scholarly journals China’s National Plan on Implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: from the Perspective of National Performance of Multilateral Environmental Agreements

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-66
Author(s):  
Qin Tianbao ◽  
Hou Fang

In terms of the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, the implementation of the agreements has gradually shifted from the institutional construction of the international level to the implementation of the national level. Since the Millennium Development Goals did not reach the goal of sustainable development in the year of 2015, 2030 Sustainable Development Goals had drew the lessons, put forward the goals of economic, social and environmental, and required all countries to provide their own country’s plan. As the largest developing country, China plays a decisive role in the international environmental governance. At home, China has formulated the domestic environmental governance norms for the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and established an inter ministerial coordination mechanism for implementing the Sustainable Development Agenda composed of 43 government departments. China is also actively participating in international environmental governance, participating and promoting the conclusion and effectiveness of treaties on environmental protection at the international and regional levels, earnestly implementing and helping other countries to implement treaties, and expanding the global partnership through various formal and informal meetings and other channels.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Dickens ◽  
Vladimir Smakhtin ◽  
Matthew McCartney ◽  
Gordon O’Brien ◽  
Lula Dahir

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.


2021 ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
N.V. Kravchuk ◽  

The review is focused on the issue of policy of sustainable development introduction on the national level. UN sustainable development goals presuppose a large discretion of the state in their implementation. The object of analysis is therefore instruments the states used to achieve these goals, challenges they face while reforming legislation and practice and conditions necessary to achieve success.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Barocco ◽  
V Patussi ◽  
M Cella ◽  
D Germano ◽  
A Pernarcic ◽  
...  

Abstract Surveys (2008-2018) carried out by the Local Health Agency of Trieste (ASUITS) in local collective catering (CC) services of schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and workplaces (25.000 daily meals) have shown some non - adherence to healthier food choices, food standards, procedures and green and social procurement as recommended by the WHO, FAO, UE, Ministry of Health and of Environment. The purpose of this project is to support local public and private organizations in transforming the national and regional catering services food standards related to health, nutrition, environment and social criteria into food procurement and food contracts specifications. This has been done by compiling the major obstacles to improved standards observed during surveys, and by sharing critical and relevant examples with major public contractors across local, regional and national level. The guidelines (GL) for public procurement of CC consist of five chapters: the elaboration of specifications; a response module to present the offer of services; selection and award criteria, an evaluation system of offers, and the technical specifications attached. Technical information fixes the constituent elements of the service in order to have similar and directly comparable offers. GL cover both the purchasing of food and the contracting of catering services. In this way public or private institutions are able to prepare tender documents suitable to respond to health, economic needs and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The development of the GL has increased the awareness and real potential that local organizations have in enhancing the strategic use of purchasers to boost food qualification, jobs, growth and investment. As well as to create a more innovative economy, to be resource and energy efficient, and to be socially-inclusive. To meet population nutrient intake goals and SDGs it is necessary to increase co-operation and the sharing of the objectives of ’Health in All Policies’. Key messages Contractors need practical tools to apply sustainable development goals criteria in collective catering. The integrated collective catering guide is a key to improving capacity building in institutions.


Author(s):  
Dona Azizi ◽  
Frank Biermann ◽  
Rakhyun E. Kim

Abstract Over the past three decades, policy integration has become a key objective for guiding and harmonizing policies for sustainable development. Most recently, the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals have added new impetus to efforts of integrating competing objectives of environmental sustainability, social development, and economic growth, as well as of integrating issue-specific environmental policies on climate change and terrestrial and marine biodiversity. While multilateral environmental agreements are important international instruments for achieving sustainable development, there has been little focus so far on their contribution to policy integration. Covering the years from 2007 to 2016, this article presents an empirical analysis of sustainability policy integration (i.e., how multilateral environmental agreements integrate environmental, social, and economic issues in their decisions) and environmental policy integration (i.e., the outreach of multilateral environmental agreements to different environmental issue areas beyond their mandate). The analysis finds that multilateral environmental agreements have not moved toward further policy integration over the studied period. If policy and institutional coherence is a key global governance target in the post-2015 era, a concerted effort will be required to improve the extent of policy integration by multilateral environmental agreements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Raszkowski ◽  
Bartosz Bartniczak

The purpose of the study is to determine the implementation status of the 2030 Agenda sustainable development goals (SDG) in Poland. The current situation in the country is characterized in the introduction, with particular emphasis on the socio-economic situation, economic growth, sustainable development, crucial strategic documents, development policies, non-governmental organizations and good governance. The next part of the article presents the selected for analyses indicators, which monitor the implementation of SDG at the national level (National SDG indicators). The study covers the period 2010–2016. In terms of the research methodology, the dynamic analysis methods were used, i.e., individual dynamics indexes (fixed-base and chain type). The average rate of particular phenomena changes over time was also determined. The data for calculations were retrieved from Statistics Poland resources. The article provides recommendations regarding the effective implementation of SDG in Poland in the years to come. The research results showed that the implementation status of SDG is satisfactory. In the case of 57 indicators out of the 73 analysed, the direction of expected changes was positive; thus the country remains on the right path towards sustainable development. Among the diagnosed problems the following can be listed: obesity, civilization diseases, lower income, government expenditure and R&D outlays in agriculture, fewer adults participating in education, gender pay gap, lower revenues from selling innovative products, unfavourable ratio of disposable income in rural areas against the city, unsatisfactory quality of the law-making, relatively low percentage of energy from renewable sources in transport and land requiring reclamation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-167
Author(s):  
Unmana Sarangi

