assessments interventions, monitor impacts, Mining has the potential to catalyze and community vulnerability facilitate stakeholder engagement and sustainable development, through assessments, and develop participation in decision-making, and taxes and royalties, local procurement accompanying management adapt programs as necessary. or processing, expanded access strategies and plans To realize the potential contribution of

to infrastructure, capacity-building, ● engage meaningfully with and the mining sector to achieving the SDGs, industrialization, and so on. Yet those secure the law-abiding consent from appropriate governance mechanisms benefits have been slow to materialize affected communities also need to be put in place. National

in most parts of the world. The sector ● improve recovery of minerals from governments as well as regional and has been plagued by corruption and traditional “waste” during production continental organizations should localize

mismanagement, conflict with local ● invest in material recycling and the SDGs through “green new deals.” communities, devastating “shortcuts” reclamation These are law and policy frameworks that and lack of capacity to prevent and outline, for specific national and regional manage social and environmental Companies share responsibility with contexts, how to define, encourage, impacts, and lack of coordination among their government partners, suppliers, and regulate climate and SDG-aligned public and private actors. While the and downstream customers to protect investments from public and private long-term interests of companies should the environment and human rights, sources. They should lay out guidance align with the long-term interests of including rights to health, living wages, and rules on how the mining sector will their host communities (stable projects, and worker representation. These work, not in isolation, but alongside other locally available skills and resources, considerations should be integrated in key parts of the economy, to achieve and a profitable project), short-term companies’ core business models and the vision of a climate-neutral, inclusive, interests do not always align. Nor do the reported on as such. sustainable future.

116 SDG ACTION BORD BIA Farming for the future

Origin Green is creating a template for sustainable food production in Ireland that is science-based and quantifiable

By Deidre Ryan, Director Origin Green and Sustainable Assurance, Bord Bia

s we emerge from a challenging year, I am proud to see how A our Origin Green members continue to innovate and develop their sustainability business plans, offering consumers more sustainably produced food and drink products. Origin Green is Ireland’s food and drink sustainability program, driving sustainability improvements across the entire supply chain from farmers Bia © Bord Bord Bia has established the world’s first national grass-fed standard, independently verifying the proportion of grass in livestock diet to manufacturers, to foodservice and retailers. Collaboration is at the heart of 54,000 farms, 300 food producers grass-fed standard independently what we do, and it is critical to acting (representing over 90% of our exports), verifying the proportion of grass in our sustainably – recognized in #17 of the the government, and international dairy and beef herds’ diet. Sustainable Development Goals. Origin NGOs. Our mission is to prove and As we emerge from the COVID-19 Green aligns with 15 of the 17 SDGs, improve the sustainability of the food pandemic and realize the realities of and to further support this, Bord Bia (the we produce to meet the evolving needs climate and biodiversity crises, we must Irish Food Board) became a UN Global of global customers and consumers, all come together as a planet to advance Compact member in 2018. while conserving our natural resources. Agenda 2030. Presently, we are six years on from Origin Green shows that Irish food and With the UN Food Systems Pre- the adoption of the SDGs in 2015 by drink producers have a sustainability Summit taking place this July, it is all UN Member States and now have plan, that they are driving change, and vital that, as food producers, we nine years remaining to achieve our that it is independently verified. recognize our role and take the lead ambitious targets. SDG 17, Partnership Our member companies have set in transforming food production for the Goals, reiterates the importance over 2,400 sustainability targets. systems, making them more resilient of coming together to implement Throughout the country, over 100 and sustainable. Bord Bia’s ongoing sustainable development. Partnership independent auditors undertake 650 development of the Origin Green has always been part of Irish food weekly assessments on farm as part of program showcases our commitment production, small family farms mean our Sustainable Assurance Schemes. to promoting the delivery of the SDGs that neighbors help one another – we The Origin Green program continues within the Irish food and drink industry. even have a name in the Irish language to play a pivotal role in evolving the for this, “meitheal,” meaning a team of advancement of the SDGs within the For more information, visit: mutually supporting workers. Irish food and drink industry. www.origingreen.ie We are going further by creating a Driving change cohort of future leaders in sustainability. As a country with family farming This year will see the 50th Origin Green traditions and lush green pastures, Ambassador appointed as part of our Ireland has a history of being Talent Academy. Collectively these recognized as sustainable. However, future leaders have undertaken over 100 Origin Green strives to create proof- projects with companies in 14 countries. points behind that. The program We continue to evolve, most recently SDSN and its publisher thank Bord Bia for its connects all parts of the supply chain: establishing the world’s first national generous support for this publication

SDG ACTION 117 NATURAL RESOURCES © ADB Feeding the world sustainably

To balance the combined pressures of climate change and growing populations, we need to re-evaluate what we eat and where and how it’s grown

By Ken E. Giller, Professor of Plant It is also a challenge to which each the world will need to increase food Production Systems, Wageningen one of us can contribute. We can production by 50%. Clearly, more must University, The Netherlands change our diets and reduce the be produced to match the demand amount of animal-based products we for nutritious food for all. But where magine a world free of poverty consume. The amount of food lost and how can this be achieved? And (Sustainable Development Goal 1) at or after harvest, wasted along the who are the farmers who will feed the Iand hunger (SDG 2). To achieve value chain, or left on our plates is world? this “double zero” within planetary shocking and must be reduced. Yet To understand where there are boundaries (SDG 15) in the face of the even the most conservative projections opportunities to produce more food, visible impacts of climate change is suggest we need to produce at least we can learn from how the world has perhaps the greatest challenge of our 20% more food to match global kept pace with its growing human time. demand by 2050. Many even consider population until now. Over the past 60

