The SDGs - For a better world

For centuries, our earth has faced countless of social and ecological challenges. The world’s population is growing. As a consequence, more and more resources are needed to maintain the rising consumption. As a result, there are a lot of differences among the world. Europe is doing well, but around 11% of the world's population, most of them in Africa, still suffers from hunger. Especially eating habits in industrialized nations burden the system all over the world and have a significant impact on our environment.

But what can each country do to make our world a better place? World politics, more precisely the UN, has been dealing with this question for several years. The result are the SDGs.

What are the SDGs?

Maybe one or two have already heard from the term “SDG”. The abbreviation stands for "Sustainable Development Goals". It was based on the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), which pursued similar global goals as the current SDGs. The MDGs defined goals from 2000 to 2015 and were replaced by the SDGs in 2015. The SDGs cover 17 different resolutions in the field of economics, ecology and sociology, which were adopted by the UN. They have to be achieved over a period of 15 years until 2030. Participants are all states, unlike the MDGs, no matter how far they are developed.

The 17 goals

1. No Poverty

2. No Hunger

Hunger is closely linked to poverty. Both topics go hand in hand with each other. Reducing poverty also alleviates hunger. Because one of the goals is also to fight hunger.

But at the same time, food should be produced nutritious and sustainably which is linked to food and nutrition. Every person should be provided with the essential nutrients. This is especially important for children who are dependent on good nutrition for their physical development.

3. Good health and well-being

The Core elements of this SDG are that every person of all age classes should be able to go to the doctor and receive the best treatment as possible to increase their life expectancy. Among other things, diseases such as AIDS or malaria should no longer exist until 2030 and child mortality should be counteracted in all suggestible cases.

 4. High-quality education

Everyone should have the opportunity to receive equivalent education. On the one hand, this applies to the school education and further to periodic trainings. Lifelong learning and wide-reaching educational opportunities should become a worldwide standard.

 5. Gender equality

The disparities between the sexes should be aligned. Women and men should have the same rights everywhere and be treated identically. This applies, for example, at the social level to forced weddings, violence and discrimination, but also to job positions where it is harder for women to obtain doctorates than for men.

 6. Clean water and sanitation

Everyone should have the opportunity and the right to have access to clean water. The same applies to sanitations. In addition, the water treatment should not pollute the environment.

 7. Affordable and clean energy

Energy production should be based more on renewable energies but should still be affordable. In this way, not only money is saved, but also the environment is relieved. In addition, all people should have access to electricity, also in developing countries.

 8. Decent work and economic growth

Especially people in developing countries should have the right to work and also the opportunity to find one. Nobody should be exploited and paid below the subsistence level. Also, safety measures must be taken in dangerous occupations, so that the physical well-being is not endangered. The supply chain is also involved. The supply chain should be organized more transparent, so that a better overview of the individual companies that are involved in a product, is guaranteed. Also important for the supply chain are the living conditions of the workers. Especially in developing countries, better working conditions need to be established to boost economic growth in order to give the residents a better life.

9. Industry, Innovation and infrastructure

This point focuses especially on developing countries. The infrastructure and industry are not well developed there. Therefore, one of the goals is to build infrastructure and to promote the sustainable industrialization and innovative ideas. But industrial nations would benefit as well. Especially in rural areas, which are found in every country, a good infrastructure for mobility is important to provide every citizen with the best opportunities and connections to civilization.

 10. Reduction of inequalities

Inequalities within and among countries should be further reduced. For example, every inhabitant should be treated equally regardless of his or her background, income, gender, age or religion.

 11. Sustainable cities and communities

Cities and communities should become safer and more sustainable over the next few years and housing should be affordable for everyone by 2030. Public transport and roads should be developed with particular regard for people with physical disabilities and cities should be made safer against environmental disasters. In addition, more green spaces need to be created and environmental protection has to be promoted.

 12. Responsible consumption and production

One of the main problems for environmental protection is the increasing consumption and need for meat and raw materials. The goal of this point is it to promote sustainable and responsible consumption and to make the production chain of groceries as transparent as possible.

 13. Climate action

The goal for the next 15 years is to counteract the climate change and to respond to possible climate change-related consequences. Particularly endangered countries should be prepared for potentially extreme weather conditions, but other countries should be made to think more ecologically and to introduce environmentally friendly measures.

 14. Life below water

The expression makes it easy to guess what it is: It is about the fishing and pollution of the seas. Among other things, this should be regulated through stronger controls and tougher guidelines for fishermen.

 15. Life on land

The 15th point contains many different aspects. From the protection, restoration and promotion of land use up to animal welfare and forest management, extensive changes are to be made.

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Here the goal is to promote peace within a country, but also on an international level in the long term. Crime rates and corruption must be reduced and various national institutions must be set to counter terrorism and crime.

 17. Partnerships for the goals

The last point provides to achieve the previous challenges together and to connect countries through those goals. This happens, for example, through mutual support in the fields of finance, technology, trade and capacity building.

Sarah Wirgenings

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