Bangladesh hails new ‘transformative’ sustainable development goals

Bangladesh has hailed the “historic” agreement that the UN member states reached on an ambitious new agenda to end poverty by 2030.

The country has been at the forefront since the beginning of the discussions nearly three years ago.
 
This new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will come into effect from Jan next year when the current MDGs expire, will be adopted by the world leaders in the Sep New York summit.
 
“It’s remarkable (new goals). It is accepted by all countries, and applicable to all,” Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque said on Monday at a discussion with a group of journalists.
 
“It’s a blueprint for the new global development architecture,” he said.
 
The 17-goals with 169 targets were agreed on Sunday in New York.
 
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon termed this as “people’s agenda” as it was agreed after an extensive discussion at all levels.
 
The goals would also promote shared economic prosperity, social development, and environmental protection.
 
This has been built on the successes of the MDGs, which helped more than 700 million people escape poverty.
 
Bangladesh was one of the top performing countries of MDGs, and now looked confident to embrace the new goals.
 
“When we had nothing, we achieved MDGs. Now we are ready. We have capacity. We are ahead of many countries. We have lot of resources. We have been actively present at the negotiations. We’re more than confident,” Secretary Haque said.
 
Key differences between MDGs and SDGs
 
Member States pledge that as they embark on this new collective journey, no one will be left behind.
 
The ‘five Ps’ — people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership — capture the broad scope of the agenda.
 
The eight MDGs, adopted in 2000, aimed at an array of issues that included slashing poverty, hunger, disease, gender inequality, and access to water and sanitation by 2015.
 
The new sustainable development goals, and the broader sustainability agenda, go much further, addressing the root causes of poverty and the universal need for development that works for all people.
 
The preamble of the 29-page text, “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” states, “We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet”.
 

It continues, “We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind”.

The MDG set goals to halve the poverty while the SDGs are designed to eradicate it for all.

MDGs have been set for the poor developing countries, but these are universal goals which are “accepted by all countries and applicable to all”.

The MDGs were set through a top-down process, but the SDGs have been created through an inclusive process with extensive consultations at all levels.

SDGs are being considered as the most comprehensive goals that include issues like peace, stability, human rights and good governance.

During the MDGs, it was envisioned that aid flows to developing countries would help achieve those goals.

But SDGs put sustainable, inclusive economic development at the core of the strategy, and stressed on the ability of countries to address social challenges.

It also called for partnership at all level including with the private sector.

The SDG also aims to ensure “equitable quality” education and promote lifelong learning opportunities while MDGs were focused on quantity, high enrolment rates.

“We could not think that an intergovernmental process can set such big ambitious goals. It means we (countries) can build consensus if we try sincerely,” the foreign ministry’s Director General at the UN desk Mustafizur Rahman said.

He was involved with the process since beginning as a deputy of Bangladesh’s permanent representative in New York.

Bangladesh issues in goals

Foreign ministry’s Director General (Economic Affairs) M Riaz Hamidullah, who also represented Bangladesh in the process, said like other countries, Dhaka had persuaded its own agenda vigorously.

“Almost all Bangladesh issues finally found a place in the document which was agreed upon,” he said.

For example, in the water related goal, Bangladesh was vocal on incorporating integrated water resources management at all levels, including through trans-boundary cooperation.

It found a place as goal number 6.

Neuro-development disorder including autism finds a place in the health-related targets due to Bangladesh’s position.

Migration, climate change, oceans, seas and marine resources, and disaster risk reduction were some of the issues Bangladesh stressed in the whole discussions.

“I feel very proud of our team,” Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said, citing that his officials both in Dhaka and New York worked “really hard”.

Smoke billows from the chimneys at a coking factory in Changzhi, Shanxi province November 13, 2008. Reuters

The goals to be adopted in September:

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development