Sustainable Development Goals
Thesis Statement
With an increase of human population worldwide, there is need to increase the general level of production and manage existing resources for sustainable development. With regards to this, the United Nations borrowed the J.F Kennedy quote to ensure that they draw manageable and less remote goals towards achieving sustainable development for all the world population.
The world was continually indulging into poverty; human activities continually kept eroding the planet and peace, as well as the prosperity of humanity, was becoming sabotaged with day-to-day operations. Experts continued to predict that the world heads into worst directions in the next 30 to 50 years, there will be nothing to cling on. There was a call to come up with plans to help save the world from the future sink since human activities are carried as usual, and they tend to erode the world if not correctly managed. With an increase in the earth’s population, more food production is necessary to curb anger and abject poverty that is a significant threat to humankind in many parts of the world.
In 2015, the United Nations member states sat down to come up with suggestions on what should be done to help save the current and future world generation. The situation was getting out of hand, and immediate action was necessary to make the world sustainable for both the current and next generation. It is therefore during this time that the United Nation member states came up with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a measure of making the planet a better place by 2030 (Cratsley & Mackey, 2018). The members then came up with 17 SDGs which are integrated in the sense that an action in one area affects the outcome in another place. Again, they ensured that the development measure must balance between the social, economic and environmental sustainability.
The whole world seemed to be affected by the activities of humanity. However, there was nothing to be done. People had to continue giving birth, people had to marry, economic activities like industrialization has to keep, growth and development of economies had to be realized, but all the processes had detrimental effects to the planet directly or indirectly. The United Nations, through their experts then organized for consensus where they collected the views of the general public. Studied the demographic trends of the world conducted different economic, social and environmental measure and then set aside resources to ensure that human get a better place to stay. This study will, therefore, take a look at three essential actions taken by the member states towards achieving sustainable development.
- No Poverty
Between 1990 and 2015, a report from the United Nations revealed that the number of people living in poverty globally dropped by half, however, the same statement was quoted saying that as of 2015, a total of 736 million people globally live below 1.90 USD per day. This shows that eradication of poverty is still the most significant challenge facing humankind. Issues like lack of food, clean water and poor sanitation are the substantial challenges and women are said to be primarily affected due to their lack of education, low paid jobs, as well as luck of significant properties (Yakovleva, Kotilainen, & Toivakka, 2017). As a way of ending the poverty by 2030, Governments, Businesses, and NGOs are therefore determined to increase essential human resources and services, offer support to communities affected by conflict and Climate-related issues as well as offer support to the most vulnerable population.
- Good Health and Well-being
Facts by figures reveal that over 400 million people globally lack primary healthcare, while 40 per cent luck social protection. Again, despite 21.7 million living with HIV were able to get antiretroviral therapy by 2017, 15 million people globally are yet to receive the treatment. It is due to these reasons that Global health becomes a primary goal of SDGs since it is essential toward the development. Provision good health will mean that there is clean water, enough food and proper sanitation; hence another way of poverty eradication (Nilsson, Griggs, & Visbeck,2016). In some countries around the world, tremendous changes in the health sector have been realized, infant and maternity mortality rates have reduced, life expectancy has dramatically increased, deaths on HIV and malaria have reduced by half. To keep on achieving the SDGs goals, governments Businesses, and NGOs are aimed at adopting multisectoral, gender-sensitive approaches, and rights-based approaches to build good health among the people.
- Peace Justice and Strong Institutions
The world cannot opt for sustainable development without peace, stability, human rights, as well as effective governance that is guided by the rule of law. With varied world ideologies and people’s way of life, you find that some parts of the world are experiencing total peace. At the same time, some are faced with perpetual wars that are either political, cultural or religious. It, therefore, had to keep conflicting countries healthy or out of poverty. Facts from the United Nations records that there are about 100 million people who have been denied nationality as well as the related rights. Again, approximately 68.5 million people globally have been forcibly displaced due to conflicts, violence, persecution, as well as a violation of human rights (Yakovleva, Kotilainen, & Toivakka, 2017). Therefore, trough Governments, Businesses, and NGOs, the United Nations is aimed at reducing all forms of violence, and end insecurity among people. Governments are involved in promoting law and upholding human rights in all its sectors.
Conclusion
Since the implementation in SDGs in 2016, the United Nations can boast of some tremendous changes that they have recorded. In parts of the world, especially in Asia and the Sub-Saharan, the poverty level has reduced, people health and living standards have improved. Conflicts and violence among communities and Nations have also reduced citing movement towards meeting the set goals. The United Nations are in the process of realizing their goals since they are manageable among individuals. Enough resources in terms of funds and human resources are also measure put in place to help achieve the goals. Indeed, applying J.F Kennedy’s idea of specific and achievable goals is improving the SDGs goals be met due to its manageability.