What changes can we expect for the year set by the UN for the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
17 are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations (UN) in which it is known as the 2030 Agenda. Each of them covers a different reality and although they are interrelated, their degree of achievement varies from one to another. others. From their analysis, one by one, we obtain an X-ray of the current world, of the changes that we can expect for nine years from now and of whether or not we are going in the right direction. An advance: Covid-19 is conditioning many of the goals and not for the better.
1
End of poverty
Worldwide, the number of people living in extreme poverty has gone from representing 36% of the total world population in 1990 to 10% in 2015 (about 700 million people). However, the pace at which this change is taking place is slowing, and the Covid-19 crisis puts decades of progress at risk, the UN warns. It is estimated that if nothing is done, the economic consequences of the pandemic could increase poverty around the world, affecting an additional 500 million people.
two
Zero hunger
After decades of steady decline, the number of hungry people began to slowly rise again in 2015 and will do so more as a result of the pandemic. The world is not on track to reach the goal of zero hunger by 2030. If recent trends continue, the number of people affected by hunger will exceed 840 million people by that year.
3
Health & Wellness
Before the pandemic, great strides had been made in improving the health of millions of people: increasing life expectancy, reducing some of the common causes of death associated with infant and maternal mortality … Now the center of Attention is Covid-19, which has taught us that health emergencies pose a global risk and has shown that preparedness is vital. More efforts are needed to completely eradicate a wide variety of diseases, tackle a large number of health problems, and prevent another epidemic like this one.
4
Quality education
During the last decade, great strides have been made in expanding access to education and school enrollment rates at all levels, especially for girls. However, the pandemic has forced temporary closures of schools, which has altered student learning and jeopardized the progress made. Covid-19 is a setback for this key social elevator to get out of poverty, which is education.
5
Gender equality
Some progress has been made in recent decades: but there are still many difficulties and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic could reverse the limited gains that have been made in terms of gender equality and women’s rights. In addition, the coronavirus outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls globally; from health and the economy, to security and social protection.
6
Clean water and sanitation
The coronavirus has highlighted the vital importance of sanitation, hygiene and adequate access to clean water to prevent and contain disease. While substantial progress has been made in expanding access to safe drinking water and sanitation, there are still billions of people (mainly in rural areas) who still lack these basic services. Funds are insufficient to achieve this goal by 2030.
7
Affordable and clean energy
The world is moving towards more sustainable and widely available energy. Access to electricity in the poorest countries has started to accelerate, energy efficiency continues to improve, and renewable energy is achieving excellent results in the electricity sector. Naturgy is one of the main renewable investors in Spain. The company closed last year with a renewable power in operation of 4.6 GW globally and plans to invest this year at least 1 billion in renewables, of which about 30% will be in Spain. There is still a long way to go, but we are heading in the right direction.
8
Decent work and economic growth
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) foresees a global recession as bad or worse than that of 2009 due to Covid-19. The economic and financial shocks stemming from the pandemic are disrupting already tepid economic growth and worsening the accentuated risks of other factors. It will be difficult to achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth by 2030.
9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
There is still a long way to go before the world can take full advantage of the potential of inclusive and sustainable industrialization, innovation and infrastructure. Least developed countries need to accelerate the development of their manufacturing sectors if they are to achieve the 2030 target and increase investment in scientific research and innovation. The growth of the manufacturing sector globally has been declining steadily and more now as a result of the pandemic.
10
Reduction of inequalities
Despite some positive signs towards reducing inequality in some dimensions, such as reducing income inequality in some countries and preferential trading status that benefits low-income countries, inequality still continues. In addition, Covid-19 has exposed and intensified existing inequalities by affecting the poorest and most vulnerable communities to a greater extent. It is necessary to redouble efforts.
eleven
Sustainable cities and communities
Rapid urbanization is resulting in increasing numbers of people living in slums, inadequate and overloaded infrastructure and services, which is worsening air pollution and uncontrolled urban growth. It is a reality that is increasing: since 2007, more than half of the world’s population has been living in cities and that number is expected to increase to 60% by 2030.
12
Responsible consumption and production
The economic and social progress made over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the very systems on which our future development (and our survival) depends. The pandemic offers countries the opportunity to develop recovery plans that reverse current trends and shift our consumption and production patterns towards a more sustainable future. It’s about doing more and better with less. With this objective in mind, Naturgy has managed to reduce its water consumption by 30% and the waste generated by 81%, between 2019 and 2018.
13
Climate action
The year 2020 has been the warmest in Spain since the start of the series in 1961, tied with 2017, with a temperature of 1ºC above the average. Climate change is a reality with dire consequences and urgent measures are needed to address it. Businesses have a great responsibility in the fight against climate change. Energy company Naturgy has managed to reduce its total emissions by 30% in the last three years and expects additional reductions for the coming years.
14
Submarine life
There is a continuous deterioration of coastal waters due to pollution and acidification of the oceans, which is having an adverse effect on the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. It is also having a detrimental impact on small-scale fisheries. Protecting the oceans must remain a priority if we want to preserve marine biodiversity, for the good of the health of people and our planet.
fifteen
Life of terrestrial ecosystems
To prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems around the world , the United Nations has declared the Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). This globally coordinated response to habitat loss and degradation will focus on developing the political will and capacity to restore human relationships with nature. With 257 initiatives and an environmentally restored area of more than 2,600 ha, 60% of which correspond to protected areas or habitats of protected species, Naturgy is one of the companies most committed to the protection of natural capital.
16
Peace, justice and strong institutions
The number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict surpassed 70 million in 2018, the highest number on record in nearly 70 years. In 2019, the United Nations recorded 357 murders and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries. On the other hand, the births of around one in four children worldwide under the age of 5 are never officially registered, depriving them of legal proof of identity, which is crucial for the protection of their rights. and for access to justice and social services. Much remains to be done towards this goal and time is short.
17
Partnerships to achieve the objectives
The SDGs can only be achieved with strong global partnerships and cooperation. However, aid levels are declining and donor countries have not honored their commitment to increase financing for development. The UN warns that strong international cooperation is needed now more than ever to ensure that countries with the means to recover from the pandemic better rebuild and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
