Page 4 - SDGs - An imperative for climate action
P. 4
POLICY PAPER
discussions. Similarly, climate change mitigation is exclusion, biodiversity, and reproductive health, are
driven by significant use of renewable energy among addressed insufficiently by the MDGs.
other actions, such as energy efficiency. There are
significant overlaps amongst the two global frameworks, A possible explanation for the dichotomous and
including those related to implementation activities, insufficient growth is the belief that MDGs, established
such as creation and maintenance of biodiversity, by world leaders, were the responsibility of mostly
forests, and carbon sinks; overarching principles, such one organization, the UN, and funded by multilateral
as social inclusion; and specific sector-related aspects, organizations. Where in fact the MDGs were overarching
such as impacts on poverty, water, and its sustainability; goals made to guide the world’s development agenda.
among others. Historically, the fact that the sustainable They did not comprise a plan for implementation,
development and climate change evolved separately budgetary allocation, or mapped out responsibilities.
yet in parallel while being driven by the same agency, Nations were expected to make their own in-house
that is, the United Nations, is interesting. Where plans and allocate resources. Since MDGs were top-
sustainable development is driven by integrating the down in approach, many other criticisms have been
concepts of environmental conservation and social made, including not enough representation from civil
inclusion in economic development, the climate society, unfairness of the targets to poor and African
debate was a consequence of empirical research on countries with worse baselines, no attention to reduction
weather and climate science. Both concepts look to in population, creating inequality amongst nations as
meet similar outcomes for humanity that focus on living aid reaches accessible countries first, too little
within planetary boundaries through global treaties, emphasis on environment and its interconnectedness
agreements, and agendas that provide an impetus to poverty and other goals, lack of focus on local
to implementation among nations. The post-2015 action, amongst others.
development agenda, the Paris Climate Change Treaty
and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have Besides the limitations and criticism, the world learnt
all contributed to this aim. multiple lessons from MDGs. Perhaps the biggest
lessons from the MDG era were the need to place
However, a key question is if global goals and policies emphasis on the interconnectedness of global goals;
work? The query—did MDGs make a difference—can bring in an inclusive and consultative approach in
throw some light on this. Since the MDG era recently goal creation and implementation; and incorporate
ended in 2015, they provide an excellent case for comprehensive consideration of local conditions in
examination and critique both with regards to their implementation, which the 2030 development agenda
formulation and results. has made room for and where the SDGs differ in their
approach from MDGs. The MDGs did show that a
There is a view that MDGs were just a bureaucratic clear vision and targeted international efforts through
exercise, while other views persist that global coordinated partnerships with stakeholders can work.
development aggregates are driven by China and A key lesson learnt was that effective use of data
India’s economic growth (McArthur et al. 2017). In can accelerate development. Transparency in data
1990, nearly half of the population in the developing collection, management, and reporting brings focus on
world lived on less than $1.25 a day; however, that the real problems at national and sub-national levels
proportion dropped to 14% in 2015; working middle that can inform policy.
class has tripled; sub-Saharan Africa has had record
improvement in primary education of any region since While MDGs addressed social development and
the MDGs were established, among other successes human development issues, they did not address
(UN 2015). Despite many such successes, there have climate change adequately, thereby undermining
been several challenges associated with the MDGs. The a significant variable of global change that directly
UN’s Millennium Development Goals Report, 2015, relates to the development process. MDGs overlooked
notes that progress has been uneven across regions and the accelerated impacts that climate change can have
countries, leaving significant gaps: challenges of gender on challenges of poverty and health. Perhaps a reason
inequality; differences between rich and poor and urban for inadequate inclusion of the climate debate was
and rural areas; climate change and environmental that climate change including the Kyoto Protocol was
degradation; conflict, poverty, and hunger; no access just about gaining momentum at the time MDGs were
to basic services plague development. In fact, the being conceptualized and both agendas evolved in
UN Task Team, 2012 on the post-2015 Development parallel. How SDGs address the criticisms of MDGs
Agenda has acknowledged that inequalities, social and integrating climate negotiations and action will
determine their success.
