G20 Hangzhou Summit: A Possible Turning Point for Global Governance

The 2016 G20 Summit in Hangzhou takes place within a tense global political context. The outcome of the UK Brexit referendum in June revealed the deep divide between the politics of competitive nationalism and the commitment to international cooperation. It also reflected the depth of public reaction to global economic integration and the absence of response to public anxieties about social well-being and environmental sustainability from the political middle in many countries. China’s hosting of the G20 Summit presents an opportunity to turn a corner in global summitry by strengthening global leadership at this critical juncture, while China’s ability to do so depends on the willingness of other G20 members to comprehensively address public anxieties. The UN 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement, both reached in 2015, do provide political and policy answers to the public anxieties. The question is the effectiveness of the initiatives governments are taking to implement them, which could be framed together to achieve sustainability for all in the face of serious, demonstrable systemic risks. Many governments may resist this level of ambition and prefer to strike a lower profile as the world shifts its focus from goal setting in 2015 to goal implementation in 2016. Yet even with this less ambitious approach, there are ways that G20 countries can initiate processes that engage stakeholders in envisioning the future and developing alternative approaches and pathways to move their nations toward where they need to be by 2030 in terms of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. As people-centered and planet-centered agendas, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set in the UN 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement have the policy content necessary to provide hope and direction for anxious publics. Similarly, it is hopeful that G20 leaders can develop narratives and define commitments to address the economic insecurity of their people and in the meantime strengthen the G20’s role in global governance.

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The Future of Global Governance for Health

10.1093/oso/9780190672676.003.0005 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Michel Sidibé ◽

Helena Nygren-Krug ◽

Bronwyn McBride ◽

Kent Buse

Keyword(s):

Global Health ◽

Global Governance ◽

Well Being ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Access To Justice ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Right ◽

Development Paradigm ◽

Global Governance For Health

This chapter argues that the current global health agenda has failed to put people and their rights at the center. With communities unable to have their voices heard, challenge injustice, and hold decision makers to account, states are ill-equipped to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all. The chapter articulates a shift from a discretionary development paradigm to a rights-based paradigm for global health, building on rights-based approaches that have been proven to work—as in the AIDS response. Seven reforms are proposed, addressing: (1) priority-setting, (2) systems for health, (3) data and monitoring, (4) access to justice, (5) the need to safeguard the right to health across sectors, (6) partnerships, and (7) financing. These reforms call for a broad social movement for global governance for health, advancing and operationalizing rights-based approaches across the SDGs.

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UN Guiding Principles at 10: Permeating Narratives or Yet Another Silo?

Business and Human Rights Journal ◽

10.1017/bhj.2021.9 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Nicola JÄGERS

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Global Issues ◽

Business And Human Rights ◽

Pertinent Question ◽

Development Goals ◽

Guiding Principles ◽

Paris Climate Agreement

Abstract The endorsement of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) triggered a remarkable process accelerating the recognition of human rights responsibilities for corporations in law and governance. Perhaps even more important is the emergence of an authoritative narrative on business and human rights (BHR), which arguably has the potential to overcome the often-fragmented approach to global issues. This article discusses the degree to which the BHR narrative has been able to penetrate competing powerful narratives that shape societal and regulatory responses. To what extent is the need to address the responsibility and accountability of corporations for human rights violations acknowledged? This is an especially pertinent question where it concerns imminent major global challenges such as climate change, which poses one of the greatest threats to human rights. Two major milestones of the last decade in the area of (environmental) sustainability are analysed: the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. What role does the BHR narrative play in this context?

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Classification of EU countries according to the degree of the sustainable development goals achievement related to agriculture

SHS Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/shsconf/202112003009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 120 ◽

pp. 03009

Author(s):

Radka Nenova

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Point Of View ◽

The European Union ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Development Goals ◽

Zero Hunger ◽

The Uk

The main goal of the study is to classify the 27 countries of the European Union (excluding the UK) according to their contribution to achieving the UN’s global goals for sustainable development related to agriculture. Five goals were selected: Goal 2: Zero hunger, Goal 3: Good health and well-being, Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production, Goal 14: Life below water and Goal 15: Life on land. The following criteria for distinguishing countries were used in the clustering: Goal achievement, Challenges remain, Significant challenges, Major challenges. To achieve this goal, from a methodological point of view, are applied: correlation analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA analysis of variance and post hog test for multiple comparison - Tukey HSD. As a result of the analysis, with data from the Sustainable Development Report 2020, four clusters were identified. Bulgaria falls into the second cluster, along with Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland and Sweden. The main conclusion for countries in the second cluster is that there are significant challenges for Goal 2 and Goal 14, challenges remain for Goal 3 and Goal 15 and major challenges for Goal 12.