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A traditional food market in Nyaung billion people depend, at least partly, government investment in rural Shwe, Myanmar. Myanmar, part of the on agriculture for their livelihoods. development in African countries has “green revolution” in Asia, has dramatically Many of these rural households are also played a major role. improved food productivity over the last both poor and hungry, which is why If we look to the future, the three decades and met the MDG 1 target on reducing hunger SDG 1 and SDG 2 are inextricably population in Asia is starting to interdependent. plateau. But in sub-Saharan Africa, So why has Africa fallen behind populations continue to grow rapidly: Asia in terms of crop productivity UNDESA projects the population to years, yields of the major staple cereals and outstripped it in the incidence of increase by 305 million in the decade have increased dramatically (Figure 1). poverty? Many papers and books have to 2030, rising to 1.4 billion. Across the Compared with 1961, we now produce been written on the success of the African continent there is a burgeoning up to four times the yield of cereals green revolution in Asia, which resulted demand to provide nutritious diets for harvested per hectare in Latin America from major government investment the rural and urban populations. We and roughly two and a half times as in rural development in general and thus have a peculiar situation where much in Europe and Asia. The area of cereal farming in particular. Many there is a clear opportunity to increase cropland harvested has also increased Asian countries have achieved food crop productivity to meet this demand. strongly in Latin America and Asia, self-sufficiency based on their own At the same time there are several key but by contrast has fallen in Europe. production, as well as bringing down problems to solve:

Yield increases in Africa have been the incidence of poverty dramatically. ● achieving national food security more modest, where the food demand Although many of the gains in crop ● tackling rural poverty through for the growing population has largely productivity in Asia result from the providing extra income for rural been met through the expansion of opportunities for irrigation, which households agricultural land and importing food. allows for several crops each year on ● providing extra employment Rather than simply bemoaning the same land, this cannot explain throughout the food system the lack of past increases in crop all of the divergence in trajectories. ● reducing dependence on imports to productivity in Africa solely as a failure, Clearly the lack of consistent help the balance of payments we can also see it as an opportunity. It is an opportunity to understand why Africa has diverged from other regions, and an opportunity to increase crop FIGURE 1: Past intensification and area expansion yields in Africa and narrow yield gaps trajectories of staple cereal production across different in future. regions of the world

A tale of many continents 450 Before we consider these questions, Europe let’s take a step back and reflect on 400 East Asia the farmers who produce our food. South Asia The vast majority of farms globally are 350 Latin America still family enterprises, although this North America is changing rapidly in many wealthier Africa countries. 300 The number of farms has fallen dramatically in Europe and North 250 America where less than 2% of the population is involved in farming. 200 The tight economic margins of food Cereal yield (%, 1961 = 100) production lead to the continuing expansion of farm areas and a decline 150 in numbers of farms. By contrast, there are around 500 million small-scale 100 (less than two hectares) producers in 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 low and middle-income countries, and Area harvested (%, 1961 = 100) the numbers continue to rise. When we Data is shown in relation to the base year of 1961 consider their households, this means and the lines track the trajectory from year to year Analysis by João Vasco Silva based on FAOSTAT that between two and a half and three

