SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)

The UN General Assembly in its 17th session in September 2015 announced a set of 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and 169 targets which will stimulate action over the next 15 years. This set of goals replaces the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were coming to an end in 2015 and will try to work in the areas which could not be completed earlier.

The SDGs were adopted after one of the largest consultation exercises in UN history. The goals were proposed in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012. The SDGs will be effective between 2016–2030. Major highlights of the SDGs are as given below:

(i) poverty eradication;

(ii) combating inequalities;

(iii) promoting gender equality, women and girl empowerment;

(iv) improving health and education;

(v) making cities more sustainable;

(vi) combating climate change;

(vii) protecting oceans and forests;

(viii) integrating the socio-economic and environmental dimensions;

(ix) global partnership for sustainable development;

(x) enhancing capacities of stakeholders in better quality measurement;

(xi) compilation of data or information on sustainable development; and

(xii) effective follow-up and review architecture.

India’s Performance: India had made significant progress on the MDGs and has already achieved the target of gender parity in primary school enrolment and halved the proportion of population who do not have access to clean drinking water and is on track on the poverty reduction target. But it is lagging on targets for achieving universal primary school enrolment, reducing child and infant mortality, and improving access to adequate sanitation.

In comparison to the MDGs, the SDGs have very comprehensive targets and finding indicators for each of the 169 targets will be a challenge. The financing and adequate monitoring mechanisms will pose other major challenges. Taking leads from its progress on the MDGs, India will have to prioritize its SDGs, as it will be difficult to target each goal.