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Why would it be a humanitarian and ecological disaster to abandon SDG 8?

Goal 8 of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in September 2015, is to "promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all." It contains a sub-goal (target) of at least 7% per annum GDP per capita growth for the least developed countries.&nbsp;
Eight years after this goal's adoption, progress has been <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02807-y">limited</a>, as in the case of the other SDGs. In low-income countries, GDP per capita growth has mostly been negative since 2006 &mdash; far off from the SDG target of 7.0%. Between 2015 and 2022, GDP per capita contracted in these economies by an average of 0.6% annually. Even in high-income countries, growth remains sluggish, marked by a "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Stagnation">Great Stagnation</a>." Appropriately, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02807-y">Nature</a> concluded that for the SDGs, "A rescue mission is urgently needed."&nbsp;
Some disagree. They argue that SDG 8 should be abandoned, claiming it <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/sd.1947">contradicts</a> the environmental SDGs. While their claims are worth consideration, it is argued here that it would be a humanitarian and ecological disaster to abandon economic growth.&nbsp;
<h2>Economic growth facilitates social progress&nbsp;</h2>
By 2020, world GDP per capita was, at an <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00029-y">estimated</a> US$5400, around 5600% higher than what it was about 10,000 years before, during the Greenlandian Age &mdash; and most of the GDP growth took place only after 1800 as a result of the industrial, scientific and enlightenment <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691180960/a-culture-of-growth">revolutions</a>. As a result, humans are generally <a href="https://illuminem.com/illuminemvoices/in-defence-of-growth">better off</a> on virtually all human development indicators. Economic growth has also enabled social progress. As recently as two centuries ago, human society routinely enslaved people, subjugated women as a matter of course to the patriarchy, and considered autocratic states run by kleptocratic rulers God-given, amongst other horrors.
Growing wealth and upward social mobility enabled by exponential growth have thus profoundly improved society. As <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921800916311260">put</a> by Kaitlin Kish and Stephen Quilley, "progressive forms of state, culture and society along with scientific rationality all depend very directly upon the progressive (growth) economy." One cannot decouple economic growth from social advances.&nbsp;
<h2>Economic growth facilitates a positive-sum society</h2>
The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_Commission">Growth Commission</a>, chaired by Nobel Laureate Michael Spence, <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/df194a38-cb6f-5553-8fd8-e48a8a7c9574/content">warned</a> against a zero-sum economy: "If an economy fails to grow, man's efforts to better himself become a scramble for a bigger share of a fixed amount of resources. Ecological stress quickly becomes social and political. "Similarly, physicist Tom Murphy has stressed that in the absence of economic growth, we risk our social progress, <a href="https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2015/09/you-call-this-progress/">stating </a>that "If our 21st Century standard of living peaks [&hellip;] then we may not have the luxury of viewing our social progress as an irreversible ratchet."&nbsp;
In a zero-sum economy, the trust and cooperation required to overcome the enormous <a href="https://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2022/09/23/climate-change-as-a-collective-action-problem/#:~:text=Acting%20on%20climate%20change%20is,a%20suboptimal%20path%20is%20taken.">collective action problem</a> that climate change poses, would evaporate like mist before a hot sun.&nbsp;
<h2>The quality of economic growth&nbsp;</h2>
It is undoubtedly the case that exponential growth over two centuries is threatening an ecological <a href="https://www.resilience.org/stories/2023-01-11/william-e-rees-the-fundamental-issue-overshoot/">overshoot</a>, which may lead to societal collapse and a "<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2020.615419/full">ghastly future</a>." This should be taken seriously. There is indeed much that is dysfunctional about the global economy and the quality of some of the economic growth it has generated. This does not necessarily, however, imply that we should scrap economic growth and SDG 8 altogether; those who argue as such misunderstand economic growth.&nbsp;
One mistake is to equate economic growth invariably with extraction. According to <a href="https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/Steven-Pinker/dp/0525427570">Steven Pinker</a>, it is wrong "to think that people need resources' in the first place. They need ways of growing food, moving around, lighting their homes, displaying information, and other sources of well-being. They satisfy these needs with ideas: with recipes [&hellip;] for manipulating the physical world to give them what they want."&nbsp;
Put <a href="https://longnow.org/ideas/can-economic-growth-continue-over-the-long-term/">another</a> way, "there's really no such thing as a natural resource. All resources are artificial. They are a product of technology," <a href="https://rootsofprogress.org/there-are-no-natural-resources?ref=longnow.org">and</a> moreover, "everything that nature gives us is in a highly inconvenient form [&hellip;] Through effort and ingenuity we make natural materials and energy into what we need."&nbsp;
The quality of economic growth &mdash; and of the ideas that drive it &mdash; is ultimately what matters. Hence, a fundamental <a href="https://degrowth.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Schwartzman-a-critique-of-degrowth-and-its-politics.pdf">criticism</a> of the degrowth movement, which <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/un-sustainable-development-failure-b2088465.html">opposes</a> the SDGs, is that it "fails to come to terms with qualitative versus quantitative aspects of economic growth [&hellip;] [it] lumps all growth into a homogenous outcome."&nbsp;
In this context, it is understandable that rather than reject economic growth, Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, economist Nicolas Stern and co-authors <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1350178X.2022.2040740">recently called</a> for:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;a new, cleaner, more efficient and more attractive form of growth, with better health and less pollution, in which case the apparent &lsquo;costs of action&rsquo; may turn out to be negative [&hellip;.] The successes in innovation in the past decade suggest this optimistic scenario may not only be a possibility but perhaps a probability.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h2>Phase shifts to new modes of economic growth</h2>
Over the course of modern humans' 300,000-year existence, different modes of economic growth can be discerned: that of the forager society, of the farming society, and the present industrial society. As Robin Hanson <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-age-of-em-9780198817826?cc=nl&amp;lang=en&amp;">pointed</a> out, each successive society was marked by a qualitatively different mode of economic growth significantly different from that which preceded it. Each experienced faster growth and had a shorter duration. One may <a href="https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/16139/melancholy-hues-the-futility-of-green-growth-and-degrowth-and-the-inevitability-of-societal-collapse">argue</a> that the current industrial society is in a phase-transition towards a post-industrial society, with its own unique mode of economic growth, which will be as different from the current mode of ecologically overshooting growth as the industrial society's growth was different from that of foragers.&nbsp;
Hanson <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-age-of-em-9780198817826?cc=nl&amp;lang=en&amp;">presents</a> a perspective of an eventual post-industrial society where economic growth is so fast that the world economy could double every month - compared to the 35 years it currently takes. It will ultimately not be possible to grow this fast for very long unless humanity expands into the galaxy. If such growth is achieved by energy use that grows at only 2.3% p.a., then the economy would <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-022-01652-6">use up</a> all the solar power that reaches the earth in 400 years and, after 1700 years, all the sun's energy.
One cannot imagine how a post-industrial mode of growth will eventually look or come about or how long it will last - just as foragers or pastoralists in centuries past would never have imagined that their descendants would come to depend on a collective intelligence known as the Internet. The problem with predicting future economic growth, material footprints and carbon emissions is that <a href="https://medium.com/@oliverwaters_76079/the-strange-necessity-of-infinite-economic-growth-ebc2e505cdf1">future knowledge</a> and technology <a href="https://www.mattridley.co.uk/blog/the-evolution-of-technology/">cannot</a> be predicted. No one predicted the wheel.
However, it is known that in each transition, the dynamics of energy, population and ideas influenced growth trajectories and limits. For instance, food, urbanisation, and transport technology influenced the forager-agriculturalist transition and pathway, as fossil fuels, population growth and knowledge influenced the transition to and features of the industrial society.&nbsp;
Today, the secular declines in economic growth that have been experienced in advanced economies since the 1970s reflect that energy, population, and ideas as engines of economic growth are facing headwinds. <a href="https://blog.gorozen.com/blog/the-permian-basin">Peak oil</a>, declining <a href="https://web.stanford.edu/~chadj/emptyplanet.pdf">population</a> growth and the specter of an <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545397/empty-planet-by-darrell-bricker-and-john-ibbitson/">empty planet</a>, and "<a href="https://web.stanford.edu/~chadj/IdeaPF.pdf">ideas getting harder to find</a>" are making it more and more challenging to sustain the type of economic growth the world has experienced. This suggests that a post-industrial mode of economic growth will not depend on fossil fuels or an expanding population and will be increasingly dependent on innovations in methods of innovation - such as <a href="https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/15713/the-future-economics-of-artificial-intelligence-mythical-agents-a-singleton-and-the-dark-forest">artificial intelligence</a> (AI), for example (one reason it is important not to stifle progress in AI, as many are proposing). It will not be a stationary (post-growth) society &mdash; just like the end of the farming society was not followed by a stationary mode but by an acceleration.&nbsp;
History teaches that the phase transitions between growth modes have been tumultuous (one such has been called the "dark ages"), partly because of uncertainty and oscillations in economic outcomes in between transitions. A significant challenge in the coming decades would be to minimise these oscillations by maintaining some semblance of economic growth. Failing, or worse, self-inflicting degrowth in such a world, will <a href="https://medium.com/@wimnaude/the-degrowth-movement-ecological-iatrogenics-6a7c2a54cf1b">worsen</a> matters. Innovation &mdash; finding new ideas to mitigate and adapt to climate change and ease the phase shift &mdash; requires economic growth. The bottom line is that &ldquo;shrinking economies <a href="https://www.overcomingbias.com/p/shrinking-economies-dont-innovate">don't</a> innovate."&nbsp;
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
The failure to make progress on SDG 8 is disastrous from both a human development and environmental perspective. A rescue mission is urgently needed to stretch out and share the age of industrial growth and buy time to support the science, technology, and entrepreneurship &mdash; the ideas and recipes &mdash; to continue pursuing the worthwhile goals around which the world united in 2015.
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illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
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Wim Naudé

Economic growth on a finite planet: should SDG 8 be rescued? 