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The food security conundrum prices is not an option as affordable, through diversification. By increasing Yet, sustainable intensification to safe, and nutritious food is needed for crop diversity beyond the basic staples narrow yield gaps is not taking off in both the urban and rural poor. Also, (cereals, roots, tubers, and bananas) to Africa. Why? Because of the small and many rural households are net buyers include more nitrogen-fixing legumes fragmented farm sizes, inadequate of food (they consume more than they and vegetables, multiple benefits can rural infrastructure, and the lack of an produce). If we are to learn from Asian be gained in productivity, soil fertility, enabling socio-economic environment. experiences, a whole raft of different and nutritious diets. Decades of This is what I have termed the food approaches is needed to ensure stable underinvestment cannot be addressed security conundrum of sub-Saharan incentives for producers and access to without additional nutrients. Achieving Africa. The smallholder farmers who food for the poor. this requires not just different crops, but predominate are often “reluctant This is one important conclusion of also a focus on integrated soil fertility farmers” who seek more remunerative an eDialogue: What Future for Small- management to efficiently recycle employment opportunities off-farm. Scale Farming that the Sustainable nutrients within the farm through To unpack the problem further, the Development Solutions Network organic manures, and supplementing underlying and pervasive problem that (SDSN) hosted over several months in with inputs of nutrients through mineral constrains agricultural productivity 2020 together with Foresight4Food, fertilizers. in Africa is the lack of soil nutrients. IFAD and APRA (Agricultural Policy Although we should not underplay Research in Africa). Solving the conundrum? The big question at the heart of the food security conundrum is of course how to make all this happen. It is There are promising signs in the expansion clear that African governments need of small towns and cities in rural areas of to make firm commitments to tackle poverty in rural areas through investing Africa, creating urban markets that can help in agriculture, and to create jobs to support the diversification of livelihoods relieve the pressure on land. This needs a whole raft of policies and actions to address the issues highlighted the importance of the climate crisis, We should not forget that many Asian above. There are promising signs in the which is exacerbating extreme weather countries still face major challenges. expansion of small towns and cities events such as floods and droughts, Figures from The State of Food Security in rural areas of Africa, creating urban tacking poor soil fertility is key. This is and Nutrition in the World 2020 show markets that can help support the illustrated by the paradoxical situation that there are many more poor and diversification of livelihoods. Another where some of the most food-insecure undernourished people in Asia (1.03 positive development is the focus on regions are those with highly favorable billion) than Africa (674 million). In regional markets through the African conditions for agricultural production. India, 70% of small-scale farms are Continental Free Trade Area. For example, the inherently fertile ultra-small (less than 0.05 hectares) This is a problem that concerns soils of the East African highlands and yet are still important for families’ us all. As we have seen, the goals where the bi-modal rains allow two nutrition and livelihoods. What we call of zero poverty and zero hunger go cropping seasons each year attracted smallholder farmers are a very diverse hand in hand, as the majority of the early settlement for agriculture. Rapid group, but it is clear that many cannot rural poor are small-scale farmers by population growth and land subdivision make a living from farming alone. They default. The opportunity for agricultural over generations coupled with depend on family members earning development to support the broader intensive cultivation with few inputs has income outside the farm in many development of African economies is exhausted the natural fertility of the soil shapes and forms, from small-scale clear, as is the need for concurrent job and led to declining productivity. This enterprises and rural wage labor, to creation in other sectors. gives rise to a double poverty trap of jobs in urban areas. The rural population in Africa small farms and poor soils. By contrast, Agriculture is a still a key source of continues to grow rapidly, doubling in some regions with drier climates smallholders’ food and income, so every 20 years. Intensifying and inherently poorer soils, but where finding ways to increase productivity agriculture is therefore fundamental populations are less dense and farms and farm incomes are key to to preventing further land use change are larger, a much larger proportion of addressing both poverty and hunger. and conversion of natural habitats to households are food secure. How best to do this is a matter of agriculture. It is also fundamental to So how can this food security debate. An attractive approach is allowing current and future generations conundrum be tackled? Raising food based on sustainable intensification to earn a decent living.

120 SDG ACTION NATURAL RESOURCES © UNDP Cambodia / Manuth Buth Restoring land

We know how to restore land, and the benefits it brings to communities, climate, and biodiversity. Countries must act on land restoration now

By Marion Ferrat, Senior Policy Expert, established global frameworks and Community mangrove planting around SDSN; and Micheline Khan, Biodiversity goals. But countries, businesses, and Kampot and Kep, Cambodia as part of a wider Analyst and Program Manager, SDSN communities globally must now act coastline conservation project. Mangroves to drive concrete action at the local are among the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet ith accelerating climate level. change and biodiversity The restoration of degraded land is W loss, the world is facing important for multiple environmental, two complex and closely interrelated social, and economic reasons. It Tackling the ongoing degradation crises that require urgent action. The needs to be scaled up and integrated of land UN Framework Convention on Climate with other efforts under a joint Land degradation is one of the main Change and the UN Convention agenda for action on the Sustainable drivers of both climate change and on Biological Diversity provide Development Goals (SDGs). biodiversity loss. This occurs mainly

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through deforestation, wildfires, and soil with consequences such as poverty al. (2020), restoring 15% of converted degradation, which cause the release of and food insecurity. lands in priority areas could sequester

greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. 299 billion tons of CO2, or 30% of the

