The Project
Since the completion target for the MDGs is September 2015, the new SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are being established as from the next UN General Assembly in September in New York.
If a real commitment is made by Global governments, these could potentially reduce the number of people living under the poverty line(currently living on less than 1.25$ a day) drastically. Today, 17% of the World Population lives in extreme poverty, this could be reduced to 4% in 2030. Furthermore, the COP meeting in December in Paris could potentially bring actual commitment when it comes to climate change legislation. Countries such as China and the US are a more ready than they were in 2009 to admit the urgency of making a change. According to the economist, two big reports published in 2014, (one from an international group of ex-presidents, heads of financial institutions and economists; and the other from American chief executives and former treasury secretaries) demonstrate a substantial change of mind among decision makers that climate change needs to be tackled.
The Millennium Development Goals focused on improving the situation of developing countries, whereas the Sustainable Development Goals focus on putting the responsibility on all countries around the world. As we have learned from the recent monetary and financial crises, the countries with so called “developed economies” can loose hard earned economic and social development through unsustainable policies and “business as usual” approaches.
In this view, one of the main focus areas of the SDGs will be environmental sustainability, especially proposed goals 13, 14 and 15.
In this view, one of the main focus areas of the SDGs will be building strong, inclusive and resilient economies. This means the inclusion of goals such as employment and decent work for all, secure employment rights, sustainable consumption and facilitating technology, gender empowerment in the workforce, sustainable building and construction and prevention of water waste.
