The Future is Now. Science for Achieving The Sustainable Development Goals
The present Report identifies six essential entry points, highlighting the interconnections across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets that are particularly suitable for accelerating the necessary transformation. These entry points are:
- Human Well-being and Capabilities: Enhancing the overall health, education, and empowerment of individuals.
- Sustainable and Just Economies: Promoting economic systems that are equitable and environmentally sustainable.
- Food Systems and Nutrition Patterns: Developing sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring access to nutritious food.
- Energy Decarbonization and Universal Access: Transitioning to clean energy sources while ensuring energy access for all.
- Urban and Peri-Urban Development: Planning and managing urban growth to be sustainable and inclusive.
- Global Environmental Commons: Protecting and managing the earth’s shared natural resources.
Four Levers for Balancing Human Well-being and Environmental Costs
The Report also identifies four levers that can be applied to these critical entry points to balance achieving human well-being with its social and environmental costs. These levers are:
- Governance: Implementing effective policies, institutions, and frameworks to guide sustainable development.
- Economy and Finance: Aligning economic and financial systems with sustainable development objectives.
- Individual and Collective Action: Mobilizing both individual behaviors and collective actions towards sustainability.
- Science and Technology: Leveraging scientific advancements and technological innovations to drive sustainable solutions.
The Role of Science in Accelerating Sustainable Development
The present Report emphasizes how science can best accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. It advocates for a new approach termed “sustainability science,” which aims to directly contribute to sustainable development by integrating scientific research with practical solutions to global challenges. This approach promotes interdisciplinary research and collaboration to address the complex interdependencies of social, economic, and environmental systems.
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