Achieving the goals of SDG 9 by 2030 clearly presents a steep uphill challenge fraught with known and unknown global, regional, and local trends and megatrends, risks, and opportunities

Andrea

<h2>Introduction</h2>
The nexus between effective leadership, innovation and resilience, and progress on SDG 9 (which focuses on &ldquo;industry, innovation and infrastructure&rdquo;) could not be more important.&nbsp;
Why? Because we are living in turbulent times in which leaders must navigate a much more <a href="https://bit.ly/3CbTsH7">chaotic landscape than perhaps we have ever faced as a globe before</a> because:
<ol>
<li>Climate disasters are rising dramatically with extreme social and biodiversity reverberations and impacts.</li>
<li>Global geopolitical tectonic shifts are accelerating and impacting everything we do &ndash; from the Ukraine War to US/China relations and from international trade to supply chain management.</li>
<li>Internal democratic political polarization which is worsening in significant portions of the democratic world (the US, several EU nations, and several younger at-risk democracies) affects the ability to get important things done; and</li>
<li>The future of capitalism continues to evolve into something quite different from shareholder primacy to multi-stakeholder pressures and engagement as well as a focus on circular economy and regeneration.</li>
</ol>
Add to those trends the opening up of Pandora&rsquo;s box of tech innovation via the likes of generative AI (and in the future, quantum, and other technologies) and we have a turbocharged environment with deep, unexpected, and even existential risks. But we have the opposite as well: deep, unexpected, life-changing opportunities.
And that&rsquo;s where SDG 9 comes in. Let&rsquo;s turn to understanding where we are on this SDG first and then to some themes and actions that leaders should consider to accelerate progress against the 2030 SDGs.
<h2>Level-setting on SDG 9</h2>
<h3>What is SDG 9?</h3>
Let&rsquo;s start by level-setting on what Sustainable Development Goal 9 is - SDG 9 is known as &ldquo;Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure&rdquo;. Its longer definition is to &ldquo;build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation&rdquo;. We will look at each of these elements below but first, let&rsquo;s look at how the UN and other key players and partners measure progress on SDG #9.
<h3>How does SDG #9 get measured?</h3>
As the Table below shows, SDG #9 consists of eight targets and 12 indicators associated with the targets. The first five targets are &ldquo;outcome&rdquo; targets and the next three are &ldquo;implementation&rdquo; targets.&nbsp;
Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 1104px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; text-align: center; height: 24px;">Eight targets</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; text-align: center; height: 24px;">12 indicators</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 24px;" colspan="2">Outcome targets</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 141px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 141px;">1. Develop sustainable resilient and inclusive infrastructures</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 141px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road"</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport&rdquo; &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 141px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 141px;">2. Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 141px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita"</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment"</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 141px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 141px;">3. Increase access to financial services and markets</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 141px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value-added"</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit"</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 141px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 141px;">4. Upgrade all industries and infrastructure for sustainability</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 141px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value-added"</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit"</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 141px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 141px;">5. Enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 141px;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" aria-level="1">"Number of Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants"</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center; height: 24px;" colspan="2">Implementation targets</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 117px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 117px;">6. Facilitate sustainable infrastructure development for developing countries</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 117px;">
<ul>
<li>"Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure".</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 93px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 93px;">7. Support domestic technology development and industrial diversification&nbsp;</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 93px;">
<ul>
<li>"Proportion of medium and high-tech value added in total value added"</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 93px;">
<td style="width: 50.0678%; height: 93px;">8. Universal access to information and communications technology</td>
<td style="width: 49.9322%; height: 93px;">
<ul>
<li>"Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>The 2022 SDG 9 report &ndash; results and takeaways</h2>
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://illuminem.b-cdn.net/articlebody/53be7f6144c8b84573a2625d1ee1e0edd02559c3.jpg?" alt="SDG 9 infographic" />Source: United Nations
<a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2309739_E_SDG_2023_infographics-9-9.pdf">In its 2023 SDG Report, the UN underscored the following key themes regarding SDG #9:</a>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">On the global manufacturing front:</li>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Growth slowed from 7.4% in 2021 to 3.3% in 2022</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">With the causes identified as inflation, energy price shocks, supply chain disruptions and global economic deceleration</li>
</ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">On the energy-related CO2 emissions, despite all the talk and some action, the globe reached a record high of 36.8 billion metric tons in 2022</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">On manufacturing value as a percent of GDP, less developed countries are unlikely to meet their 2030 target of 24.2%. In 2015, manufacturing as the actual percent of GDP was 12.1% and in 2022 (estimated) it was 14.0 which is proportionately much lower than what is needed to achieve the 2030 targeted 24.2%.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Regionally, medium-high and high-technology grew strongly in some regions (in Europe and North America at a rate of 47.7% of manufacturing as a percent of GDP and in East Asia at 47.1%) but not so much in less developed regions like Sub-Saharan Africa where it grew at only 21.7%.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">95% of the world has mobile broadband access but when it comes to coverage Sub Saharan Africa only has 82% coverage and Oceania 68%.</li>
</ul>
These 2022 outcomes show several significant takeaways from SDG 9 throughout this year:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">There has been a hit to global prosperity coming from a variety of global megatrends &ndash; from climate to war which will make a smooth road to 2030 even harder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">There is a significant disparity between the developed and developing world on manufacturing as a component of GDP and it&rsquo;s very unlikely that the 24.2% target will be achieved by 2030.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Energy-related emissions are far from being on target and at alarming levels if we are to stick to 1.5C degrees.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">On innovation and technology, to put it bluntly &ndash; the rich are getting richer and the poor while making some improvements continue to struggle heartily </li>
</ol>
The bottom line is this: there is a serious gap between where we are and where SDG 9 needs to be at this halfway point looking toward 2030.&nbsp;
The next section of this article provides some ideas on how business, government and social leaders can make progress on all things industry, innovation, and infrastructure over the next 6 years despite these heavy headwinds.
<h2>SDG 9 2030 leadership blueprint</h2>
If we look at the three components of SDG 9 more closely, we can see that the UN and its partners mean it to be about more than just economic progress. Indeed, it is about:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial leadership</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How to spark and integrate innovation&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How to build resilience</li>
</ol>
Below I offer my take on things we can do as leaders &ndash; whether governmental, business, or social &ndash; to move forward on these goals in a time of turbulence:
<h3>Promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial leadership</h3>
This starts with leadership itself. In each of our businesses, in each of our social or communal organizations, at each of our political levels &ndash; local, state, regional, national, and international &ndash; we, as stakeholders, need to focus harder and faster on choosing the right people to lead us &ndash; people who:
 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Are emotionally intelligent</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Understand the current global and local challenges</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Know who their key stakeholders are and engage them</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Choose a diverse and inclusive leadership team</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deploy performance metrics tied to relevant SDGs from the very top of the organization throughout all of its corners</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sparking and integrating innovation</h3>
Each business needs to understand that they are a technology company &ndash; whether they think they are or not &ndash; and act accordingly. To wit:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Every business from SMEs to the largest multinationals incorporates a lesser or greater degree of responsible technology &ndash; those that don&rsquo;t pay attention to the world around them and the fact that tech infuses everything we do will lose (market share, competitiveness, social impact). Those that develop thoughtful responsible tech will gain stakeholder respect and usage.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Every government must create strong incentives for tech innovation while providing the regulatory guardrails needed to protect the public and the vulnerable.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Society and community leaders &ndash; like academics, NGOs and think tanks &ndash; need to keep helping us understand the risks and the opportunities of new tech by deploying important data-driven studies and analyses to help us make the right decisions.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Building organizational resilience</h3>
I will conclude with an exhortation to leaders of organizations &ndash; public, private, and social &ndash; to build inner organizational resilience. This means getting your own house in order to survive and thrive in our turbulent times. I have researched, written, and practiced extensively on this subject, and am pleased to offer the following model of the &ldquo;Virtuous organizational resilience lifecycle&rdquo; which contains 8 key components, one supporting the other, and the 3 most important and foundational ones being:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lean-in governance and leadership</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Empowering a culture of integrity</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stakeholder emotional intelligence</li>
</ul>
Below is a graphic from Gloom to Boom: How Leaders Transform Risk into Resilience and Value (Routledge 2020) that describes the Virtuous Resilience Lifecycle components and key actors that make it possible within an organization.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://illuminem.b-cdn.net/articlebody/ac9835c53bf0d64baa85ee21868fa413dd65c85d.png?" alt="The virtuous resilience lifecycle" />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2B52sxX">Source: Gloom to Boom: How Leaders Transform Risk into Resilience and Value (Routledge 2020)</a>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Achieving the goals of SDG 9 by 2030 clearly presents a steep uphill challenge fraught with known and unknown global, regional, and local trends and megatrends, risks, and opportunities.
Just because something is difficult shouldn&rsquo;t stop us from attacking it smartly, consistently, in a whole of society, all-hands-on-deck manner.&nbsp;
There will always be naysayers and bad players, but it always does take a global village to get important things done. Now more than ever. Those of us with our sleeves already rolled up should recruit others to act accordingly and march forward together post haste to save this planet, an action at a time, and many actions knitted together over time.
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illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
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Andrea Bonime-Blanc

Deploying SDG 9 despite the headwinds: a leadership blueprint to resilience in chaotic times

SDG 10, aimed at reducing inequality within and among countries, is among the poorest-performing goals — how can we address that?