The conversion of primary forests to Countries must prioritize land total atmospheric CO2 increase since managed forests, illegal logging, and restoration the Industrial Revolution. This could unsustainable forest management The impacts of land degradation serve as the foundation for ambitious are also contributing to increasing on biodiversity and climate have 2050 global conservation and climate emissions and biodiversity loss. sparked ambitious objectives for land mitigation agendas. In its Special Report on restoration at national, regional, and Climate Change and Land, the global levels. The benefits of land Making land restoration a reality Intergovernmental Panel on Climate restoration for ecosystem resilience, Experts, UN agencies and practitioners Change (IPCC) noted that over a local communities, nature, and are broadly in agreement on what quarter of the Earth’s ice-free land biodiversity are broadly recognized. is needed and known to make land area is already degraded by human The International Union for restoration possible. Implementing activity, undermining the well-being Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimate known sustainable land management of 40% of the world population. This that land restoration could contribute (SLM), restoration and rehabilitation has led to an unprecedented level of to over a third of climate change practices should be a priority for biodiversity loss and over-exploitation mitigation required to meet global countries. As the UN Convention to Combat Desertification explained in its 2017 report, SLM involves a range Global efforts emphasize the long-term of technologies and practices and integrates local biophysical, socio- commitment needed to restore land and nature cultural, and economic needs and and must be complemented by targeted, values in decisions to holistically achieve long-term productive ecosystems. nationally appropriate policies and measures Actions for land restoration are primarily focused on soil and water conservation, including the of the world’s ecosystems (as noted targets under the Paris Agreement. management of vegetation cover by the Intergovernmental Science- A range of initiatives are already in and soils, for example through tillage Policy Platform on Biodiversity place, from the ongoing UN Decade practices or nutrient supply to rebuild and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on Ecosystem Restoration to the New soil carbon, and agroforestry practices. in its Assessment Report on Land York Declaration on Forests, which Physical methods such as building Degradation and Restoration). seeks to restore 350 million hectares terraces in hilly and mountainous Land degradation also deeply affects worldwide by 2030. Over 120 countries terrain can reduce erosion and communities and their livelihoods. It have engaged with the UN Convention sediment transport but also result in reduces land productivity and increases to Combat Desertification on the 2018 durable changes to the landscape. extreme weather events such as to 2030 Strategic Framework to achieve The costs and benefits of SLM and wildfires and floods, and their associated land degradation neutrality and agreed land restoration greatly depend on economic costs. Land degradation and to formulate voluntary targets. where and how it is done. As the IPCC climate change together could reduce These global efforts emphasize the explains, measures that support land global crop yields by 10% by 2050, long-term commitment needed to restoration practices include tenure increasing to 50% in some regions, restore land and nature and must be reform, tax incentives, payments for according to IPBES. complemented by targeted, nationally ecosystem services, participatory Populations living in degraded areas appropriate policies and measures integrated land-use planning, farmer are particularly vulnerable as they in-country. Acting early can minimize networks, and rural advisory services. directly depend on natural resources risks, reduce losses, and generate While these measures are available, for their subsistence, food security, immediate benefits to affected their adoption is generally limited to a and income. As the IPCC notes, this communities. However, only 1% of minority of innovative land users and exacerbates existing inequalities and finances globally are directed toward practitioners. Their implementation disproportionately affects women and restoration of the environment – even is restricted by economic, political, youth. Land degradation and climate as it was found to be one of the most institutional, legal, and socio-cultural change are “threat multipliers,” leaving cost-effective approaches to absorb policy barriers. These barriers need to

already precarious populations highly and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the be addressed as a matter of urgency, sensitive to extreme climatic events, atmosphere. According to Strassburg et including by:

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No second chance: tipping points in mangrove ecosystems

Even with adequate implementation measures to avoid, reduce, and reverse land degradation, there are limits to adaptation, and some ecosystems may not recover. Mangroves are among the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet, providing habitats for many species as well as important ecosystem services for human well- being. These highly productive forests produce rates of primary production equal to those of tropical humid evergreen forests. Mangrove habitat degradation, however, is increasing at an alarming rate, with global © UNDP Brazil losses of 1% to 2% per role in human livelihoods It is also well documented passing the ecological year. This is due to climate through food, timber, fuel, that the degradation of “tipping point,” leading to change and human activities and medicine, as well as mangroves can have irreversible ecosystem loss. such as urban development being sources of protection important and widespread This is similar to the collapse and mining. These from catastrophic events consequences for adjacent of entire coral reefs through ecosystems play a unique such as tsunamis. ecosystems. They risk bleaching events.

● tackling environmental constraints local context, and take the following enabling conditions of different SLM such as climate, topography, or soil into consideration: technologies and practices in different quality contexts is needed. Decisions should

● providing appropriate technologies, Increase access to information, consider species’ functional traits practices or equipment technologies and knowledge to maximize the effectiveness of the

● researching and exploring the most Government plans should recognize restoration potential: planting drought- suitable options to study unknown and integrate local community adapted or fire-resilient species in ecological implications at different needs, priorities, and expertise in the landscapes forecasted to become arid scales planning process, and integrate strong increases the ecosystems’ resilience to

● addressing institutional and spatially explicit data on restoration hazards. governance issues that aggravate or potential. Stakeholder participation, inhibit decision-making at different which integrates indigenous and local Develop resource-sharing practices scales knowledge and is gender-inclusive, and invest in capacity-building

● scaling up available finance and should be included throughout the Effective SLM practices in one access to capital decision-making and implementation area may not be the best option in process. another. Countries that share similar In developing integrated national climatic challenges should prioritize climate and biodiversity strategies, Fill knowledge gaps knowledge-sharing to disseminate countries should consider the tools More research on co-benefits, trade- successful restoration strategies for and solutions most appropriate to their offs, barriers for implementation, and climate change adaptation.

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Develop effective, integrated Develop an appropriate policy- ● maximizing climate change services to support monitoring, enabling environment mitigation

evaluation and implementation Appropriate incentives for landowners ● biodiversity benefits

Moving away from sectoral policy can enable and promote sustainable ● the economic costs of inaction design, implementing agricultural, land change. use, and water objectives coherently, This underscores the synergies that and integrating them in climate and Conclusion: integrated exist from linking the goals of the three biodiversity strategies can support strategies and agendas UN Conventions (on climate change, effective implementation. Policy As Strassburg et al. (2020) point out, combatting desertification, and coherence across scales is also land preservation and restoration should biological diversity), as opposed to critical. be done with three criteria in mind: pursuing their targets in isolation.

