The Global Sustainable Development Report (2022) recently ranked India 121 out of 163 countries in terms of sustainable development, which is a drop from its previous rankings in 2020 and 2021. This report signifies the progress of nations towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
What is a Sustainable Development Report?
The Sustainable Development Report is an international assessment of a nations’ advancement towards accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals were delivered to mobilize the global scientific and technological expertise for sustainable development. The overall score given in the report can be interpreted as a percentage of SDG achievement, with a score of 100 indicating that all SDGs have been achieved.
Performance of the Countries
The 2022 SDG Index was topped by Finland, closely followed by the Nordic countries Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. East and South Asia region have shown significant progress since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, with Bangladesh and Cambodia being the most improved countries. On contrast, Venezuela has declined the most on the SDG Index since their adoption.
Key Highlights of the Report
According to the report, the world is experiencing multiple and simultaneous health, climate, biodiversity crises that are major setbacks for sustainable development. The SDG Index world average has decreased for the second consecutive year, largely due to the impact of the pandemic on SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and poor performance on SDG11-15 (climate, biodiversity, and sustainable urban development goals).
About India’s Performance
The report suggests that India’s preparedness on achieving the SDGs has worsened over the years when compared to other nations. The country still faces major challenges in achieving 11 out of the 17 SDGs, resulting in a decrease in its global ranking on SDG preparedness. The report highlights that the challenges are most significant in ensuring decent work (SDG 8). Progress in around 10 goals, such as ending hunger, good health and well being, clean water and sanitation remains similar to 2021.
Recommendations
The report recommends scaling up new partnerships and innovations that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also suggests increased investments in science, technological innovations, and data systems for identifying solutions in times of crises. The report calls for increased investments in research & development, education, skills, and physical infrastructure, which include renewable energy and digital technologies.
Understanding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. These 17 SDGs are interconnected, recognizing that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must strike a balance between social, economic, and environmental sustainability. They focus on ending poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls, among other objectives.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Question
In the 2016 UPSC Civil Services Examination, the question asked was: “Consider the following statements: The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?” The correct answer was (b) since the SDGs were proposed at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 and are meant to be achieved by 2030.