Galit

In the 2023 <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2023/sustainable-development-report-2023.pdf">Sustainable Development Report</a>, which assesses global progress on sustainable development goals, it's noted that progress has stagnated worldwide since COVID-19. SDG 10, aimed at reducing inequality within and among countries, has been particularly challenging. UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres highlighted in his <a href="https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21776.doc.htm">2023 SDG Progress Report</a> that SDG 10 is among the poorest-performing goals, stressing how astonishing it is that 26 individuals hold the same wealth as half the world's population. This is in line with the 2022 <a href="https://wid.world/document/world-inequality-report-2022/">World Inequality Report</a>, which revealed that in 2021, the poorest 50% of the global population owned just 2% of total global wealth, while the middle 40% owned 22%, and the richest 10% held a substantial 76%, as illustrated in the following figure created by <a href="https://devinit.org/037c41#49dc0860">Development Initiatives</a>.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://illuminem.b-cdn.net/articlebody/bbfc251a6b4b8a6e4c8ce995eef7dbf6d3540e0c.png?" alt="he poorest 50% of people own just 2% of wealth" />Source: <a href="https://devinit.org/037c41#49dc0860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Development Initiatives</a>
The challenges facing progress on SDG 10 are not surprising, given its complex targets covering income growth, social inclusion, equal opportunities, policy adoption, financial market regulation, representation, migration, development assistance, and remittance costs. These goals aim to promote prosperity, inclusivity, social protection, equal opportunities, and discrimination eradication. Nevertheless, many parts of the world are witnessing a widening income gap between the rich and the poor. Disproportionate wealth allocation and external factors like armed conflicts and natural disasters primarily <a href="https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/sustainable-development-goals/why-do-sustainable-development-goals-matter/goal-10">impact the most vulnerable</a> groups, worsening existing inequalities within and among countries.
<h2>Addressing inequality is intrinsically linked to and dependent on the achievement of several other SDGs</h2>
One of the biggest problems hindering progress with SDG 10 is the fact that the reduction of inequality requires advancement in several other SDGs, which are either directly or indirectly linked to reducing inequality. For instance, advancing education access can redistribute wealth among people and advancing healthcare access by providing affordable and accessible healthcare services can reduce economic inequality as well. 
Conversely, a lack of progress in reducing inequality can impede overall sustainable development efforts. Persistent inequality in poverty-stricken regions, for instance, makes eradicating poverty challenging. SDG 10 is essential for achieving multiple other goals, including reducing hunger, improving health, enhancing education access, promoting gender equality, creating decent work opportunities, and fostering peace. Moreover, addressing inequality is intertwined with climate action, as policymakers striving to meet GHG emission targets may inadvertently overlook the marginalized, contradicting the "leave no one behind" principle. This is why approaches such as carbon markets or carbon taxes should prioritize both environmental outcomes and inequality mitigation. Failing to develop them in tandem can hinder progress on SDG 10.
<h2>Elevated interest rates can further delay progress in reducing inequalities among and within countries</h2>
Another obstacle to SDG 10's progress in the foreseeable future is the current high-interest rate environment, impacting individuals, businesses, and countries. <a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/economic-bulletin/articles/2021/html/ecb.ebart202102_01~1773181511.en.html">Elevated interest rates</a> can compound inequality by increasing mortgage and borrowing costs, disproportionately affecting those with limited credit access or weaker creditworthiness, exacerbating financial inclusion challenges. Conversely, wealthier individuals benefit from high-interest rates, as they can save and invest, leading to increased wealth accumulation and greater wealth disparities among the population.
So, what should be done? Besides stating the obvious, like promoting gender equality, creating social protection programs, implementing fair tax policies, supporting marginalized groups and so forth, there are three macro issues that I would stress in this dynamic world.&nbsp;
First and foremost, it's crucial to acknowledge the interconnected nature of the various SDGs, including SDG 10. Operating in isolation, or "working in silos," is counterproductive for addressing any of the SDGs, but this is especially true for SDG 10. When discussing these silos, it's essential to integrate two other significant frameworks established in 2015 into strategies for combating inequality as addressing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in isolation from the other two can also be seen as a form of working within a silo.
<h2>Efforts to combat inequality should be undertaken in a holistic manner, considering the 2030 Agenda alongside the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement</h2>
As the frequency and intensity of natural disasters are projected to increase, and disasters are known to exacerbate existing inequalities by disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, it is imperative to also address the <a href="https://www.undrr.org/publication/sendai-framework-disaster-risk-reduction-2015-2030">Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction</a> 2015-2030 in conjunction with SDG 10. The third framework, the <a href="https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf">Paris Agreement</a>, recognizes the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and incorporates the issue of human rights into its preamble. All three of these frameworks were established in 2015 by the United Nations with a 2030 target year in mind. They each contribute to the reduction of inequality through various approaches though the global community, currently, is falling behind in reducing inequalities within all three frameworks.
While there are synergies among the frameworks, practitioners and the public often focus on one at a time when discussing specific goals like reducing inequality. This siloed approach needs to change, given the interconnected nature of these frameworks. We must promote collaboration, partnerships, and cross-cutting practical initiatives to integrate climate action, disaster risk reduction, and inequality reduction for comprehensive and sustainable solutions.
The second critical issue is the insufficient data on inequality and its indicators in various global regions. The <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2023/sustainable-development-report-2023.pdf">Sustainable Development Report 2023</a> highlights a severe data gap in countries concerning inequality indicators. This lack of monitoring and accountability hinders progress tracking and gap identification. Effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms are essential for reducing inequalities, as it's impossible to address the issue without understanding its scope. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) alongside traditional methods can help address this data gap.
<h2>AI may worsen inequalities but can also aid data collection and SDG 10 efforts</h2>
AI plays a dual role in addressing inequalities, with governments needing to consider its impact on employment and its potential to reduce disparities. A Nature <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-14108-y">study</a> examined AI's role in achieving the SDGs and found that while it can contribute to inequality, it can also be harnessed to identify and alleviate sources of inequality. AI can create <a href="https://hellofuture.orange.com/en/how-ai-can-help-reduce-inequalities/">equitable algorithms</a> for various applications or as <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/12/2/artificial-intelligence-must-not-exacerbate-inequality-further">Gabriela Ramos</a> from UNESCO suggests, enhance access to public services, such as microfinance, healthcare, and remote learning, particularly in developing countries, thus driving development. AI's ability to collect, analyze, and leverage data can be a powerful tool in addressing the challenges outlined in SDG 10.
Thirdly, there's a pressing need to reform the global macroeconomic system to properly advance issues other than economic growth. This involves shifting away from solely prioritizing GDP growth and adopting more holistic well-being measures like the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.013.776">Genuine Progress Indicator</a> (GPI) or the <a href="https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI">Human Development Index</a> (HDI), which accounts for health, education, and income distribution, highlighting inequality and poverty. Where possible, leapfrogging from underdevelopment to sustainable, equitable growth should be the preferred approach. Additionally, addressing various other macroeconomic issues can help reduce global inequalities.
For instance, climate change is set to alter wealth distribution by reducing the significance of fossil fuels while creating new opportunities through climate regulations and technology. To counteract resulting inequalities, governments should adopt measures such as wealth redistribution, progressive taxes, and strong social safety nets. Without these actions, and in a world that primarily values GDP-driven growth, vulnerable communities may remain mired in poverty, impeding progress toward meeting the targets of SDG 10.
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Galit Palzur

What should be done to address one of the worst performing SDGs?

How energy and innovation come together under the banner of SDG 7 as key players in the fight against climate change

