UN Sustainable Development Goals

September 25, 2020, marked the five-year anniversary of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 STGs, which make up the core of UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development, set the ambitious target of achieving a sustainable and fair future for the world by the year 2030. In the midst of the pandemic, the STGs are even more relevant today than they were when the initiative began, as the far-reaching social and economic effects of the crisis highlight the urgent need for international cooperation. To mark the fifth anniversary of the 2030 Agenda, and to raise awareness of the heightened importance of the SDGs in the post-Covid world, we will spotlight one goal each week for the next 17 weeks. For each of the 17 goals, we will report on all the work being done at Luiss related to the goal, from courses being taught to research being carried out by professors and students. With this series of articles, we hope to get the Luiss community talking about the STGs and point out the many opportunities at Luiss to get involved with sustainable development and help to bring about a better future.

Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development

The UN’s 2030 Agenda defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” According to the Agenda, this equilibrium can’t be established unless economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection are pursued in tandem—action in one area will affect outcomes in the others. Thus, the 17 goals cover a range of areas from gender equality, to sustainable industrialization and decent work, to clean oceans and the protection of biodiversity on land.

Sustainable Development and the Pandemic

            Many of the goals have been directly impacted by the pandemic. SDGs one and two (No Poverty and Zero Hunger respectively) for example, though still a long way off from being met, had at least been making progress until recently. Prior to the pandemic, the global rate of abject poverty had been in decline. Now, however, for the first time in decades, global poverty levels are spiking, in large part due to the effects of the pandemic. Similarly, SDG 10, Reduced Inequality is now very much in jeopardy, as the global health crisis has morphed into a social and economic crisis, aggravating inequality and leaving many families and individuals economically vulnerable. Goals related to green and fair economic growth and development (eg. SDGs 8 and 9—Decent Work and Economic Growth and Industry Innovation and Infrastructure) will take on a new meaning and importance as the world’s economies begin to rebuild. Overall, with respect to the 17 goals as a whole, the effects of the crisis highlight the urgent need for international cooperation and mobilization to solve the global problems that impact us all

Working together

Even before the pandemic, the targets set by the goals were highly ambitious. So creativity, knowledge, and technological innovation are needed from all sectors of society—not only government but industry, educational institutions and individual citizens.  In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres: “We need to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the future."