With the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the leaders of over 190 countries who gathered at the United Nations in September 2015, a framework of restructured and greatly expanded set of global development targets has been envisaged, which is designed to supplant the previous Millennium Development Goals. These SDGs also aim at providing the people around the globe with a future and vision that they can work towards.
The 17 SDGs along with 169 sub-targets represent a formidable challenge to developing countries, including India. Some experts have identified three most contentious and recurring issues – the financing and funding of the SDGs, the climate talks later this year in Paris, and implementation of the SDGs on a country or national level – with which developing countries have to grapple with in the near future.
Funding the SDGs
According to broad estimates, about $2.5 trillion is needed each year to fund the SDGs and the question arises as to where from such a huge amount would come. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda – a meeting of countries that was convened earlier this year as a means of finding the source of the SDGs – was expected to tell the way as to how the developing countries are supposed to fund the SDGs and it failed.
The developing countries, including India, are at the horn of dilemma as to what to do in 2016 to implement the SDGs. In the wake of ongoing economic slowdown, developing countries cannot knock the doors of OECD countries for more aid. One expert opines that the SDGs and the United Nations must look to take advantage of the post-Bretton Woods global financial architecture. However, it is not made clear as to how to proceed in this direction.
While describing the issue of mobilising funds more bluntly, another expert has pointed out: “Without having a conversation on looking at white, grey and black money… without shoring up capital flight, we have to assume that this discussion simply isn’t serious. The foundation of our discussions is not serious. ”
For want of consensus at the Addis Ababa conference to crack down on global tax avoidance and illicit money transfers, and with official development assistance from developed countries becoming less dependable, developing countries such as India are forced to rely solely on their own resources to achieve the SDGs, which seems to be extremely unmanageable.
While linking the potential success of the SDGs to India’s future growth trajectory, Arvind Panagariya, Vice-Chairman of the NITI Aayog, as cited in a media report, has said: “We simply cannot overstate the importance of robust economic growth… Without it, none of our objectives, be it eradication of poverty, empowerment of women, provision of basic services or even protection of environment would be possible by 2030. As an example, it was on the back of 8% growth over a full decade that India was finally able to introduce and sustain the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and greatly expand its public distribution system through the National Food Security Act.”
Challenge of Climate Change
Climate change is a vital component and one of the defining characteristics of the SDGs, especially the Goals 11, 12 and 13, which focus on ensuring sustainable consumption, making cities safe and sustainable and taking ‘urgent actions to combat climate change and its impacts.’
However, the credibility of these specific goals will be tested by the details of a climate-change deal what will be reached at Paris in December this year.
Dilemma of Implementation
One expert finds the problem of implementation of SDGs as quite simple. His analogy is based on the premise that the earlier MDGs were specific, almost technical targets set by a handful of experts and the SDGs have been formulated by a huge number of actors, both governmental and non-governmental, and as such represent a huge array of aspirations. In this backdrop, he argues that the aspirations of citizens, NGOs and civil society that are formulated within the SDGs will consequently be tested at different forums where they have a lesser say. He further adds: “Here we promise sustainable development… but there is a disconnect when delegates walk into climate change negotiations later this year with different motivations and mindsets.”
Many experts are in agreement over the fact that the most fundamental obstacle surrounding the SDGs is how developing countries around the globe would integrate them into their national development plans. Besides, some media reports indicate the apprehension of a number of civil society and government actors that the expansive nature of the SDGs – which number at 17 goals and 169 sub-targets – do not lend themselves to easy action plans or prioritisation. An African diplomat is reported to have pointed out that if he took this long list and presented it to the bureaucrats of his government they would “be taken aback by sheer confusion”.
A media report citing Sindushree Khullar, the chief executive officer of the NITI Aayog, says that the lack of funding and sophisticated data collection and monitoring mechanisms will prove to be an uphill challenge as India starts work on the SDGs. This scenario combined with the policies of the present dispensation at New Delhi pertaining to slashing of social sector spending and reduction in plan expenditure for the health sector makes it discernible that implementation of the SDGs will seemingly be an uphill task for the Indian government even in its first year.
Another problem confronting implementation of the SDGs is the paucity of authentic data. India does not have adequate data to frame relevant policies. Even in the 12th Five-Year Plan, which had only 25 indicators, many of the targets could not be updated due to lack of data. Thus some critics point out as to how then would India manage to meet all the 169 targets that are now being set. Even the NITI Aayog is yet to figure out how to steer the national pursuit of these new set of development goals.
Way Forward
Prime Minister Modi in his address to the UN General Assembly stated that many of the SDGs were already being implemented through flagship programmes of his government. On the other hand, Dr Arvind Panagariya, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, has argued: “We simply cannot overstate the importance of robust economic growth, which in turn depends on well-functioning infrastructure and policies that enhance productivity. Without it, none of our objectives, be it eradication of poverty, empowerment of women, provision of basic services or even protection of environment and reversing climate change, would be possible by 2030.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the United Nations General Assembly (Photo Courtsey-Press Trust of India)
Present dispensation’s penchant of achieving SDGs through growth seems to be based on fragile foundations. It has been opined that the big assumption of a Modi-dividend on growth has remained immaterialized until now and there is little or no basis to infer that India will continue to grow by 7.5 per cent indefinitely. Extrapolating from the past to the future is only the stuff of statistical dreams. India experienced 8 per cent growth over a full decade but that did not help in achieving MDGs.
Growth alone is not the magic bullet for achieving these goals. Additional fiscal resources have to be raised by improving tax to GDP ratio and plugging the erosion of tax revenues at home through international cooperation. India nevertheless remains at the centre of the debate on whether, globally, the sustainable development goals will prove to be a success. WPS Sidhu, Senior Fellow, Brookings India, has aptly pointed out: “The relative success of the MDGs was a result of one country – China. If the SDGs are a success, it will be because of India.”
