scholarly journals Conceptualizing Interactions between SDGs and Urban Sustainability Transformations in Covid-19 Times

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-210
Author(s):  
Kerstin Krellenberg ◽  
Florian Koch

Given the potential of cities to contribute to a more sustainable world as framed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Development Agenda, this article focuses on Urban Sustainability Transformations. We take a closer look at the potentials, contradictions and challenges that SDG implementation in cities involves in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. We argue that SDG implementation needs to consider these global challenges in order to pursue its transformative approach. As a starting point we take SDG 11 and its subtargets to achieve resilient cities and communities, with a focus on German cities. The article will thus contribute to the discussion on the constraints associated with implementing SDGs in cities, given the multiple challenges and actors involved, and the complexity this implies for Urban Sustainability Transformations.

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 793-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibylle L Herzig Van Wees ◽  
Mats Målqvist ◽  
Rachel Irwin

The Swedish Global Health Research Conference held in Stockholm, 18–19 April 2018, convened researchers from across Sweden’s universities to foster collaboration and new research. In response to the theme of the conference, How can Sweden contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals? From research to action, many of the plenary and keynote speakers highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research and teaching. This commentary draws upon a workshop discussing interdisciplinarity, which took place at the conference. Participants included senior professors, lecturers, students and collaborators from the private sector and civil society and we discussed the conceptual and structural challenges that prevent engagement in interdisciplinary research. Although the workshop focused on the Swedish context, issues will be familiar to researchers working outside of Sweden. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals highlight the grand challenges for global society and are intertwined, with progress in one affecting progress in all others. With this starting point, we argue that interdisciplinary research is the way to achieve them. Accordingly, we need to overcome the conceptual and structural challenges that can hinder it. We therefore argue for a paradigm shift of how we value knowledge. We also call for fundamental changes in external and internal (university-level) funding structures, and for the strengthening of interdisciplinary global health teaching.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Senko Plicanic

<p>The article analyses the importance of an active role of the state in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Its starting point is that despite the fact that today there is a growing recognition in the world that for the implementation of sustainable development an active role of the state and local self-governing communities is indispensable and despite the fact that in Slovenia such a role of the state in implementing sustainable development stems from its Constitution, so far, too little has been done in Slovenia to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose of this article is to analyse theoretical arguments and the Constitution in order to show the need for an active role of the state in implementing sustainable development goals, and also to discuss basic steps to be implemented in order to achieve an active role of the state in Slovenia. In this article comparative and analytical methods were used in studying the literature and regulation. The article, based on theoretical arguments and the constitutional analysis, identifies the need for an active role of the state in implementing sustainable development goals, and proposes arguments for it and also basic steps toward an active role of the state. The discussed topic is new and this article contributes to the field some fundamental arguments for the active role of state and for the more comprehensive policy-making. The article offers theoretical and constitutional arguments to be implemented in order to transform the present role of the state from a passive one into an active role and its findings are meant to be used by policy-makers and law-makers as a significant argument to pursue more active role of the state in implementing sustainable development goals.</p>


Social Change ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-309
Author(s):  
Senkosi Moses Balyejjusa

Sustainable development has become a mantra in politics, academia and development policy and practice. Indeed, many policy and practice strategies, such as the sustainable development goals, have been devised in order to achieve sustainable development. Although the contents and items in these agendas are human needs, the use of ‘human needs’ language is less emphasised/explicitly spelt out. In fact, the language of human needs is almost absent. In this article, I argue that the adoption of the human needs language will strengthen sustainable development practice, efforts and agenda. This is because, unlike other aspirations, human needs by nature are universal. Secondly, human needs are limited in number compared to wants, desires, goals and capabilities. This nature of human needs makes the human needs language effective in promoting the sustainable development agenda and efforts, thus, adequately meeting the needs of the current and future generations.


Author(s):  
Alif Khuwarazmi Maulana Julendra ◽  
Silvi Sri Mulyani ◽  
Arfi Mulyasa Insani

The SDGs outline 17 goals that are part of the sustainable development agenda. One of the efforts that can be made to alleviate poverty around the world is by utilizing "endowment funds". In Indonesia, financing innovation to alleviate poverty can be done through cash waqf. However, the facts on the ground show that the huge potential for cash waqf cannot be optimally absorbed. Therefore, this study aims to explore and test empirically the extent to which the Indonesian people intend to optimize the potential of cash waqf in an effort to support financing and achieve the goal of poverty alleviation in Indonesia. This is done by identifying the factors that influence the intention of the Indonesian people to distribute cash waqf and correlating this with the influence of public knowledge about waqf, especially the cash waqf itself. The method used in this study is a quantitative method by collecting primary data from as many as 316 Muslim respondents throughout Indonesia. The questionnaire used is the adoption of Theory Planned Behavior (TPB) with the addition of several variables that affect intention. This approach is used to determine the community's intention to distribute cash waqf. The results of the study indicate the consideration of Indonesian Muslim knowledge in the influence of the intention to do cash waqf, and the results show that there is no significant influence between attitudes (attitudes towards) and people's intention to donate money.


