THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Jeffrey D. SachsDirector of the Earth Institute

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Workshop in Sustainable Development

April 12, 2013

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS . . .

THREE INTERCONNECTED DIMENSIONS OF A HEALTHY SOCIETY

•ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND THE END OFEXTREME POVERTY

•SOCIAL INCLUSION•ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

UNDERPINNED BY PEACE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE (PUBLIC & PRIVATE)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF OUR ERA, BUT . . .

THE WORLD IS DANGEROUSLY OFF COURSE:

Extreme poverty afflicting more than 1 billion; Fragility and conflicts in many regions

High and rising inequality in most societies, with pervasive gender and ethnic discrimination and lack of good jobs for youth

Severe degradation of the environment in all parts of the world

Global population still rapidly increasing, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa

MANHATTAN, HURRICANE SANDY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

BEIJING, JULY 21, 2012

BANGKOK OCTOBER 2011

INDIANA MAIZE AUGUST 2012

Homes are destroyed in Colorado Springs, June 2012

Fires Are Increasing World-Wide

Source: Westerling et al. 2006

Western US area burned

Wildfires in Western US have increased 4-fold in 30 years.

June 2011: Record 7.6% of U.S. in ‘Exceptional’ drought category, simultaneous with record flooding on Mississippi River.

CHAD 2012

Figure 2: Planetary Boundaries (Source: Rockström et al 2009a)

THE INDISPENSABLE ROLES OF ASIA AND AFRICA

AS OF 2050, A REMARKABLE 80% OF THE WORKING AGE POPULATION, 25-59, WILL BE IN ASIA AND AFRICA, UP FROM 74% TODAY

GLOBAL RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGES OFSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

RIO EARTH SUMMIT (1992) INTERNATIONAL LAW: UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD

MILLENNIUM SUMMIT AND MDGS (2001)GLOBAL GOALS TO REDUCE EXTREME POVERTY

RIO+20 (2012)SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

A CHANGED WORLD SINCE 2000:

PLANETARY BOUNDARIES MORE URGENT

END OF POVERTY WITHIN SIGHT

EMERGING ECONOMIES TAKE CENTER STAGE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION

DEMOGRAPHIC AND RESOURCE PRESSURES

CENTRAL ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL BUSINESS

THE CHALLENGE OF JOBS AND INEQUALITY

TRANSITION FROM MDGS to SDGs

SDGs should:

•FORM A CONSISTENT AND COMPREHENSIVESUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

•EMBRACE A SHARED UNDERLYING GLOBAL ETHIC

•CREATE UNIVERSAL AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

•MOBILIZE THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH

AN ILLUSTRATIVE SET OF 10 SDGS

Goal 1: End Extreme Poverty Goal 2: Achieve Development within Planetary Boundaries Goal 3: Achieve Gender Equality, Human Rights and the Rule of Law Goal 4: Achieve Food Security and Rural Prosperity Goal 5: Empower Inclusive, Productive and Resilient Cities Goal 6: Achieve Health and Wellbeing at all Ages Goal 7: Ensure Effective Learning for Every Child for Life and Livelihood Goal 8: Curb Human-Induced Climate Change Goal 9: Secure Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Goal 10: Transform Governance for Sustainable Development

SOME KEY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

LOW-CARBON ENERGYRENEWABLE ENERGYCARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATIONENERGY EFFICIENCY, SMART VEHICLES, SMART CITIES

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREIMPROVED TRAITS, AGRO-ECOLOGYSMART TILLAGE & IRRIGATION, MICRO-DOSING,DIETARY CHOICES, OCEAN MANAGEMENT

SUSTAINABLE CITIESRAPID VOLUNTARY REDUCTION OF HIGH TFR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, ENERGY, ETC.

THE INCREASINGLY URGENT CASE FOR INVESTING SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES

THE NEW POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

THE NEW GLOBAL PROBLEM SOLVING:

THE U.N. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSOLUTIONS NETWORK (UN SDSN):

TO FOSTER A GLOBAL NETWORK OF PROBLEM SOLVING, EMPOWER UNIVERSITIES, PROMOTE PUBLIC-PRIVATE SOLUTION INITIATIVES, AND ENCOURAGE BOLD FIRST MOVERS

The PlusesAdvanced TechnologiesInformation revolutionCorporate SD LeadershipSustainable Development

Goals

The MinusesPopulation PressuresClimate ChangeLand GrabsLack of PlanningGlobal lawlessness

A Sustainable Planet?