On the occasion of the 70th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2015, 17 sustainable development goals i.e. UN SDG goals and 169 objectives had been adopted by the member countries.

What is Sustainable Development?

According to the report (1987) released by the Bertland Commission under the ‘World Commission on Environment and Development’ (1983) – ‘Development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising on the ability of the coming generation to meet its own needs is called Sustainable development’.

Why this name – “SDG Goals”?

Actually, the term MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) expired in 2015. This was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2000. But the targets were calculated at the 1990 level and they were valid till 2015. Under this, 8 goals and 18 targets were kept to be achieved. 

List of 17 Sustainable Development Goals aka SDG Goals

1. To end all forms the forms of poverty worldwide.
2. To end the hunger, food security and better nutrition and to promote sustainable agriculture.
3. To promote health, safety and healthy living among people of all ages.
4. To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to provide all people opportunities to learn.
5. To empower women and girls while achieving gender equality.
6. To ensure availability of sanitation and sustainable management of water for all.
7. To ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
8. To promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and better work for all.
9. To promote flexible infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
10. To reduce inequality between and within countries.
11. To build safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements.
12. To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
13. To take immediate action to tackle climate change and its effects.
14. Conservation and use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
15. To strive to prevent the increasing loss of terrestrial ecosystems, protected forests, land degradation and biodiversity that promote sustainable use.
16. To promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development as well as to make them effective, accountable at all levels to ensure justice for all.
17. In addition to revive the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Role of UNDP

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG goals) came into effect from January 1, 2016 and will remain in effect for the next 15 years under the supervision and protection of the UNDP. UNDP, the main SDG of the United Nations, will monitor the achievement of these goals in 170 countries of the world.

The main goals of UNDP will be mostly focused on eliminating poverty in these countries, promoting democratic governance, working on environmental change and disaster change and achieving economic equality etc. Government, private sector, civil society and all people will have to work together to achieve the SDG goals.

Conclusion

The main objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goals) is to eliminate poverty from the world completely and to establish social justice and complete equality in all societies. India should also work seriously to achieve these goals.

India and SDG Goals (Notes specially made for UPSC aspirants)

India has been striving to move forward on the path of sustainable development for a long time and has been incorporating its fundamental principles in its various development policies. Under the various schemes of the Government of India, priority has been given to the welfare of the poorest class for the purpose of eradicating poverty, an important goal of Agenda 2030.

Several programs being implemented by the government are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goals), including Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, National Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-both rural and urban, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Digital India, Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Skill India and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. Apart from this, programs related to infrastructure development and poverty alleviation are being promoted with higher budget allocations.

How will India’s progress be assessed?

The Central Government has entrusted the responsibility of monitoring and coordinating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goals) to NITI Aayog. The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation has been entrusted with the task of preparing the relevant national indicators.

To identify indicators from the Global List of Indicators proposed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation that can be adopted within our National Indicators Framework.

The results obtained from this will then be used in the voluntary national review process. It is worth mentioning that India will highlight its major achievements like Swachh Bharat, Financial Inclusion etc.

The government has already identified existing programs and policies that are aligned to various goals under the Sustainable Development Goals. The government has also sought suggestions from civil society for a voluntary national review. But it is not clear whether these suggestions from civil society organizations (CSOs) will be part of the government’s report. The voluntary national review process is a suitable platform for assessing the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

More progress expected by 2030

Despite remarkable efforts, India’s progress with respect to the targets set in Agenda 2030 cannot be said to be satisfactory and for this India will have to pay attention to the following points.

1. In order to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into our development policies, we have to work on several fronts to fulfill the legitimate desires of our countrymen to live a better life in harmony with the environment and our earth.
2. In fact, the role of the states in the overall success of the Sustainable Development Goals in our federal structure is very important. Various state level development schemes are being implemented in the states. These plans should be in sync with the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. The central and the state governments need to work together to meet the various challenges faced in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goals).

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