Riad

As we reach the halfway mark towards the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the significance of &lsquo;energy&rsquo; as the cornerstone to facing the challenges and opportunities that we face today cannot be overstated. From poverty eradication to gender equality, climate change adaptation to food security, quality healthcare and education access to sustainable urban development, job creation to transportation systems improvement, energy is a catalytic actor in achieving all 17 SDGs. Yet, beneath the &lsquo;energy promise&rsquo; lies the challenges of inclusivity, management, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability. With the intersection of growing energy demands and mounting climate change and environmental concerns, there is a clear and urgent call for making energy cleaner, equitable and inclusive. In this transformative journey, digitalization emerges as a key enabler.&nbsp;
Digitalization holds the potential to accelerate the decarbonization efforts of high-emitting industries, including the energy sector, which contributed a significant <a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2022/05/digital-tech-can-reduce-emissions-by-up-to-20-in-high-emitting-industries/">43% of global emissions in 2020</a>. By 2050, it is estimated that this integration could lead to a remarkable <a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2022/05/digital-tech-can-reduce-emissions-by-up-to-20-in-high-emitting-industries/">20% reduction in emissions within the power sector</a>. Moreover, if we fast-track the adoption of digitalization, the energy sector could realize immediate benefits, achieving <a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2022/05/digital-tech-can-reduce-emissions-by-up-to-20-in-high-emitting-industries/">emission abatement rates ranging from 4% to 10%</a>.
The term 'digital' is evolving into a disruptive force throughout the entire energy value chain, spanning from production and transportation to distribution, supply, and consumption. From the cutting-edge realm of high technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to the more modest domain of frugality like 3D printed sensors, the digital revolution offers a range of potent tools. These tools hold the capacity to transform the energy landscape, fostering greater sustainability and resilience. However, unlocking this potential requires a crucial synergy: the seamless integration of energy governance and digital solutions. Achieving this integration requires careful consideration of the energy value chain to identify ways in which digital technologies can influence and enhance it.
<h2>Catalyzing energy access and transition&nbsp;</h2>
Increasing the share of renewable energy in our energy mix is critical, as it represents the key to expanding energy access for the estimated <a href="https://www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jun/Tracking-SDG7-2023">675 million people still without electricity</a>, all while maintaining low emissions. The decentralization of energy systems, especially in remote and rural regions, is crucial in achieving universal energy access, and digital technologies are instrumental in this endeavor. Take renewable energy <a href="https://www.rifs-potsdam.de/sites/default/files/2019-08/2019_Mini-grids%20and%20digital%20technologies_IASS_Study.pdf">minigrids</a>, for instance, which are small-scale generators, powered by solar, wind or hydro, operated independently from the national transmission grid. They can effectively deliver dependable electricity to rural communities and businesses. Optimizing the use of digital technologies can improve the entire process of their deployment, including but not limited to planning, designing, financing, operating, maintaining, and managing. On the other hand, energy can also empower digital advancements. A prominent example is the <a href="https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/M4D_Case_Study_Cellcard_Cambodia_Solar_Power_2018.pdf">Cambodian operator Cellcard,</a> which leveraged solar energy to reduce the cost of extending mobile coverage into rural areas, highlighting a symbiotic relationship between energy and digital technologies.&nbsp;
Further, digitalization proves invaluable in the planning and design phases of energy projects. Geospatial tools harness satellite and spatial data to pinpoint ideal locations for electrification projects. This allows for precise determination of areas currently served by the national grid and those in need of decentralized energy systems. For example, Kenya is utilizing a geospatial tool called <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/energy-access-explorer">Energy Access Explorer</a> to support integrated energy planning in <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/integrated-energy-access-plans-kenya">Kitui and Narok counties</a> to optimize grid extension and distributed renewable energy strategies.&nbsp;
Digital technologies can help in energy financing by enhancing transparency in project development and assessment processes, subsequently reducing investment risks for external entities. <a href="https://www.unescap.org/blog/blockchains-role-energy-transition-improving-renewable-energy-adoption-through-distributed">Blockchain technology</a>, with its inherent transparency and security features, is a game-changer in supporting and financing equitable energy access. It enables peer-to-peer energy trading and decentralized energy markets, empowering consumers and energy producers alike. Start-ups like <a href="https://www.blockdata.tech/profiles/wepower">WePower</a> and <a href="https://greenenergylab.at/en/projects/blockchain-grid/">Green Energy Lab</a> exemplify this concept by enabling direct energy sales from producers to consumers. Similarly, platforms like <a href="https://thesunexchange.com/">Sun Exchange</a> and <a href="https://solarcoin.org/">SolarCoin</a> offer opportunities for investment in solar projects, demonstrating the possibilities to revolutionize how we fund and sustain energy access projects.
Indeed, it is not limited to high-end technologies alone; we are also witnessing other innovative business models emerging to enhance energy access. One such innovation is the <a href="https://fosera.com/paygo">Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG)</a> system, a plug-and-play off-grid solar solution that eliminates the upfront cost barrier associated with Solar Home Systems (SHS). With this approach, end-users can pay for energy gradually through a simple top-up payment structure, like how mobile phone plans operate. Besides, new financing mechanisms like crowdfunding through online platforms such as <a href="https://www.bettervest.com/en">Bettervest</a>, <a href="https://ecoligo.com/en/">Ecoligo</a>, <a href="https://crowdfund4solar.com/">Crowdfund for Solar,</a> or <a href="https://www.crowd4climate.org/">Crowd4Climate</a> have emerged, providing a financial model to support the initial costs of sustainable energy projects.
<h2>Enhancing energy efficiency</h2>
At a time when global cooling demands increase amidst record temperatures, heatwaves and wildfires, energy efficiency becomes important now more than ever. Recognizing that a significant <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikehughes1/2020/12/23/digital-transformation-the-key-to-tackling-climate-change/?sh=791dd2b15bb7">60% of energy management remains inefficient</a>, the potential for enhancing energy efficiency through digitalization is enormous.&nbsp;
Digital technologies can play a key role in the operation, maintenance, and management of energy systems, ushering in a new era of efficiency and effectiveness. One crucial advancement is the deployment of <a href="https://vnt.in/blogs/what-is-a-remote-monitoring-system">Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS)</a>, providing real-time remote monitoring of critical parameters, such as battery status and the performance of generation systems. In addition, the <a href="https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/tech-enablers-series/part-3">Internet of Things (IoT) sensors</a> play a useful role by continuously monitoring weather conditions and optimizing renewable energy production. This is particularly valuable in addressing the inherent intermittency challenges associated with solar and wind energy production. Innovative technologies, such as <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/04/27/2655805/0/en/Rising-Use-of-drones-in-the-energy-sector.html">drones</a>, have also found their niche in the energy sector, which are employed to inspect onshore and offshore assets like solar panels and wind turbines, efficiently detecting and mitigating damage, thus ensuring optimal energy production. <a href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Harnessing_AI_to_accelerate_the_Energy_Transition_2021.pdf">Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning</a> processes are now being leveraged to forecast equipment failures and automate maintenance tasks.&nbsp;
Energy system flexibility, enabled by digital technologies, is a key solution to address supply and demand challenges in achieving net-zero goals. It offers substantial benefits, including cost savings, reduced network expenses, increased utilization of existing generation capacity, and enhanced security and reliability of the energy system.&nbsp;<a href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Harnessing_AI_to_accelerate_the_Energy_Transition_2021.pdf">AI</a> is valuable in predicting energy demand and forecasting energy supply sources, especially in regions with weak grids and limited capacity for energy storage, enabling better integration of renewable energy sources with the grid and ensuring grid stability. The distribution grid, which has become increasingly complex due to dynamic and multidirectional power flows, presents unique challenges to grid operators. The introduction of various assets, including those that generate surplus power (e.g., solar installations) and those that experience sudden spikes in energy consumption (e.g., fast electric vehicle charging), further exacerbates these challenges. <a href="https://www.iea.org/energy-system/electricity/smart-grids">Smart grid technologies</a> can address these by allowing grid operators to closely monitor energy flow and optimize electricity management, leading to reduced energy wastage and improved power reliability for consumers, enhancing energy resilience.
Further, digital technologies offer both businesses and consumers valuable tools for enhancing energy efficiency through monitoring and control of energy consumption. Smart thermostats, energy management systems, and intelligent household appliances are some examples of such tools, which can schedule operations during low energy demand periods or when renewable energy is abundant. By embracing digital transformation, there is a potential reduction in electricity consumption and intensity, thus contributing to overall <a href="https://www.iea.org/articles/energy-efficiency-and-digitalisation">energy efficiency</a>.
While these solutions provide a new way to <a href="https://www.rifs-potsdam.de/sites/default/files/2019-08/2019_Mini-grids%20and%20digital%20technologies_IASS_Study.pdf">connect digital, financial, and social assets,</a> there are some limitations to consider. For example, crowdfunding might not completely solve long-term financial issues, such as closing the gap between a project's actual costs and the customer's financial capacity. Similarly, blockchain technology often faces obstacles due to a lack of confidence from regulatory bodies and funding agencies, making it a largely untested mechanism. Incorporating digital technologies into the energy sector can also bring about the possibility of cyberattacks, which may undermine the reliability and security of the energy system. Moreover, the proliferation of more devices and data servers to handle the information generated by these technologies could potentially result in <a href="https://resources.environment.yale.edu/gillingham/GillinghamRapsonWagner_Rebound.pdf">substantial net increases in energy usage.</a> Therefore, there is a need for careful assessment of the limitations to ensure a responsible adoption of digital innovations in the energy sector.&nbsp;
The convergence of energy and digital technologies is a powerful phenomenon, reshaping our global landscape. The mutual influence, as demonstrated by digital's impact on the energy value chain and energy's enabling role for digital expansion, serves as a catalyst for sustainable development. The key to realizing the SDGs hinges on our ability to harness this symbiosis, unlocking their collective potential for a more sustainable and equitable future. In this synergy, we can find the blueprint for a resilient world, where the promise of the SDGs can transform into a tangible reality.
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illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
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Riad Meddeb

Achieving SDG 7 in the digital age 

While SDG 5 was intended to be a beacon of progress, its effectiveness has been hampered by a stark reality: the prevailing patriarchal systems that govern our world remain largely unchallenged

Susana

The failure of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) to achieve its intended impact is emblematic of the persistent challenges in dismantling deeply ingrained gender inequalities. While SDG 5 sought to address gender discrimination and empower women and girls globally, its implementation has been hindered by the endurance of patriarchal norms and systems that remain resistant to change. Despite its promise of transformation, SDG 5 has struggled to catalyze meaningful shifts in societal attitudes and power structures. The goal's limited focus on standalone initiatives and legislative changes often overlooks the intricate web of cultural, economic, and social factors that perpetuate gender disparities. As a result, the systemic transformation required to uproot gender inequality has proven elusive, and the failure of SDG 5 underscores the urgency of confronting and dismantling the deeply entrenched patriarchal systems that persist in stifling progress.
<h2>Criticism of the SDGs</h2>
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been criticized for their disconnected and reductionist approach, which fails to address the intricate web of interdependencies that underlie global challenges. The reduction of complex issues to a checklist of isolated goals oversimplifies the realities faced by societies worldwide. This reductionism overlooks the systemic nature of problems such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. By compartmentalizing these issues into separate categories, the SDGs neglect the fundamental truth that they are often deeply intertwined and cannot be effectively tackled in isolation.
Furthermore, the outcomes of the SDGs echo a larger narrative of disappointment in the face of entrenched patriarchal and colonial structures. The origins of these goals are rooted in a global system that has historically favored the interests of powerful nations and perpetuated inequalities. The very structures that gave rise to the SDGs are the ones that continue to uphold a status quo where power imbalances persist, and marginalized communities are further marginalized. The top-down approach taken in crafting the goals often ignores the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of those most affected by these challenges, perpetuating a cycle of paternalistic intervention that fails to foster genuine empowerment and equitable development.
In essence, the SDGs, despite their well-intentioned aims, have fallen short due to their inability to address the complex interplay of historical, cultural, and social factors that underlie the issues they seek to address.&nbsp;
<h2>Fixing the approach</h2>
To truly effect transformative change, it is essential to recognize and challenge the deep-seated systems of power and privilege that continue to shape our world. Without such introspection and a commitment to dismantling these structures, the SDGs are proven to be yet another testament to the inadequacies of a system that has, for too long, perpetuated injustice and inequality.
While SDG 5 was intended to be a beacon of progress, its effectiveness has been hampered by a stark reality: the prevailing patriarchal systems that govern our world remain largely unchallenged. These systems perpetuate a power imbalance that has allowed for the continuation of inequalities, both between genders and within societies.&nbsp;
Moreover, the broader context of environmental degradation and planetary devastation cannot be separated from the conversation about SDG 5. The exploitation of nature and the subjugation of women are intertwined in a destructive dance that reflects the very foundations of a system built upon greed, arrogance, and ignorance. The disregard for the environment is mirrored in the disregard for the rights and well-being of women and marginalized communities. This interconnectedness underscores the need for systemic change that goes beyond isolated goals like SDG 5.
It's clear that real change requires more than token gestures and superficial policy shifts. It demands a fundamental reevaluation of our societal values and structures. The silent compliance with outdated norms and the failure to challenge the status quo has only perpetuated the cycle of inequality and environmental harm. To truly address the failures of SDG 5, we must confront the root causes that sustain these oppressive systems.
<h2>The challenges ahead</h2>
The ongoing struggle against these systems is not without its challenges. Overcoming entrenched power dynamics, reshaping cultural norms, and dismantling the structures that have enabled such inequality and devastation is a monumental task. However, history has shown that change is possible when voices rise in unison to demand justice and equality.
As we reflect on the shortcomings of SDG5, let us remember that transformation is not an easy path. It requires a collective effort to challenge the very foundations of a system that has perpetuated harm. The traits of greed, arrogance, and ignorance that have been instrumental in maintaining the status quo, must be replaced by values rooted in empathy, cooperation, intelligence, and regeneration. Only then can we hope to forge a future where women, nature, and all beings are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Policies emerging from corrupt institutions, often carry an inherent vulnerability that threatens their potential for success. Corruption undermines the very essence of governance, eroding trust, accountability, and transparency.&nbsp;
When policies are devised within such tainted environments, they risk being shaped by hidden agendas and self-serving interests rather than the genuine welfare of the people they are meant to serve.&nbsp;
This compromises the integrity of the policy-making process, sowing seeds of doubt among the public and stakeholders. As a result, even well-intentioned policies can become entangled in a web of manipulation and deceit, making it exceedingly difficult for them to achieve meaningful and lasting impact.
Moreover, the effectiveness of policies forged within corrupt institutions is further impeded by a lack of enforcement (as the non-binding Paris Agreement or the much-celebrated SDGs) and genuine commitment to implementation.&nbsp;
Corrupt systems prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability, leading to a failure to allocate resources adequately, monitor progress, and hold those responsible for implementation accountable.&nbsp;
Consequently, policies that could potentially address critical issues such as gender inequality, environmental degradation, and social justice end up being merely symbolic gestures, unable to bring about the transformative change they were intended for.
Without a foundation of integrity and a commitment to ethical governance, policies from corrupt institutions are poised to fall short of their intended goals, perpetuating a cycle of disappointment and disillusionment.
<h2>What we can do</h2>
As individuals identifying as women, it's not just our inherent right but also our obligation to assume leadership roles in bettering the world. The task before us requires bold imagination&mdash;to envision new systems and different ways of living and then to feel sufficiently empowered to make these visions a reality. Our focus needs to be resilient and heart-centered, always aware of the ripple effects of our decisions on our communities, families, and the planet as a whole.&nbsp;
In practice, this means embracing localized, decentralized and bioregional governance models and celebrating multiculturalism. It's about fostering networks among local communities to create interlocking systems geared toward regional regeneration. Our leadership journey is uniquely informed by a millennia-old matrilineal heritage. Being in positions of leadership honors the legacies of strong women who have come before us, and sidestepping the limitations imposed by outdated institutions is key.
The time is now to fully engage with the multi-faceted dimensions of human potential: wisdom, abundance, healing, love, wealth, and perseverance. Through these, we can 'rematriate' the land, fostering its regeneration through nature-based solutions and thoughtful practices. We don't need to wait for permission; we already possess the tools, gifts and perspectives needed to be the true catalysts of change and make a lasting impact.
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Susana Gago