Making land restoration a core part of climate strategies

As part of the Paris degradation caused largely UK: supporting nature’s consultation to inform the Agreement process, by agricultural expansion and recovery and restoring land development of a future countries must provide new commercial logging. The UK’s 25-year environment strategy or updated climate strategies The PNG government environment plan was in February 2020. The at regular intervals. Over 80 has taken steps to published in 2018 to Department intends to issue countries have updated their reverse the trend of land address conservation, the draft strategy for public climate strategies ahead degradation and improve the climate change, land use, consultation in spring 2021. of COP26 in Glasgow in management of protected sustainable global food November 2021. Many have areas. These include supplies, and marine health. Scotland identified the land sector and committing to an overarching It sets out actions in land In Scotland, the Environment land degradation as priority target in the LULUCF sector management, biodiversity, Strategy together with areas for action. to reduce GHG emissions and nature recovery. the Scottish Biodiversity caused by deforestation and Additionally, aspects of Strategy will take account Papua New Guinea: forest degradation by 2030. environmental policy are of the new post-2020 global transforming land PNG’s activities and devolved, with each nation biodiversity framework and degradation to restore actions to improve setting its own targets and targets to deliver improved ecosystems ecosystem restoration policies: and enduring benefits to Papua New Guinea include: the natural environment. (PNG) hosts unique England The new Scottish forest ecosystems, • reducing annual In England, the Environment Biodiversity Programme which are crucial for deforestation and Bill 2020 proposes measures aims to coordinate activities, carbon sequestration and degradation by 25% to restore and enhance including the development of biodiversity conservation. against 2015 levels nature. A new Environmental a future strategic framework They also support indigenous • increasing afforestation, Land Management scheme for biodiversity in Scotland. livelihoods and underpin the reforestation and is being developed to timber market. ecosystem restoration support nature’s recovery Wales PNG reported significant • improving protected and restore historical losses. In Wales, the updated greenhouse (GHG) emissions area conservation and The government plans to nature recovery action plan from the land use, land- management publish a new strategy for prioritizes the maintenance use change and forestry • promoting REDD+ nature following agreement and improvement of resilient (LULUCF) sector in its (reducing emissions from on global biodiversity targets. ecological networks and second nationally determined deforestation and forest transformative change, contribution (NDC) degradation) activities Northern Ireland including a new Sustainable submission in 2020. • implementing its initiative In Northern Ireland, the Land Management scheme This spike in emissions to plant 10 million trees in Department of Agriculture, and work to improve the is due to increases in PNG by 2030 Environment and Rural condition of protected sites deforestation and forest Affairs engaged in a and peatlands.

124 SDG ACTION NATURAL RESOURCES © UNDP Tuvalu / Aurélia Rusek / Aurélia © UNDP Tuvalu Ocean solutions

The continuous degradation of ocean health represents a major civilizational challenge and should be high on the international policy agenda. Ocean science and policy must offer sustainable solutions on climate, food supply, poverty reduction, and energy access

By Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive and the ocean are accruing in three Amatuku island in Tuvalu. Small island Secretary, Intergovernmental very closely connected and interacting developing states like Tuvalu are exposed to Oceanographic Commission of domains: climate, biodiversity, and the most extreme impacts of climate change, UNESCO the economy. As customary, the with their survival threatened by rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and extreme worst scenario awaits the poor and weather events ur civilization is inflicting major underprivileged. damage on the ocean, the The compliance with and the rate of O dominant feature and largest implementation of the UN Framework warming, acidification, deoxygenation, ecosystem of our planet. The decline Convention on Climate Change sea-level rise, sea-ice melt, and so in its health is undermining the ocean’s (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement will shape on. Increased severity of storms and crucial life-supporting functions for future changes in ocean physics, alterations in patterns of long-term humanity. The consequences of human dynamics, biogeochemistry, and atmospheric variability are expected. inability to live in harmony with nature biology. Already these are manifesting in The ability of the ocean to continue to

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absorb carbon from the atmosphere just a single reference to the ocean management through coordinated and may weaken, potentially requiring in its preamble. However, after the comprehensive planning based on adjustment of climate scenarios. presentation of SROCC to the UNFCCC, sound science. The developments have Expanding economic interests its Subsidiary Body for Scientific and been promising. The unprecedented still prevail over the conservation Technological Advice has initiated scope and depth of the HLP analysis considerations. an Ocean and Climate Dialogue. The of ocean issues (health, economy, Practically all ocean ecosystems, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk governance, and so on) resulted in the especially coastal, are affected by Reduction refers to coastal vulnerability. publicly announced commitment by unsustainable fishing, human activities, Various global and regional international the 14 countries to start sustainably habitat destruction, and various facets conventions on ocean protection and managing 100% of the ocean area of climate change. Multiple stressors fisheries are in action. within their national jurisdiction by 2025. are negatively impacting many marine The UN is working on an international The HLP calls on other countries to species and disrupting natural food legally binding instrument (ILBI), under follow suit by 2030. webs. Warm water corals that host one the United Nations Convention on the The HLP analysis concluded that if third of all marine species are practically Law of the Sea, on the conservation the ocean is sustainably managed, it doomed to bleach and die. This is and sustainable use of marine biological could generate six times more food the image of the sixth major period of diversity of areas beyond national than it does today through fisheries and species extinction in the last 450 million jurisdiction (BBNJ). The approach to aquaculture. It could also produce 40 years occurring now. Growth scenarios of ocean protection that, up until now, has times more renewable energy (mostly some key ocean-economy sectors (such been based more on goodwill should through wind turbines and solar batteries) as fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism) are become both legally binding and based and massively increase the scale of strongly climate-change dependent. on science. the ocean’s contribution to the world Awareness about the ocean as a economy. The key conditions needed Improving awareness common heritage of humankind is for this sustainable “sea change” include Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda broadening and strengthening. The adequate planning based on data, in 2015, several authoritative global ubiquitous threat of plastic pollution links to national accounting, de-risking assessments on the ocean have is widely known. The Our Oceans investments, and stopping pollution from surfaced. In 2016, the UN published conferences have been instrumental in entering the ocean from land. the first edition of the World Ocean attracting voluntary support for ocean These previously non-existent or Assessment and in 2021 released its protection. The UN Ocean Conference not recognized possibilities call for second edition. in 2017 saw previously unimaginable significant strengthening of governmental In 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel interest and inspired more than 1,600 support towards expansion of ocean on Climate Change (IPCC) completed voluntary commitments towards ocean management, namely:

