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Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in a Special Time – Global Issues

Woochong Um
  • Idea by Armida Alisjahbana – Woochong Um – Kanni Wignaraja (Bangkok, Thailand)
  • Associated Press Service

The Covid-19 pandemic and the crises of conflict, hunger, climate change and environmental degradation are resonating, pushing millions into extreme poverty, health and food insecurity. . Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has further disrupted supply chains and caused food and fuel prices to spike.

The devastation caused by efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 across the Asia-Pacific region is now well documented. At least 90 million people are likely to fall into extreme poverty, and more than 150 million and 170 million people are below the poverty line of US$3.20 and US$5.50 a day, respectively.

The pandemic has resulted in uneven progress in the SDGs and exposed glaring gaps in social protection and health care systems. The momentum for recovery in Asia and the Pacific has been shaped by access to immunization and diagnostics, as well as the structure and performance of national economies and public health systems.

For all the economic decline, however, greenhouse gas emissions in the Asia-Pacific region have barely budged, and the protracted climate crisis continues to rage.

For example, the positive effects of generating less waste and air pollution are short-lived. Action has been slow, even as many countries in Asia and the Pacific have committed to expanding their climate action ambitions and pursuing a just energy transition. The political and economic incentive to move away from fossil fuels remains weak, even as oil and gas prices in the region soar.

As the conflict in Ukraine leads to greater instability and exacerbates food and fuel shortages, leading to higher prices, security becomes increasingly central to economic and political priorities. treat.

This combination of issues is adding to the shocks already faced by the pandemic and causing crises of governance in some parts of our region. Again, the poorest and most vulnerable groups are affected the most.

It is more important than ever to ensure that integrated aspects of economic, social and environmental sustainability are built into our recovery approaches.

As our joint ESCAP-ADB-UNDP 2022 report on Let’s build together for the highlighted SDGs, despite important practices, Asia and the Pacific countries need to act much more decisively – faster and at scale – on this imperative. This redefines what progress means and how it is measured, as development that promotes the well-being of the whole – people and planet.

Special agenda for extraordinary times

All of this is a serious backdrop to achieving the SDGs’ ambitious agenda. But these intertwined shocks are also the result of a failure to promote the SDGs as an integrated agenda.

We need unique responses and investments to fundamentally change what determines sustainable development outcomes. Instead of treating the energy, food and human security crises that exist today as distinct, we must address the links between them.

To illustrate, a steady focus on fiscal reforms that deliver environmental and social benefits can produce big wins. Asia and the Pacific can lead with action based on longstanding commitments to eliminate costly subsidies that are harmful to the environment, including for fossil fuels.

There are also opportunities to reuse the estimated US$540 billion spent each year in global agricultural subsidies to promote more inclusive agriculture, and food production systems. healthier and more sustainable.

Better targeting smallholder farmers and rewarding good practices such as promoting the transition to regenerative agriculture can help transform food systems, restore ecosystems, and protect biodiversity. biological.

Just transitions

For our part, as UN agencies and multilateral organizations, we are committed to supporting countries pursuing only a transition to rapid and resilient decarbonisation. with climate. Scaling up greener renewable energy deployments will be key to meeting energy security needs.

Similarly, the current food crisis must be the catalyst for an urgent transition to sustainable, local food production and markets. Agricultural practices that promote local resilience, adopt nature-based solutions while increasing efficiency, and support climate mitigation practices can strengthen long-term food security.

Check out the SDGs that deal with and ask us to address the tough trade-offs in the recovery process. To get out of the energy, food and financial space crises, we must accelerate the transformations needed to end poverty and protect the planet.

We must ensure that by 2030 everyone, not just a few, enjoys a greater degree of peace and prosperity.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Program will host side event at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on 12 July 2022, will further explore these topics.

Armida Alisjahbana He is the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Kanni Wignaraja is the Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Woochong Um is the Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

IPS UN Office


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© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service

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