In the lead up to the UN SDG Summit 2023, leading Monash scientist, Associate Professor Shirin Malekpour - along with a handful of global experts appointed by the UN to assess SDG progress - have warned that the world is not on track to achieve any of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the agreed 2030.
In a Nature comment piece, Associate Professor Malekpour and Dr Cameron Allen from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and colleagues call on scientists to support policymakers and others in rethinking humanity's approach to achieving the SDGs.
The authors highlight three priority areas for action: removing the roadblocks to progress, finding feasible and cost-effective pathways to the goals, and strengthening governance.
Their insights draw from the UN's Global Sustainable Development Report 2023, (GSDR), co-written by Associate Professor Malekpour who is the first and only Australian selected by the UN to join the independent group of scientists.
In Australia, research and national modelling done by Dr Allen shows quick gains can be made on 52 SDG targets by following a green-economy pathway.
"In addition to the green investment, spending an extra 2.5% of GDP per annum on health, education and social subsidies and transfers, along with policies to address inequality, would boost average progress on the SDGs to 70% by 2030. This compares to just 42% progress if governments focus only on delivering more-rapid economic growth," Dr Allen said.
This year marks the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Goals. The report, which informs the UN's political declaration marks the beginning of a new phase of accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and will influence discussions on the state of the planet and human society at the SDG Summit 2023.
Associate Professor Malekpour is available to discuss the findings of the UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 and Australia's progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Associate Professor Shirin Malekpour, Monash Sustainable Development Institute