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Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Romania

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11072156 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2156 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Daniela Firoiu ◽

George H. Ionescu ◽

Anca Băndoi ◽

Nicoleta Mihaela Florea ◽

Elena Jianu

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

National Level ◽

Well Being ◽

The European Union ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Development Indicators ◽

2030 Agenda ◽

Development Goals ◽

Implementation Status

Romania needs a change of the current development paradigm to face the challenges of the 21st century. As a member of the European Union, leaders in Romania are is interested in implementing the principles of sustainable development at a national level to reduce development gaps, to increase citizens’ well-being, and to preserve a clean environment. The purpose of this research is to determine the implementation status of the 2030 Agenda sustainable development goals (SDG) in Romania and to explore to what extent Romania will be able to reach, for the 2030 horizon, EU average values for the selected indicators. The research is based on 107 indicators that monitored the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Eurostat database (sustainable development indicators) was the source of data in terms of their availability and integrity. The research results showed that the implementation status of SDG is sub-optimal. In the case of 40 indicators out of the 107 analyzed, forecasts indicate the possibility of reaching the EU average values by 2030. However, the country can remain on the path to sustainable development only by involving all stakeholders and increasing concrete and well-targeted measures to improve SDG indicators.

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Transforming Food Systems: The Missing Pieces Needed to Make Them Work

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa177 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eileen Kennedy ◽

Patrick Webb ◽

Steven Block ◽

Timothy Griffin ◽

Mozaffarian Dariush ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Food Systems ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

Development Goals ◽

Mitigate Climate Change ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Radical Transformation

Abstract Food systems lie squarely at the intersection of several over-arching goals of the United Nations and member states, as embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals, including, eliminating poverty, hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, achieving good health and well-being, while promoting environmental sustainability. The need for radical transformation of current food systems is inescapable if the world is to achieve one, let alone all, of these goals. Meeting this challenge will inevitably be disruptive to current food systems, carry costs and be politically onerous. But the projected benefits far outweigh these difficulties. This commentary spells out the complexity of issues that need to be tackled in order to design and implement food systems that improve diets, nutrition and health in an equitable fashion, while simultaneously respecting planetary boundaries. Six critical domains are identified that must be addressed for the successful transformation of food systems: (1) reinvent agriculture, (2) transform food environments for healthy diets, (3) mitigate climate change, (4) productively engage the private sector, (5) influence public policy priorities, and (6) establish true cost accounting of food. Because science is crucial for each of these domains, a research driven strategy, emphasizing a collaborative process, is outlined. Bold, new but technically and politically feasible actions are needed to effectively transform current food systems.

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Analysis of pre-service teachers’ perception towards the economic, environmental, social and cultural dimensions of Education for Sustainable Development

Think India ◽

10.26643/think-india.v22i3.8435 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 972-978

Author(s):

Manisha Jetly ◽

Dr. Nandita Singh

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Education For Sustainable Development ◽

Cultural Dimensions ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Depth Study ◽

Development Goals ◽

Class Room

Education for sustainable development (ESD) enjoys a huge momentum worldwide in which the role of teachers for making sustainable development goals a reality has been recognized significantly. Teachers through their knowledge, attitudes and skills can bring the learning about these concepts to the curriculum and class room interaction and are in a position to influence their students. Therefore it is pertinent, that teachers are sensitised towards these issues, so that they prepare and nurture their students for making appropriate and responsible choices which contribute to a sustainable future. At this juncture it becomes crucial to understand their priorities and awareness level in context of the sustainable development. The present research paper aims to analyse the perception of forty post graduate pre-service teachers of the Chandigarh region, towards ESD through the dimensions of economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability and cultural sustainability. For this researchers have adopted qualitative content analysis methodology for an in-depth study of the subjective responses through an open ended question. The findings suggest that most of the respondents associated the perception of ESD strongly with environmental sustainability. It is noted that the pre-service teachers lack a holistic approach towards ESD. On the basis of the findings it is recommended that there is an urgent need of integrating the concept of ESD consciously and conscientiously in India’s teacher education programmes.