its Special Report on the Ocean and sustainability. There are now high-profile ● coastal zone management

Cryosphere in a Changing Climate individuals and multiple groups of ● maritime spatial planning

(SROCC) and the Intergovernmental influencers advocating for the ocean. ● establishment of effective marine- Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity Since 1992, World Oceans Day has protected areas

and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) been celebrated annually on 8 June. ● development of real-time issued its Global Assessment Report. There is great potential to proactively oceanographic services and early- In 2019 to 2020, multiple experts expand the awareness through “ocean warning systems associated with the High-Level Panel literacy” activities. Lessons about the for a Sustainable Ocean Economy ocean should be systematically taught in The prerequisite for success is (HLP, comprising 14 heads of state or schools, as part of the curriculum. reliance on capable science. The government) authored more than 20 UN Decade of Ocean Science for reports on the status of the ocean and Delivering solutions Sustainable Development (2021 to 2030) potential solutions. All sustainable solutions seeking to is expected to:

In light of the aforementioned protect the planet’s largest ecosystem ● mainstream ocean science

assessments, the existential issue need to follow a two-pronged approach: ● co-design and realize a new global

of sustaining the ocean, previously ● continue mainstreaming the ocean in ocean observation and data system

believed to be a limitless resource, the international political agenda ● offer a new level of certainty and

is starting to be mainstreamed in ● on a number of key issues, as transparency about the state of the the international agenda. Notable is detailed below ocean

Sustainable Development Goal 14 ● bring the capacity of all countries (Life below water), with 10 useful Overall, there is a need to urgently to the level needed to sustainably targets. The Paris Agreement has move towards integrated ocean manage their exclusive economic

126 SDG ACTION NATURAL RESOURCES UNDP / Garth Cripps

zones and the ocean beyond them, science, well-chosen and effective Semi-nomadic Vezo freedivers using focusing on science for solutions marine protected areas covering 30% traditional fishing techniques in Madagascar. of the ocean area Demand from external seafood markets is pushing fishing in the region to The Decade of Ocean Science aims ● implementing science-based, unsustainable levels to develop “the science we need for the transparent, and fair fishery and sea ocean we want” (that is, a scientifically food management, with effective port and sustainably managed ocean). With state control and end-to-end food humankind living now in the geological origin tracing Humankind has tested the limits of

epoch of the “Anthropocene,” only this ● eliminating food wastage and better the ocean’s ability to support life. On approach can stop the “suicidal war on using food resources from fisheries multiple fronts, ocean ecosystems are nature,” in the words of UN Secretary- and aquaculture to combat hunger approaching tipping points. The causes General António Guterres. and malnutrition, support human and consequences of these threats are In addition to the systematic approach health, and reduce environmental known, but capabilities to remedy the outlined above, we must meet a number impact from agriculture situation exist.

of milestones on the way to achieving ● increasing investment in ocean-based Even more than that, the ocean the ocean we need for the future we renewable energy, turning it into a can function as an amplifier whose want. These are: significant share of the global energy sustainable management can help solve

● bringing the issues of climate change supply the major challenges that humankind

impact on the ocean and ocean- ● establishing measures that strengthen faces and be an ally in climate action based climate solutions to the core the resilience and insurability of and delivering the SDGs. UNFCCC debate coastal zones, building on ocean- Action on the ocean should be at

● satisfactory conclusion of negotiations borne risk assessment and build-up the core of international efforts to at the World Trade Organization on of early-warning systems for storms, build forward better. But most of the stopping harmful state subsidies for tsunamis, floods, harmful algal action toward managing the ocean large-scale fisheries blooms, and so on sustainably should occur at a national

● completion of the BBNJ ILBI and ● equitable inclusion of local coastal level, embracing not only leaders, but developing an implementation plan populations in sustainable coastal many other categories of stakeholders. for the instrument and ocean planning and related In return, a healthy ocean will share its

● establishing by 2030, on the basis of economic development health with people.

