No one is excluded! The Agenda 2030: A New Blueprint
Why Gaia?
In the 1970s, Chemist James Lovelock introduced the Gaian theory, which posits that the Earth is a living planet, a single living organism. Every element of life on earth creates and maintains the conditions of life. Humans, in this vision, are not detached from Nature but are part of it. We reflected on how this vision aligned with GaiaLux’s mission, hence the name (some extra reading).
GaiaLux is an initiative dedicated to resources and education for sustainability, with the vision that we are all one family. At GaiaLux, we advocate for sustainable living and equitable resource distribution. We believe in the inclusivity of all beings and the interconnectivity of life on Earth and we think that the Agenda 2030 can provide a powerful blueprint to this mission.
What is the Agenda 2030?
The United Nations’ Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development is a global action plan for people, planet, and prosperity. It covers all vital dimensions of human and ecosystem well-being: social, economic, ecological, and worldwide culture. The Agenda was set by Member States of the United Nations on 25 September 2015 to improve our planet and living beings’ conditions. It is composed of 17 Goals with 169 Targets to be accomplished by 2030.
When did the road to Agenda 2030 start?
The Agenda 2030 has a long history and it draws on the United Nations’ blueprint Millenium Development Goals set at the UN World Summit in 2002. With respect to the MDGs (eight goals to be achieved by 2015), the SDGs broaden the look to include the well-off countries from the North globe and improve the social and environmental components.
Have a look at some milestones dates: 1972 – United Nations Conference on the Environment, Stockholm, 1987 – The Brundtland Commission publishes ‘Our Common Future’ calling for “sustainable development” to ensure meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 1992 – The UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro declares: Creation of Agenda 21. 1997 – UN Earth Summit+5, New York, launches “a new global partnership for sustainable development ‘ 2002 – UN World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, Agenda 21 and Millennium Development Goals 2012 – UN Conference on Sustainable Development ‘Rio+20’
Which SDGs are related to the economic dimension? to the social dimension? to the environmental dimension? Which ones are more related to empowerment and Action?
4-dimensions approach to Sustainability
The Agenda 2030 is a global action plan for people, planet, and prosperity, covering all the important dimensions of human and ecosystem well-being:
Social, economic, ecological, and institutional.
Can you try to figure out the 5 principles in one of your daily school projects?
If you were a politician, trying to implement new public health regulations, how would you tackle the 5 principles of Sustainability?
Interconnectedness: Show how more than one SDG is in place (i.e. how water is served in your school, buying fast fashion clothes, commuting to school with private car, predileging meat-based diet)
What are the 5 principles adopted by the Agenda 2030?
The five principles of Sustainability, as advocated by Agenda 2030, are Universality, Inclusiveness, Interconnectedness and Invisibility, Leaving no one behind, and Multistakeholder Partnership. These principles aim for a world where everyone has access to essential services, education, and a clean and functioning ecosystem. They are the bedrock of social and economic well-being.
What do you think is essential for your well-being?
Can you say which SDGs are key in this multidimensional approach to well-being?
What kind of idea of prosperity is implied in the Agenda 2030?
Although reference is still made here and there to the traditional concept of “growth” (see SDG 8 for example), the 2030 Agenda opens up a new vision of ‘well-being’ as a multidimensional concept. Have a look at the essential dimensions of a fulfilled and happy life. Nowadays, economists have started to enlarge the approach to well-being, going beyond the strictly economic material consumption measured by the GDP. However, our economic policies and data monitoring are still struggling to incorporate this new vision.
Why in your opinion Equality is relevant to a sustainable society?
Does a degraded environment affect more vulnerable groups? How?
One of the notable addition of the Agenda 2030 is SDG 10
Economic equality in society positively impacts the care for our environment and support for policies favoring the environment. A clean and preserved environment benefits everyone, especially the less affluent who heavily depend on natural resources for their living and are the most affected by pollution and climate-related extreme events.
Reconnect to the biosphere – Stockholm Resilience Centre
“It is time for a shift in perception – from people and nature seen as
separate parts to interdependent social-ecological systems“
The ‘Wedding-cake’ approach to the Agenda 2030
Environmentalists from the Stockholm Resilience Center propose a slightly different lens to the SDGs: a vision that emphasizes the funding role of the Biosphere which provides living beings the essential life-supporting ecosystem services, such as a hospitable climate, clean water, food, fiber, and many others good and services. In this vision, we are all integral parts of the living being system.
Can you tell why the Ecosystem is essential to our Well-being?
The Ecosystem provides essential life-supporting services to living beings.
How does our daily lifestyle play an impact on the Biosphera?
We contribute to the degradation of our Ecosystem – which is in turn so detrimental to our well-being – in many ways…directly and indirectly…
Think about your daily lives – look at the SDGs – which ones are involved in your daily choices?
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” -Barack Obama
How can you contribute to a change in your community?
Act Now
Change cannot wait for politics; change begins with us. Even small changes can bring about significant systemic changes. We can all contribute to a healthier planet by making more sustainable choices, like switching to a vegetarian diet or using public transport for commuting. Developing commitment, sharing, and solidarity starting from one‘s own community.
The SDGs review framework
To track the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets, a global indicator framework was established by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) in March 2017. The framework has 231 unique indicators which are complemented by indicators developed by the member states at the regional and national levels. These indicators serve as a measure of our progress towards achieving the SDGs. Tracking the progress of the SDGs is essential in ensuring we are on the right path towards achieving a sustainable future. The High-Level Political Forum, established in 2012, meets annually for eight days with a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level.
More food for thoughts
How does our lifestyle contribute to the Ecosystem’s degradation?
Who makes my goodies?
Do you know that 70% of refugees and people displaced from their own country come from regions severely affected by climate change?
How climate change is affecting people around the globe?
Disappearing Lands: The case of Marshall Islands;
Losing Lands: Bangladesh – la montée des eaux a un impact sur les pauvres et sur l’agriculture de base pour de nombreuses personnes
Dried Lands: Horn of Africa rain season failure…
Shaken Lands: The Cyclone Freddie formed off Australia in early February 2023 and swept the Indian Ocean for 36 days (Malawi – Mozambique)
