On September 25, 2015, the UN General Assembly approved to incorporate to its member countries the objectives proposed in what has come to be called 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goals or, directly, Agenda 2030. Its name gives us a clue. In 2030, member countries of the United Nations must have achieved all 17 goals of this proposal, which includes 169 goals. Or, at least, the maximum possible and within the capacities of each signatory country.
It should not be forgotten that the UN u United Nations Organization It is the largest international organization on the planet and is made up of 193 sovereign states. Other world-renowned organizations such as UNESCO, UNHCR or UNICEF depend on the UN. For its part, the General Assembly is the UN body where all member states meet. This meeting takes place once a year, in September, in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Having said that,what does it consist of the 2030 Agenda? Without going into detail about all your goals and objectives, why is it so important for the future of humanity and our planet? And why does it cause so much animosity among the denier collective? Do they have reasons to be against your proposals?
What exactly is the 2030 Agenda
The Sustainable Development Goals or Agenda 2030 is a United Nations initiative. A project large-scale and very ambitious, perhaps in excess, since it proposes to fix some of the great problems of the planet in just 15 years. In summary, his purpose is to end poverty and inequalities and create a more sustainable future that allows humanity to inhabit planet Earth without destroying it.
HE approved in September 2015 and on July 6, 2017 changes were made to make it easier for member countries to meet their objectives. Mostly, narrow the radius of action of each measure through concrete proposals. As well as goals for measure progress resolution of the proposals. In addition, through quantifiable indicators, the United Nations will collect and disseminate data on whether and to what extent the 2030 Agenda is being met.
The 2030 Agenda is nothing new or improvised. Its origin is found in 2000. That year the Millennium Development Goals were announced. Back then, the goal was end poverty in 2015. As we have been able to verify, it was not 100% achieved, although progress was made in several countries and areas of the planet. In those Objectives there were 8 categories and 28 goalsamong which purposes such as reduce the infant mortality ratefight against epidemics and foster a global alliance for the development.
What the objectives of the 2030 Agenda say
These Goals began to be defined in 2012. And it was decided that it was necessary to design an International Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. This last point took its first steps at the Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 creating a working group That working group presented its recommendations the following year, in 2013, with a list of objectives and goals. Those that were approved in 2015 and that we now know as the 2030 Agenda.
We said that the 2030 Agenda is very ambitious because covers many fronts that humanity has faced for a long time. The 17 objectives of the Agenda are a statement of intents and a list of wishes that may not be fully fulfilled but to which we should aspire.
The goals They talk about end poverty and hungerimprove the health and well-being of human beings, improve the teaching qualitypromote gender equality, facilitate access to drinking wateraspire to a future in which we use renewable energy and clean, promote decent work, reduce inequalities, make more sustainable citiestake care of the seas and terrestrial ecosystems, promote peace and justiceetc.
What countries are doing about it
In Spain, Royal Decree 452/2020 of March 10 gives rise to work related to the 2030 Agenda. Specifically, this decree “develops the basic organic structure of the Ministry of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda.” Also functions are set of the Secretary of State for the 2030 Agenda, dependent on said Ministry.
In short, the eleven functions are specified in coordinating the different bodies and institutions and facilitating their collaboration to meet the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. Also design the plans and actions to carry out this work, promote this activity in civil society and in the private sector and analyze the degree of achievement of the objectives.
All this was preceded by the announcement of the European Commission to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the proposals that were announced in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Agreement that entered into force on November 4, 2016 and was signed by the 193 member countries of the United Nations and the European Union itself.
How does it affect me?
All these actions result in the budgets of the European Union and its member countries count on dedicated games to the 2030 Agenda, which are translated into ssubsidies for the private sector and aid for public and private activities that serve to meet the proposed objectives.
It is not easy to say how the 2030 Agenda affects us. Thanks to its objectives, previously unthinkable public projects are being launched. And sectors reluctant to certain changes are being convinced to turn towards a more sustainable economy. Actions are also being carried out such as the promotion of clean energy, the updating and modernization of obsolete infrastructures, the redesign of cities towards a more human model and less dependent on private vehicles, etc.
Actions carried out by the central government, by city councils and councils, by the CCAA or by public or private companies. And everything can be checked viewing indicators and collected data for him Statistics National Institute. However, to see the results, we will have to wait, in many cases, for 2020 onwards, and, finally, for 2030.
Criticism of the 2030 Agenda
Obviously, the importance of the 2030 Agenda generates debate and it is lawful that there are voices against. To begin with, we are used to organizations such as the United Nations or the European Union carrying out commendable initiatives that later are not completed or remain halfway. Or that they are used to promote activities that do not benefit society as a whole.
Some of the criticism of the 2030 Agenda has to do with the fact that it wants solve big problems soon. There are also those who criticize that the goals to carry out the objectives will not solve these problems or that they are simple patches. Other critics say that the 2030 Agenda is badly designed, that it does not take into account local problems and that it is too generic and global, etc. And, of course, there are groups that feel affected because it harms them financially.
However, there are also criticisms that go another way. In recent years, certain groups known as deniersand in some cases, conspiracistsThey have their sights set on the 2030 Agenda and consider it a Trojan horse to make political, economic and social changes that have nothing to do with reality. Or, at least, with the reality that these groups see. It is clear that those who deny the climate crisis They are against investing money in actions such as investing in renewable energy, making cities more sustainable or taking care of the seas and ecosystems. The same happens with inequality, with quality education or with gender equality. If you do not see that there is a problem, you do not consider a solution necessary. Despite the tests.