SDG ACTION 127 NATURAL RESOURCES © Antoine Gyori/AGP / Corbis via Getty Images Save our species

Without action, this century will see many more species go extinct. Halting biodiversity loss calls for all countries to act now to transform how we produce, consume, and manage resources

By Aline Mosnier, Scientific Director, rates are accelerating rapidly at a production systems and markets have FABLE (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, global scale. Around one million animal become increasingly homogenized. Land-use, and Energy) Pathways and plant species are threatened with There are at least 12,000 edible plant Consortium, SDSN; Sarah K. Jones, extinction, constituting over a quarter species (probably nearer 60,000), yet Associate Scientist, Bioversity of the world’s species. Projections just nine of them account for 66% International; and Andrea C. Sánchez, estimate that doing nothing to reverse of global crop production. However, Research Fellow, Bioversity International biodiversity loss will increase the many edible plant species or their number of extinct species globally by wild relatives are at risk of extinction. he sixth mass extinction is 4% (range 1% to 12%) by 2100. The use of local livestock breeds in underway and biodiversity These threats extend to the production is declining, with 26% of T decline has picked up across biodiversity that supports our food breeds threatened with extinction, while many indicators. Species extinction and agriculture systems. Globally, 33% of fish stocks are overfished.

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The northern edge of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan after restoration. The sea was formerly an extreme symbol of environmental destruction, reduced to salty desert. This section has been restored with freshwater, teams with bird-life, and provides food and livelihoods to the local community through its increasingly diverse fish stock

land and intensifying crop and livestock farming practices are the major culprits of biodiversity annihilation. Freshwater and marine ecosystems are being polluted by sediment and chemical run- off from agriculture. Marine biodiversity is jeopardized by fishing and aquatic ecosystem degradation. Freshwater biodiversity is declining in every major river basin, while deep-sea fishing is emptying large swaths of the ocean

Unsustainable consumption and overpopulation are important indirect drivers of biodiversity loss

Insects that support agricultural some key species might lead to positive of nearly all life, disrupting coral reefs production are also at risk, with effects on stream hydrology. and causing extinctions and population pollinator declines now being reported There are also multiple links between declines at all latitudes. The trade across the globe. biodiversity and achieving food and in wildlife flora and fauna and their nutrition security (SDGs 2 and 3). products is also a huge threat to many Biodiversity and the SDGs endangered species. Safeguarding biodiversity is linked to Biodiversity in peril Unsustainable consumption and achieving many of the Sustainable Global biodiversity is directly threatened overpopulation are important indirect Development Goals (SDGs), as by five main anthropogenic drivers: drivers of biodiversity loss. We can biodiversity depends to various extents ● the conversion of terrestrial and produce enough food to feed 10 billion on land use and maintaining healthy, aquatic natural ecosystems to other or more people with nutritious diets, balanced ecosystems. There are large uses with no agricultural land expansion synergies between climate change ● the overexploitation of organisms and without exceeding global climate mitigation (SDG 13) and biodiversity ● direct and indirect effects of climate change boundaries. protection (SDGs 14 and 15). Tropical change Yet achieving this will require forests, for instance, store one ● alteration and pollution of natural drastic changes in diet for most third of the world’s land carbon and habitats people. Providing the world’s eight harbor more than two thirds of the ● invasion of alien species billion people with the diets and world’s land-based species. Ensuring living standards of those living in sustainable water management As natural habitats change and the USA, for example, would require (SDG 6), both in terms of quality and disappear, biological populations double the planet’s resources in availability, is crucial for the survival of change and decrease with them. terms of energy consumption. While many species. The reintroduction of Replacing wild habitats with agricultural improved standards of living lead to

SDG ACTION 129 NATURAL RESOURCES

smaller average family sizes, they also nature. However, consumers need to be ● effective and equitable benefit- create increased per capita resource informed about their current ecological sharing mechanisms

consumption. At current population footprint. Greener alternatives should be ● sustainable funding

levels, we would need five times the both attractive and accessible. Studies ● effective monitoring and planet’s resources to ensure no one have highlighted that global population enforcement systems of protected lives in poverty without compromising growth may peak soon after mid-century areas people’s freedom to choose how many if living standards for women continue children they have. to improve. To achieve decent living Life in water Poorly targeted, weakly enforced standards for all by 2050 while reducing Halting and reversing loss of marine and insufficient coverage of protected pressure on biodiversity, we must life would be greatly supported by areas hamper efforts to safeguard combine education with game-changing abolishing subsidies for unprofitable biodiversity. Yet conservation measures policies and business models that large-scale commercial fishing fleets. such as creating protected areas are a support sustainable consumption. It would also be helped by introducing critical strategy for halting biodiversity and enforcing, through independent loss, if implemented effectively. Life on land observers and spot checks, strict Currently, the world’s protected Preserving biodiversity on land will equipment restrictions that reduce areas cover nearly 16% of terrestrial require actions on many fronts. by-catch and damage to non-target and freshwater environments and We must restore wilderness areas, species or coral reefs. The regulation and expansion of well-designed marine protected Allowing large predators to reinhabit areas, especially in habitats used by megafauna and migratory species, can lost territories, through active reintroductions also contribute to the conservation of and creating habitat corridors to facilitate biodiversity and sustainability of food provision. These measures are unlikely migration, would help restore faunal integrity to result in the complete recovery of and recover population numbers fish stocks, but give us a chance of not losing the aquatic biodiversity that remains. 8% of marine areas, but they do not significantly improve the ecological fully protect areas of importance for functioning of managed land, and Conclusion biodiversity conservation, and they are improve and expand the conservation More than ever before, human activities not all effectively or equitably managed. of biodiversity in protected areas. are the direct and indirect drivers of Allowing large predators to reinhabit biodiversity loss. The negative effects We need systemic change lost territories, through active of species extinction and ecosystem Halting biodiversity loss requires reintroductions and creating habitat degradation on the vital services systemic change. Removing the direct corridors to facilitate migration, would that ecosystems provide are likely to and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss help restore faunal integrity and recover increase in the next few years. calls for a transformation of the way population numbers. Current national biodiversity we produce, consume, and manage On agricultural land, we need strategies struggle to address major resources at all levels. to restore ecological functioning, drivers of biodiversity loss. Countries We must move towards a circular for example through agroforestry, must take immediate action to economy underpinned by sustainable use of cover crops, no or reduced improve biodiversity conservation and food and land use systems. Policy agrochemical inputs, and reduced transition to sustainable production and investments and incentives, technical tillage. We must combine these efforts consumption patterns. Through this, innovations, responsible marketing, with actions to provide fair incomes, they can help restore biodiversity while education at all levels, and alternative opportunities, and living standards for achieving healthy diets and a good business models all have a role to play. agricultural workers. standard of living for all people by 2050. Together, they must stimulate societal Finally, successful land conservation As we approach the climate and and cultural behavior changes towards outcomes will depend on: biodiversity COPs and UN Food