SDG 5 and the never-ending struggle: unmasking the patriarchy, inequality, and environmental devastation

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) establish a comprehensive framework for global progress, with SDG 4 at its heart

Alex

Alex Hong

Empowering ASEAN's future: the imperative of quality education for sustainable development

Can the world adequately feed 8.6 billion people by 2030 while combatting poverty, meeting climate goals, and reducing pressures on the broader environment?

Stefanos

We cannot live without food. We cannot lead long, healthy and happy lives without nutritious, healthy, available, and accessible food.&nbsp;
Yet, food is not merely a source of sustenance; it is intricately woven into the fabric of human life, culture, and the environment. Sustainable food systems can generate significant benefits to society through food, livelihoods, jobs and markets and can preserve the planet&rsquo;s biodiversity and natural resources. But the balance is off. Our food systems are so unsustainable that they threaten food security and fail to provide healthy affordable diets for all, aggravating climate change and pushing natural resource degradation further.&nbsp;
With eight years remaining until 2030, the world is moving in the wrong direction. No targets related to food systems are going to be achieved in full by 2030. Unless we go beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps in an integrated way toward food systems transformation, the promise of the 2030 Agenda of life of dignity and prosperity on a healthy and peaceful planet for all will remain fiction.&nbsp;
<h2>Where do we stand? The paradox of food systems</h2>
According to the new <a href="https://www.fao.org/publications/home/fao-flagship-publications/the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world">FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023</a>, global hunger is still far above pre-pandemic levels. It is estimated that between 690 and 783 million people in the world will face hunger in 2022. Considering the midrange (about 735 million), this is 122 million more people than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 2 billion people suffer from obesity and related health issues, a paradoxical coexistence. More than 3.1 billion people in the world &ndash; or 42 percent &ndash; were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2021 &ndash; an overall increase of 134 million people compared to 2019, before the pandemic. On the other hand, 1 billion people could be fed with the amount of food lost and wasted per annum (Journey of Food, 2023), another paradox. Even more paradoxically, <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc0639en">existing policies</a> have provided incentives for modern food systems to evolve in such a way that the cost of a healthy diet is five times greater than the cost of diets that meet dietary energy requirements only through a staple cereal.
Food systems account for a significant proportion of global employment. For instance, in Africa, agriculture employs 65-70% of the workforce. In 2021-22, the global food and vegetable processing market was valued at <a href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/43006/The_journey_of_food.pdf?sequence=1&amp;isAllowed=y">USD 204 billion</a>. However, agricultural households constitute up <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/34b63a7c-7c89-5474-b9d3-f4f35085fe83/content">to two-thirds of people living in extreme poverty worldwide</a>, with women often being the most low-paid and vulnerable.&nbsp;
Food production is the largest cause of global environmental change. Agriculture occupies about 40% of global land, and food production is responsible for up to 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of freshwater use. The conversion of natural ecosystems to croplands and pastures is the largest factor causing species to be threatened with extinction. At the same time, food systems and related livelihoods are themselves affected in the short and longer term by the intertwined impact of biodiversity loss and climate change.&nbsp;
<h2>What are the projections under the business-as-usual scenario?&nbsp;</h2>
It is projected that almost 600 million people will be chronically undernourished in 2030. This is about 119&nbsp;million more than in a scenario in which neither the pandemic nor the war in Ukraine had occurred, and around 23&nbsp;million more than if the war in Ukraine had not happened. This points to the immense challenge of achieving the SDG target to eradicate hunger, particularly in Africa. The <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc0639en">health costs of unhealthy diets are also high</a> &ndash; with diet-related health costs linked to mortality and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) projected to exceed USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2030. Global agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-19991142.htm">are projected to increase by 7.6 percent</a> in the next decade.&nbsp;
Business-as-usual pathways and upscaling of current practices are not options if the global food systems are to sustainably and equitably meet the needs of the global population in the future. Fortunately, however, the challenge of transitioning food systems onto a sustainable trajectory is not insurmountable.
<h2>What is the challenge?&nbsp;</h2>
The fundamental question then is &ldquo;How can the world adequately feed 8.6 billion people by 2030 in ways that help combat poverty, allow the world to meet climate goals, and reduce pressures on the broader environment?&rdquo;
According to the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1787/f1b0b29c-en">OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2022-2031</a>, the world population is expected to grow from 7.8 billion in 2021 to 8.6 billion people in 2031. Future demand for food is directly influenced by population and demographic changes, income growth and distribution, and food prices. Food demand will also be shaped by sociocultural and lifestyle changes, including urbanisation and rising female participation in the workforce, as well as increasing consumer awareness of health and sustainability issues.&nbsp;
Feeding the world by 2030 requires, as a minimum, in the next 8 years:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A 10% increase in average calorie/person/day in lower-middle-income countries and 30% increase in average calorie/person/day in low-income countries;&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A 6% decrease in direct GHG emissions from agriculture; and&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A 24% increase in global crop yield and a 31% increase in global animal productivity.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Solutions to the current challenges are not a simple math exercise. Feeding 10 billion people &ndash; safely and sustainably &ndash; means reconceiving food systems, taking into account the entire food system &ndash; from production to consumption &ndash; and understanding each of its components, their relationships, and their immediate and long-term impacts (UN Environment, 2020).
Awareness of the unsustainability of the current state of food systems and the potential negative outcomes of the business-as-usual scenario is universal. Understanding of the pathways towards sustainable agrifood systems is also emerging.
<h2>Catalysing transition towards sustainable development pathways through agrifood systems transformation</h2>
A key challenge that restricts the successful transformation of food systems is that existing national, regional and global policies, strategies, legislation and investments are compartmentalized into distinct dialogues. These challenges can be overcome through the formulation and implementation of cross-sectoral portfolios of policies, investments and legislation that comprehensively address the negative food security and nutrition effects of the multiple drivers impacting on food systems. As with all systemic changes, there will be winners and losers, while the introduction of new technologies, improved access to data and innovations, and the subsequent changes in food systems performance, will produce both positive and negative spillover effects. Coherence among systems, as well as the cross-cutting accelerators, play a key role in maximizing the benefits and minimizing the negative consequences of transformation.
In 2021, the United Nations Food Systems Summit issued a powerful call to transform food systems in the context of the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2023, the <a href="https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/fs-stocktaking-moment/en">UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment</a> showed how much can happen in two years on a scale we wouldn&rsquo;t previously believe to be possible.
Following the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment, the <a href="https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/fs-stocktaking-moment/documentation/un-secretary-general-call-to-action/en">UN Secretary-General has called</a> to:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Incorporate food systems strategies into all national policies for sustainable development,&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Establish participatory food systems governance&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Invest in research, data, innovation and technology capacities including stronger connections to science, experience and expertise.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deepen joined-up participatory design and implementation&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Promote increased engagement of businesses to shape the sustainability of food systems and establish and strengthen accountability mechanisms, recognizing their centrality for food systems.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ensure access to short and long-term concessional finance, investments, budget support and debt restructuring.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Now, concerted and urgent action is needed to achieve the potential of food systems.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Sustainable and resilient food systems transformation is a powerful synergetic SDG accelerator that has an enormous potential to positively influence the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Food systems transformation should entail profound shifts across the production, storage, consumption, and disposal of food. These shifts have the potential to generate multiplier effects, acting as catalysts for broader transformation across multiple systems and SDGs. By reimagining and redesigning our food systems, we can address pressing challenges and unlock opportunities for progress in other areas.
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illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
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<h3>References</h3>
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2021. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021. Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all. Rome, FAO. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4474en">https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4474en</a>&nbsp;
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2022.&nbsp;The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022. Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable. Rome, FAO. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0639en">https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0639en</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2023.&nbsp;The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023.&nbsp;Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural&ndash;urban continuum. Rome, FAO. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3017en">https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3017en</a>
OECD/FAO, 2022. OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2022-2031, OECD Publishing, Paris, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1787/f1b0b29c-en">https://doi.org/10.1787/f1b0b29c-en</a>&nbsp;
OECD/FAO, 2023. OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2023-2032, OECD Publishing, Paris,&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1787/08801ab7-en">https://doi.org/10.1787/08801ab7-en</a>.&nbsp;
UN Environment, 2020. How to feed 10 billion people. <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-feed-10-billion-people">https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-feed-10-billion-people</a>&nbsp;
UN Environment and WHO, 2023. The Journey of Food. Infographic. <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/infographic/journey-food">https://www.unep.org/resources/infographic/journey-food</a>

Stefanos Fotiou

Can we turn the tide and feed the world by 2030? 

