Dr. Arvind Kumar*
The discussions all throughout the year from South Asia Forum on sustainable development to the Asia Pacific Forum for sustainable development and finally to High Level Political Forum in New York will be on the theme, “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and the Sustainable Development Goals that would be under review at the 2023 high-level political forum on sustainable development, namely are Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation), Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy), Goal 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), Goal 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Data from UNESCAP declares that the Asia Pacific region has only progressed by 14.4 percent towards Agenda 2030 and would entail 42 more years to achieve the goals. There has also been uneven progress in the SDGs, with the regression and stagnation of some goals. We are halfway towards the deadline of achieving the 2030 Agenda, but it is more and more apparent that we are not only years but decades behind in achieving these goals.
The lack of progress towards Agenda 2030 speaks volumes about the failure of the prevailing development paradigm to address the needs of the marginalized and to pursue sustainable development. It is worth noting that fractured multilateralism, profit-driven neoliberal framework, diversion between sustainable development and respect to human rights fuelling persistent inequities have been the fundamental structural flaws in our weak global governance. During the APFSD, national progress on the SDGs was presented by governments through their VNRs. Largely state-led, VNRs have been often criticized for not capturing the realities on ground as civil society organizations, people’s organizations and communities are not included in these processes. CSOs and communities also experience the shrinking of civic space, with authoritarian regimes pursuing anti-people policies and multilateral institutions giving preferential treatment to corporate bodies. With these, regional SDG progress reports and national reviews are not able to genuinely encapsulate the state of Agenda 2030.
Call for Cooperation, Collaboration and Coordination
India Water Foundation since its inception has been highlighting the urgency of cooperation, collaboration and coordination at all levels for achieving the 2030 agenda. This was aptly highlighted at the 10th APFSD that there is the need to accelerate action and enhance regional cooperation for sustainable development, including South-South and triangular cooperation. While initiatives surrounding SSC and TrC enable partnerships and cooperation among countries in the global South, these must be strongly grounded on the principles of national sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality and non-interference. These approaches must not replace and replicate North-South cooperation, but forward horizontal development cooperation based on the principles of solidarity, mutuality and human rights.
We have to strengthen national policies, engage multi-stakeholder partnerships and tackle poverty and hunger to face the rising cost of living. More sustainable urban development required investments in inclusive and affordable housing and better waste management, including through the application of circular economy principles. Better disaggregated data was required so that people in vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities, women and girls, were not left behind. High-impact initiatives and transformative actions at all levels were being taken to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. These included: the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023–2032; the Penang Platform for Sustainable Urbanization; the Energy Transition Mechanism of the Asian Development Bank, which is aimed at facilitating the early retirement of coal power assets in Asia; the Comprehensive Framework on the Care Economy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); just energy transition partnerships; and the draft ASEAN principles on sustainable minerals development. They also included innovative actions taken by financial institutions to mobilize financing, including the issuance of Sustainable Development Goal bonds and the introduction of blended financing solutions for the Goals.
The round tables – from regions to HLPF
There were five roundtables organized on the Goals which are under review this year at the HLPF. The outcomes of the respective roundtables are –
Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation) highlighted that the overconsumption of water resources was the leading cause of water scarcity in the region. Priority areas for action included the need to improve the quality of data on water; the need to strengthen national institutions and promote cooperation across all levels; and the need to involve diverse stakeholders and marginalized groups in policy design and implementation processes to promote transparency, accountability and equitable access to water.
Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy) highlighted the need to encourage participation in the Global Methane Pledge and implementation of the global road map for accelerated Goal 7 Action. Priority areas of action included continuing to take measures to reduce the carbon intensity of all sectors; facilitating a sustainable, rights-based, affordable and just energy transition; closing the clean cooking gap; adopting sustainable cooling measures; and strengthening regional cooperation, including through cross-border energy trading and harmonized rules.
Goal 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) highlighted priority areas of action, including enhancing strategic and evidence-based resource mobilization to drive systemic changes and innovation; increasing productivity as a critical driver of economic growth; investing in better working conditions and the upgrading of skills; strengthening labour unions to ensure respect for fundamental rights; and boosting research and development for industrial technologies to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Enhancing access to infrastructure, innovation and technology by supporting marginalized groups and public private partnerships was another priority area of action.
Goal 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) highlighted priority areas of action, including making urban development more resilient to disasters and climate crises; strengthening inclusive cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination across levels of urban and territorial governance; facilitating an urban digital transformation characterized by smart communities; and promoting inclusive and integrated approaches to urban and territorial planning that consider the benefits of blue and green infrastructure.
Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) discussed policy priorities on finance, trade, capacity-building and partnerships. It highlighted as priority areas of action expanding the fiscal space and making debt more sustainable; enhancing access to innovative and sustainable finance instruments and stronger regulatory frameworks; leveraging existing regional economic partnerships and communities; and streamlining trade procedures by digitalizing customs and trade. It also highlighted the need to strengthen South-South cooperation and increase national capacities to address data gaps. Inclusive measures of progress that went beyond the gross domestic product were highlighted as crucial to measuring environmental sustainability and well-being.
Way Forward
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the structural fault lines of our economy, governance, and society. UNESCAP’s 2022 report on Asia and the Pacific shows that SDGS will not be achieved in the region before 2065 at the current pace. No sub region or country is in a position to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The multidimensional crises have induced increased corporatization and hegemonization of natural resources through slew of neoliberal policies, dilution of environmental and social safeguards, further cemented patriarchy; and weakened social protection and safety nets exacerbating the vulnerabilities of the most marginalized in manifolds. For many millions, the advent of the decade of action signals a false dawn requiring a paradigm shift based on Development Justice.
The 2023 HLPF, 2023 SDG Summit and Summit of the Future in 2024, governments and international organizations, private sector, civil society are set to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. These upcoming events are opportunities to assert the need for fundamental structural and systemic change to better address development challenges. The challenge lies in how we bring our positions and unities to these Summits. These positions should reflect people’s demands where genuine, inclusive, and sustainable development is given primacy over profits and greed. It is high time that we shifted the power to the people, as they urge action and demand real solutions for a genuine transformative change for a just and fair future for all.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