minimum pollution and waste, and ● governance Systems Summit, countries should now

reasonable per capita consumption. ● local engagement, including seek to develop integrated long-term As acknowledged by SDG 12, respecting and protecting indigenous strategies to ensure coherence across consumers play a key role in adopting people’s rights and stewardship the biodiversity, food, climate, water, lifestyles that are in harmony with roles and energy sectors.

130 SDG ACTION ABOUT US

Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey D. Sachs Practical knowledge for a Editor Dorothea Strüber fairer, safer, sustainable world Sub-editor Howard Gossington Researchers Magdalena Breyer Giulia Prior SDG Action is a new initiative launched by the UN Design Joanna Legge Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to James White support the UN’s Decade of Action. Sales Cecily Robinson A resource for sustainability practitioners in all sectors, Finance Ricky Harwood it brings timely analysis of the most pressing challenges. Editorial Director Claire Manuel Its emphasis is on identifying opportunities and providing Publisher Hugh Robinson tangible ways to accelerate progress. The website features articles from world-leading experts on all aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action. Published by: Witan Media Ltd The Old Baptist Chapel, Two print editions are released annually, to coincide with Painswick, GL6 6XH, UK major global diplomacy events. These editions provide a Tel: +44 (0)20 3327 3730 framework to understand the complex interdependencies www.witanmedia.com between the SDGs, highlight priorities and dilemmas, and On behalf of: SDSN suggest ways to make the greatest impact, fast. 19 rue Bergère 75009 Paris, France Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like +33 (0) 1 84 86 06 60 to share feedback and ideas or would like to be involved. www.unsdsn.org/ About SDSN The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Front cover: Members of the indigenous communities in (SDSN) was set up in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Cauca, Colombia, collect face masks and food during the Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and COVID-19 pandemic. © UNDP Colombia / Oscar Bermeo technological expertise to promote practical solutions for

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SDG ACTION 131 We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Gold Mining’s Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

The gold mining industry is committed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 1: China Gold supporting communities SDG 2: Barrick Gold and Shandong Gold’s No around its operation in Zhengfeng Zero Agricultural Procurement Plan in poverty resulting in the county being removed hunger conjunction with Aramark helping from the list of impoverished areas by farmers to share benefits of the mine the government in 2020 and further local food security

SDG 3: Newcrest bringing down the mortality SDG 4: Golden Star’s Development Foundation Good rates in Papua New Guinea with nursing Quality helping children stay in school through health and and midwifery training education classroom, dormitory and bus stop well-being building in Ghana

SDG 5: Endeavour Mining’s Women in SDG 6: IAMGOLD providing safe water for Gender Mining programme is committing to Clean over 100,000 people in Burkina Faso equality create a more diverse workforce water and with long-term skills development sanitation and career path mapping

SDG 7: Agnico Eagle donating and installing SDG 8: Centerra Gold purchasing goods and Affordable solar energy systems at 18 schools Decent services in the local market to promote and clean and six communities surrounding their work and income development and job growth in energy mine in Mexico economic the Kyrgyz Republic growth

SDG 9: Alamos Gold collaborating with SDG 10: Sibanye-Stillwater helping to improve Industry, communities to modernise farming Reduce financial literacy and understanding in innovation practices in Mexico by providing basic inequalities South Africa through its ‘CARE for iMali’ and needs such as water, education, employee intitative infrastructure nutrition and farming assistance

SDG 12: Eldorado Gold helping to SDG 13: Newmont’s Borden ‘mine of the Responsible accelerate land restoration in Climate action future’ the first all-electric consumption Greece through technological underground mine, eliminating all and production innovation via a new facility GHG emissions associated with diesel-based equipment

SDG 15: Oceana Gold is protecting a local lizard SDG 16: AngloGold Ashanti integrating Life on species around its mine in New Zealand Peace, justice on-line human rights training into land providing an additional lizard habitat and strong the compliance programme for institutions staff at all levels

SDG 17: Wheaton Precious Metals joining Partnerships forces with partner mines for the goals to finance environmental and social initiatives To find out more, read our latest report at www.gold.org

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