How can we achieve meaningful progress toward ending poverty? A strong development-oriented state, a vibrant market with innovative business, and a resolute focus on education

Erik

All hands went up when a few weeks ago I asked a group of tribal people in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh if they had benefited from Prime Minister Modi's policy of direct support to farmers through the use of digital bank accounts.
Many could also proudly show me the toilets and homes they built with government support. The money comes in tranches on digital accounts - a third at the beginning, a second amount along the way, and a final payment when they can document that the house is finished using GPS and confirmation from village leaders. Middlemen can no longer eat off the load. A house builder proudly showed off the result of his own work and the help of the local mason.
Tribal people in Madhya Pradesh are among India's most marginalized populations, a poor subgroup in one of India's poorest states. People are still poor, but there is optimism in the air.
Nowhere else on the planet are more people brought out of poverty these days than in India. 7% growth helps. Hundreds of millions are uplifted and India may be on the verge of eradicating extreme poverty.
This doesn't mean the Indian poor can buy electric cars, cabins in the mountains, or expensive watches. But if in the past you lived on 2.5 dollars a day and can now make 5, you can eat a little meat a few times a week, send your children to school, and afford a mobile phone. Maybe a little luxury can be within reach. A sari? Some cosmetics? Brazil's president Lula, who is most certainly the world leader with the most personal experience of poverty, understood this well: &ldquo;Poor people love luxury&rdquo;, he said. &ldquo;Only intellectuals hate luxury.&rdquo;
What India is now doing is following a path others have walked before.&nbsp; It started in the United Kingdom and continued in the rest of Europe, the US, Japan, Korea, and most recently, China. China rightly celebrates the fact that 1.4 billion people have been brought out of poverty. No nation has moved so many people into the middle class at such a speed as China.
<h2>The only way to prosperity</h2>
Sometimes I hear UN experts and others telling me that there are many ways out of poverty. Maybe, but that belongs to the future. In recorded history, the one and only way to prosperity is called responsible capitalism, or state capitalism if you will. Slavery, feudalism, statism, or small-scale rural development never worked.
Before modernity, before capitalism, nearly all humans were poor. Up to 1870, 70% of all humans lived short, diseaseful, uneducated lives in abject poverty. As late as 80 years ago, when the two giants China and India liberated themselves, life expectancy was around 30, less than 20% could read and half the population died before adulthood. Life expectancy in China is now 78, it just passed the US. In India, it will soon reach 70.
Before modern industry and science, there was simply no available policy to create universal affluence. Even if the greatest and most sophisticated leaders of the past like Emperor August of Rome or Tang Taizong of China had wanted to bring their people out of poverty, they did not have the policy tools nor the resources to do it. True, small elites consumed a lot more than the people, but resources were never even close to enough to uplift the majority.
There is a universal success recipe for bringing large populations out of poverty: a strong development-oriented state, a vibrant market with innovative business, and a resolute focus on education.
<h2>The East Asian miracle economies</h2>
All the East Asian miracle economies, such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam, have strong states with leaders who wish to uplift the people. As long as they believed in statism as China did before 1978 and India before 1992, they failed and kept people in poverty. Only private business could bring the masses to prosperity. Japan created Toyota and Mitsubishi, Korea spawned Samsung and Hyundai, and Chinese businesses are now dominating any number of global value chains.
And all East Asian nations put education first. Fast-developing Vietnam now has better results for their 15 years old than Europe or North America.
A major obstacle to the universal success of development is the defunct global development system. It focuses on aid, not trade, business, and political leadership. In no African nation is aid as much as 5% of the economy. 98.5% of education in developing countries is financed by the taxpayers of that state or by families of the students. Still, I have attended a number of UN forums where we speak as if aid and the UN is what brings development, rather than good domestic policies and growing business.
With India closing in on eradicating extreme poverty, poverty is more and more an African reality. It was not always so. 50 years ago, Asia was the continent focused on in any discussion on poverty. Now nearly all Asian nations have moved to the middle income bracket.
<h2>How can Africa follow in the footsteps of the Asian tigers?</h2>
Firstly, functioning states are critical. Governments must set the vision, regulate markets, make laws, attract investments, and distribute revenue to the poorest. To put it simply &mdash; without a state, development is horribly difficult. There is no easy way to establish development-oriented states. However, foreign powers need to support African states or leaders. The main issue is not the governing system, democratic or more authoritarian. The real issue is strong states with development-focused leaders. Rwanda is hardly Africa's most democratic state, but it may be the least corrupt and the fastest growing thanks to President Kagame&rsquo;s enlightened leadership. Neither Europe, nor Japan, Korea, or China was democratic during their most critical years of development. Why do we demand that from much poorer African nations?
Second: Markets. Africa suffers from small markets and a lack of trade. While both India and China have one market of 1.4 billion people each, Africa has a population of 1.2 billion people separated into 54 different nations with largely small markets. There is very little intra-African trade, a number of trade restrictions, and far too little of larger trade blocks. In China, you can produce in Guangdong and sell in Heilongjiang while in India, you can produce in Tamil Nadu and sell in Kashmir, both thousands of kilometers away. In Africa, it&rsquo;s hard to produce in Togo and sell in neighboring Benin or C&ocirc;te d&rsquo;Ivoire, both close by. Africa needs to move towards trade promotion and create a climate that stimulates private investments. Aid should be used as a risk alleviation tool for more and better private investment, not as a stand-alone device.
Environment and climate create a huge opportunity for Africa to go green and produce wealth, all the same. Solar energy is now the cheapest energy that has ever existed on the planet. Wind energy is nearly as cheap. New green markets can be captured by developing nations. Ola, the Indian Uber, is producing electric scooters and soon electric batteries and cars. They believe they can win the competition and I love their wonderful, offensive slogan: &ldquo;Tesla for the West, Ola for the Rest&rdquo;.
Finally, education. The development industry tends to focus on the outer symbols of education, like school buildings, not on the inner core. It&rsquo;s the wrong approach. Vietnam allocates maybe 10% of what we Europeans spend on our students but still gets better results. Digital education and high tech give Africa new ways to improve education.
<h2>Let's reach everyone!</h2>
Moving towards the middle of the 21st century, the good news is that poverty is drastically reduced. Extreme poverty has been halved globally in just the last two decades. But the last remaining poor may be harder to reach. Nearly all are African, most are living in rural areas and many are living in the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the continent, the Sahel. The Sahel combines very dry natural conditions, with the world's highest population growth, weak states, little business, few jobs, and a good portion of extremist jihadist ideology. A difficult and potentially dangerous mix. The global community should come together and work with the local governments on a strategy for combating poverty in the Sahel.
Vietnam has shown how you can turn around the poor, rural hinterlands. When I visited Vietnam right after the war, rural poverty was everywhere, bordering on hunger. Vietnam was the world&rsquo;s largest rice importer. Now Vietnam is the world's second-largest rice exporter and second-largest coffee producer. The recipe? It&rsquo;s not rocket science &mdash; just private ownership of the land, rural roads, small loans for farmers, and the government&rsquo;s advisory service.
For the first time in human history, we have the resources, policies, and capabilities to bring every human out of poverty. Asia has shown how it can be done. The happiness it brings was very visible among the tribals I met in central India. I wish all humans could experience the same.
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.&nbsp;

Erik Solheim

State, market and education: the recipe for bringing all humans out of poverty

What are the concrete steps we need to take to achieve meaningful progress toward SDG 3?

