By Hope Imaka – EM TV Online
We’ve all heard about the term ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, but how many of us actually know what it is?
Let me begin with the low-down on what it is, how it is to be achieved, and what you can do as a PNG citizen and a global citizen to ensure they are achieved.
What are SDGs?
The SDGs are a new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years.
Is there a difference between the SDGs and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
Yes, the SDGs follow and expand on the MDGs, which were agreed by governments in 2000, and are due to expire at the end of this year.
There is broad agreement that while the MDGs provide a focal point for governments on which to centre their policies and oversease aid programmes to improve the lives of people, they have been criticised for being too narrow.
The 17 Proposed Goals
1) End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2) End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
3) Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
4) Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5) Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6) Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7) Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8) Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all
9) Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation
10) Reduce inequality within and among countries
11) Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12) Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13) Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (taking note of agreements made by the UNFCCC forum)
14) Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15) Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss
16) Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17) Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
How Can You Help?
You can help by creating AWARENESS in your communities.
You can create awareness by being an active responsible citizen; being a living example of the goals. It starts within you, and slowly changes, one person at a time.
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND by reaching out to people, including those marginalised or difficult to reach, to bring people’s voices and knowledge into collective actions. This is crucial to build ownership and localize the SDGs.
You can also help by creating PLATFORMS to disseminate information out to your communities.
Start up a campaign, advocate the different goals, pin posts on social media, or even try out fun activities that you and your friends can get involved in; others will soon see and join.
The main objective here is to ensure that there is mass movement towards achieving the SDGs.
For sure, the Government has a mammoth task ahead into tailoring its policies to suit the various different areas in PNG, but you as a global citizen have the equal responsibility to be champions of this global objective.
WORK TOGETHER | LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
