The Sustainable Development Goals are often described as a ‘to-do list for humanity’, a list of 17 priorities that includes ending poverty, universal education, gender equality and affordable clean energy. It’s a worthy set of goals, though Rohan Rockström of the Stockholm Resilience Centre suggests that they are more connected and interdependent than they look when presented as a table or a list.
Instead, we could stack them like a wedding cake. Economic goals such as sustainable production, good work or economic growth all depend on a functioning society. Social goals such as ending hunger or providing healthcare and education depend on environmental stability.
All the SDGs matter, that’s not up for debate. But presenting them in this way shows how dependent some are on others. If the climate warms catastrophically or biodiversity collapses, then we will never solve hunger or end poverty. And if we don’t fix those basics of a decent society then we’ll never reduce inequality or provide good jobs.
That’s not a call to abandon humanitarian work and focus on the climate instead. It’s a call to integrate climate and environment into everything we do, so that our priorities work together and protect the foundations of any future progress.
- I’d not seen this before, and I was told to look it up by Kit-Marie Rackley at a recent event. I have now done so, thanks!
The Earthbound Report 