Yusuf

Daniel

We find ourselves at a pivotal juncture, halfway between 2015 &ndash; the year that saw the adoption of sustainable development goals (SDGs) &ndash; and 2030 &ndash; the year when all the SDGs are supposed to be achieved and, for the first time in the history of humanity, the world would be free from extreme poverty and hunger with universal access to education and basic health care. Unfortunately, the stark reality is that our strides toward SDGs have not been on track. In fact, according to a new assessment by the <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2023/2023-sustainable-development-report.pdf">Sustainable Development Solutions Network</a>, we are going backward in our journey to the sustainable and equitable future described by the SDGs.
This sorry state of affairs is also true for the Paris Climate Agreement &ndash; also signed in 2015 &ndash; to limit global warming to less than 2 &deg;C and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030. A recently published <a href="https://unfccc.int/documents/631600">report</a> from the UN global stocktake, a process assessing how far we&rsquo;ve come since the Paris Agreement,&nbsp; lays bare how far off we are from achieving those targets; at the current rate of action global temperatures are expected to rise by <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/explaining-global-stocktake-paris-agreement">2.4 to 2.6 &deg;C</a>.
The window of action to meet both goals is rapidly closing. We need to move from incremental change to exponential transformation if we want to achieve these goals.&nbsp;
Climate change and human well-being are <a href="https://drawdown.org/publications/climatepoverty-connections-report#:~:text=The%20Drawdown%20Lift%20Human%20Well,in%20a%20scientifically%20consistent%20manner.">inextricably linked</a>. The only way forward is to look at climate, development, and well-being as a singular system and prioritize solutions that address them holistically. Development efforts that do not account for climate change are destined for failure as there is mounting evidence that the latter is negating recent advances in <a href="https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2021/09/climate-change-and-inequality-guivarch-mejean-taconet#:~:text=In%20recent%20decades%2C%20global%20economic,the%20poorest%20regions%20and%20people.">poverty reduction</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/05/climate-crisis-could-contribute-to-a-global-food-shortage-by-2050-us-special-envoy-on-food-security-warns">food security</a>, and human well-being.&nbsp; Similarly, climate mitigation strategies that do not enhance human well-being contradict a fundamental objective of these efforts, which is to avert the detrimental impact of climate change on human beings.
This co-dependence of climate and development is highlighted in the World Bank&rsquo;s C<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2022/09/19/g5-sahel-region-country-climate-and-development-report">ountry Climate and Development Report (CCDR)</a> for Africa&rsquo;s Sahel region which states that without urgent climate action, the region &ndash; which is already one of the poorest in the world &ndash; could see an additional 13.5 million people fall back into poverty by 2050. The report makes clear that the only way forward for the Sahelian countries to reduce climate impact and improve well-being is to implement strategies that address climate change, well-being, and development simultaneously and holistically.
But what are these interventions that can address climate, development, and well-being together?
First, there is an urgent need to change the way we grow food. In sub-Saharan Africa, not only is food insecurity <a href="https://ssa.foodsecurityportal.org/node/2342">more than double</a> that of any other region but the forestry, agriculture, and land use (FALU) sector is also responsible for about <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1313952/share-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-in-sub-saharan-africa-by-sector/#:~:text=As%20of%202020%2C%20the%20majority,%2C%20and%20fluorinated%20gases%2C%20respectively.">60% of the region&rsquo;s total GHG emissions</a>. While the area emits a small portion of global GHG emissions, every country and region will need to reduce emissions in order for the world to have a chance of meeting international climate goals.
Changing the way we grow food by adopting practices such as <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/abandoned-farmland-restoration">farmland restoration</a>, <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/conservation-agriculture">conservative agriculture</a>, <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/regenerative-annual-cropping">regenerative annual cropping</a>, and improving <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/indigenous-peoples-forest-tenure">land tenure</a> can rapidly decrease the GHG emissions associated with the FALU sector while being transformative for human health and well-being by increasing yields and improving drought resilience. Solutions such as <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/multistrata-agroforestry">agroforestry </a>and <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/silvopasture">silvopasture</a> contribute even further by <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28388-4">reducing heat stress</a> and<a href="https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-018-0136-0#:~:text=Some%20participants%20may%20find%20that,3%2C%2031%2C%2032%5D."> increasing income</a> for farmers.
Similarly, addressing energy poverty is vital to meet both climate and developmental goals. It is well established that multidimensional poverty and access to energy are <a href="https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/report/interlinkages-between-multidimensional-poverty-and-electricity-a-study-using-the-global-multidimensional-poverty-index/">closely intertwined</a>. Without energy, people face challenges in accessing basic amenities like lighting, cooking, heating, healthcare, education, and economic opportunity; these barriers, in turn, perpetuate a cycle of deprivation. Indeed, ending energy poverty is a necessary stop on the road to achieving many sustainable development goals.
For instance, providing clean cooking solutions to everyone by 2030 would reduce GHG emissions by <a href="https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/household-energy-and-clean-air">1 gigaton per year</a> &ndash; or about 2% of annual global emissions, on par with the entire aviation industry. At the same time, this intervention would directly impact the lives of the 2.4 billion people who currently rely on polluting fuels for cooking. Benefits to human and environmental well-being from just this one solution would include reduced exposure to pollutants, decreased stress on local forests, and saving time that would otherwise be spent collecting fuelwood.
When we start thinking of development, climate, and well-being as a single system, these kinds of multifaceted, high-impact solutions abound. Renewable electricity in remote and rural areas has been shown to positively impact <a href="https://www.irena.org/news/articles/2021/Jul/How-Solar-Power-is-Reducing-Maternal-Mortality-Rates-in-Zimbabwe">maternal health</a>, <a href="https://erl.scholasticahq.com/article/32597-causality-between-access-to-electricity-and-education-evidence-from-brics-countries">education</a>, <a href="https://www.undp.org/energy/our-work-areas/energy-and-gender-equality">gender equality</a>, and <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/solar-pumping">access to clean water</a> while at the same time reducing current and future emissions associated with the usage of unclean fuels.
Given how powerful these solutions are from both a climate and development standpoint, one would assume that they are a top priority for policymakers and climate funders. Yet these powerful solutions have been widely underutilized. For instance, in 2021, the FALU sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) received a direct investment of only <a href="https://www.eib.org/attachments/lucalli/mdbs_joint_report_2021_en.pdf">10% and 8% of the climate adaptation and mitigation finance</a>, respectively, from multinational development banks.
Progress on clean cooking has also been unacceptably slow. If current trends continue, it's estimated that by 2030 almost 1.9 billion people could still be without access to clean cooking, directly contributing to the failure of SDGs related to poverty, health, gender, and energy.
The same is true for clean electricity. According to a recent joint report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Africa receives <a href="https://www.iea.org/news/doubling-energy-investment-in-africa-requires-urgent-action-to-bring-down-financing-costs-and-boost-access-to-capital">only 2% of global clean energy </a>capital even though it accounts for almost 20% of the world&rsquo;s population and suffers from widespread energy poverty.
The clock is ticking; our narrow window of opportunity to alter our course is rapidly closing. To meet developmental and climate goals, there are three key areas of action.
First, climate finance in low-and middle-income countries, which is currently several times lower than what is required, must be rapidly scaled up. This will require high-income countries to quickly <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uaes-jaber-urges-donors-deliver-100-bln-pledge-developing-countries-2023-05-02/">deliver on their past funding commitments</a>. Increasing national debt for LMICs has also <a href="https://unctad.org/news/global-debt-and-climate-crises-are-intertwined-heres-how-tackle-both">slowed climate action considerably</a> and it&rsquo;s clear that debt forgiveness may be <a href="https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/g7-owes-huge-13-trillion-debt-global-south">one of the most crucial upstream solutions</a> that could make technical implementation of climate interventions possible.
Second, <a href="https://drawdown.org/publications/climatepoverty-connections-report#:~:text=The%20Drawdown%20Lift%20Human%20Well,in%20a%20scientifically%20consistent%20manner.">intersectional interventions</a> such as those highlighted here need to be urgently financed. Climate financing needs a new benchmark for success. It should not be about the return on investment in financial terms, but rather the return in terms of reduced emissions, transformed lives, and increased resilience in recipient communities. It's time to prioritize the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants over profit.
Third, as countries are due to update their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in 2025, they should include and <a href="https://drawdown.org/news/insights/supercharging-national-climate-plans">prioritize powerful intersectional interventions</a> that address climate, development, and well-being simultaneously.
As global leaders, stakeholders, and climate financiers convene at the SDG summit and Climate Ambition Summit this week in New York, they hold the power to steer the world toward sustainability, equity, prosperity, and justice. By focusing on high-impact solutions deployed at a global scale, a future where we meet both our climate and development goals can be reached on the same path.
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.

Yusuf Jameel

Two destinations, one path: world leaders must align global climate and development goals this week in New York

How can financial institutions stop using the rear-view mirror to drive nature-related decision-making?

Romie

Ever driven to work while only looking through the rear-view mirror? You might be able to make it out of your street and take a few turns, but at some point, you will be pulled off by the traffic police or decide to go back home for your own safety. The reason for this is simple: we need forward-looking information to guide our decisions.&nbsp;
Yet, when financial institutions look at nature data to guide their decision-making, they mostly use the rear-view mirror to guide their decisions today. The data they use is often based on historical data, which is inconsistent and hard to access. Moreover, whilst nature is always location-specific, many data providers only use proxies to predict impacts or dependencies &ndash; which can only provide a limited picture in the expectation that location data is improved.&nbsp;
<h2>Insights from the UNEP FI-led TNFD pilot process&nbsp;</h2>
This blog explores why data constraints are the last mile for effective action by financial institutions on nature, and what they can do to change this. The <a href="https://www.cbd.int/gbf/">Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework</a> (GBF), particularly target 15 which calls on business and financial institutions to monitor and disclose nature-related impacts, and the <a href="https://tnfd.global/">Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures</a> (TNFD) have created unprecedented interest and momentum for reliable, science-based decision grade data to halt and reverse nature loss.
As financial institutions seek to improve their understanding of nature-related risks and dependencies, standardization of data and metrics is crucial. Today, financial institutions lack the data required to accurately assess impact and dependency, and therefore, the risk and opportunity to nature of their investment and credit portfolios in order to stop financing harmful activities and direct financing towards nature-positive outcomes. While there are significant variations in the data and metrics used to assess nature-related risks and dependencies across sectors and geographies, there is also a growing recognition of the need for greater consistency and comparability.
UNEP FI <a href="https://www.unepfi.org/nature/tnfd/">piloted the draft beta framework of the TNFD</a> with over 50 financial institutions, supported by a group of technical partners including leading market data providers. Our work highlighted the need for better data and tools and specific guidance on tools, alongside building consistency and comparability. Financial institutions are often dependent on the quality of data provided by their clients. Poor and non-inclusive client-related data can make it significantly challenging for them to make informed decisions. Many of the pilot participants collected proprietary nature data via the use of data providers, that could benefit other users including governments, which often do not have access to such data at the moment.&nbsp;
<h2>How to incorporate nature data in financial decision-making today</h2>
As described above, the availability of data, in particular contextualized, comparable, and recent data that could help drive financial decision-making, is an area for further improvement. With nature declining at unprecedented rates in human history, nature encompassing all of its wealth through complex ecosystems &ndash; and our societies &ndash; do not have the time to wait for better corporate data. An integrative and improved approach requires collaboration between industries. Financial institutions can use the following publicly accessible data tools:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://encorenature.org/en">Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure</a> (ENCORE): Developed by UNEP FI, UNEP-WCMC and Global Canopy, ENCORE is a tool to help users better understand and visualise the impact of environmental change on the economy.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.ibat-alliance.org/">Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool</a> (IBAT): IBAT is a web-based map and reporting tool that provides authoritative geographic information about global biodiversity through fast, easy and integrated access to three of the world&rsquo;s most authoritative global biodiversity datasets: the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Database on Protected Areas, and the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.pbafglobal.com/">Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials</a> (PBAF): The PBAF Standard aims to provide guidance to financial institutions on biodiversity impact and dependency assessment and to define what is needed for these assessments to deliver the right information to financial institutions.</li>
</ul>
While several leading scientific and data organizations continue to develop new tools and data sets for assessing the integrity and resilience of ecosystems, there is currently no single global methodology or metrics to make this determination, despite progress at national levels via the UN System of Economic Environmental Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (UN SEEA EA). Nature-related impact and dependencies require the tracking of location-specific data on different data points, such as water use, pollution, and biodiversity. Nature data is context specific as withdrawing 1 liter of water from a drought-prone area has different impacts than from a part of the world where freshwater is still abundant. As a result, UNEP FI continues to encourage organizations to use several different tools and data sets to triangulate an understanding of ecosystem integrity and resilience.
<h2>Next steps in the data landscape&nbsp;</h2>
Throughout the UNEP FI piloting groups and phases, a persistent theme was the complexity of the topic of &ldquo;nature&rdquo; and the institutional capacity of participating financial institutions to address the challenge adequately. A common conclusion involved the perception that nature-related disclosures seem more complex than climate disclosures. With the release of the TNFD recommendations during New York Climate Week, we expect nature to rise up on the agenda of data providers.&nbsp;
Nature-related data is expected to increase from different sources, including:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate data: Via TNFD uptake and regulatory developments among others in the EU we expect that corporates, particularly those that have a strong dependency and impact on nature to start reporting their nature impacts and dependencies soon. This data can serve as a starting point of action by financial institutions.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Large data providers: The emergence and rise of initiatives such as the TNFD has been watched closely by large data providers and it is expected that they will continue to innovate and provide their clients with the data they need and want to increase understanding of nature risk.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Small/innovative data providers: From e-DNA, bio-acoustics, and satellite imagery to AI, innovative start-ups and scale-ups are working to build their data sets to provide decision-relevant data. Shortcomings are the comparability and accessibility of data sets under development.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Government data: Governments are expected to update their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) as called for under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), setting high ambition agendas and closer partnerships with the private sector.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP &amp; LCs): Have a key role to play in accelerating the collection, connection, and disclosure of credible in situ nature-related data. They also play a key role in verifying data findings.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Global nature-related public data utility&nbsp;</h2>
How can financial institutions stop using the rear-view mirror to drive nature-related decision-making? UNEP FI supports the efforts by the TNFD, together with its partners, to develop a global nature-related public data utility. In this way, all relevant actors can be convened to contribute to a collective global solution at scale and bring together a patchwork of relevant nature-related data expertise and capabilities into a common-use platform. This data utility can serve as an open data utility for nature-related data. This can help and encourage the availability of data sets at scale, improve consistency among them, ensure data is openly available where possible, and set the stage for comprehensive analysis of data for different purposes. It also builds capacity across the data landscape for the usage of this nature-related data, making financial institutions better equipped to finance the transition to a nature-positive economy.
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illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability &amp; Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
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Romie Goedicke

