The UNDP released an insightful report that reiterates the importance of achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The SGD is “adopted by all United Nations Member states in 2015 as a universal call to action and to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.”

The 2030 agenda also pledged to leave no one behind referring to the developing countries and most vulnerable communities. 

The UN January 2021 report, focus on the Asia Pacific region home to more than 4 billion people and half of the world’s population.  The region hosts two most populous countries – India and China and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of Tuvalu, Nauru, and Palau.

Countries in Asia-Pacific are rapidly developing in terms of population, urbanization, technology and rising middle class. These countries are also vulnerable to climate change, and without climate adaptation and mitigation would risk reversals of any progress and gains they have made.

With rapid and on-going developments, the region needs to be on track to achieving the SGD goals and to pursue a low-carbon, and climate-resilient future to tackle the urgency of climate change.

According to the report, the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals is universal in scope, transforms people’s lives by eradicating poverty, promoting shared prosperity, and protecting the plant.  Progress is underway yet so much work remains to be done with less than ten years to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals:

1. No Poverty. Aims to end poverty in all forms everywhere by 2030.
2. Zero Hunger. Focus on ending all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
3. Good Health and Well-being. Aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all by 2030, including strengthening developing countries’ capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and health risks management.
4. Quality Education. Seeks to ensure inclusive and quality education for all by 2030.
5. Gender Equality. Seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation. Calls for clean water and sanitation for all people by 2030.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy. Aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth. Promotes sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Promoting resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation.
10. Reduced Inequalities. Calls for reducing inequalities in income and those based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status within and between countries.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities. Pledges to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by 2030.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production. Aims to reduce our ecological footprint and ensure environmental sustainability by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources.
13. Climate Action. Focus on urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Life Below Water. Elevates the need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
15. Life on Land. Aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and stop biodiversity loss.
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Aimed at promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.
17. Partnerships for the Goals. Focuses on mobilizing global partnerships to achieve the vision of Agenda 2030, including sharing knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, particularly to developing countries.

The report gives examples of the programs and projects implemented in the Asia Pacific and SIDS and its impacts on their lives.

To know more about the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, its programs and projects to achieve the above goals, and how fulfilling it can help countries mitigate or adapt to climate change and become more resilient, click the link below:

Source Citation:

Climate Adaptation and the Promise to Leave No-one Behind. (22 January 2021). UNDP. Retrieved from https://undp-climate.exposure.co/adaptation-linked-to-sustainable-development-asia-pacific