ICCD ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-264
Author(s):  
Samsinar Samsinar ◽  
Denada Faraswacyen L. Gaol

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covers 17 goals with 169 measurable achievements and deadlines determined by the United Nations in 2015 as the world development agenda for the benefits of human beings and the Earth. The joint development ambition is set to be done in 2030. For the community service discussed in this article, the team focuses on the 4th goal, namely quality education. The goal ensures the quality of inclusive and equitable education, and promotes a lifetime learning opportunities for all. The practical objectives of such education include direct goals by children, teachers, parents, and the community. Such education means providing equal and fair opportunities for all disregarding their backgrounds, circumstances, economic abilities, etc., which are considered as obstacles to obtain education. The development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has touched many fields in everyday life and is no exception for persons with disabilities. For persons with disabilities, ICT devices are widely used to support and ease the process of completing tasks and encourage creativity. The ICT training for educators and caregivers is an educational process aiming to provide sufficient understanding on the use of ICT device systems as supporting systems for completing daily tasks thus increasing productivity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (36) ◽  
pp. 365-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane H. França ◽  
Ulisses E. C. Confalonieri

Abstract Health is part of the Sustainable Development Agenda adopted by the United Nations and local communities have an important role in the definition of their own development needs and in the discussion of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. A field survey using a validated questionnaire was applied to 336 extremely poor households in a Brazilian municipality. The survey was a cross-sectional and observational study and included interviews with healthcare professionals and social workers. Drug/alcohol abuse was pointed as the major problem to obtain improvements in quality of life. The prevalence of disability was 14%. A reduction in rates of deaths caused by crimes and prevention of disabilities should be included as health targets under the SDGs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Shang ◽  
Gunnar Sivertsen ◽  
Zhe Cao ◽  
Lin Zhang

In 2016, the United Nations officially launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address urgent global challenges over the next 15 years. Among the seventeen SDGs, Gender Equality (SDG5) is recognized as important for the achievement of the other sixteen goals because gender inequality exists across education, employment opportunities, healthcare facilities, life expectancy, family life, and political participation, thereby holding back the capacity of half of the world’s population to contribute to solutions to the global challenges. This bibliometric study explores gender balance and differences within SDG5 oriented research during the first five years after the implementation of SDG5 in 2016. Unlike most research oriented at other SDGs, this field of research has low activity and a dominance of female researchers. Within the field, male and female researchers focus on partly different topics. Publications by male researchers tend to be more cited while potential readers show more interest in publications by female researchers. This investigation highlights the importance of increasing gender diversity in SDG5-related studies, which is helpful for the achievement of sustainable development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musfiqa Ashraf ◽  
Lokiat Ullah ◽  
Muqsuda Ashraf Shuvro ◽  
Umme Salma

Introduction: The Sustainable Development Goals 2030, titled “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” with 17 goals and 169 targets (including 43 means of implementation) were adopted at the United Nations in September 2015. The Seventh Five Year Plan of Bangladesh (SFYP), “Accelerating Growth, Empowering Every Citizen” for the years 2016-2020, produced by General Economics Division, Planning Commission, can be regarded as the blue print for the early critical phase of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation. Materials & Methods: This Review Article was prepared based on updated International Newsletter, Journal and Data from Bangladesh Government Planning Commission. Discussion: Challenges of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 7th Plan include resource mobilization, tapping population momentum, managing unplanned urbanization, natural disasters and climate change, utilization of resources, skill development and quality education, improving competitiveness, governance, taming inequality and regional disparity. Bangladesh prepared its own post-2015 Development Agenda and contributed to the international discourse through UN. Conclusion: The General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission, based on a consultative process initiated in 2013, goals and targets were developed in the context of Bangladesh. Through this process, 11 goals along with 58 targets with corresponding 241 measurable indicators were proposed. Civil society in Bangladesh also produced what is described as “a people-centred, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda.” It came up with 13 Goals,50 Targets and 199 Indicators. Medicine Today 2019 Vol.31(1): 46-59


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsje Fourie

The past decade has seen a gradual convergence between the modernizing, top-down development agendas associated with “new donors” to Africa and the human development agenda more commonly linked to traditional donors. But while instruments such as the Sustainable Development Goals now demand both industrialization and empowerment, donors still struggle to reconcile these competing expectations. This article uses a variety of qualitative data to examine one such project: the attempted transfer of Japanese management techniques (or kaizen) to workplaces across Ethiopia as part of Japanese official development assistance. Asking why and how the Japanese and Ethiopian governments pursue these aims, the article finds an intervention that is low modernist in design: its goals and logics are modernist but tempered by a respect for local knowledge and a preference for evolutionary over revolutionary change. The fact that Japan is the donor to promulgate such a paradigm is no coincidence, I find, given the historical origins of kaizen and Japan’s long-standing hybrid role in international development debates. Low modernist interventions such as Ethiopian kaizen demonstrate the utility of moving beyond dichotomies (China/West, growth/equity, efficiency/empowerment). But in both Ethiopia and the Japanese aid apparatus, powerful centrifugal forces still make low modernism a difficult balancing act to achieve.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Melles

As reflected in the sustainable development goals (SDGs), sustainable development is a multi-dimensional concept integrating political, ethical, economic, and other factors. Reports from the United Nations (UN) Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD) suggest that universities are more engaged with sustainable development in higher education. Despite promising signals about student awareness of sustainable development, survey studies suggest student engagement and knowledge is limited. Previous studies have tended to focus on undergraduates and examine basic attitudes to triple bottom line issues. This study examined knowledge and attitudes of postgraduate U.K. students enrolled in one-year taught sustainability degrees on the multi-dimensional issues of sustainable development. This study piloted a 39-question 7-point Likert scale survey with a cohort of U.K.-taught postgraduate (MSc, MPhil) students (n = 121, Cronbach’s Alpha 0.796, n = 39 questions). The study found this cohort able to recognize and respond to the multiple challenges of strong and weak sustainable development issues rather than exhibiting knowledge gaps previously reported. Results and qualitative comments from the survey suggest, however, that students resist the idea of strong interventions in social, political, and economic life.


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