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Gender Equity and the SDGs

10.1093/oso/9780190847128.003.0021 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Dettori ◽

Geeta Rao Gupta

Keyword(s):

Gender Equity ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Well Being ◽

Economic Resources ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Global Partnership ◽

Development Goals ◽

Gender Based ◽

Health And Well Being

This chapter identifies some of the most stubborn gender-based risks and vulnerabilities girls face as a cohort from preadolescence through late adolescence across the domains of personal capabilities, security, safety, economic resources, and opportunities. It reviews progress made during the Millennium Development Goal era in improving girls’ health and well-being and looks to the role of adolescent girls in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The chapter concludes by recommending an approach for global partnership that is linked to national and local actions and that is centered on priority interventions that can catalyze change, at scale, for adolescent girls.

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Defining and Quantifying National-Level Targets, Indicators and Benchmarks for Management of Natural Resources to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11020462 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 462 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Chris Dickens ◽

Vladimir Smakhtin ◽

Matthew McCartney ◽

Gordon O’Brien ◽

Lula Dahir

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Natural Resources ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

National Level ◽

Resource Quality ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Country Level ◽

2030 Agenda ◽

Development Goals ◽

Global Indicators

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are high on the agenda for most countries of the world. In its publication of the SDGs, the UN has provided the goals and target descriptions that, if implemented at a country level, would lead towards a sustainable future. The IAEG (InterAgency Expert Group of the SDGs) was tasked with disseminating indicators and methods to countries that can be used to gather data describing the global progress towards sustainability. However, 2030 Agenda leaves it to countries to adopt the targets with each government setting its own national targets guided by the global level of ambition but taking into account national circumstances. At present, guidance on how to go about this is scant but it is clear that the responsibility is with countries to implement and that it is actions at a country level that will determine the success of the SDGs. Reporting on SDGs by country takes on two forms: i) global reporting using prescribed indicator methods and data; ii) National Voluntary Reviews where a country reports on its own progress in more detail but is also able to present data that are more appropriate for the country. For the latter, countries need to be able to adapt the global indicators to fit national priorities and context, thus the global description of an indicator could be reduced to describe only what is relevant to the country. Countries may also, for the National Voluntary Review, use indicators that are unique to the country but nevertheless contribute to measurement of progress towards the global SDG target. Importantly, for those indicators that relate to the security of natural resources security (e.g., water) indicators, there are no prescribed numerical targets/standards or benchmarks. Rather countries will need to set their own benchmarks or standards against which performance can be evaluated. This paper presents a procedure that would enable a country to describe national targets with associated benchmarks that are appropriate for the country. The procedure builds on precedent set in other countries but in particular on a procedure developed for the setting of Resource Quality Objectives in South Africa. The procedure focusses on those SDG targets that are natural resource-security focused, for example, extent of water-related ecosystems (6.6), desertification (15.3) and so forth, because the selection of indicator methods and benchmarks is based on the location of natural resources, their use and present state and how they fit into national strategies.

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Sustained sustainable development actions of China from 1986 to 2020

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87376-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bingsheng Liu ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Jiaming Zhang ◽

Xiaoming Wang ◽

Yuan Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Local Governments ◽

Local Development ◽

Well Being ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Development Goals ◽

Development Levels ◽

The Right ◽

Resource Conditions

AbstractAchieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a long-term task, which puts forward high requirements on the sustainability of related policies and actions. Using the text analysis method, we analyze the China National Sustainable Communities (CNSCs) policy implemented over 30 years and its effects on achieving SDGs. We find that the national government needs to understand the scope of sustainable development more comprehensively, the sustained actions can produce positive effects under the right goals. The SDGs selection of local governments is affected by local development levels and resource conditions, regions with better economic foundations tend to focus on SDGs on human well-being, regions with weaker foundations show priority to basic SDGs on the economic development, infrastructures and industrialization.

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