2
discussions. Similarly, climate change mitigation is exclusion, biodiversity, and reproductive health, are
driven by significant use of renewable energy among addressed insufficiently by the MDGs.
other actions, such as energy efficiency. There are
significant overlaps amongst the two global frameworks, A possible explanation for the dichotomous and
including those related to implementation activities, insufficient growth is the belief that MDGs, established
such as creation and maintenance of biodiversity, by world leaders, were the responsibility of mostly
forests, and carbon sinks; overarching principles, such one organization, the UN, and funded by multilateral
as social inclusion; and specific sector-related aspects, organizations. Where in fact the MDGs were overarching
such as impacts on poverty, water, and its sustainability; goals made to guide the world’s development agenda.
among others. Historically, the fact that the sustainable They did not comprise a plan for implementation,
development and climate change evolved separately budgetary allocation, or mapped out responsibilities.
yet in parallel while being driven by the same agency, Nations were expected to make their own in-house
that is, the United Nations, is interesting. Where plans and allocate resources. Since MDGs were top-
sustainable development is driven by integrating the down in approach, many other criticisms have been
concepts of environmental conservation and social made, including not enough representation from civil
inclusion in economic development, the climate society, unfairness of the targets to poor and African
debate was a consequence of empirical research on countries with worse baselines, no attention to reduction
weather and climate science. Both concepts look to in population, creating inequality amongst nations as
meet similar outcomes for humanity that focus on living aid reaches accessible countries first, too little
within planetary boundaries through global treaties, emphasis on environment and its interconnectedness
agreements, and agendas that provide an impetus to poverty and other goals, lack of focus on local
to implementation among nations. The post-2015 action, amongst others.
development agenda, the Paris Climate Change Treaty
and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have Besides the limitations and criticism, the world learnt
all contributed to this aim. multiple lessons from MDGs. Perhaps the biggest
lessons from the MDG era were the need to place
However, a key question is if global goals and policies emphasis on the interconnectedness of global goals;
work? The query—did MDGs make a difference—can bring in an inclusive and consultative approach in
throw some light on this. Since the MDG era recently goal creation and implementation; and incorporate
ended in 2015, they provide an excellent case for comprehensive consideration of local conditions in
examination and critique both with regards to their implementation, which the 2030 development agenda
formulation and results. has made room for and where the SDGs differ in their
approach from MDGs. The MDGs did show that a
There is a view that MDGs were just a bureaucratic clear vision and targeted international efforts through
exercise, while other views persist that global coordinated partnerships with stakeholders can work.
development aggregates are driven by China and A key lesson learnt was that effective use of data
India’s economic growth (McArthur et al. 2017). In can accelerate development. Transparency in data
1990, nearly half of the population in the developing collection, management, and reporting brings focus on
world lived on less than $1.25 a day; however, that the real problems at national and sub-national levels
proportion dropped to 14% in 2015; working middle that can inform policy.
class has tripled; sub-Saharan Africa has had record
improvement in primary education of any region since While MDGs addressed social development and
the MDGs were established, among other successes human development issues, they did not address
(UN 2015). Despite many such successes, there have climate change adequately, thereby undermining
been several challenges associated with the MDGs. The a significant variable of global change that directly
UN’s Millennium Development Goals Report, 2015, relates to the development process. MDGs overlooked
notes that progress has been uneven across regions and the accelerated impacts that climate change can have
countries, leaving significant gaps: challenges of gender on challenges of poverty and health. Perhaps a reason
inequality; differences between rich and poor and urban for inadequate inclusion of the climate debate was
and rural areas; climate change and environmental that climate change including the Kyoto Protocol was
degradation; conflict, poverty, and hunger; no access just about gaining momentum at the time MDGs were
to basic services plague development. In fact, the being conceptualized and both agendas evolved in
UN Task Team, 2012 on the post-2015 Development parallel. How SDGs address the criticisms of MDGs
Agenda has acknowledged that inequalities, social and integrating climate negotiations and action will
determine their success.
2
