Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize three core elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being at all ages is essential to sustainable development. Significant strides have been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common killers associated with child and maternal mortality, but working towards achieving the target of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 would require improvements in skilled delivery care.
Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to creating sustainable development. In addition to improving quality of life, access to inclusive education can help equip locals with the tools required to develop innovative solutions to the world’s greatest problems.
Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in and there is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. However, due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, millions of people including children die every year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today. Be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes, access to energy for all is essential. Working towards this goal is especially important as it interlinks with other Sustainable Development Goals. Focusing on universal access to energy, increased energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energy through new economic and job opportunities is crucial to creating more sustainable and inclusive communities and resilience to environmental issues like climate change.
Investments in infrastructure – transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology – are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries. It has long been recognized that growth in productivity and incomes, and improvements in health and education outcomes require investment in infrastructure.
Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically. With the number of people living within cities projected to rise to 5 billion people by 2030, it’s important that efficient urban planning and management practices are in place to deal with the challenges brought by urbanization.
Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty. At the current time, material consumption of natural resources is increasing, particularly within Eastern Asia. Countries are also continuing to address challenges regarding air, water and soil pollution.
Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is likely to surpass 3 degrees centigrade this century. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most.
For open ocean and deep sea areas, sustainability can be achieved only through increased international cooperation to protect vulnerable habitats. Establishing comprehensive, effective and equitably managed systems of government-protected areas should be pursued to conserve biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry. On a local level, we should make ocean-friendly choices when buying products or eating food derived from oceans and consume only what we need. Selecting certified products is a good place to start.
Forests cover 30.7 per cent of the Earth’s surface and, in addition to providing food security and shelter, they are key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and the homes of the indigenous population. By protecting forests, we will also be able to strengthen natural resource management and increase land productivity.
A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. These inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre, are needed at the global, regional, national and local level.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment by plastic pollution issue. Promote and cultivate the issue of plastic pollution to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the EU’s new growth strategy, Green Deal. Promote and cultivate the Green Deal to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider alternative solutions whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operation and interaction with stakeholders. Promote and cultivate the Corporate Social Responsibility to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in and there is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. However, due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, millions of people including children die every year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the EU Urban Agenda. Promote and cultivate the EU Urban Agenda to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the Sustainable Mobility. Promote and cultivate the Sustainable Mobility to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the Zero Carbon Technologies and Low Carbon Economy. Promote and cultivate the Zero Carbon Technologies and Low Carbon Economy to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the Geoinforatics. Promote and cultivate the Geoinforatics to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the Circular Economy Waste Management. Promote and cultivate the Circular Economy Waste Management to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental, and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment about the Smart Cities. Promote and cultivate the Smart Cities to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental, and economic sectors on a macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the Environmental Certifications EMAS and ISO 14000. Promote and cultivate the Environmental Certifications to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental, and economic sectors on a
macro and micro scale.
Briefly introduce to the wider public alternative solutions for the development of the urban environment by incorporating nature-based solutions. Promote and cultivate nature-based solutions to enhance the knowledge of the public about the impacts it can have on the social, environmental and economic sectors in a macro and micro scale.