Abstract: The research study entitled ‘Global Environment, Climate Change, Smart Urbanization and International Environment Laws for Global Sustainable Development’ focuses on the issues relating to the global environment, climate change, smart urbanization and the international environmental laws that determine these global indicators in achieving sustainable development goals and in trying to assess the linkages and implications of these macro variables as key determinants of the global environment and climate change. Thus, the problem associated with this research study is a global phenomenon that definitely has national, sub-national, and regional implications/ramifications across economies. These macro variables are scientific and practical determinants of the way global economies move forward and the problems encountered by various economies in the light of the global environment, climate, and rapid smart urbanization changes. Hence, the research problem which the research study focuses on is a realistic and practical one that encompasses, covers, and determines the major macro aspects of the global economies. The aspects dealt in the research study covers among others issues such as global environment, climate change, smart urbanization, and international environmental laws, IPCC, Paris Agreement on Climate Change and NDCs, promoting climate-resilient smart and rapid urbanization, exploration of climate change legislation, global environmental governance systems to promote peace, justice and development and in fulfillment of environmental and human rights connected with it, etc., The most important conclusions drawn from the research study is that United Nations has been playing a major role as the unique international organization which has been making all-out efforts to mitigate climate change, adopt climate-resilient measures for effective, smart and rapid urbanization in cities, reshaping these measures to attain global sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and in impacting global infrastructure for global sustainable development.


2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukul Sanwal

The experience of the last ten years of global environmental negotiations suggests that a new and different approach to international cooperation is required if we are to achieve sustainable development. While multilateral environmental agreements have provided a valuable framework for building a consensus on broad objectives, their implementation requires a focus on the underlying activities that cause environmental degradation. Moreover, globalization encourages the development and use of innovative technologies, leading to a large degree of overlap between global environmental concerns and national sustainable development objectives. These shifts require wholly new perspectives that are based less on determining responsibilities and more on supporting mutually reinforcing transformations. The new approach also looks beyond the state to other stakeholders as contributors to achieving sustainable development.


Author(s):  
Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger ◽  
Alexandra Harrington

This chapter considers the UN contributions to treaty-making in practice on the environment and sustainable development. It begins with a brief survey of the crafting and “clustering” of multilateral environmental agreements as international responses to emerging global environmental problems. Specifically, this chapter considers the role of the UN in this process, focusing on successive waves of treaty-making over recent decades. It suggests that the UN has played a very important role in negotiations in this field, and continues to serve as a crucial and valuable actor in the implementation and refinement of these treaties and the broader problem-based clusters, in spite of very limited resources. This chapter identifies several key treaties that address a selection of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs,) leading to a concluding consideration of how international accords in this field are, in turn, contributing to the UN Charter. It suggests that, without the UN-facilitated treaties, many SDGs could be considered “hollow,” dependent on voluntary collaborations, and devoid of reliable regimes to achieve their targets. Not all relationships are equally integrated. Fragmentation, duplication, unintended overlapping of obligations or even conflicts may exist. As international governance becomes more sophisticated and complex, these interrelated instruments can be negotiated, implemented, and interactionally refined across multiple nested levels. To this end, this chapter argues that adoption of the SDGs may support greater coherence across the UN system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Guan ◽  
Ke Meng ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Lan Xue

Raising public awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a critical prerequisite for their implementation. However, little is known about attitude formation among the public toward SDGs at the national level. We explored this topic in China, a country that has emerged as a leading world economy with strong transformational imperatives to work toward sustainable development. Following Chaiken’s heuristic–systematic model and using data from an online survey with 4128 valid respondents, this study investigated the factors that affect public support for SDGs and explains how individuals form supportive attitudes. Our empirical evidence showed that in China, first, public support is mainly shaped by demographic attributes (gender, age, and educational attainment), value predispositions (e.g., altruistic values and anthropocentric worldviews), and the level of SDG-relevant knowledge. Second, an interaction effect exists between value predispositions and knowledge among the public concerning support for SDGs. Third, the Chinese public views the implementation of SDGs as a part of development policy rather than environmental policy. This study provides empirical findings on the factors that account for public attitudes toward SDGs, outlining some useful implications for designing policy tools that would bolster SDG action.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Petti ◽  
Claudia Trillo ◽  
Busisiwe Ncube Makore

The Agenda 2030 includes a set of targets that need to be achieved by 2030. Although none of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focuses exclusively on cultural heritage, the resulting Agenda includes explicit reference to heritage in SDG 11.4 and indirect reference to other Goals. Achievement of international targets shall happen at local and national level, and therefore, it is crucial to understand how interventions on local heritage are monitored nationally, therefore feeding into the sustainable development framework. This paper is focused on gauging the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals with reference to cultural heritage, by interrogating the current way of classifying it (and consequently monitoring). In fact, there is no common dataset associated with monitoring SDGs, and the field of heritage is extremely complex and diversified. The purpose for the paper is to understand if the taxonomy used by different national databases allows consistency in the classification and valuing of the different assets categories. The European case study has been chosen as field of investigation, in order to pilot a methodology that can be expanded in further research. A cross-comparison of a selected sample of publicly accessible national cultural heritage databases has been conducted. As a result, this study confirms the existence of general harmonisation of data towards the achievement of the SDGs with a broad agreement of the conceptualisation of cultural heritage with international frameworks, thus confirming that consistency exists in the classification and valuing of the different assets categories. However, diverse challenges of achieving a consistent and coherent approach to integrating culture in sustainability remains problematic. The findings allow concluding that it could be possible to mainstream across different databases those indicators, which could lead to depicting the overall level of attainment of the Agenda 2030 targets on heritage. However, more research is needed in developing a robust correlation between national datasets and international targets.


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