THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Jeffrey D. SachsDirector of the Earth Institute
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Workshop in Sustainable Development
April 12, 2013
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS . . .
THREE INTERCONNECTED DIMENSIONS OF A HEALTHY SOCIETY
•ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND THE END OFEXTREME POVERTY
•SOCIAL INCLUSION•ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
UNDERPINNED BY PEACE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE (PUBLIC & PRIVATE)
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF OUR ERA, BUT . . .
THE WORLD IS DANGEROUSLY OFF COURSE:
Extreme poverty afflicting more than 1 billion; Fragility and conflicts in many regions
High and rising inequality in most societies, with pervasive gender and ethnic discrimination and lack of good jobs for youth
Severe degradation of the environment in all parts of the world
Global population still rapidly increasing, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa
MANHATTAN, HURRICANE SANDY, OCTOBER 29, 2012
BEIJING, JULY 21, 2012
BANGKOK OCTOBER 2011
INDIANA MAIZE AUGUST 2012
Homes are destroyed in Colorado Springs, June 2012
Fires Are Increasing World-Wide
Source: Westerling et al. 2006
Western US area burned
Wildfires in Western US have increased 4-fold in 30 years.
June 2011: Record 7.6% of U.S. in ‘Exceptional’ drought category, simultaneous with record flooding on Mississippi River.
CHAD 2012
Figure 2: Planetary Boundaries (Source: Rockström et al 2009a)
THE INDISPENSABLE ROLES OF ASIA AND AFRICA
AS OF 2050, A REMARKABLE 80% OF THE WORKING AGE POPULATION, 25-59, WILL BE IN ASIA AND AFRICA, UP FROM 74% TODAY
GLOBAL RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGES OFSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
RIO EARTH SUMMIT (1992) INTERNATIONAL LAW: UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD
MILLENNIUM SUMMIT AND MDGS (2001)GLOBAL GOALS TO REDUCE EXTREME POVERTY
RIO+20 (2012)SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
A CHANGED WORLD SINCE 2000:
PLANETARY BOUNDARIES MORE URGENT
END OF POVERTY WITHIN SIGHT
EMERGING ECONOMIES TAKE CENTER STAGE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION
DEMOGRAPHIC AND RESOURCE PRESSURES
CENTRAL ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL BUSINESS
THE CHALLENGE OF JOBS AND INEQUALITY
TRANSITION FROM MDGS to SDGs
SDGs should:
•FORM A CONSISTENT AND COMPREHENSIVESUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
•EMBRACE A SHARED UNDERLYING GLOBAL ETHIC
•CREATE UNIVERSAL AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES
•MOBILIZE THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH
AN ILLUSTRATIVE SET OF 10 SDGS
Goal 1: End Extreme Poverty Goal 2: Achieve Development within Planetary Boundaries Goal 3: Achieve Gender Equality, Human Rights and the Rule of Law Goal 4: Achieve Food Security and Rural Prosperity Goal 5: Empower Inclusive, Productive and Resilient Cities Goal 6: Achieve Health and Wellbeing at all Ages Goal 7: Ensure Effective Learning for Every Child for Life and Livelihood Goal 8: Curb Human-Induced Climate Change Goal 9: Secure Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Goal 10: Transform Governance for Sustainable Development
SOME KEY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
LOW-CARBON ENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGYCARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATIONENERGY EFFICIENCY, SMART VEHICLES, SMART CITIES
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREIMPROVED TRAITS, AGRO-ECOLOGYSMART TILLAGE & IRRIGATION, MICRO-DOSING,DIETARY CHOICES, OCEAN MANAGEMENT
SUSTAINABLE CITIESRAPID VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF HIGH TFR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, ENERGY, ETC.
THE INCREASINGLY URGENT CASE FOR INVESTING SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES
THE NEW POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
THE NEW GLOBAL PROBLEM SOLVING:
THE U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSOLUTIONS NETWORK (UN SDSN):
TO FOSTER A GLOBAL NETWORK OF PROBLEM SOLVING, EMPOWER UNIVERSITIES, PROMOTE PUBLIC-PRIVATE SOLUTION INITIATIVES, AND ENCOURAGE BOLD FIRST MOVERS
The PlusesAdvanced TechnologiesInformation revolutionCorporate SD LeadershipSustainable Development
Goals
The MinusesPopulation PressuresClimate ChangeLand GrabsLack of PlanningGlobal lawlessness
A Sustainable Planet?
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