Nature data: the last mile towards effective action by financial institutions

COP28 | Illuminem Voices

Today Heads of State and leading experts in health and climate gathered to discuss critical concerns around the intersection of climate and health priorities ahead of the UN Climate Conference’s (COP-28) first-ever ‘Day of Health’

Leaders spotlight the critical intersection between health and climate ahead of COP-28 first-ever Health Day

World leaders are due to gather for annual climate change talks in Dubai in December. On the agenda: everything from cutting greenhouse gas emissions, to adapting to extreme weather events, trading carbon emissions and gender inequality

Bloomberg

What Is COP28 and why Is It Important?

In anticipation of COP28, the United Nations has released a report on the progress towards the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. The report found that global action on climate change is not on track to meet net-zero by 2050

Forbes

U.N. releases Paris Agreement Climate analysis ahead of COP28

Amid an escalating climate emergency and a global debt crisis, calls for a new “fit for climate” global financial architecture are growing louder throughout the developing world

Zawya

COP28: A new financing pact for climate-vulnerable countries

Nearly 200 countries meeting at this year's United Nations COP28 climate change summit will assess just how far off track they are from meeting promises to stop global warming as part of a process called the "global stocktake"

Reuters

What is the world's first 'global stocktake' on climate change?

More than 200 companies applied for the opportunity. The Israel Innovation Authority selected them in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Ministry.


The Jerusalem Post

30 Israeli tech innovators to bring climate change solutions to COP28

The architect of the Paris Agreement described the upcoming United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) summit as a “circus,” arguing that the main purpose of the climate meeting could be done from home.

Paris Accord Architect says COP is ‘a circus’ that’s not needed

The world is losing the race to meet its climate change goals, the president of the upcoming COP28 climate summit said on Tuesday, as African presidents gathered in Kenya to discuss how to fund the continent's environmental agenda

World losing race to meet climate goals, COP28 president says

The escalating climate crisis is a very significant threat to people and their rights globally so the United Arab Emirates should be engaging in meaningful change to bring about a rapid end to the use of fossil fuels. Instead, the UAE’s priority at COP28 appears to be greenwashing its fossil fuel expansion plans and massaging its own reputation by seeking to avoid discussion of its dismal human rights record and continuing abuses

Amnesty International

UAE’s efforts to stifle debate at COP28 threaten meaningful measures to tackle the climate crisis and protect human rights

This upcoming conference will prioritize practicality, collective action, forging partnerships, and transitioning from planning to implementation, all aimed at yielding tangible results. The overarching ambition is to craft a "human-centric COP" with a strong emphasis on vital elements like nature, food, health, and climate resilience.

The Times of India

Unlocking the 'human-centric' vision of COP28: What does it mean?

COP28 | Climate Change

John Kerry, the US climate envoy, has pointed out a pivotal question: how do we engage the oil sector in climate change mitigation (“Kerry presses oil and gas chiefs for net zero commitment”, Interview, August 29). COP28 in Dubai presents a perfect opportunity, as the climate summit will be hosted by a major oil producer. Drawing on existing knowledge of the petroleum sector, one could easily assume that the industry holds the silver bullet for decarbonisation.

Financial Times

Letter: COP28 cannot ignore the global south’s oil demand

Fossil fuels will remain a necessary resource as the world accelerates its transition to cleaner energy, the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Japan said three months before his country hosts the COP28 climate summit.

Nikkei Asia

COP28 host UAE says fossil fuels needed in energy transition

UAE oil giant ADNOC — run by the president of the COP28 climate conference — is expected to spend more than $1 billion every month this decade on fossil fuels, according to new analysis by international NGO Global Witness.

CNBC

Oil giant led by COP28 boss to spend an ‘eyewatering’ $1 billion a month on fossil fuels this decade, Global Witness says

The Arab Spring that erupted in 2010 marked the end of the era of Egyptian hegemony and the beginning of a shift in power—now completed—towards the region’s smaller, wealthier, and more progressive countries like the UAE.

THE NATIONAL INTEREST

COP28 signifies a changing of the guard in the Middle East

As it prepares to host a global climate summit, officials discussed ways to counter criticism of the Gulf state’s human rights policies.

The New York Times

Leaked recording of U.A.E. officials reveals the nation’s concern over its public image

Brazil's government expects Congress to approve a series of energy transition-related bills in the next 100 days that it believes will boost the country's decarbonization credentials at the upcoming COP28 climate summit, an official told Reuters on Friday.

Brazil govt pushes Congress to approve 'green' bills before COP28

COP28 in Dubai needs to be the moment the world commits to producing hydrogen with near zero emissions by 2030

The Guardian

Only genuinely clean hydrogen can help solve the climate crisis

Every summer the Scottish city of Edinburgh holds a high-profile theatre and comedy festival that is famous for its drama and laughter. This year’s event, however, will also feature an act that is too serious to be humorous: John Kerry, the US climate envoy, will speak on the future of climate negotiations and government policy.

Can COP28 really try to ignore fossil fuels?

Recent climate negotiations have been heated, to say the least. Beyond the usual recriminations over financing, the choice of Sultan Al Jaber—chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company—as the president of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates has fuelled considerable controversy.

ASPI Strategist

Ideology must give way to practicality in clean-energy transition

COP28 | Energy

Today, global leaders across the public and private sectors convened at the Bloomberg Transition Finance Action Forum, which took place at the Plaza Hotel in New York City and coincided with New York Climate Week and the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly. The discussion focused on progress to date in transition finance and actions needed to support the net-zero transition in the run up to COP28.

Global leaders chart path for net-zero transition at Bloomberg transition finance action forum, outlined next steps for accelerating progress ahead of COP28

If you want to understand the state of the world’s climate efforts, follow the money. Here’s the daunting reality: By 2030, the developing world will need more than $2.4 trillion to address climate change–not as a one-off, but every single year. 


Fortune

COP 28 president: ‘It’s time to transform climate finance–and bridge its $2.4 trillion gap’

Unctad’s World Investment Forum is a vital milestone in the run-up to Cop28

New Statesman

Setting the stage for action on climate finance

Global climate goals are at risk of not getting met, voiced the president of the upcoming COP28 in a summit on Tuesday as African leaders called for changes to be made in what they called an unfair international climate finance system.

Mondo Visione

COP28 President stresses fears of not meeting global climate goals

Africa Climate week kicked off with a $450 million carbon credit pledge from the United Arab Emirates on Monday as Kenyan President William Ruto urged African leaders to seize the opportunity presented by climate finance. 

London South East

Sustainable Switch: Delegates split on climate finance at Africa Climate Week

The COP28 President-Designate, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, announced today a UAE finance initiative that will provide US$4.5 billion to help unlock Africa's clean energy potential. The announcement was made during a keynote address at the inaugural African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

PR Newswire

COP28 Presidency announces US$4.5 billion UAE finance initiative to unlock Africa's clean energy potential

State oil firm, whose chief will preside over COP28, also accused of ‘incoherent’ reduction targets. The United Arab Emirates, which will run the crucial COP28 UN climate summit in December, has failed to report its emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane to the UN for almost a decade, the Guardian can reveal. 

UN climate summit host UAE failed to report methane emissions to UN

Announcement made as Gulf country prepares to host COP28 climate talks.

UAE state energy company brings forward net zero target to 2045

The upcoming COP28 is an opportunity to stop climate finance from being a bone of contention and to turn it into a chance to build a better, more resilient world, Dr Nina Seega writes.

Euronews

This is how COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber could fix climate finance

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, today announced its first edition of the Future Sustainability Forum. The Forum to be held 4-5 October 2023, at the RitzCarlton DIFC, will focus on mobilising sustainable finance and innovation by connecting industry leaders, investors, tech disruptors, and policy makers, and channel investment flows between the global north and global south, to accelerate climate action.