Ensuring that all people have equal opportunities and live better lives without compromising our planet
The eradication of poverty in all its forms remains the biggest challenge facing humanity today. While the number of people living in extreme poverty has more than halved between 1990 and 2015, from 1.9 billion to 836 million, many still struggle to meet the most basic human needs.
Today, more than 800 million people around the world are living on less than $1.25 a day; many do not have access to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation. Rapid economic growth in countries like China and India has lifted millions of people out of poverty, but progress has been uneven.
Rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity over the past 20 years have reduced the number of undernourished people by more than half. Many of the developing countries that used to suffer from famine and starvation are now able to meet the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable. In Central and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, great progress has been made in eliminating extreme hunger.
These are all great achievements in achieving the goals set by the original Millennium Development Goals.
We have made great strides in reducing child mortality rates, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Since 1990, there has been a reduction of more than 50% in preventable child deaths worldwide. Maternal mortality has also decreased by 45% worldwide. Between 2000 and 2013, the HIV/AIDS transmission rate decreased by 30%, and more than 6.2 million people were saved from malaria.
Despite this incredible progress, more than 6 million children die each year before they reach their fifth birthday. Every day, 16,000 children die from preventable diseases such as measles and tuberculosis. ,
Since 2000, great progress has been made towards achieving the goal of primary education for all. The total schooling rate in developing regions reached 95% in 2015; The rate of children out of school worldwide has decreased by half. In addition, there was a great increase in literacy rates; The number of girls going to school has reached the highest level. These are all very important achievements.
In some developing regions, however, progress has been difficult due to severe poverty, armed conflict and other immediate crises. The continuation of armed conflict in West and North Africa has led to a decrease in the number of children going to school.
Eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a fundamental human right, it is also critical to accelerating sustainable development. It has been proven time and again that the empowerment of women and girls creates a multiplier effect and accelerates economic growth and development in all areas.
Today, more girls go to school than 15 years ago; Gender equality in primary education has been achieved in most regions. Women now make up 41% of the non-agricultural paid workforce; this rate was 35% in 1990.
Water scarcity affects more than 40% of people worldwide; Due to global warming as a result of climate change, this rate, which is already at an alarming level, is expected to increase even more. While 2.1 billion people have had access to better water and sanitation since 1990, the shortage of safe drinking water supplies is a major problem affecting all continents.
In 2011, 41 countries experienced water shortages; 10 of them are running out of renewable clean water resources and now have to use alternative sources. These trends are getting worse due to increased drought and desertification.
Between 1990 and 2010, the number of people with access to electricity increased by another 1.7 billion. As the world’s population grows, the demand for cheap energy will also increase. The global economy based on fossil fuels and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions are creating huge changes in our climate system. These changes affect all continents.
Promoting clean energy enabled more than 20% of global energy to be produced from renewable sources as of 2011. Still, one in five people does not have access to electricity; and as demand continues to rise, a massive increase in renewable energy generation worldwide will be required.
Despite the lasting effects of the 2008 economic crisis and the global recession, the number of workers in extreme poverty has declined drastically over the past 25 years. In developing countries the middle class now accounts for more than 34% of total employment; this figure nearly tripled between 1991 and 2015.
However, as the global economy continues to improve, we see slower growth, increasing inequalities, and job opportunities not increasing at the same rate as the growing workforce. According to the International Labor Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015.
Infrastructure investment and innovation are critical drivers of economic growth and development. With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, public transportation and renewable energy have become more important than ever. Likewise, new industries and the growth of information and communication technologies are important.
Technological progress is the key to finding permanent solutions to economic and environmental problems such as creating new jobs and increasing energy efficiency. Supporting sustainable industries and investing in scientific research and innovation are important ways that make sustainable development possible.
It has been proven that income inequality is increasing, with the richest 10% receiving 40% of total global income. The poorest 10% receive only between 2% and 7% of global income. When we take into account the population growth, inequality has grown by 11% in developing countries.
To address growing inequalities, it is imperative to adopt sound policies that empower the lowest income 10% and support the economic participation of all, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity.
More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities. By 2050, this figure will be 6.5 billion, two-thirds of the world’s population. We cannot achieve sustainable development if we do not significantly change the way we build and manage our urban spaces.
The rapid growth of cities and the increase in rural-urban migration in developing countries have led to a large increase in the number of mega-cities. In 1990, the number of mega-cities with a population of 10 million or more was 10. In 2014, there are now 28 mega-cities with a total of 453 million people.
To achieve economic growth and sustainable development, we must immediately reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. Agriculture is the largest consumer of water worldwide, and agricultural irrigation accounts for around 70% of all fresh water used by humans.
The efficient management of our common natural resources and the way we dispose of toxic waste and pollutants are also important targets in achieving this goal. Encouraging industries, businesses and consumers to recycle and reduce waste is equally important as encouraging developing countries to adopt more sustainable consumption patterns by 2030.
There is not a single country in the world that has not personally experienced the severe effects of climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and are now 50% higher than in 1990. Eastern Europe and Central Asia are not major producers of greenhouse gas emissions; but they suffer disproportionately from the consequences of climate change.
Floods in the Western Balkans destroyed thousands of homes and displaced people. Shrinking glaciers and dwindling water resources in Central Asia can severely affect irrigation and hydroelectric production. Moldavia and Southern Ukraine are experiencing severe droughts, causing major agricultural losses.
Because of their warmth, chemistry, currents and life, the world’s oceans sustain the global systems that make the Earth habitable for humans. The way we manage this vital resource is essential for humanity as a whole and also for balancing the effects of climate change.
More than three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, since 30% of the world’s fish stocks are overused today, it has fallen below the level where it will yield sustainable products.
Human life is dependent on land as well as on the oceans for food and livelihoods. Plants provide 80% of people’s food supplies, we rely on agriculture as an important economic resource and means of development. Forests cover 30% of the Earth’s surface; it provides vital habitats for millions of species and important sources of clean air and water; and also critical to combating climate change.
Today, we are witnessing soil degradation on an unprecedented scale; The loss of arable land has reached 30 to 35 times historical rates.
We cannot expect sustainable development without effective governance based on peace, stability, human rights and the rule of law. We live in an increasingly divided world. While peace, security and prosperity are permanent in some regions, in others there is an endless spiral of conflict and violence. However, this is by no means an inevitable result and must be resolved.
High-intensity armed conflict and insecurity have devastating effects on the country’s development; affects economic growth and often creates injustices that can last for generations.
The Sustainable Development Goals can only be achieved with a strong commitment to global partnership and cooperation. Although the official development assistance provided by developed countries increased by 66% between 2000 and 2014, the demands for financial resources and aid continue to increase due to conflicts or humanitarian crises caused by natural disasters. Many countries also require Official Development Assistance to stimulate growth and trade.
Our world is now more interconnected than ever before. Increasing access to technology and knowledge is an important way to share ideas and support innovation.